Stratford Teams Honored After Placing At Nationals

STRATFORD, CT — Athletes involved with several Stratford Pop Warner youth sports teams were honored at a special Town Council meeting this week after competing at the national level during their fall seasons.

"We are so very, very proud of you," said Mayor Laura Hoydick, who acknowledged the parents and coaches as well as the players while giving her opening remarks Monday night at Town Hall.

Among those recognized was the 12U football team, which won the Connecticut State Championship before coming in second at the Pop Warner Super Bowl. The Stratford Redskins shut out competitors from Illinois and California before falling 12-8 to defending champions the Royal Palm Beach Wildcats of Florida.

"They got to the final game," Stratford Pop Warner President Kevin Devitto said.

The team presented Hoydick with a helmet signed by the athletes.

"It's just special, it's an amazing experience," Redskins Head Coach Matt Diaz said. "... We appreciate all the support we got from the community."

Also celebrated Monday was the Pop Warner Junior Varsity cheer team, which placed first in the southern Connecticut cheer championship before going on to win the state and New England regional titles and place third nationally.

The Junior Pee Wee cheer team also won first place in the southern Connecticut championship and at state, and took second in the regional competition and sixth nationally.

"With discipline and hard work, we can do anything," Junior Pee Wee Head Coach Dawn Nelson said, emphasizing the team's motto, "We win together, we lose together, we work together."

The Mitey Mites cheer team received second place in the southern Connecticut, state and New England championships and took fifth place in the national competition.

Council Chair Christopher Pia concluded the event by leading the officials, parents, coaches and athletes in a round of applause.