MURRIETA – With their 14-0 win at the Regional Championship in Arizona Saturday, Nov. 18, the 9U Blitzhawks Pop Warner team from Murrieta punched their ticket to play in the Wescon Pop Warner Super Bowl in Orlando, Florida in December. The Blitzhawks, who went undefeated with thirteen wins and zero losses this season, will compete in the D1 National Championship bracket. If the local hometown team wins their initial games, the first week in December, they will play in the Pop Warner Super Bowl Saturday, Dec. 9. It has been almost five years since the last time Murrieta sent a team to Florida, and it’s no easy task.
According to Sandra Stover, who is on staff with the Blitzhawks, there are twenty-two amazing, talented, and hard-working players that plan to make the trip, “this is a dream for them, but taking that many players is expensive, and we are trying to raise as much funds as we can to go towards each and every one of them.”
It is no secret that travel and expenses add up, especially this time of year, so the team set up a GoFundMe account and are hoping their local community can help so that all players are able to afford the trip.
“We would hate for a player to not be able to attend due to finances, so every little bit helps,” says Stover. “Any donations would be greatly appreciated, and 100% of all donations will go directly to the players. Please help spread the word for this once in a lifetime unforgettable experience for these young boys!”
The team’s travel dates are Friday, Dec. 1, through Saturday, Dec. 9. In their first-round matchup they will take on the SoCo Warriors from Colorado. Game time is set for 8:30 a.m. and can be viewed online by visiting www.popwarnersuperbowl.com.
To help the team with their fundraising goal, click here.
9U BLITZHAWKS REGIONAL CHAMPIONS: Isaiah Hamamoto, KorDae Wilson, Cooper Anderson, James-Jay Gabiola, Jaxon Dyer, Gavin Rawson, Cannon Clark, Jacob Fernandez, David Cantillo, Cashton Hyldahl, Braden Kaveney, Brad-Lee Young, Jet Stover, Slater Smith, Gianni Quaranta, Aaron Vega Solorzano, Bryce Peterson, Jacob Hilgenberg, Hagen Sanserino, Sebastian De La Torre, Shane Luyben, and Nunez Zeelan.
The coaching and admin staff includes Matt Nunez, Jon Dyer, Joe Anderson, Joey Hamamoto, Tommy Rawson, Dale Mullins, Eddie Kaveney, Tanya Dyer, Robyn Anderson, and Sandra Stover.
Murrieta Valley Pop Warner also sent two teams to the Wescon Division 3 Championship games in Maui this past weekend. The 14U and 12U age brackets had representation from the Murrieta area with the 12U Warhawks and 14U Ballhawks competing in the Island vs Mainland Championship game. Every year the different islands take turns hosting these games, which took place for an even more special reason this year.
The Maui Pop Warner league’s equipment storage got burned in the devastating fires that shook their island in August, resulting in the loss all of their equipment. The Southern California chapter of the Wescon Conference, which includes the Murrieta Valley and Temecula Valley Pop Warner leagues, sent the affected Maui league over thirteen thousand dollars to help them replace their equipment.
While both Murrieta teams found victory, Warhawks 22-16, and Ballhawks 36-12, just getting to experience this trip was even more of a win. As is the custom, the two teams not only exchanged gifts before and after the games, but the Maui teams also hosted the Murrieta teams for dinner following their games.
“If our team didn’t travel to play the game, the Maui group would not have a team to play, so I know that all the boys were over the moon about traveling to play that game,” says Ashlee DePhillippo, who not only has a son on the 12U team, but also works for the City of Menifee. “To say that he was excited is a severe understatement. Our team could only take about sixteen players, as many of our families could not travel during this time. So, our players who did make the trip gave it their best and had fun.”
In a post on Facebook the league had this to say, “We are so proud of our boys and families for making the commitment to travel and allowing our MVPW boys the opportunity to gain lifelong memories.”
To find out more information about Murrieta Valley’s Pop Warner program visit https://www.mvpw.org.
JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com.
