Local 7th & 8th Graders Compete At Youth Football Championship

Thursday, December 12, 2019 at 10:41 AM

The Youth Football Championship happened in Canton, Ohio on December 5-9.

(Canton, Oh.) - Some local football players took home major hardware from the World Youth Football Championship at the Prop Football Hall of Fame from December 5-9.

Indiana Select is one of three "select travel" teams in Indiana. The team is a USA Select affiliated team, which is a league that allows "Select" teams to play best teams rather than traditional random player registration.

This year, Indiana Select had teams for 7th and 8th grade. Both teams are made up of players from our southeast corner of the state, Bloomington, Greenwood, and Fishers.

7th and 8th grade teams competed in multiple tournaments this fall, including the World Youth Football Championship at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH.

The 7th grade team went a perfect 3-0 in Canton to bring home a 1st place rank from the Pro Football Hall of Fame. They beat Team Oregon 22-6, Team Kentucky 34-0, and Team Utah 31-0.

8th grade finished 2nd second at the World Youth Football Championship.

Both teams played their championship games at Tom Benson Stadium Hall of Fame Field.

Games were aired over CBS Sports Network and live streamed over the World Youth Football Championship website.

7th grade head Carl Pieczonka explained how this experience included more than just playing football games.

"During the opening ceremony for the World Youth Football Championship, our players were greeted and entertained by eleven time Pro Bowler and NFL Hall of Fame Gold Jacket Member Rod Woodson, who played 17 seasons in the NFL with most notably the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens where he won Super Bowl XXXV," Coach Pieczonka says.

Coaches

Sam Burton Head Coach of the Indiana Select 8th Grade (Hidden Valley)
Paul Brotherton 8th Grade Assistant Coach (Hidden Valley, Sunman Dearborn Middle School Assistant)
Bob Kuhn 8th Grade Assistant Coach (Logan)
Mike Schneider 8th Grade Assistant Coach (Hidden Valley)
Greg Rauen 7th Grade Assistant Coach (Bright Area, Sunman Dearborn Middle School Assistant)
Andy Jaisle 7th Grade Assistant Coach (Batesville)
Carl Pieczonka 7th Grade Head Coach Indiana Select (Sunman Dearborn Middle School Assistant)

Players

Ryan Brotherton 8th Grade (Sunman Dearborn Middle School)
Joshua Ringer 8th Grade (Sunman Dearborn Middle School)
AJ Garrison 8th Grade (Sunman Dearborn Middle School)
RJ Sieg 8th Grade (Sunman Dearborn Middle School)
Cole Burton 8th Grade (Sunman Dearborn Middle School)
Connor Kuhn 8th Grade (Sunman Dearborn Middle School)
Noah Schneider 8th Grade (Sunman Dearborn Middle School)
Quentin Elston 8th Grade (Batesville Middle School)
Alex Kuhn 7th Grade (Sunman Dearborn Middle School)
Wyatt Smith 7th Grade (Sunman Dearborn Middle School)
Gavin Berting 7th Grade (Sunman Dearborn Middle School)
Carson Pieczonka 7th Grade (Sunman Dearborn Middle School)
Logan Bleh 7th Grade (Sunman Dearborn Middle School)
Will Jaisle 7th Grade (Batesville Middle School)
Alex Krekeler 7th Grade (Batesville Middle School)
Gage Pohlman 7th Grade (Batesville Middle School)
Landon Stanley 7th Grade (Milan Middle School)
Brendin Kolter 7th Grade (Brookville Middle School)
Logan Fehr 7Th Grade (Greendale Middle School)

Several local businesses sponsored Indiana Select this season including Logan Supermart owners Mike and Diane Bender, St. Leon and Brookville Skyline owner Dave Deddens, and Bright Skyline owner Malisa Rauen.

The teams are looking to find sponsors for next year's season. Raising money to add one more tournament in season next year is a set goal. Coaches and parents are asking that if you have any fundraising opportunities or would like to be a sponsor, please let them know.

Additional information can be found on the Indiana Select Facebook page, on the USA Select webpage.