Niagara Youth Flag Football Nitro travel teams brought home two gold medals from the Canton, Ohio Summer Nationals recently.
“Niagara Nitro certainly has solidified its reputation locally, provincially and nationally and is now doing that stateside with incredible performances across the board,” Nitro coach Matty Hill said. “It was a weekend of football, fun, family, barbecues and just quality time with amazing people.”
Winning gold medals were the under-15 boys and under-10 girls squads.
“The under-15 boys are no stranger to the big stage and respected amongst many in the States. They won the nationals in a dominating 20-0 final,” he said. “Team MVP Travis Boland was a monster for the team. Quarterback Noah Walters and wide receiver/safety Trent Dobson also were key parts of the team’s success.”
Walters and Dobson also brought home gold medals in one-on-one competitions.
Other members of the under-15 team, coached by Hill, Jeremy MacLeod and Charlotte Clarke, were Dylan Devries, Eric Corriveau, Gavin Paxton, Jack McNeil. Jared Cappa and Justin Cournoyea.
“The under-10 girls program director called it the happiest championship he has ever witnessed,” Hill said. “So many Nitro players, parents, coaches rallied behind the girls to watch a fairly newly assembled team win a championship against a very good and seasoned team called Focus Elite. These girls were fierce, fast and left it all on the field.”
He feels the under-10 girls team is the most talented team in the world at that age.
“I know it’s a bold statement but I’m look forward to watching them for years.”
Members of the team, coached by Chalene MacLeod, Steph Caporicci, Cliff Ivory and Alyssa MacLeod, were defensive MVP Amy Caporicci, offensive MVP Jasmine Henry, MVP Shiloh Ivory, Lily Grossi, Neema Bahati, Neriah Ivory. Parker Marotta and Skylar Christian.
Niagara Nitro brought eight teams to Canton and many others teams also fared well. Results included: the under-14 and under-12 girls teams, who played against all boys team, won games and showed they belonged with amazing performances and grit; the under-7 boys and under-12 boys teams lost to the eventual championship teams in their respective divisions; and, the under-13 and under-11 boys squads competed hard and held their own against some elite competition.
“All in all, the tournament was a huge success for the program and we look to build on this momentum as we continue to grow our travel program,” Hill said. “Exciting details are coming about what’s next to help get more elite talent involved in the program.”
Nitro will host a travel tournament Aug. 26 and 27 which will feature teams from all over Canada, 12 from Mexico and a few from the States. It is sold out with 64 teams entered.
Also, the summer/fall house league season will start next Friday with 600 players registered.
