Photo by Army National Guard
Wow! Electrifying! That was the scene at
DeMatha High School on Wednesday, Feb. 19 on the 9th Annual MaxPreps Football Tour of Champions presented by the National Guard.
Washington, D.C. was the setting for the 41st stop on this massive nationwide tour that celebrates 50 of the premier high school football champions, and heralded DeMatha Catholic as an honoree. The Tour, which began in 2005, stopped off at DeMatha back in 2006 to honor its football team that finished ranked No. 41 in the country.
The more things change, the more things remain the same.
DeMatha is now equipped with a new state-of-the-art basketball facility with a large workout and training area for the student-athletes. Gone is the rustic but charming basketball gym that Coach Morgan Wootten made historic. However, the devotion to excellence still exists, in all sports. And DeMatha continues to collect championship hardware.
The setting was at halftime of the boys basketball game against bitter rival St. John's of Washington, D.C. in front of a standing room-only crowd. The football team was prepared to accept its honors coincidentally in front of the same school it defeated 31-10 on Nov. 16 for its 20th overall state title, and first since 2008.
However, this award was bigger than simply the Washington, D.C. area. This award was about recognizing a team that battled its way to an 11-1 record and eventually a No. 46 national ranking from a pool of 16,000 teams nationwide in the MaxPreps Computer Rankings.
As the Maryland Army National Guardsmen and the Washington Wizards cheerleaders pepped up the crowd by tossing mini-National Guard basketballs into the stands, Armand Milanesi from MaxPreps began the halftime festivities explaining to the players, coaches, and spectators the grandeur of the tour and this particular honor. Next up was Staff Sergeant Michael Fuentes of the Maryland Army National Guard. SSG Fuentes talked about the similar character traits associated with being on a championship team and in the National Guard.
SSG Fuentes then presented the Army National Guard national ranking trophy to coach Elijah Brooks. The trophy consists of a Minuteman statue symbolizing hard work, devotion, commitment to cause and perseverance — all traits the National Guard stands firm on, and all traits exhibited by the DeMatha Catholic football team. Coach Brooks was overjoyed at the honor and was extremely gracious in accepting the trophy — thanking alumni, faculty, assistant coaches, players and of course, MaxPreps and the National Guard.
Congratulations Coach Brooks, and we look forward to watching your team closely next year!
