Children at St. Joseph Catholic Church, and their area counterparts, could soon be enjoying competitive youth football in a church-sponsored league.
The new football program will be introduced in the fall, and comes as part an effort to satisfy the interests of children at the church on Lapeer Road.
‘I wanted to see what I could do for the school,? said Ken Zelmanski, a member of St. Joe’s with a daughter attending first grade at the school there. Zelmanski will serve as the program’s football athletic director, in conjunction with St. Joe’s athletic director Mike Hessen.
‘They had football in the 80’s, then enrollment dropped so they got rid of it,? he said. ‘Now enrollment is back up, and there has been an interest.?
Registration for a junior varsity team consisting of 5th/6th graders, and a varsity team of 7th/8th graders will begin in April. Registrations will also be held at St. Anne’s and Christ the Redeemer in an attempt to get more children involved.
‘We’re not expecting tryouts…our goal is to play everybody,? Zelmanski said. ‘This will be a church-sponsored team, as opposed to a school-sponsored team, because we want to bring in the community. You don’t have to be a St. Joe’s student to play.?
The team will be called the St. Joseph Mavericks, a traditional name and mascot at the school. Games will be played on weekends, with the varsity playing eight games and playoffs, and the JV 6-7 games, both in the Catholic Youth Organization league.
‘It’s very good football, and that’s what we want to expose the kids to,? said Zelmanski of the CYO. ‘I am a product of the CYO…it gave me the opportunity to get a football scholarship to Grand Valley State University.
‘We want to get kids ready for the next level,? he said.
The new league is still looking for coaches.
‘My goal is to develop a very respectful program…religion is always first, family second and school third. I don’t want to lose sight of that by getting involved with the coaching,? Zelmanski said.
St. Joe’s is holding a golf outing (see brief) to help support the new program, as well as other athletic programs there. Zelmanski said area businesses and community members have been generous.
‘I’m really impressed with the response I got from the community and their donations,? he said.
Registration for the football program is $100, and includes a two-evening summer instruction clinic in July.
Registration in April will be for those interested in participating in a 5th/6th grade team; if there is enough interest registration for a 7th/8th grade team will be done in May.
Registration is April 17 at St. Joseph, following Mass in Marian Hall; April 18 at St. Anne Church in Ortonville following Mass; and at St. Joseph following all masses in Marian Hall, and also at Christ the Redeemer following all masses.
Registration will continue April 24 at St. Joseph, 2-4 p.m. in Marian Hall; and April 17, St. Joseph, 2:30-4 p.m. in Marian Hall.
Anyone with questions can contact Ken Zelmanski at 391-9688, or by email at stjosephfootball@aol.com