'You made Hesperia proud'

For the better part of six months they endured hours-long workouts in bone-chilling winter cold and baking summer heat. They kept their school grades up, and their families sacrificed time and activities to make it happen.

Last Wednesday night at City Hall, all of their hard work paid off when the Hesperia City Council honored the players, coaches and family members of the Hesperia Trojan Micro and Junior Pee Wee football teams of the Hesperia Junior All American Football for their conference victories in December.

“How does it feel to be champions?” Councilwoman Rita Vogler asked the players, who answered with enthusiastic cheers.

“You made Hesperia proud,” Vogler said to the standing-room-only crowd. “You went up there and won. You guys are great winners.”

The 9- and 10-year-old Micros overwhelmed the Summit Titans, 31-13, to take their Division 2 conference championship in early December. The 11- and 12-year-old Junior Pee Wee’s defeated Apple Valley in a dramatic 21-20 game to take their division. The Micros later won the Micro Division 2007 Mega Superbowl Champions Division.

Before presenting a City Council resolution commending the teams’ achievements, Councilwoman Vogler thanked the coaches for providing guidance and direction to the youngsters.

“I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart from the community,” Vogler said. “You inspire me. I know that you go out there and get these kids and mentor them and let them be the best they can be.”