FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                    CONTACT:
1/21/02                                                                                                   Steve Alic, NFL
                                                                                                              212-450-2066, alics@nfl.com

 

EIGHT YOUTHS EARN NATIONAL HONORS AT
NFL GATORADE PUNT, PASS AND KICK NATIONAL FINALS

Four boys and four girls crowned in Pittsburgh as National Champions

 

Starting from a field of 3.5 million enthusiastic participants, eight national champions were crowned Sunday in the NFL GATORADE PUNT, PASS AND KICK NATIONAL FINALS in Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field prior to kickoff of the Pittsburgh Steelers-Baltimore Ravens AFC Divisional playoff. 

Thirty-two youngsters from 17 states competed in eight divisions with each participant performing one punt, one pass and one placekick. Scores were based on distance minus accuracy (in feet).

A pair of Indianapolis Colts and Oakland Raiders team champions earned National Champion titles. Colts champs ASHLEY EDINGER, 13, and NIKI REED, 15, won the 12-13 Year-Old Girls and 14-15 Year-Old Girls divisions, respectively. Representing the Raiders, ARIEL GREGERSEN, 11, and TONY SMITH, 13, captured the 10-11 Girls and 12-13 Boys championships, respectively.

2002 NFL Gatorade Punt, Pass & Kick National Champions:

8-9 Year-Old Girls Champion:            Merisa Rudy, 9, Philadelphia (Eagles Team Champion)

8-9 Year-Old Boys Champion:            Mark Leal, 9, Yuma, Ariz. (Cardinals)

10-11 Year-Old Girls Champion:            Ariel Gregersen, 11, West Sacramento, Calif. (Raiders)

10-11 Year-Old Boys Champion:            Josh Lambo, 11, Crystal Lake, Ill. (Bears)

12-13 Year-Old Girls Champion:            Ashley Edinger, 13, Michigan City, Ind. (Colts)

12-13 Year-Old Boys Champion:            Tony Smith, 13, Pleasanton, Calif. (Raiders)

14-15 Year-Old Girls Champion:            Niki Reed, 15, Fairfield, Ohio (Colts)

14-15 Year-Old Boys Champion:            Brandon Gee, 15, Athens, Penn. (Bills)

The eight first-place finishers were introduced live on CBS between the third and fourth quarters of yesterday’s A.F.C. Divisional Playoff game telecast in Pittsburgh.

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PAGE TWO

2002 NFL GATORADE PUNT, PASS & KICK RESULTS

 

Nickelodeon GAS (Games and Sports) will air highlights of the National Finals around its children-oriented programming on Friday, Feb. 1, between 5-7 p.m. ET as well as on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 3, between 9-11 a.m. ET.

Final results of the 2002 NFL Gatorade Punt, Pass and Kick National Championships:

Name, Hometown, (Team): Punt, Pass, Kick: Total Distance	Name, Hometown, (Team): Punt, Pass, Kick: Total Dist.
Girls 8-9	Boys 8-9
Merisa Rudy, Philadelphia (Eagles): 48-2, 66-7, 92-6: 207-1	Mark Leal, Yuma, AZ (Cardinals): 59-6, 89-5, 89-9: 238-8
Bridget Urbanus, Wheeling, IL (Bears): 68-11, 60-3, 56-4: 185-6	Turner Gill, Madras, OR (Seahawks): 60-11, 64-3, 64-2: 189-4
Theresa Plaisance, Harvey, LA (Saints): 59-8, 59-3, 56-4: 175-3	Donald Thomas, New Orleans (Saints): 48-3, 87-3, 46-4: 181-10
Hayley Zisk, Baldenville, MA (Patriots): 50-7, 49-9, 37-2: 137-6	Jakob Junis, Rock Falls, IL (Bears): 50-1, 71-3, 54-5: 175-9
Girls 10-11	Boys 10-11
Ariel Gregersen, W. Sacramento (Raiders): 74-8, 113-3, 76-4: 284-3	Josh Lambo, Crystal Lake, IL (Bears): 75-1, 108-2, 118-0: 301-3
Amanda Massey, Wichita, KS (Chiefs): 66-3, 69-5, 94-7: 230-3	Richard Mais, Overland Park, KS (Chiefs): 93-1, 115-0, 72-3: 280-4
Erika Echols, Lantana, FL (Dolphins): 67-6, 87-7, 47-8: 211-9	Tyrell Powell, Detroit, MI (Lions): 85-10, 111-5, 78-11: 276-2
Amanda Agent, Laredo, TX (Texans): 66-3, 65-1, 64-4: 195-8	Chris Massey, Brunswick, GA (Jaguars): 20-0, 82-6, 88-5: 190-11
Girls 12-13	Boys 12-13
Ashley Edinger, Michigan City, IN (Colts): 86-11, 98-0, 74-11: 259-10	Tony Smith, Pleasanton, CA (Raiders): 91-4, 149-10, 136-0: 377-2
Ashley Mannon, Queen Creek, AZ (Cardinals): 96-0, 87-5, 67-7:                 251-0	Stephen Paskorz, Gibsonia, PA (Steelers): 107-9, 134-6, 92-8: 334-6
Ashley Malone, Hamlin, TX (Cowboys): 82-10, 108-2, 42-6: 233-6	Riley Stephenson, St. George, UT (49ers): 103-0, 127-5, 69-1: 299-1
Leigh Elko, N. Brunswick, NJ (Jets): 66-5, 88-10, 72-8: 227-11	Bobby Miller, Goodland, KS (Chiefs): 43-0, 138-1, 109-5: 290-6
Girls 14-15	Boys 14-15
Niki Reed, Fairfield, OH (Colts): 106-2, 93-11, 96-1: 296-3	Brent Creaser, Monomonie, WI (Pack.): 102-8, 133-7, 87-4: 323-7
Brittany Korth, Clinton, WI (Packers): 82-10, 90-1, 86-8: 259-7	Brandon Gee, Athens, PA (Bills): 117-2, 152-1, 72-8: 341-11
Lydia Pond, Plainfield, IL (Bears): 70-1, 103-4, 27-6: 200-11	Alex Holland, Clairton, PA (Steelers): 61-2, 134-5, 104-2: 299-9
Josie Pugsley, Park Valley, UT (Broncos): 54-8, 78-6, 65-0: 198-2	Juan Rosales, Phoenix, AZ (Cardinals): 113-5, 123-5, 96-3: 333-1

 

NFL Gatorade Punt, Pass and Kick is the nation’s largest grassroots sports skills competition and 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.  According to ESPN Sports Poll, football is the favorite sport of kids.

Current NFL stars who took part in the league’s Gatorade Punt, Pass and Kick program as kids include the Baltimore Ravens’ Randall Cunningham and Matt Stover, Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers, and the New York Jets’ Vinny Testaverde and Tom Tupa.

Additional “Play Football” programs include NFL Flag, Junior Player Development, High School Player Development and Player Development Camps. Information on these programs may be found at PLAYFOOTBALL.COM, the NFL’s official youth football web site.

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