Several of our Italy, Texas youth are reveling in victories of recent sports championships. Did you know?

Did you know that the Italy Youth Athletic Association’s C-Team Gladiators football team are the 2014 Super Bowl Champions?! These kiddos are 2nd graders, 1st graders and kindergarteners!

^{Curtis Benson, Ryland Cagle, Elijah Davis, Koda Harris,
Jayden Hernandez, Ramzi Holt, Cory Johnson, Kace McDaniel,
Grant Morgan, J.C. Smith, Gavin Vasquez, Gared Wood,
Damian Wooldridge
Coaches: Jasenio Anderson, Gary Wood, Andre Speed,
Barry Byers and Shedric Walker
Cheerleaders: Mikyia Adams, Cheyenne Caudle,
Lilyana Hugghins, Shay Johnson, Sorienna Maynard,
Donna Moffeit, Charlea Padilla, Mayson Souder,
Jordynn Wiser
Cheer Coach: Lindy Wooldridge}

Did you know that the Italy Youth Athletic Association’s 8u Lady Gladiator softball team is the Waxahachie Youth Baseball League’s 2014 Fall Softball Champions?! These talented little toughies are 1st graders, 2nd graders, 3rd graders and 4th graders!

^{Taeja Anderson, Kiara Bueno, Kinley Cate, Morgan Chambers,
Tinzley Enriquez, Ella Hudson, Landry Janek, Charlea Padilla,
Justice Shelby, Addy Slovak, Taylor Souder
Coaches: Ken Cate and Brad Chambers}

Did you know that our Italy Youth Athletic Association’s 8u Gladiator baseball team competed in the Waxahachie Youth Baseball League’s 2014 Fall Ball Division-2 Championship game, only losing the title game by one point?! These gallant little Gladiators are 2nd and 3rd graders!

^{Jamil Bueno, Hagen Carr, Austin Cate, Dustin Duke,
Houston Gage, Clayton Hellner, Levi Joffre, Gavin Ramirez,
Easton Viator, Damien Wooldridge
Coaches: Jackie Cate, John Gage, Sal Ramirez,
Jay Hellner and Lee Joffre}

Did you know that the Italy Youth Athletic Association’s B-Team Gladiators football team are the 2014 Super Bowl Runners-Up?! These little Gladiators are 3rd and 4th graders!

^{Christopher Adams, Bryce Ballard, Jordan Clamon, John Hall,
Gabrill Martinez, Wyatt Ryan, Chance Shaffer, Taylor Sparks,
Willie Talton, Preston Walker, Jaylon Wallace
Coaches: Mark Souder, John Hall, Brian Anderson, Daniel Ballard
and Jermaine Jackson
Cheerleaders: Annaliese Almanza, Sarah Cumpton, Gabi Haake,
Sicily Johnson, Hannah Krusen, Hannah Pajak, Taylor Souder,
Jada Williams
Cheer Coach: Alyssa Compton}

Did you also know that the Italy Youth Athletic Association’s A-Team Gladiators football team made an appearance in the 2014 Playoffs? These guys are 5th and 6th graders!

^{Jaiden Barr, Rance Beets, Aiden Brewer, Ty Cash,
Andrew Celis, Anthony Chambers, Bryce DeBorde,
Christian Garza, Bryant Haake, Kort Holley, Creighton Hyles,
Chase Hyles, Darrin Jackson, Reese Janek, Benjamin Stevens,
Sam Stevens, Jacob Strickland, Julius Williams
Coaches: Charles Hyles, Carl Cash, Kyle Holley,
Eric Haake and Cory Johnson
Cheerleaders: Renee Brewer, Brianna Hall, Jaliyah Hall,
Karley Sigler, Brooklyn Steinmetz, Alyssa Wiser,
Kinsie Whatley
Cheer Coach: Rachel Hall}

Where am I going with this?…

It is like the story “A Christmas Carol.” The one where Scrooge was visited by ghosts of the past, present and future to show him how he can better himself. The way I see it, these little Gladiators’ efforts this fall is Italy’s “future ghost!” This “ghost” makes it perfectly clear the direction that we as a school district and community need to work towards and to plan for.

The current Italy ISD School Board is doing just that—planning for the future. Big decisions will need to be made and supported by all of us. These decisions will help the Italy community as a whole, all the while creating a better environment not only for these young student-athletes of whom I speak of above, but all our children no matter what their extra-curricular interests are.

I am not sure why I was so moved to write about this. I guess just thinking about all of the “championships” won by Italy kiddos in just these last few weeks is astounding. Add that to the rich Gladiator heritage of championships past, the hopefulness of Gladiator championships present and the dreams of Gladiator championships future….we are Italy, Texas: The Town of Champions Past, Present and Future!