TEAM USA BIO's

ROB LIBROIA THOUGHTS

NFL Flag Football World Championship in Cologne Inspires Young Spectators

August 23, 2006.
On August 23, U.S. Consul General Matt Boyse welcomed the U.S. team at the opening of the 2006 Flag Football World Championship in Cologne. The DAC Panthers from Queens, NY, was headed by Coach Jimmy Gavalas and, with the support of former Washington Redskins offensive lineman Ray Brown, represented the United States at the event. The team from Thailand emerged as the winner of the championship, which included teams from ten countries. The U.S. team received the Fair Play Award.

Cologne to host 2006 NFL Flag championship

(July 14, 2006) -- The historic city of Cologne, Germany, will host the seventh annual NFL Flag Football World Championship (FFWC) when 12-to-14-year-olds from 10 nations and three continents compete for the title of world champions. The NFL is proud to partner with Reebok, EA and Gatorade to promote this prestigious coed tournament, which motivates boys and girls to participate in a fun and safe sport.

Teams from USA, Canada, China, Germany, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, Spain and Thailand will play at the Leichtathletik Stadion in Cologne from Aug. 22-26.

The event is the highlight of the NFL Flag Football season. More than 800 teams from around the world competed in national competitions for the right to represent their country at the FFWC. The young athletes will form lasting friendships as they break down language barriers, visit cultural attractions such as the picturesque 13th century Cologne Cathedral, and spend a day enjoying the thrills and spills of a local theme park.

Mark Waller, senior vice president of NFL International, said: "The NFL Flag Football World Championship is established as one of the highlights of the NFL's international calendar. It is an opportunity for young people from all around the globe to come together and celebrate the game of football in a competitive, yet happy and friendly, environment, and I am sure that the people of Cologne will help us to make this a memorable occasion for all involved.

"Flag football is an important part of our efforts to develop players around the world, so maybe there will be some future NFL players battling for the championship."

The tournament kicks off on Thursday, Aug. 24. During three exciting days of competitive action, a round robin format featuring two groups of five teams will determine the four semifinalists and ultimately the two teams that will play for the world title.

The USA is represented by the DAC Panthers from Bayside, N.Y., who won the NFL Flag National Tournament of Champions title at the Disney's Wide World Of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla., in November. Every year, more than 100,000 children throughout the United States play in NFL FLAG football leagues.

Asia produced the 2005 FFWC champion when Bangmod Wittaya Middle School took the title back to Thailand, beating the USA 25-19 in Beijing. The Chaopraya Wittayakom School from Bangkok will carry Thai hopes in Cologne.

Ecole River Heights, a middle school team from Manitoba, will fly the flag for Canada, having won the Reebok NFL/CFL Flag Football Championship as part of the Windsor Super Bowl XL celebrations in February.

Las Aguilas of Monterrey, who triumphed at the Tochito National Tournament for the third year running, will represent Mexico. Las Aguilas finished in third place in Beijing in 2005 and was the FFWC runner up in Vancouver in 2004.

Hopes of a home victory rest with one of three teams that qualified from the European Schools Final held in Dusseldorf before World Bowl XIV in May. The Schuldorf Bergstrasse Hillsiders from Seeheim Jugenheim will represent Germany and will have the shortest distance to travel to Cologne -- only 125 miles.

Spain is represented for a third consecutive year by Pere Vives Vich from Igualada, who won a thrilling final against Da Vinci College Leonardo of Leiden in the Netherlands to be crowned European champions for the first time. Both teams advanced to the FFWC.

China finished in fifth place last year and Pei Zhen Middle School of Guangzhou, the champion of China's NFL Flag program, which is now in its third year, will aim to build on that success. Korea and Japan's representatives will be determined when each country's national championship are held on July 22 (Daegu, Korea) and July 29-30 (Kawasaki, Japan).

Previous NFL Flag Football World Championships have been held in Toronto, Berlin, Mexico City, Tokyo, Vancouver and Beijing.

