Wildcats Will Be BHS Warriors
by Cate Murway
“People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society.” Vince Lombardi, American Football Coach
The history of American football can be traced to early versions of rugby football and association football. The contemporary history of one of the world's most favorite games spans more than 100 years. Archaic forms of football, typically classified as mob football, would be played between neighboring towns and villages, involving an unlimited number of players on opposing teams, who would clash in a heaving mass of people struggling to drag an inflated pig's bladder by any means possible to markers at each end of a town. [Historically the pig bladder was used in sports, as the airtight membrane, the "bladder", inside a football.]
The first football game was played in 1869 between Rutgers and Princeton and the first game to be televised was between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1939. There were approximately 500 television sets in New York able to play the game.
Football remains a game of passion. So keep passin' the pigskin!
For the last three years, Bristol Wildcats has been offering children the opportunity to participate in youth sports in Bristol Borough, PA.
“We have brought youth football back to Bristol Borough... it prepares our youth for high school ball and will undoubtedly help the high school program. I encourage more kids to get involved. It will keep the kids involved and not hanging on corners and looking for trouble.....”, confirmed football/basketball athlete, President Christopher Lee Chapman, BHS class of ‘87/Pennco Tech.
Chris has been coaching football for 11 years now and has earned a UYFL National Championship title.
Some 35 years ago the youth football program just faded away, “not for a lack of kids; not for a lack of guys that wanted to run it”, even after a long and proud football tradition. The program rebirth began in 2014, “we got the OK to give it a try” with a single team in the 14U division.
“It’s been booming every year” and now boasts a 6 team organization.
Football is apparently in their blood! “My heart is here in Bristol”, Chris confirmed.
Coach Michael Joseph “Mike” Childs, BHS ’78, with 28 years of coaching experience, is the VP & Director of Football Operations. He is a 2 time National Champion in college football, lettered in 3 varsity sports in high school and was a National Champ in prep school football at Massanutten Military Academy.
He wants the structure and discipline taught on the field carried over into the youths’ personal lives.
Coach Larry Gerld Shaffer works with the “little guys”. His son plays on the team.
“Good coaches are hard to find and Larry has been very instrumental in the program,” added Chris.
Coach John Francis Greiner has been coaching BHS football for the last three years and acknowledges that his team will truly benefit from the Wildcats feeder program. He has offered a working partnership with the youth program, including open access to any practice equipment. The Wildcats are able to practice at the HS and play home games on their BHS field with lights.
Coach Greiner’s team oversees and assists. “They are modeling the drills and the stances.”
One of his four team captains, Xavier Anthony Corbin, BHS ’18, a Distinguished Honor student, is an especially good role model, a multi sport scholar/ athlete. This is his 3rd year of football and his 4th year of both Varsity bowling and Varsity baseball.
“Basketball at one time was my go-to sport. My Aunt Stephanie Battistini taught me the skills!”
He is the eldest of 5 children and two of his brothers are on the Wildcats teams.
Touchdown! The BHS football team garnered a 19-6 non-conference win over ANC in their first game.
“The younger athletes are doing really great. I am proud of my teammates.”
Xavier plans on securing a degree in Elementary and Special ED and he is currently exploring his options at IUP, Kutztown U., PSU and Bloomsburg U.
“There are not a lot of male Special ED teachers and I would like to help.”
Coach Rufus Davis, also a BHS graduate, is the Director of Basketball Operations with 18 years of coaching experience in both football and basketball. He, along with the others, ensure that the Bristol Wildcats remains committed to ensuring an excellent and safe playing experience for the children.
The mindset of a team makes all the difference. This talented, experienced, highly motivated coaching squad “sets very strict guidelines”, holding each one to a high standard of behavior, while offering outlets for ages 5 through 13. In 2015, a Bandit division for 5, 6, and 7 year olds up to 99lbs, was added to the organization and in 2016, a Cadet division was added to include the 7, 8, and 9/10 year olds up to 114lbs. The Wildcats is one of the fastest growing local organizations and has recently added both Cheerleading and Basketball.
The coaches are diligently taking a lead to spearhead an all encompassing mentoring program into the town. Children can be inspired, equipped, and mobilized to make a difference in the world.
Sports teach that work, sacrifice, perseverance, competitive drive, selflessness and respect for authority is the price that each and every one must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.
Many attest to striving to make the world worthy of our children, while others invest their time making better children for our world. Since children are literally the future, our next world leaders, the caretakers of our planet, doesn’t it make sense that if we want a more quality world that we should invest in that very future, our children?
The certified coaches are geared to prepare each aspiring athlete with an excellent and safe playing experience in youth sports, teaching them proper and safe fundamentals for the necessary rigors in a competitive athletic environment. And they keep the focus on fun! Participation allows each to enjoy time spent with their friends, as well as encourages each to make new friends.
Participating in sports has benefits that go way beyond physical fitness, increased coordination and better overall health. Sports also help youth build social skills. By working with others on a team, a child can understand the concept of teamwork and learns leadership skills, sportsmanship and treating others with respect. Each child will also learn about the concept of success vs. failure, and about the dedication it takes to achieve success.
Every kid feels special. After all, who doesn't want to have someone cheering them on?
Character training seems to have gone out of style but all children need guidance and good examples of positive character traits if we want them to grow up to be productive citizens.
Athletics will fade. Character and integrity and really making an impact on one's life is the ultimate vision, the ultimate goal, the bottom line. It doesn’t just happen by chance.
If growing healthy humans is the goal, then building trust and relationships, encouraging, guiding, leading, teaching and communicating are the tools for success and can be fostered through sports, contributing to the formation of character in the next generation.
The Wildcats sincerely thank the Bristol Borough School District and the Board Members who offer sustained support for all the youth programs and especially, heartfelt appreciation for everyone in the community who most generously donates. Some of the sponsors are former BHS athletes.
The hunt is still on. They are aggressively looking for sponsors for more support for these programs.
Chris is extremely thankful for the unbelievable continued support from the Bristol Elks #970, the little lodge with the big heart at 95 Wood Street and Patrick Reagan, President of New Tru Line Fencing in Levittown who are big supporters of the team.
You could make a difference in a child’s life. Can your business help? Looking for “007” to step up!
Teamwork is the ultimate goal.
Bristol Wildcats are on Facebook.
football info 267.444.1932
Recommend a “Spotlight”. E-mail vjmrun@yahoo.com
Coach Chapman
Coach Childs
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