Tri Cities Elite Football Team For Freshmen Coming

Our media partners, Washington Sports Network, are giving up and coming freshman football players a chance to showcase their skills on a statewide level--and you can help!

Jerry Mercado, Zenon Thornton, and Manny Molito of Washington Sports Network have put together a "Tri City Elite" football all-star team for 8th graders who will be freshman this fall.   If you've spent any time in the Mid-Columbia, you probably know for virtually every sport from baseball to soccer, softball to hoops,  kids have a chance to make All-Star, Tournament, or Touring teams from an early age.  

  But in football, that opportunity has not been there.  Now, with the creation of the Tri Cities Elite team, incoming freshman will get to compete against other similar teams from around the state.  Jerry Mercado has been setting up games with similar teams from Yakima, Wenatchee, Spokane, and the West Side.   When it is set, the 33 player roster will give some of the best up-and-coming talent from our area a chance to not only play against others from around the state, but potentially attract the interest of future college scouts.  Jerry and Zenon believe, as do many sportwriters in our area, that the Mid Columbia is often overlooked when it comes to seeking out current and future college talent. This team is one of a number of efforts to change that.  WSN is working with area coaches, players and parents to assemble this team.

   WSN is hoping, with enough sponsor support, to defray all costs related to playing on the team.  WSN is especially seeking help and donations to provide uniforms, travel costs and other related expenses. If you are a business, or just want to sponsor this team, click here to see details on the WSN website.
 Plans are for the team to compete in the NW Premiere All-Stars event May 27th and 28th at Lincoln Bowl in Tacoma.  This event will be covered and attended by Scout.com and Rivals.com, two of the biggest high school scouting and recruiting  outfits in the US.   They not only report on up and coming players,  assess and rank perspective college recruits, but they also provide information for colleges and universities for players they may want to check out or recruit for their NCAA programs.

  WSN is seeking help from the community to make this team happen, and make it an annual occurance.  You may contact Jerry, or Zenon by email and find out more information.   They have special packages for businesses who wish to support this non-profit endeavor.

  And remember, to listen in Saturday mornings at 10:30 for the Blitz, the hour long sports show on Newstalk 870, as well as Mid Columbia high school football and other sports presentations on Newstalk with Washington Sports Network.