United States
Nov. 19, 2005
Orlando, Fla.
DAC Panthers, Queens, N.Y.

By ELLEN THOMPSON

The countdown has begun. Seven days until their tiny Reeboks touch down on the plush green turf of Leichtathletik Stadion.

Chances are it will crumple under the weight of their feet just as the grass at Cunningham Park does twice a week. The new sneakers might grip a little tighter to their feet though, but the air will seem no different, the brown leather ball will be no bigger and the flags dangling from their narrow waists will hang the same.

The only difference is that the six 11-to-12-year-olds in their navy blue uniforms will be in Cologne, Germany; but to the determined team, the 14-to-16-year olds they will be going toe-to-toe with will be no different from the ninth and tenth graders they have been scrimmaging for the past two months. No different, that is, except for the fact that these opponents will be from Canada, China, Germany, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, Spain and Thailand.

To the Panthers, six part-time football players from Bayside who also get together for basketball games, the NFL Flag Football World Championship game Aug. 24 will play out pretty much the same as the strategies they have executed during practices and scrimmages, said Nicky “Iceman” Athanasopoulos, standing in a loose huddle alongside his teammates at Cunningham Park.

The wide-eyed athletes and video game aficionados joined DAC two years ago under the discretion of their coach Jimmy Gavalas, quarterback Yianni Gavalas’ dad, and formed the Panthers. There was one drawback though; the kids knew nothing about the style of football played with six to nine players to a team in which tackling is not permitted; instead, defensive players must snatch a flag from the ball carrier’s belt to stop him.

“Anth, when it comes through, I want your head up,” coach Gavalas hollered to the only player who will stand nose-to-nose with the foreign players. Anthony “Moo Moo” Libroia smiled at “B,” and jogged down the field, his nose pointed towards the air, quietly laughing to himself.

“Every little detail maters; you know what you’re doing, B?” Gavalas said, turning towards Brian “B” Kruger, the jokester of the team.

“Yeah, yeah I know what I gotta do,” Kruger said, the smirk disappearing from his face.

“I guess the hardest part of this game is just trying to grab those flags,” explained Kostas “Coast to Coast” Akoumianakis, the strongest runner the Panthers have. “You have to be in the right position. Really, it’s a lot harder than you’d think.”

Looking back down at the folded piece of paper covered in black scribbles, “all right, looking good guys, let’s move onto play 11,” Gavalas said.

“You know, it’s all really going to set in when those boys step foot on that field in Germany,” Maria Akoumianakis, Coast to Coast’s mom said, standing with B and Moo Moo’s moms on the sidelines. “The lights are going to be shining down and they’ll be looking up to those players.”

The cream of young flag football athletes from around the world have been in Germany since Monday and three days later they put aside all the sightseeing, practicing and talk and kicked off the NFL Flag Football World Championship.

Four bus loads of players, coaches, officials, staff, family and friends streamed into the Leichtathletik Stadion in Cologne at 9am. The Cologne Centurions mascot and cheerleaders were there to welcome the ten teams from Asia, North America and Europe at an Opening Ceremony

Once the speeches and anthems had given the event a sense of occasion, Thailand and Canada thrilled the crowd with a high scoring game, totaling 119 points as the Canadians just had the edge.

The stadium is situated alongside the impressive RheinEnergie Stadium, which recently hosted games for the FIFA World Cup and is also home to the Centurions of NFL Europe. The FFWC venue features three flag football fields. One is ideally placed in front of the main modern grandstand and gave fans the perfect view of Canada and Thailand’s points fest. Field 2 lies off to the left, while Field 3 has a small stand of its own, which proved to be useful shelter against torrential rain which threatened to disrupt proceedings during the first games.

There was an array of NFL and NFL Europe merchandise on sale inside the stadium, which buzzed to the sound of chanting fans from most of the teams taking part in the tournament.

Team USA has a total of 29 supporters traveling with them from Queens and Long Island, NY, while Japan comes in next with close to 20 followers. The German fans, who have had to travel the shortest distance as the home team made plenty of noise, but that was the lesser of two intimidating factors for opponents Team USA.

