Team Titans: Victorious Golden Gate football league saved from near extinction

A year ago, the Golden Gate Youth Titans were in danger of folding their teams in the Southwest Florida Youth Football League.

Enter league president Cynthia Sealy and a group of "can-do" parents, who breathed some needed life into the program, helping the woebegone organization raise the funds it needed to survive.

Those efforts haven’t gone in vain, as the Titans’ U12 squad has gone undefeated and reached the state tournament, the furthest any Titans team has gone in the history of the league. The 11-0 Titans begin play in the three-day state tournament Friday in Lakeland, taking on a team from Bradenton at 12:30 p.m.

Sealy had been previously involved with the Sharks, a feeder program for Gulf Coast, but felt compelled to do something for the fledgling Titans.

“When I took it over in the spring, they had about 65 players and most of those kids’ parents hadn’t paid their (registration) fees, there was really no parent involvement whatsoever,” she said. “Since then, we’ve done what no one said we could do. The teams are finally winning. Everyone has worked so hard. Nothing has been given to us.”

Sealy says the parents needed to be shown their registration fees would be put to good use. In years past, the program wasn’t very organized and teams often had to scramble to buy uniforms and find places to practice.

“We just had to hold the parents accountable, allowing them to have a big say in what we’re doing as a league,” she said. “So we got them involved in helping us pick the uniforms and getting the kids compression shirts. They wanted a breakdown of where the registration fees went. They saw everything went to getting new equipment, new uniforms. They saw they weren’t giving us a hand-out, it was more of a hand-up. Everything went for the betterment of the league. We showed the parents if they paid the fees, they’d be getting a good return on their investment. Well, our kids are doing better in the classroom and on the field. All around, it’s been a giant win of a season.”

Sealy says Golden Gate High School and coach Mike DiGrigoli have been a tremendous help, allowing the youth Titans to use the high school facilities for practices. Players from the high school have been mentors for their younger counterparts, as well.

“We sat down with the high school, sat down with Coach D and told him we really wanted to be a feeder program for the school,” she said. “We wanted to change the mentality, change the culture of what Golden Gate football is all about, and that really starts at the youth level. If we get these kids proud of being Titans at an early age, that’s going to translate once they get to high school.”

This year’s U12 team has certainly done its part in changing that culture, winning every one of its games by double digits en route to an 11-0 record heading into the state tournament.

“I’d say the main difference this year is we’ve been more disciplined with the kids,” Titans coach Walter Pinckney said. “But these kids have an awful lot of talent. They’re the type of kids that put in a lot of practice time in when you’re not looking. They work a lot to get better on their own. Those are the types of kids you love to coach.”

Pinckney took time to mention a few of his key players, although he said all 22 kids have made a big contribution to the squad’s undefeated season.

He said running back/wide receiver Mario Joicoeur has opened some eyes this season, especially since he’s relatively inexperienced as a football player.

“This only the second year he’s played football, yet he looks as if he’s been playing his whole life,” he said. “He’s going to be a special player when it’s all said and done.”

He also singled out running back Jordan Jean-Luc and wide receiver Olson Henry, who began the season as the team’s quarterback.

“We soon figured out he had some of the best hands on the team, so we moved him to receiver,” Pinckney said.

The team’s starting quarterback is one of the Titans’ youngest players — John Lee Honorat.

“This is his first year playing U12, we thought he was too small at first,” he said. “But he’s a kid you’re going to be hearing a lot about in the coming years. He’ll be back as our quarterback next year, and we’re glad he got some experience for us this year.”

The Titans have plenty of size up front with players like Nicolas Nixen, Travis Bryant and Marcos Garcia playing key roles.

First-year player Joshua Philogene has also made an impact at his cornerback position with three interceptions.

“He started out as our second-string cornerback but he worked his way into the starting lineup,” Pinckney said. “He’s made a ton of pass breakups to go along with those interceptions.”

Sealy said she’s been encouraged by all the success this season, and she thinks it’s just the tip of the iceberg for what’s to come.

“It’s really exciting,” she said. “We feel we can help change the perception of what football in Golden Gate is all about. We feel if everybody does a little bit, nobody has to do it all. And that’s what’s happened here. Everyone has pitched in, and the results speak for themselves.”