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Andrew Fink
National Football League
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EIGHT YOUTHS WIN NATIONAL HONORS AT NFL GATORADE
PUNT, PASS AND KICK NATIONAL FINALS
Four boys and four girls crowned National Champions in respective age groups
New York, January 10 – Eight national champions were crowned today in the NFL Gatorade Punt, Pass and Kick National Finals at Giants Stadium. Thirty-two youths (16 boys and 16 girls) competed in four different age divisions with each participant performing one punt, one pass and one placekick. Scores were based on distance minus accuracy.
Adrienne Alo, of Carson, CA., won the girls 14-15 year-old age division. It was her third straight appearance in the Punt, Pass and Kick National Finals, and her first-ever first-place finish. Other first-place girls winners were Miranda Chandler of Flower Mound, TX (girls, 12-13 year-old); Amanda Shattuck of Providence, RI (girls, 10-11 year-old); and Kristen Eible of Lansing, MI (girls, 8-9 year-old). Boys first-place winners were Matt Kappleman of Jacksonville, FL (boys, 14-15 year-old); Ryan Moore of Chattanooga, TN (boys, 12-13 year-old); Ryan Musser of Joy, PA (boys 10-11 year-old); and Caleb Ladig of Wakarusa, IN (boys, 8-9 year-old).
All 32 competitors participated in throwing the football at halftime of the New York Jets-Jacksonville Jaguars AFC Divisional playoff game. The eight first-place finishers were introduced after the third quarter in a presentation that was broadcast nationwide by CBS.
A record 2.3 million kids -- including 750,000 girls -- participated in NFL Gatorade Punt, Pass and Kick this year. That broke the previous record of 600,000 overall participants in 1997. The 32 finalists advanced through local, sectional and Team Championships, and qualified by posting one of the top four scores nationally in his or her age division.
Following are the 1998 final standings for the NFL Gatorade Punt, Pass and Kick National Finals:
| GIRLS | BOYS |
| 8-9 Year Olds | 8-9 Year Olds |
| 1. Kristen Eible, Lansing, MI (Lions) | 1. Caleb Ladig, Wakarusa, IN (Colts) |
| 2. Natalie Baumgardt, Wausau, WI (Packers) | 2. Mike Saenz, Harlingen, TX (Cowboys) |
| 3. Grace Sartori, Cascade, ID (Seahawks) | 3. Trey Meyer, Davenport, IA (Bears) |
| 4. Alexandra Watson, Grapevine, TX (Cowboys) | 4. Hunter Grantham, Jackson, MO (Rams) |
| 10-11 Year Olds | 10-11 Year Olds |
| 1. Amanda Shattuck, Providence, RI (Patriots) | 1. Ryan Musser, Mt. Joy, PA (Eagles) |
| 2. Ashley McDonald, Gainesville, FL (Jaguars) | 2. Bo Richter, Waukesha, WI (Packers) |
| 3. Amanda Different, Hartern, MT (Vikings) | 3. Wesley Kellner, Ira, TX (Cowboys) |
| 4. Alexandra McGuire, Ft. Meade, MD (Ravens) | 4. Jon Prybilla, Mound, MN (Vikings) |
| 12-13 Year Olds | 12-13 Year Olds |
| 1. Miranda Chandler, Flower Mound, TX (Cowboys) | 1. Ryan Moore, Chattanooga, TN (Oilers) |
| 2. Tonya Callahan, Holden, MO (Rams) | 2. Jeremiah Fulton, Lake City, FL (Jaguars) |
| 3. Syndee Scribner, El Dorado, KS (Chiefs) | 3. Andre Brown, Bloomington, IL (Bears) |
| 4. Jenna Brown, Port Orange, FL (Jaguars) | 4. Floyd Reddick, Ft. Lauderdale, FL (Dolphins) |
| 14-15 Year Olds | 14-15 Year Olds |
| 1. Adrienne Alo, Carson, CA (Chargers) | 1. Matt Kappleman, Jacksonville, FL (Jaguars) |
| 2. Jessica Pruett, Whitesboro, TX (Cowboys) | 2. Tom McIntire, Galva, IL (Bears) |
| 3. Lea Blair, Paxton, IL (Bears) | 3. Luke Merrick, Homeworth, OH (Browns) |
| 4. April Roadhouse, Osborne, KS (Chiefs) | 4. Augie Friedrich, Boonville, MO (Rams) |
The NFL Gatorade Punt, Pass and Kick program is part of the NFL’s "Play Football!" initiative that provides exciting ways for even more children to play, watch and experience the game of football. Additional "Play Football!" programs include NFL C.I.T.Y. (Challenge and Inspire Today’s Youth) Football; NFL Flag, presented by Nike; Kmart NFL Family Days; JCPenney/Starter Take a Player to School ; and NFL/Starter Play Football Craze.
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