It's All About Giving Back!
 At his father’s eulogy, Mark Gutierrez spoke of the proudest memory of his Dad. It was in 1969 during his youth football practices as he looked through his face mask as his father, Michael, walked from field to field, talking to coaches, players and parents as President of the La Puente Warriors (Jr. All-American Football) in Los Angeles County. Mark’s mom was drill team coordinator and two sisters also participated. It was a family affair.
Fast forward 38 years and Mark now finds himself President of Tustin Pop Warner Football & Cheer, his wife is the leagues Athletic Director and his son, 12 year old Michael, now competing in the 2007 National Pop Warner Championships at Disney World.
“It’s my turn to reach out and give back” stated Mark, whose program yielded three (3) Division I WESCON Regional Champions from Tustin along with two (2) cheer teams competing at the national championships as well. “We have 113 kids competing in Orlando this week and that’s out of 550 members of our league” commented Mark as he watched the Tustin Cobra Pee Wee team compete in the national title game last Saturday. “I have known these boys, from all three teams, for over half their lives and I feel so honored that they have all allowed me to ride on their backs here to Florida. I am so happy they have given me this experience. For that I will always be grateful to each and every one of these 113 student athletes. It makes all the hard work worth every minute”.
How does a small Orange County California city of 3 square miles contribute three of the eight best teams in their Divisions in the country? Mark gives all the credit to the natural talent of the players, the historically committed coaches and board members as well as the unconditional support from great parents.
“At Tustin we are committed to following the rules of Pop Warner and our conference, delivering a competitive and learning environment for each and every player and cheerleader, maintaining scholastic responsibilities and providing mentorship, teamwork values and success at every level of play” boasted Mark. “All three nationally competing Cobra teams had a roster of at least 28-31 players and at least 5 players on each team that have never played football before this season and here they were in the greatest Youth Football show on earth”.
Mark also is the Line Coach for the Junior Midget Black Cobras that provide two of the finest games seen in recent history at the Super Bowl games. Their lost to the Mandarin Tigers in the first round was a great game that ended 22-30 with thousands in attendance. “I have asked my players what was the best moment of their year and they have claimed it was their only loss of the season to Mandarin” stated Mark. “Its funny how their season highlight was from their only loss, however, it was the game they were told to leave their hearts on the field and that is just what they did”. In the second game the JM Cobras defeated Vallejo in an exciting 16-14 overtime game with a blocked field gold attempt giving the Cobras a final victory for their season and a consolation bracket championship.
The Tustin JPW Gold Cobras also captured a Consolation Bracket Championship while the PW Black was National Champion Runner Ups losing to Beacon House in the Championship Game on Saturday.
When Mark was asked to summarize his experience he concluded, “Just to be a part of a program that helps give these kids an experience of a lifetime is worth all our time and effort. To contribute to the life lessons of hard work, determination and teamwork is something these kids can take from the classroom to the board room and someday to their own children’s rooms makes me proud. I know that my Dad was looking down on his grandson and me this past week and was proud. Maybe someday my son will experience the desire to keep the Gutierrez tradition alive. It is what the Circle of Life is all about, giving back!”
Written by the Gutierrez family
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