As the Federal Way Hawks Junior Football program prepares for the upcoming season, it will be with renewed hopes and dreams after a misappropriation of funds last year left it without funding.
Being the only non-school football program in the Federal Way area, the Federal Way Hawks Football Association has been in continuous operation since 1970.
“In early February, we were broke,” said Hawks president Mike Barnhart. “We were in dire straits. With the support of the community and the Federal Way School District, we are going to have a great season while beginning from the seat of our pants.”
An example of the district’s help is the fact that while Lakota Middle School is undergoing building construction that leveled the area near the Hawks’ long-time training and storage container, the district has provided the Hawks with a temporary training and storage container near the field until the construction work is finished.
“The Federal Way School District has worked closely with us and we’re going to do just great,” Barnhart added. “Including the cheerleading team, 250 boys and girls participate. We want to give them meaningful activities that keep them active and away from trouble. Getting schoolwork done comes first, however. This has been a huge success.”
Competitively, the Hawks shine in numerous ways.
  The award-winning cheer program coached by Eileen Uson placed second at a 2008 national competition in Las Vegas on November 29, 2008, while Uson was awarded the prestigious 2008 Washington State Cheer Coaches Recreation Coach of the Year award.
Last season, all five Hawks teams made the playoffs. On game day, each team will play against the opposing area’s five teams, which makes a long day. The Hawks play their home games at Federal Way High School. Practices at Lakota Middle School run for two hours.
Team categories are determined by a formula that includes age and weight with no more than 30 pounds difference between players on the same squad. For more specific details, check the Federal Way Hawks’ web site.
  With the weight requirements factored in, here are the teams from lightest to heaviest:
There is no minimum weight to begin the program while the heaviest weighing players could reach 162 pounds before other chart factors figure in at the start of the season.
  For the 7-9 year-old 89ers, expect more great things.
“We sent a lot of good players to the Sweet Peas, but we have two returning starters in Michael Rogers and Kobe Okazie with 8-9 players that played before,” said head coach Spencer Swanson. “It’s still a wait and see time. We need to do a lot of work with them. The starters are good, but experience needs to be gained.”
Newcomers Daniel Shucks and Jalen Womack bolster the roster.
“I expect to be good at quarterback or running back,” said Okazie. “Besides scoring a lot of touchdowns, I just enjoy learning the fundamentals and playing the game. I’ve dreamed of playing football my entire life.”
Rogers is even more emphatic and specific.
“I really like tackling,” he stated. “That’s what makes it fun.”
Sweet Pea players range in age from 8-11 and have good outlooks on the entire process.
“They’re looking pretty good,” admitted Sweet Pea head coach T D McGraw. “Our offense has plenty of depth in the backfield. Good attitudes, and a good coaching staff, makes us think of going all the way [ to the championship].”
“I just want to beat Kent,” stated Gabe Togia. “Besides liking tackling, it’s more like a family here. I’m looking forward to some new people and trying to win with them.”
Last year, the Junior football program had two girls playing. As the only girl at this date, 10-year-old Anna Rusth has an interesting outlook.
“This will help me be more aggressive in other sports, as well, and I have fun tackling,” she said.
On the Bantam team, the players’ age-range is 9-12. In the absence of head coach John Miles, Barnhart explained the situation.
“We all wear a lot of hats and help each team when needed,” he said. “This group gets lots of help. Half of the 30 kids are first-year players, so we’ll start the team from scratch with basic fundamentals and safety stuff. We’ll do lots of teaching and we’ll be very optimistic.”
Playing for the Midgets are 10-12-year-olds under the tutelage of Mike Bible, who has reached five championship games in his career and is an overall 2-for-5 in title wins. With the Hawks, Bible has coached teams to 11-0 and last year’s 9-1 with a championship game loss which gives him a career record of 48-6.
“We’re going to be better than those first two teams,” he declared confidently. “I know how to teach it simply and make it appear complex. I’m looking forward to win number 50.  There are going to be a lot of bone-crushing hits. Our key additions of Keenan Curran, Kevin Young and Monte Rainwater plus the two best running backs in the league in Chico McClatcher and the league MVP for the last two seasons, Antonio Godfrey. give us checkmate over the other teams. Any team that gets on the field with us better beware.”
Curran and Godfrey brim with confidence.
“After hard work it’s a matter of getting into it,” said Curran.
Godfrey adds a little more.
“It’s hard work,” he stated. “I just tell them to work hard and do the best with the things they can do.”
   The oldest and heaviest players are on the 11-12-year-old PeeWees with head coach Larry Ahkiong, who runs tough and businesslike practices. Ahkiong steps up from the defensive coordinator position of last season.
   “I start tough to see all the boys who can stick it out,” he said. “A lot of them have a lot of heart. They show a strong work ethic. Whether they are veterans or not, they show heart.  These are the same group of guys from last year’s runners up plus extras. I know all these kids and they are hungry to show what they have. Parents and coaches support equal confidence. We have good, veteran players and leadership. I think we’re going to have a great season. There are no guessing games because we break it down and get everyone involved in the planning.”
Ahkiong also noted that it would take all 19 players.
“All deserve recognition,” he concluded.