By Rob Potter
ROSCOE — September 7, 2010 — The cheerleaders, coaches and players in the Rockland Devil Cats Youth Football Program are anxious for the new season to kick off.
“This is our fourth year and the program has been very successful so far,” Coordinator/Coach Bill Hendrickson said. “Things keep looking up for our program.”
This fall, the program will have a Senior Division football team for players ages 10 to 12, a Junior Division football team for players ages 8 to 10 and two cheerleading teams for girls ages 7 to 12.
In addition, the youngest players, ages 7 and 8, will be on a Mighty Mites team.
Of the 52 football players, 32 are returning from last season. The number of players is about the same as it was last fall. There are 28 cheerleaders this autumn, which is a slight increase from last year.
“Seventeen of these players will be eligible for the school’s modified football team next year,” Hendrickson said. “One of the reasons we started this program is to make sure we have enough players for the school’s modified, JV and varsity football teams in future years.”
Once again this fall, the Rockland Devil Cats will play in the Sullivan County Youth Football League. The Devil Cats will play two games each against the SCORS Monticello Jaguars, Town of Liberty Parks and Recreation Warriors and Tri-Valley.
The Devil Cats’ first game is on Saturday, Sept. 11 against the Liberty Warriors in Livingston Manor.
“We’ve had great help over the years with organizing the league from Jason Semo with the Liberty Warriors, Adam Lake from the Town of Liberty Parks and Recreation Department and Greg Botsford with the Tri-Valley teams,” Hendrickson said.
Hendrickson said he and the other Devil Cats coaches are looking forward to welcoming everyone from the SCORS Monticello Jaguars, which is a first-year program, into the league.
He noted that the league’s coaches work very well together to emphasize fairness and sportsmanship during the games.
“Our goal is for the players to have a good time and learn about the game of football,” Hendrickson said.
The Livingston Manor and Roscoe communities have really supported the Devil Cats program.
“We have great family support for our players and cheerleaders,” Hendrickson said. “You hardly ever see a parent drop off their child for a practice or game and then leave. Most of the parents stick around to watch their kids play.”
Hendrickson said that he was inspired when he recently saw a video by popular country music singer Kenny Chesney for his song “Boys of Fall.” The video shows boys of all ages playing football and having a great time doing so.
“It’s a really heartfelt video,” Hendrickson said.
He plans to have all of the players, cheerleaders and coaches in the program watch the video so they can also be inspired by its message.
The leaders of the Rockland Devil Cats Youth Football Program include: Bill Hendrickson – Coordinator/Coach, Debbie Hendrickson – Secretary/Treasurer, Maryanne Clancy – Fundraising Chairperson, Stacey Evans – Picture Organizer and Chase Molinari – Manager.
Coaches for the Senior Division football team are Heath Carlson, Mike Hill and Dan Smith. Coaches for the Junior Division football team are Andy Bury, Dave Irwin, Amy Hill, Tim Manell and Will Mustavs. The Coaches of the Senior Division and Junior Division cheerleading teams are Chelsea Carlson and Tara Zwerlein.
Members of the Senior Division football team are: Chris Alexander, Mark Alexander, Mason Banks, Spencer Carlson, Kris DiBartolo, Josh Edelglass, Josh Evans, Jake Gorr, Devon Heintz, Donovan Hendrickson, Nick Hill, Matt Layumas, Zach Mapes, Vincent Marchese, Kyle Mazzuca, Manny Miranda, Darian Nietzel, David Pautard, Cole Rankin, Andrew Shampine, Dylan Smith, Etyan Tomah and Alan Ward.
Members of the Junior Division football team are: Nikolas Breihof, Juniper Brown, Dan Clancy, Lakota Dewitt, David Diaz, Patrick DiBartolo, Ty Engle, Zach Freitas, Zachary Gannett, Collin Garofolo, Connor Gartland, Connor Gorr, Billy Haas, Dylon Hefele, Haile Helper, Erick Hill, Dylon Irwin, Chad Kiakis, Desmond Lambe, Connor Manell, Kody Mazzuca, Damien O’Connor, Peter Pagan, Parker Rosencranse, Brendon Ryder, Kyle Summerson and Colin Wilson.
The Cheerleaders are: Brianna Bear, Kelly Bertholf, Kyra Breihof, Jadyn Colao, Julie Edwards, Alexis Gravely, Abby Gorr, Kaleigh Gonzalez, Lindsey Hefele, Grace Heintz, Dakota Helms, Gem Helper, Victoria Kuttner, Carly Lamerand, Jolie Pagan, Haley Peck, Tayl’R Porter, Cheyanne Ryder, Alycia Sanfacon, Harley Senett, Emily Tomah, Allysa Watts, Mia Watts and Kassie Will.