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COURIER photo/Gabriel Fenoy
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| Sumner Elementary School 5th grader Andrew Darney-Lane catches a touchdown pass during the first half of Wednesday’s highly anticipated Second Annual Oakmont-Sumner Super Bowl. |
The Oakmont ‘Super Bowl’ tradition continues
The highly anticipated Super Bowl confrontation between the New England Patriots and New York Giants is scheduled to take place tomorrow. Yet Oakmont Elementary School and Sumner Elementary School after-school daycare students didn’t have to wait until Sunday—they experienced their own big game on Wednesday.
For the second consecutive year, Oakmont and Sumner students gathered together on Oakmont’s soccer field and put on a friendly exhibition of flag football in the afternoon sun in yet another rendition of the Oakmont Super Bowl, a football tradition that has also included Condit and Vista Elementary Schools in years past.
Also for the second consecutive year, the game was almost cancelled due to cold weather and rain that had occurred in the days prior to Wednesday, but both Oakmont Daycare lead teacher Jackie Killam and Oakmont Principal Kevin Ward, decided the game needed to go as scheduled.
“We almost canceled it,” Ms. Killam explained. “We had been listening to the different forecasts that were given but then on Monday, I had to make a decision. I was glad we didn’t cancel and it turned out to be a beautiful day.”
According to Mr. Ward, another reason the game went forward was to dedicate the event to Oakmont 3rd-grade teacher Charliemae Randolph, who died on Tuesday after being transferred to a hospital after seeing her doctor due to chest pain. Ms. Randolph supported the annual flag football events at Oakmont and would be seen on the sideline cheering the Oakmont players on. Her tenure within CUSD spanned nearly 4 decades.
“Charliemae would have wanted us to do it,” Mr. Ward said.
Though the touchdown throws by 5th grader Cody Brazzill and the slash-and-dash moves of 4th grader Xavier Wilson were once again on display for the second straight year, the game itself featured a different story than last year’s 42-28 Sumner victory that saw Oakmont come back from a 35-7 deficit. The game was closer throughout and was at an 18-18 tie before being called because the sun had set and traffic restrictions.
“It was fitting that it ended in a tie because they played their hearts out,” said Oakmont coach Ricardo Cortez.
Although Cody ended up throwing 3 touchdown passes in Wednesday’s contest, the 5th grader noted that the Oakmont team that he played 3 days ago was more competitive than last year’s squad.
“I think this year there were a lot of guys that thought we could blow right past them but they were surprised,” the Sumner quarterback said. (story continues below)
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COURIER photo/Gabriel Fenoy
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| Fifth grader Kyle Ward of Sycamore Elementary School, volunteering as the scoreboard carrier during Wednesday’s big game, shows the crowd the final score of the game. |
One player that was not surprised at Oakmont’s improvement from the previous year was Xavier who, along with his teammates, remembered last year’s loss to Sumner coming into Wednesday’s game.
“For me it was more personal this year because I wanted to win and tie it up between us since they won last year,” the 4th grader said.
Xavier’s teammate, 6th grader Jayson Marquez participated in his first Oakmont Super Bowl this year, playing quarterback and finishing with a touchdown and an interception.
“It was fun playing in this game,” Jayson said.
Another element involved with the game was the cheerleading squads that represented each team. The 15-person Oakmont cheer team and the 13-person Sumner cheer unit encouraged their players throughout the contest with Oakmont cheerleaders Arianna Barreras and Micquela Wilson also singing the national anthem.
The El Roble Intermediate Drum Corps was on hand to provide entertainment for the halftime show. This year, all 11 members of the El Roble drum line were in attendance and performed the old El Roble Cadence (Stolen Goods) along with the new El Roble Cadence (Stolen Goods Remix), and also performed a snare trio.
“This year we got the whole drum line to come,” said Shade Tramp, drum captain. “It’s fun to come and play as well as show the kids what we do at El Roble. They seemed to have a great time.”
One person that had a good time at the game was Oakmont parent Gevonna George, who cheered on the Oakmont players and encouraged the Oakmont cheerleaders. Her daughter, Miracle George, was part of the Oakmont cheerleading squad.
“I think it’s really nice for the kids as well as a chance for the parents to be able to interact with each other,” said Ms. George. “This was different than I thought it would be. I didn’t think it would be this exciting, but it is. This was my first time at a flag football game and it was great.”
As for Ms. Killam, the lead teacher of Oakmont Daycare views the Oakmont Super Bowl as the biggest event of the year for the after-school program.
“I’m a big football enthusiast and, at the same time, this is about getting the kids outdoors and getting them to be active,” she said. “It’s been a good experience.”
—Landus Rigsby
