Fields of TEAMS
by Cate Murway
Looking for activities for your kids? Kids come first here!
The Bristol Borough Youth Football and Cheerleading Programs exist expressly for the benefit of the youth of the community, their parents, and friends offering an opportunity to participate in controlled athletic competition that instills good sportsmanship, values of fair play and good conduct. The adult Coach leaders have received training through USA Football, along with First Aid and CPR training. BHS grad, EMT Ashley Cantiello is available for every home game.
Their goal is to instill exemplary behavior while supervising the youth and keeping their welfare foremost, promoting tolerance between youth through their common interest.
“Everybody's searching for a hero….”
All are invited to come and sign up and join at one of the open registrations at the Bristol Borough High School location. Registrations will be accepted Tuesdays [6:00-8:00PM] and Sundays [noon-2:00PM] behind BHS until the season starts. Cheerleading practice will coincide with the football practice.
Please be prepared and bring a copy of each player's birth certificate or current school record showing current grade, and name of school, such as a report card, progress report, or student ID at the time of registration or another official proof of age.
No maximum or minimum player weight restrictions, ALL REGISTERED PLAYERS WILL PLAY. Everyone is WELCOME to play. The designated age and grade divisions ensure a safer environment for all players since age and maturity are major factors to safety. Safety equipment is provided.
The children will play with their classmates and neighborhood friends; youths from Bristol Borough, Bristol Twp. and Levittown, to create a powerful feeder program for the community High Schools that they will choose to attend.
Any [academically] trouble kids want to get their grades up so they can participate and play since the rule is “student first; athlete second”. Passing grades are mandatory and each athlete is required to present his/her report card.
“All home games will be played at Bristol High School and we thank Kelly Cochran and Jeff Paleafico and the entire School Board for their support of our program”, shared the program President, football athlete Christopher Lee Chapman, BHS class of ‘87/Pennco Tech.
Coaches Donte Wilkerson, and Rufus Davis and his son, BHS Athlete of the Year, Kennedy Davis, a solid contributor to the football, and the basketball and track teams for the Warriors, are all former BHS football athletes.
Cheerleading coach Jacqueline Rose “Jackie” Weigand, BCTHS ‘12 is an ordained minister.
She comes from a family of athletes and committed citizens. Both her mom, Penny and her sister, Jessica were cheerleaders and her brother Jake was a football and baseball athlete. Her father Harry is a disabled Vietnam Army veteran.
Jackie was a “tumbling and flying” Captain of her squad and she competed locally and for the Mustangs, earning 2nd place at Nationals in Hershey Park, and for the Cheer Overdrive teams. Her experience includes playing football on the boys team for one year, field hockey, and soccer, as well as teaching ‘Cheernastics’ to young girls and toddlers at The Lower Bucks Senior Activity Center on Wood Street. “I have always loved it!”
Jackie will coordinate and run structured, age appropriate warm-up and stretching sessions.
All of the athletes will be kept hydrated with gallon coolers of water and Gatorade.
Let the games begin!
“Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be…”
Chris is extremely thankful for the enthusiastic community support. Corporate sponsorship is a big part of fundraising. Can your business help?
Bristol Elks #970, the little lodge with the big heart at 95 Wood Street “has done a great thing and along with assistance from Carl Kilgore, PER, they are helping us throw a huge party with all proceeds going towards the football program; and when I say huge, I mean huge. The Bristol Elks have always been great. They go over and beyond as our main sponsor.”
Patrick Reagan, President of Tru Line Fencing in Levittown has provided unbelievable support. Pat has been a sponsor of any kid who cannot pay the registration. “He believes all kids should be able to play if they want to”, Chris acknowledged.
Partners Michael Marucci, Dave Cochran and John Stewart of MCS Tank Service, Inc. in Levittown, “every year not only give a donation to the program but offer to pay registration for any kid that cannot afford it.”
“Give them a sense of pride to make it easier…..”
Sports are expensive. “We do fundraising.” The football registration, equipment and insurance cost $160.00 and the cheerleading uniform and insurance totals $135.00.
Join them for an Elks Evening of Beef and Beer in August with DJ Dana Hullings along with some karaoke, and designer bags and raffle baskets. The Elks generously donate their kitchen and banquet hall for their Borough Youth functions. “Without them helping us out, I do not think this program would make it.”
Stephanie Fusco and Valerie Spinella have generously agreed to assume the Treasury and fundraising responsibilities from the virtually indispensible Dawn Trappasse.
“We would like to wish both of them all the best and a speedy recovery to Dawn, with a thank you to her for her two years of hard work.”
The Bristol Borough Youth Football and Cheerleading Programs give the athletes the best total football and cheerleading experience. “I strongly believe the only way to build a stronger, more competitive program is to start with the youth,” Coach Chapman confirmed. Their presence is a promise to rebuild the once-great Wildcats Youth Program that dissolved in the late ‘70’s and put them back on the radar.
The passion, the pride and the toughness runs deep and these kids can play and take satisfaction in representing their towns. It’s a lot more than just about developing winning teams; it is also a program that helps kids take pride in their individual accomplishments.
“Teach them well and let them lead the way…”
Italicized lyrics, "Greatest Love of All" by Whitney Elizabeth Houston [1963-2012]
Recommend a “Spotlight”. E-mail vjmrun@yahoo.com
Bristol Borough Youth Football and Cheerleading Programs
contact Chris Chapman 267.444.1932
