WORTON No you are not seeing double, though the Spartans of Kent County’s Pop Warner football program are now dressing a lot like the Trojans of Kent County High School.
“This was the time to take Kent County Pop Warner in the same direction as the other counties’ youth football teams with regards to colors,” said Ted Jackson, who is president of Kent’s program. “Caroline, Talbot and Dorchester all have the color of their respective high school and use their program as a feeder program for the high school. Cheap Jerseys china I strongly believe that Kent County should be carrying a message that we are ‘all in’ to promote advancement to high school play as well.”
Jamil Wright, Gilbert Slagle and Harold Somerville, who each wear more than one hat with the Spartan program, worked for more than a year to “get the uniform done right,” said Jackson. He thanked parents and the extended Pop Warner community “for hanging in there with us through the major change to our organization.”
Participation is increasing, with a total of 100 players ranging in age from 5 to 14, and 40 cheerleaders at four age divisions. The gender barrier has been broken in football as there are three girls in the program this year, said Jackson, who took over as president in November 2013.
The Spartans football players and cheerleaders unveiled their new look at a press conference June 10 at the Kent County Community Center, which is adjacent to their home field at Worton Park. The plan, Jackson said then, “is to being the Spartans in line with with the tradition of Blue and Gold at Kent County High School.”
That comes with a hefty price tag of about $46,000 the total cost for uniforms for players and cheerleaders and equipment. The county commissioners allocated $11,000 to “get the uniforms on the way,” said Jackson.
Dixon Valve Coupling Co. donated more than $10,000 to replace and upgrade helmets, reducing the risk of concussions. Safety was a priority when doing the redesign, said Jackson.
Joel Meisel, owner of Great Oak Landing, donated $5,000.
The Millington Lions Club, the C. Henry Price American Legion post in Betterton, Chestertown Elks Lodge No. 2474 and CPR Cell Phone Repair in Middletown, Del., also have provided financial support.
Jackson said a balance of about $18,000 remains. Box 78, Worton MD 21678.
The Spartans kicked off their season Saturday, Aug. 22 with a pep rally and family fun day at Worton Park. They open play Aug. 29 on the road against the Dorchester Vikings.
The first home games are Saturday, Sept. 5 against the Caroline Cougars.
League officers are: Ted Jackson, president; Jamil Wright, vice president; Harold Somerville, commissioner; and Jennifer Cox, commissioner of the cheer program.
Listed here are the coaching staffs.
Tiny Mite, ages 5, 6 and 7: head coach Ted Jackson and assistants Harold Somerville, Gregory Rochester, Brad Wilson and Delbert Hicks.
Mitey Mites, ages 7, 8 and 9: head coach Jerry Heinefield and assistants Wayne Lee, Kevin Price, Timothy McCarthy and Carlos Cordoza.
Junior PeeWee, ages 8, 9 and 10: head coach Nick Cannon and assistants Kareem Beck, Gilbert Slagle and Harold Jones.
Pee Wee, ages 9, 10 and 11: head coach Pierre Tue and assistants Damian Brooks, Daniel Dorsey, Melvin Freeman and Dwain Brown.
Midget, ages 12, 13 and 14: head coach Jamil Wright and assistants Paul Tue, Corey Tosten, Antonio Rodgers and Jeron Hoxter.
The cheerleading coaches are: Tiny Mites, Sara Moore and Jackie Crossley; Mitey Mites, Mirelle Cain; Junior Pee Wee, Jennifer Ervin; and Junior Midget, Jennifer Cox and Melissa Porter.
