Rain, wind, cold, win, lose or draw, the dedicated IYAA Cheerleaders supported their teams through it all in 2009. Often performing on rain-soaked sidelines and having to endure cold temperatures, those glittery gold pom-poms never stopped shaking and spirits never waivered. And for all the sacrifices, the IYAA players and coaches want to say, “Thank You.”
Saturday morning in Hubbard, the IYAA (Italy Youth Athletic Association) fielded two football teams competing for a chance to become Superbowl Champions of their respective divisions. By the end of the day one thing was for sure, defense wins Championships….but offense comes in handy as well.
HUBBARD – The IYAA C-Team Gladiators defeat the Palmer Bulldogs to win the NESA “C” Superbowl 18-0. The IYAA B-Team Gladiators hold off the Ferris Yellowjackets for a 19-0 Superbowl win. The 2009 season marks the first time in IYAA history that all three football teams (A,B & C) qualified for the playoffs. Let the celebrations begin starting with the IYAA bonfire party tonight at 6:00 p.m.
After the IYAA C-Team and B-Team Gladiators compete for Superbowl Championships earlier in the day, the IYAA Bonfire party will start at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 21 at Gary Wood’s house located at 1326 L.R. Campbell Road in Italy.
The IYAA A-Team won their wildcard game at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday morning against Palmer to claim the 4th seed in the “A” Division’s Playoff standings. The victory marked the first time in IYAA history that all three football divisions (A, B & C-Teams) and their cheerleaders qualified for the playoffs. By days end, the IYAA B & C-Teams advanced to next Saturday’s Superbowl games to be played in Hubbard.
The IYAA Gladiators C-Team and B-Team scrapped with the Rice Bulldogs Saturday in Italy. Both teams were on a mission to finish the regular season as undefeated division champs. Mission’s accomplished!
The IYAA Gladiators pee-wee football teams and cheerleaders hosted the Hubbard Jaguars on Saturday in Italy. Even though it was Halloween, it would be some trick if Hubbard could treat themselves to wins over Italy.
Three games against the Dawson Bulldogs on Saturday resulted in three shutout wins for the IYAA Gladiator football teams and their cheerleaders. In the three games combined, Italy totalled 80-points to Dawson’s 0-points. “Ouch!”
The IYAA football teams and cheerleaders enjoyed IYAA Picture Day on Tuesday. And even though picture day turned into picture night after the camera crew was delayed in the traffic, the kids were all smiles when it was time to say, “Cheese!”
Three games, three wins and three cheers for the IYAA Gladiators as they swept the Ferris Yellow Jackets Saturday in Ferris. It was a cold day for football but the bright lights on the visiting side of the scoreboard kept IYAA fans warm.
IYAA President, Jason Escamilla wishes to inform the IYAA players, cheerleaders and parents that the football games originally scheduled to be played Italy this Saturday have been moved to Ferris. All IYAA football games will be played in Ferris this weekend.
The IYAA Gladiators traveled to Scurry-Rosser Saturday to take on the Wildcats. The Wildcats knocked the IYAA C-Team and B-Team out of the playoffs last season setting the stage for some fun yet dramatic football.
With the first football games against Palmer being rained out in week 1, followed by a Bye in the 2nd week of the season, Saturday doubled as the IYAA Homecoming games as well as their season openers.
The IYAA Bonfire Party has been CANCELLED due to inclement weather. The IYAA will reschedule the Bonfire at a later, much dryer, date. This marks the first time in ten years the event has been cancelled.
IYAA Vice President Gary Wood announced that all the IYAA football games, scheduled to be played Saturday in Palmer, have been cancelled due to the inclement weather.
IYAA football for ages kindergarten through 6th grades is in it’s second week of pre-season practices. The Majors (5th & 6th grades), the Minors (3rd and 4th grades) and then Bantam (K-2nd grades) make up the three teams the IYAA will be fielding in 2009.
The IYAA Football season gets underway Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Upchurch Ballfields. The A-Team (Majors), the B-Team (Minors) and the C-Team (Bantam) will each have their first practice to meet the coaches and their teammates.
