Contact:
Dave Lockett
National Football League
(212) 450-2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THIRTY-TWO
GIRLS AND BOYS COMPETE FOR NATIONAL HONORS
AT 1997 NFL GATORADE PUNT, PASS & KICK NATIONAL FINALS
Four Boys And
Four Girls Will Be Crowned National Champions
In Their Respective Age Divisions
NEW YORK, December 29 – Thirty-two boys and girls ages 8 through 15 will compete for national honors at the NFL Gatorade Punt, Pass & Kick National Finals on Sunday, January 4, 1998 at Arrowhead Stadium during halftime of the Kansas City Chiefs’ divisional playoff game. Each participant will punt, throw and placekick a football for distance and accuracy. The competition will be nationally televised live on NBC.
Boys and girls will compete separately in four age divisions (8&9, 10&11, 12&13 and 14&15) with the top cumulative scorer in each age division crowned national champion. All 32 finalists advanced through Local, Sectional and Team Championship competitions, and will receive trophies regardless of where they place in the finals.
"The NFL Gatorade Punt, Pass & Kick program is the largest grassroots youth sports skills competition in the United States, and this year we set an all-time record for participants," said Scott Lancaster, director of youth development for NFL Properties. "The beauty of the program is that every youngster who competes has an equal chance to win, regardless of whether they have previously played the game."
More than 600,000 competitors entered the 1997 NFL Gatorade Punt, Pass & Kick program, including 150,000 girls. In 1996, 500,000 youngsters competed in the program, including 125,000 girls.
"As the title sponsor of Punt, Pass & Kick, Gatorade is proud to help offer an exciting youth sports program that allows some of America’s top young athletes to be rewarded on a national level," said Bill Schmidt, vice president, Gatorade Sports Marketing Worldwide. "We hope to introduce Punt, Pass & Kick to even more young fans, and continue to increase the number of competitors every year."
Qualifiers for the 1997 NFL Gatorade Punt, Pass & Kick National Finals include:
| GIRLS | BOYS |
| 8&9 Year-Olds | 8&9 Year-Olds |
| Nicole Flego, Doylestown, PA (Eagles) | Bryan Hartsel, Concordia, KS (Chiefs) |
| Jayme Albrandt, Moses Lake, WA (Seahawks) | Eric Andreuzzi, Floral Park, NY (Jets) |
| Meagan Lambros, Bayville, NJ (Jets) | Clell Hasenbank, John Day, OR (Seahawks) |
| Annie Canalin, Martinez, CA (Raiders) | Brennan Grubbs, Stuart, FL (Dolphins) |
| 10&11 Year-Olds | 10&11 Year-Olds |
| Chelsi Bush, Escondido, CA (Chargers) | Todd Frazier, Toms River, NJ (Jets) |
| Whitney Vose, Newburyport, MA (Patriots) | Dwayne Purter, Moraine, OH (Bengals) |
| Kelsey Ketcik, Lansing, MI (Lions) | Jamie Rahn, Womelsdorf, PA (Eagles) |
| Jamie Brewin, Vineland, NJ (Eagles) | Kyle Shimmens, Jefferson City, MO (Rams) |
| 12&13 Year-Olds | 12&13 Year-Olds |
| Adrienne Alo, Pt. Mugu, CA (Chargers) | Jonathan Bishop, Chesaning, MI (Lions) |
| Amy Huyser, Grand Rapids, MI (Lions) | Jared Jenkins, Westminster, CA (Chargers) |
| Hallie Blackney, Maryville, MO (Chiefs) | Rocky Russo, Monterey, CA (49ers) |
| Autom Eckert, Mims, FL (Buccaneers) | Edward Marsh III, Lee Center, NY (Bills) |
| 14&15 Year-Olds | 14&15 Year-Olds |
| Lindsey Holman, Cedar City, UT (49ers) | Joey Metropoulous, Jamul, CA (Chargers) |
| Krystal Bowes, Louisburg, KS (Chiefs) | Amit Rattan, Beavercreek, OH (Bengals) |
| Tammy Addington, St. Maries, ID (Seahawks) | Chase Brackley, Lindley, NY (Bills) |
| Courtney Rathjens, Tulare, CA (Raiders) | James Cockman, Kansas City, MO (Chiefs) |
The NFL Gatorade Punt, Pass & 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; Starter Play Football Camps, and Summer Youth Training Camps.