
If this story sounds familiar, it should. A group of young Point Loma Pop Warner Pee Wee-level football players has earned a berth in a national championship game in Florida. Many of the players were members of last year’s Pee Wee Div. 2 group who brought home a national championship. And yes, they are once again coached by Pete Balistreri. Twenty-four boys who have trained all season and been schooled in the importance of hard work, never giving up and learning to run plays with great attention to detail. Tournament dates are Dec. 2-8, with all games played at the massive ESPN Wide World of Sports Center in Orlando, Fla. Team members are seeking donations to make the trip, with an estimated cost of $1,500 per player. When not practicing, you may encounter players seeking donations at the Ralph’s grocery store on Rosecrans Street or the Von’s on Midway Drive. A GoFundMe.com account has been set up for the team under the title “Support Pointers Pee Wee to FL.” The team has also been awarded the 2016 San Diego Pop Warner Sportsmanship Award. Many individuals on the team have qualified for the title of “All-American Scholar,” a Pop Warner program that awards high achievement in the classroom. The team mom is Caroline Hovey.