2010 Freshman Banquet

The Freshman Patriots remembered their season with our end of the year banquet at Patrick Henry High School last Wednesday. Family and friends came together to join in the celebration of the football season and more important, the player's journey into manhood.

Hunter's Steakhouse provided an outstanding meal with salad, garlic potatoes, BBQ chicken and tri tip stake. The players served up dessert later in the evening.

A slide show of our players was depicted in the "Patriot Football: A Day in the Life" was shown as players, family and friends came in.

After dinner, the team was shown the 2010 Highlight Film of the Freshmen Patriots. The players 'Oohed' and 'Awwed' at some of the players as they recalled the success of the season.

I spoke briefly about our 'Building Men for Others' as I introduced the coaches and the players. I recapped the lessons we have taught our young men throughout the entire season and asked them to keep building on the foundation we have set for their future.

We spoke about being student athletes and that out of 170 football players, we lost only 5 players to grades in the entire football program.

Players were given team photos, programs and certificates. (I will get the letters out to players on Wednesday 12/1/10)

We recognized Darren Shanks and his contributions along with the Make a Wish Foundation and the new uniforms. We played the Greg Bledsoe's 7/39 news story on Darren and our Freshman Team.

Alex Shrestha and Chris Filardi were the Academic Award winners with 4.0 GPA's.

Coach Terry Naughton painted two portraits for our Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year. These awards were voted on by the players and they could not have chosen two players that best exemplify being players of the year. Frankie Bernard was chosen as the Defensive Player of the Year and Colton Ledford was voted Offensive Player of the Year.

After all the presentations, I presented Coach Valaile a portrait that Coach Naughton made as a going away gift. Coach Valaile will focus his life in raising a family with his wife Reyna and his daughter Faith.

All the players signed the border of the portrait and it was a real nice and classy going away gift from all of us on the team.

As we ended the night's festivities, there were lots of hugs, exchange of thanks and lots of 'I love you' spread through out the room. These are very good men and you parents should be proud of the way you raise them.

I want to take time the thank the Booster Club, Lisa Cantor, Rich Owen, Janet Dabbert and Jill Pankow for putting on fine banquet last Wednesday night. I want to thank Ann Batson for putting on the "Day in the Life of a Patriot Football Player" slide show.

My job is done... I hope I have lived up to the expectations that I promised you parents back in June. It has been an honor and a privilege not only to coach your sons, but to help them on their way into being men.