¬Junior Wolves bring youth football back to Mitchell County

Football, pee wee style, is back with a vengeance in Mitchell County.

The Colorado City Junior Wolves program is scheduled to kick off its inaugural next month as part of the West Texas Rural Football League. The nine-team organization will play nine regular season games in multiple divisions before capping the season with a two-week playoff series.

Colorado City will field several teams in the WTRYFL, including flag and tackle teams. The flag football league is designed for Pre-K and kindergarten-age athletes, while the freshman, junior varsity and varsity levels are tackle teams set for athletes in grades 1-2, 3-4 and 5-6, respectively. The C-City Wolves will also sport a youth cheerleading squad.

The Colorado City varsity and JV divisions will begin their season on Aug. 21 when they open the season against Early. Games will be played at the Mitchell County Sports Complex.

Other teams scheduled to participate in the league include Breckenridge, Clyde, Jim Ned, Coleman, Hawley and Merkel.

Wayne Thomason, who coached a team from Big Spring last season, was instrumental in helping bring youth football back to Mitchell County. He, along with other volunteers, have worked over the past few months to raise funds to purchase needed equipment. One of those fundraisers was the recent camp at Wolf Stadium that featured a member of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.

“To say I’m excited would be an understatement,” said Thomason. “I remember the impact my coaches had on my life and hope I can have the same effect on these kid’s lives.”

Thomason said he hopes the return of youth football helps inspire the younger athletes return Colorado City to the upper echelon of high school football at some point.

“Football bonds these kids,” he said. “You look at any renowned football program, Aledo, Strawn, Carthage. Those guys have been playing together since they were in kindergarten. They’re learning each other’s strengths, weaknesses, building their team up, not tearing them down by playing against their friends every game.”

Current members of the Junior Wolves’ flag team include: Tyson Beaird, Kyson Patton, Aaron Vallejo, Andrew Acevedo, Axton Hale, Elijah Flores, Mason Weidt, Anthony Alaniz, Elijah Howell, Jaxon Hosler, Ellis Vasquez, Jebby Forbes, Easton Fox, Morgan Moore, Matthew Ledford and Malachi Mathis. Members of the C-City freshman (Grade 1-2) squad are: Andrew Parker, Benjamin Foster, Braxton Stanford, Briceton Stanford, L.J. Moore, Dustin Thomason, Danny Weidt, Wyatt Brantley, Jayce Yanez, Ethan Moore, Mark Ledford Jr., Joseph Molina and Aithen Parham. Members of the JV (Grades 3-4) squad include: Zerek Stark, Lane Hill, Austin Thomason, Jourdan Stanford, Ryder Stanford, Talan Godina, William McCain, Eli Atkinson, Logan Brantley, Brayden Yanas, Creed Haag, Jadavian Vanderpool and Zerik Arizmendi-Torres.

Members of the varsity (Grade 5-6) squad will include Colby Wright, Mason Owen, Ayden Vallejo, Major Emerson, Stanley Henderson, Anthony Rueda, Ian Salazar, Pete Salazar, Julian Gomez, Anthony Benivamondez, Tyler Davis, Joel Hernandez, Jayson Reyna and Blaize Vanderpool.

Among the cheerleaders for the 2021 season will be Ryhlie Fountain, AnnaBelle Thomason, Laney Ruth, Khloe Vallejo, Kandyce Vallejo, Natlie Gomez, Briar Quiroz, Madison Fields, Elisa Flores, Emily Flores, Ny’Aijah Yancey, Khaliyah Yancey, Samantha Hernandez, Ariah Molina, Aria Jones and Aliyah Jones.

Player registration for the upcoming season runs through Aug. 1.