Jr. Pee Wee Panthers get a taste of snow

Petaluma youth football team braves snow to play in national championship playoffs.|

As the Super Bowl approaches, a Petaluma youth sports team has already played in its own national championship. The Petaluma Panthers Jr. Pee Wee football team participated in the first Hall of Fame National Youth Football Championships in Canton, Ohio, home to the National Football League Hall of Fame.

The tournament brought together the four best teams nationally in each division for a two-game showdown to crown a national champion in each division.

For the Petaluma team, the trip to Canton was the culmination of an outstanding season. Prior to making the trip, they won seven games and lost just three. They lost during the regular season to the Santa Rosa Stallions and Rohnert Park, falling in each game by a single point. Through 10 games, they scored 202 points and gave up 80.

Panther coach Mario Giomi said there was no secret to the Panther success. “We could throw the football,” he said. “We had a 10-year-old quarterback (Cash O’Callaghan) who could throw the ball as well as most 15-year-olds, and that allowed us to use a spread offense, while most teams concentrate on running the football.

“We were also blessed with a lot of athletic kids. We had linemen who could have easily played the skill positions, and they understood that the line spots are the least glamorous, but most important, positions on the field.

“We put a lot of focus on our offensive line to give us the best shot of having a successful offense,” the coach said.” His own son, Jack Giomi, was the center during the regular season, but Marco Novoa moved into the middle of the line in the Nationals to put more size and strength at the position.

The weight limit the Panthers played with all season in the North Bay Youth Football and Cheer allows Junior Pee Wee players to weigh up to 100 pounds and players age 11 or 12 to have a maximum weight of 80 pounds. Players can gain one pound of weight in seven weeks, and can weigh 107 pounds and 87 pounds at the end of the season. For the tournament in Ohio, the ages were the same, but the weights were 135 pounds for up to 10-year-olds and 110 pounds for 11-12-year-olds.

When the team prepared for Ohio, the team was able to add five players from the Pee Wee team that met the heavier tournament parameters.

To earn the trip to Canton, the Panthers defeated the Grants Pass Warriors and the Stallions in games played at Windsor High School. Winning on the field didn’t guarantee the Panthers their trip. First they needed to raise the travel funds. Friends, community members and local merchants donated almost $21,000 to make the excursion possible.

For the young players, the trip itself was an adventure. For many, it was their first time on an airplane. Once they arrived in Canton, it was their first time playing in snow.

Their final practice before their first game was on a field covered by 6 inches of snow.

The Panthers opened the tournament against the Ogden Bears from New York. The temperature at kickoff was 12 degrees. The Petalumans fought hard, recording the tournament’s first safety in the first half, but eventually the cold and the Bears prevailed, 14-2.

By the second day of the tournament, the temperature had warmed up to 30 degrees and the Petalumans felt more like athletes than snowmen. O’Callaghan threw a touchdown pass to Roman Hill, Ethan Arellano and Daniel Kasper each rushed for a touchdown and Mikey Arend caught a two-point conversion as the Panthers defeated the Chambersburg Steelers from Pennsylvania, 22-6.

“While on the trip, the players, coaches and families visited the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton prior to their games. The players got to see how far the sport has come over the years. The families and players who attended the tournament shared the experience of a lifetime,” reported Giomi.

At least until next year.

Because of their success this season, the Panthers, who will move up to the Pee Wee division next year, have been granted an invitation to regional competition, and are looking for a return trip.

The Panthers, who not only traveled to Canton, but also won a game, included defensive lineman/running back Ryder Jacobsen, running back Enzo Murray, linebacker Giomi, defensive lineman Jonoton Padilla, linebacker Tristan Jordan, defensive lineman Hunter Kolosey, running back/defensive lineman Arellano, quarterback O’Callaghan, defensive lineman Preston Dever, receiver TJ Zanca, receiver/defensive back Zander Bolek, receiver/defensive back Andrew Antonio, receiver/linebacker Jasper Farrar, defensive lineman Jake Angle, fullback/linebacker Daniel Kasper, center/nose guard Novoa, defensive/offensive lineman Jack Hillesheim, defensive/offensive lineman Matt Reilly, offensive lineman/linebacker William Zell, defensive lineman James Stone, receiver/safety Roman Hill, receiver Arend and offensive/defensive lineman Brett Ghisletta.

Assisting Giomi with the team were John Antonio, Jason Murray, Jake O’Callaghan, Jeff Zell, Eric Knighton and Rene Novoa.

The head coach says every precaution is taken to protect the players, including new Insight helmets which register impacts players receive to their helmets. The technology allows coaches to monitor players who receive significant hits to their helmets during practice and games.

“This technology allows the players and coaches to be more cognizant about protecting the players heads and using a helmet for protection instead of as as tool to use during the game,” he said.

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