WUSD Athletic Director hopes for more community support at youth sporting events

WILLIAMS, Ariz. - Williams youth are gearing up for a big week of competition beginning Aug. 25 against rival Bagdad and Athletic Director Phillip Echeverria is hoping the Williams community will come out in support.

"I want Bagdad to disappear in a sea of orange and black," Echeverria said.

The Vikings, Falcons, Bengals and Tigers will be taking on the Sultans in a series of football and volleyball games.

On Aug. 25, the Vikings JV football played the first game against the Sultans JV football in Bagdad. On Aug. 28 and 29 Bagdad athletes will travel to Williams for varsity football, varsity volleyball (scrimmage) and two youth football games.

Bagdad, a small mining community about 65 miles west of Prescott, has a history of quality 8-man football. The Vikings are newcomers into the 8-man football scene and immediately face one of the toughest 8-man teams.

The Sultans had won 20 straight games over the past two seasons until Heber Mogollon upset the 2014 D-6 state champions, 14-8, in the state championship game last November in Phoenix.

Echeverria is hoping that community members and parents don the school colors and come to the games to show their support for Williams' athletes.

"Over the last 10-15 years it (community support) has sort of dwindled away," Echeverria said. "The kids play better when people show up. It also improves their work...in the classroom."

Echeverria is working with the Williams Booster Club to promote community involvement with the schools. The Booster Club is planning to distribute schedules, sell t-shirts and hoodies and encourage local businesses to wear orange and black every Friday.

"I'm hoping to encourage the business owners and leaders...to support their kids and the kids in the community," Echeverria said. "That support is going to last them a lifetime and they'll always remember that."

Echeverria is hoping the community can also help the Williams Food Bank during the football games. Tickets for home games are $5 for adults and $3 for students in grades 6-12. If fans bring two cans of food they get $1 off their admission, if they bring four cans of food they get $2 off.

"Bagdad is also spreading the word around their community (about the food drive)," Echeverria said. "They're going to help out our community when they come and we're going to do the same when we go there."

Echeverria is grateful for the support that the school does get. The admission cost helps to offset the cost of officials. He said the cost for high school officials last year was about $17,000 and the cost for middle school officials was about $3,000.

"It also goes toward plaques and banquet costs for the kids," Echeverria said.

The annual Rick Shipley Golf Tournament and community sponsorships also help the athletics program. The funds raised are used for coaching clinics and association dues. Businesses and individuals can purchase banners to be displayed at the field for $500. Other levels of sponsorship are advertised in the program booklets given at each game.

"Thankfully our school (WUSD) funds athletics fairly well," Echeverria said. "They cover costs of uniforms. We are on a five year rotation for uniforms, they usually cost $4,000-5,000 each year."

Season passes are also sold at the football games. The pass is $100 for a family, $75 for a couple, $50 for an individual and $25 for a student. The pass is good for all football, volleyball, and basketball games.

"We are a small community and we should be striving for this one thing," Echeverria said. "I'm hoping that we can rally around the school this year in both athletics and academics. I would really like to improve this for the kids and the quality of life in Williams."