FINAL SIGNS-UPS for football and cheerleading will be Saturday, August 1st from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at the Upchurch Ballfields. All players MUST be present to have their picture taken. County issued birth certificates and registration fees must be submitted at the time of sign-up. Eligible players are 2009-2010 school year Kindergarten to 6th graders.
Upchurch Ballfield – Photo retakes will be available for purchase on July 25, starting at 9:00 am. The IYAA end of the season Baseball/Softball Party will be on August 1, starting at 5:00 pm and Football/Cheerleading Sign-ups will take place during both events as well.
The IYAA will be having Football/Cheerleading sign-ups on Saturday, July 18th from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at the Upchurch Baseball Fields. All players MUST be present to have their picture taken. County issued birth certificates and registration fees must be submitted at the time of sign-up. Eligible players are 2009-2010 school year Kindergarten to 6th graders.
The IYAA will be having Football/Cheerleading sign-ups on Saturday, July 11th from 10 until 4 at Italy City Hall at 101 W. Main Street. All players MUST be present. County issued birth certificates and registration fees must be submitted at the time of sign-up. Eligible players are 2009-2010 school year Kindergarten to 6th graders.
The IYAA will be having Football/Cheerleading sign-ups on Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri during evening baseball games at the Upchurch Fields. On Saturday, June 27, from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., sign-ups will be at the Dunlap Library on Clark Street in Italy.
The IYAA will be having its end of the season football/cheerleading banquet on Saturday, December 6, 2008. The festivities will start at 12:00 p.m. and end around 2:00 p.m. at the Stafford Elementary School gymnasium in Italy, Texas. Hotdogs and beverages will be provided before the trophy ceremonies.
The IYAA C-Team Gladiators had to endure a bitterly cold 9:00 a.m. game start to compete for the Conference Championship against the Scurry Rosser Wildcats. Scurry’s previous loss to the Gladiators and the frigid weather didn’t detour them as the Wildcats jumped out to a 19-6 halftime lead.
The IYAA football teams wrap up their regular season and prepare for playoffs! In the playoffs this Saturday, November 15, B division’s third ranked Italy B-Team (6-2) will play Scurry Rosser. Undefeated C Divison Champions the Italy C-Team (8-0) will play Scurry Rosser as well. Let’s all make it to the games and support our young players in Hubbard!
We cordially invite all of our fans to come and enjoy the final IYAA home football games of the 2008 season. On Saturday, November 8, the C-Team will start at 9 a.m., the B-Team will start at 10:30 a.m. and the A-Team will start at 12 p.m. “Get your popcorn ready!”
The Italy Youth Athletic Association hosts Homecoming every year around the same time as Italy High School’s Homecoming. This year was no different. On Saturday, October 25, after a wonderful day in the parade, the football teams — A, B, and C — played football against the Rice Bulldogs.
Tuesday night, was the IYAA bonfire and what a night it was. You started your evening off with pizza, pizza and more pizza! Parents and their children did not go hungry.
IYAA has lots of fun every weekend. Boys from age groups of kindergarden through 6th grade. Check out their progress this past weekend.
The three teams of IYAA lined up once again and fought hard, this time against the Scurry Wildcats on Saturday. Italy “C” team, consisting of K, 1st and 2nd graders, lead 20-0 at halftime. The young Gladiators changed the team around and changed things in the course in the second half. The final score was 31-19 with Italy putting another notch in their belt. Their overall record is 3-0.
All three teams from IYAA (Italy Youth Athletic Association) performed this past Saturday against Blooming Grove Lions. These kids are Kindergarden to 6th grade, divided into three teams. They are our future Italy Gladiators and the on the field training proves to be a good thing.
The IYAA (Italy Youth Athletic Association) Football program kicked-off with its season opener against the Hubbard Jaguars on Saturday. Three games were played with the Italy teams A, B and C. The A team consists of 5th and 6th graders and coached by Randy Boyd and Jason Escamillia. The B team has 3rd and 4th graders and is coached by Jared Esselman, Stephen Mott and Edwin Wallace. The C team has Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd graders and is coached by Gary Wood and Barry Byers.
