After a short break for the holidays, school is back in session and the MaxPreps Football Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard has once again resumed. Our second stop of 2011 took place in Olney, Maryland at
Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.). It was our second consecutive year honoring the school and we were immediately reminded what a beautiful campus they have here in Olney.
Our team drove down the night before and was able to arrive at the school before the students or the sun had arrived. Walking around the school and looking through the trophy cases I immediately saw the "Minuteman" trophy from last year's tour being prominently displayed. There's no question it stands out in the case, and it's great knowing how long these trophies will be displayed here.
Soon after Staff Sergeant Morales and Sergeant Smith arrived at the school with this year's National Guard National Ranking trophy in hand. We set up the display at the front of the gymnasium and as soon as we had finished the 1,300 students began processing into the gym.
First-year Principal John Yore began the assembly with a prayer and the pledge of allegiance and then introduced Patrick Vohden of MaxPreps. Vohden spoke about the team's accomplishments and the incredible honor of being awarded the trophy for a second consecutive year. He then introduced Staff Sergeant Morales who asked Head Coach Tom Milloy and the team captains to come forward. Sergeant Morales spoke to the students about the importance of teamwork and the similar characteristics it takes to be a soldier and an athlete.
He then presented the prestigious trophy to Coach Milloy who enthusiastically thanked both MaxPreps and the Army National Guard for coming back to the school. Milloy talked about the roller coaster of a season the team had and how great it was to fight all the way back to defend their championship. There was no doubt Milloy was extremely humbled by the award and after the ceremony he joked with the Guardsmen about them coming back next year for a three-peat. Principal Yore added that they may need to add another trophy case to hold all of the Minuteman trophies. After the assembly the football team and Coach Milloy stayed for pictures with the trophy and the Guardsmen.
Congratulations again Falcons! And who knows, maybe we'll be back again next year for the 3-peat!
