Submitted to Wayne Today| NorthJersey
Every year the Wayne PAL football and Cheer program hold their end-of-year brunch banquet. This year, like all years, there was the handing out of awards, the highlight reelsand speeches of gratitude and appreciation. However, this year there was one thing that was different. One thing that stood out. And it was a culmination of events and the development of a special team that started back in August.
For the first time in a long timea Wayne PAL football team not only went undefeated in the regular season, but brought home a Pee Wee Super Bowl championship from the North Bergen Junior Football League (NBJFL). The championship game against the No. 1-seeded Montville Broncos happened Nov. 10. The celebration happened that night and continued Dec. 9 at the Brownstone reception hall. The highlight of the day was the handing out of the jackets to all the players that had “Wayne PAL Football Undefeated NJBFL Champs” embroidered on each one.
The accolades were to continue Dec. 19 with the players and coaches to be honored at Wayne’s townshipcouncil meeting.
“I know all the coaches and parents are proud of the boy’s accomplishments. They should be. I for one am very proud of them and feel they it deserves every bit of the recognition it is getting,” said Wayne PAL DirectorSteve Shiftman.
“This group of kids and families are awesome. They say the season goes fast when you are winning. Man, was that for sure. It feels like just last week that we opened up practice. To say these kids learned how to play as a unit this year would be incorrect,” said Pee Wee coach Jack Yuppa.
“These kids have been a unit for several years, and the additions that came on board this year just helped our already really good team, become a great one. I am extremely proud of all of them. Finishing what you started was something we were preaching to our kids from Day One. I’d say they did that.”
CommissionerMark Cummings stated, “That’s the beauty of football. When done as a unit with everyone bought in, the sky is the limit. This group of Pee Wee families have something special, and I am glad to have seen it happen. This group of families, players, and coaches deserve it.”
Two of the levels within the program made it to finals of the respective playoff brackets, making the 2018 Wolfpack season an even better one to reflect on.
“I have seen this program grow for seven years now. We have been making great strides as a program and overall things are improving, and getting better. We are doing all of this while competing in a very competitive league,”continued Cummings.
The teams the PAL go up against are regulars in all of the good football program conversations. Teams like Wyckoff, Ridgewood, Paramus, River Dell, Oakland, Mahwah, Ramseyand Northern Highlands.
“To hang with, and beat, those types of teams say a lot to where we are going as a program overall,” added Cummings.
The championship Pee Wees were just one of several honorees the day at of the banquet.
“The best part are the highlight reels. The kids get such a kick out of it. All players crowd the projection screen as their reel gets played, and the senior group was no different. Whether they are ages 9, 10or 13, the kids' reactions are all the same,” said Senior coach Paul Wolford.
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“One of the best traditions we have is giving away player helmets to our eighth-graders. With signatures from their teammates and coaches, it makes for a great keepsake to remember their youth football years as a Wayne PAL football player.”
As an additional tribute, some Wayne PAL alumni made a visit and delivered speeches to the young players about football being a journey and the important thing it is to stick with it, because good things happen when you do.
Two state champions, Jack Syslo of Bergen Catholic and Jake Grousjean of Wayne Hills, commented on how the coaching and their experience with the Wayne PAL football program made all the difference in their preparation and assisted in their high school football successes.
“We have a pretty good pedigree of football players that have taken their game to, and beyond, high school. Some have gone on to play at all levels of the collegiate ranks, even as far as the NFL. I’m pretty proud of that fact. I’m even more proud to see that same success starting to happen with some of the kids I have had the luxury to watch come through this program. Not surprised. Proud,” said Cummings.
Whether you were the undefeated Pee Wee team, the eighth-graders saying goodbye to an awesome youth careeror a coach, player, or parent just witnessing it all, what you were able to be a part of Sunday was a treat and great day for Wolfpack football.
