Lincoln Youth Football recognizes coach of the year and volunteers
Junior Varsity wins pizza party for their Push-up-a-thon

[October 11, 2019] 

On Wednesday evening the Lincoln Youth Football League handed out its annual Coach of the Year Award and two Volunteer of the Year Awards at the end of their evening practice at Eaton Field in Lincoln.

LYF board members Matt Vlahovich and Dwayne Morris were on hand for the presentation and Vlahovich did the honors presenting the three awards.

Practice was held for all four age-group teams before the award presentation. The youngest team is a flag football team made up of youth in grade levels kindergarten through second grade. The bantam team is the second level with third and fourth grade youngsters. The junior varsity consists of members in the fifth and sixth grades. The varsity team is made up of youth in grades seventh and eighth.

First in line - first to eat pizza!

On Wednesday evening the Junior Varsity Team was permitted to stop practice early and enjoy a pizza party just for them. The kids gathered around the club house and enjoyed thick slices of pizza as a reward the work they did on a LYF fundraiser.

Each year the LYF holds a “Push-up-a-thon.” The players call on friends, family and neighbors to offer up a donation for the young athletes participating. This year Coach Sam White told the kids that the winners would be the team that collectively raised the most money. The Junior Varsity blew the other teams away in their fundraiser.

Coach White explained that the three older teams are the teams who compete. The Bantam Team and the Varsity Team in particular have had a very good season. With only two games left to play, both teams are currently undefeated.

Coach White noted that the Junior Varsity has struggled a little bit, but have also had a decent year. While not undefeated, the kids have played well.

When practice was over for the other three teams and the pizza all consumed for the junior varsity group, everyone gathered in a circle in the middle of the field to hear from Vlahovich.

Vlahovich started out introducing himself to the kids, saying that he has been a part of the program since 1993 and used to be a coach for the teams.

He told the kids first off that it takes a lot of time and dedication on the part of the coaches and volunteers. He noted that a great deal of work and planning is done in the off season. He said that the season would end in October, and in November the adults would be working again looking to the next year at the LYF.

Left to right: Board members Dwayne Morris and Matt Vlahovich, Coach of the year Sam White and Volunteers of the Year - Annette Jones and Jon Mestinsek.

He told the kids that all the people who work within the program from coaches to the volunteers do so without any financial benefit. He explained that no one gets a paycheck for helping with the LYF, they are all here because they care about the kids and they care about the program.

Vlahovich said that when he uses the word “program” he is referring to the Lincoln Football program. He said that all the youngsters on the field would someday reach the age level to be a Railer football player at Lincoln Community High School.

The work being done now, is preparing those young people for a future with the LCHS Railers. Vlahovich said that all the coaches and volunteers are there to make sure the kids have what they need to succeed.

He then introduced the first Volunteer of the Year naming Jon Mestinsek. Amid the loud cheers from the kids, Mestinsek stepped up to accept his award. Vlahovich said that Mestinsek puts in a lot of hours helping the kids and the coaches and that he is appreciated and important to the program.

The next volunteer of the year award went to Annette Jones. He told the kids that she does a lot for the program and most of it goes unnoticed by the kids, but without her the program would not be what it is. He noted that this year the LYF has a Cheer Team thanks to Annette, and that she has “poured her heart and soul” into making it a success.

Next Vlahovich recognize the coach of the year. He said that he would age himself a bit by telling the kids that coach of the year the was one of the boys Vlahovich himself coached several years ago. He said that this coach puts in a ton of hours to make the program a success. He then asked Sam White to come forward.

'Coach of the Year,' Coach White told the kids that the award was special, but that a good coach needs good team members and this group has been great. He said that the kids had been “very coachable,” and had done well this year. He noted the kids, “listen, they work hard, and they play with honor.”

When the presentations were over, the group participated in what the coach called “bringing it all in.” The boys and girls gathered in a large huddle with Vlahovich and White in the center. With yells and cheers, they raised their arms, yelling “Go Railers.”

With the season nearing its end, congratulations to all the members of the Lincoln Youth Football teams, their coaches and their volunteers. Good job to all, and we look forward to next year!

[Nila Smith]