The Carson Senator Junior Pee Wee Blue football team made it to a place that no community Pop Warner club has ever been before. And it was the ultimate in a team effort - from the players, coaches, parents and the entire community.
The Senator team recognized its unprecedented season and those who made it possible during an awards ceremony on Monday at Reds Old 95 Grill.
Carson became the first team to advance to the national championships when it beat the Redwood City, Calif. 49ers 13-12 in brutal, snowy conditions on a November Saturday morning in Sparks. With the victory, the Senators won the Pacific Northwest Regional title.
Then came the hard part. But thanks to the community, the team was able to raise $56,000 in six days to make the trip to Orlando, Fla., for the national championships.
"We've got to give the community a lot of credit," Senator coach Ron Pacheco said. "This was phenomenal."
Pacheco also gave credit to mothers Mary Sawyers, Kyme Brown and Kris Myers for their work in handling arrangements for the trip so the coaches could concentrate just on their duties with the team.
At Orlando, the Senators lost to Arlington, Texas in the semifinals and to Manassas, Va. in the third place game to settle for a fourth place finish in the nation. Carson finished the year with an 11-2 record.
Pacheco noted that of his 33 players, 11 were first-year players and five were in their second year. He also noted that six players weighed under 70 pounds in a division in which the weight limit was 110.
"These kids played tough, they played with a lot of heart, with a lot of intensity," Pacheco said.
Among those on hand during Monday's ceremony was Carson City Mayor Marv Teixeira, who presented a proclamation from the city, and Secretary of State Dean Heller, who presented a proclamation from the state. The team also received a letter of congratulations from Gov. Kenny Guinn.