The DAC Panthers won the NFL Flag National Championship in Orlando in November and stepped up to the 12 to 14-year-old category for this summer’s FFWC. Averaging 12 years old, the team stood literally head and shoulders shorter than Team Germany when they lined up for their second game of the day having earlier defeated Korea.

Brothers Max and Lucas Kleinscorge towered over them at more than six feet tall, the Americans measuring close to a foot shorter. But that didn’t stop them from battling until the bitter end in a loss to the German team.

On the ride to the stadium on the North American bus, which transports USA, Mexico and Canada, the talk was of the day’s opponents, the sights of Cologne and the previous night’s welcome dinner, for everyone except USA playmaker Eddie Roscigno (above right). The youngster debated Greek mythology, the creation of man and was determined to conclude which came first: the chicken or the egg? Heavy subject matter indeed for a 12-year-old, but Eddie’s head was in the game against Korea when he scored the winning touchdown and made the game-saving tackle.

On Thursday night the teams were thankful for a break in the rain that had punctuated the day when they took a dinner cruise on a boat along the Rhein River. The 11pm lights out curfew was strictly adhered to in preparation for Friday’s second phase of games.

USA Meets NY Jets While Mayor Welcomes Japan

The six youngsters representing the United States at the seventh annual NFL Flag Football World Championship (FFWC) in Cologne, Germany, next week were given some advice on how to take on the world by New York Jets first year head coach Eric Mangini.

The DAC Panthers from Queens and Long Island, NY, attended Jets preseason training camp at Hofstra University on Tuesday. Coach Mangini, along with standout wide receiver Laveranues Coles and defensive end Brian Thomas, wished the team good luck before they travel to take on the champions of Canada, China, Germany, Holland, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Spain and Thailand at the Leichtathletik Stadion in Cologne from August 22 to 26.

“Work hard and do what you’re supposed to do on every play and success will follow,” coach Mangini told the captivated group. “Don’t worry if one play doesn’t turn out as you might expect. Just move on to the next play and make that one count.

“You are very privileged to be representing the United States, not only as ambassadors for New York and for the NFL, but also in another country. Go over there and enjoy yourselves.”

The flag champions: Kostas Akoumianakis (from Holliswood, Queens), Eddie Roscigno (Astoria, Queens), Brian Kruger (Bayside, Queens), Anthony Libroia (Flushing, Queens), Yianni Gavalas (Manhasset, Nassau County) and Nicholas Athanasopoulos (Roslyn, Nassau County) won the NFL Flag National Tournament of Champions title at the Disney Wide World Of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, in November.

“I couldn’t believe we got to meet the coach and a whole bunch of players,” said an excited Eddie Roscigno (pictured below being interviewed by NYJets.com). “Even a star player like Laveranues Coles talked to us and told us to be good over in Germany and to make him proud and come back as champions. It was incredible.”

Panthers coach Jimmy Gavalas, whose team’s visit to camp was featured by local TV news crews, print media and NYJets.com, added: “I don’t think the enormity of what they’re doing had hit these kids before today. They have made TV appearances and taken those in their stride, but now here they are meeting their favorite players and leaving for Germany on Monday. It’s an exciting time for them and for me as their coach and for the 29 family and friends who will be traveling with us.

Canada And Spain Unbeaten Following First Day Of Action

Canada and Spain are the only unbeaten teams at the seventh annual NFL Flag Football World Championship at the Leichtathletik Stadion in Cologne, Germany, after the first day of play. The Ecole River Heights Middle School from near Winnipeg defeated Thailand, China and Japan in some close high-scoring games. Pere Vives Vich from Cataluña beat the Netherlands and Germany on the way to a 2-0 record.

Watch video highlights of Thursday's action on the Cologne Centurions website.

Thailand (2-1) currently holds second place in Group A, ahead of China (1-1), Japan (1-2) and Las Aguilas from Mexico (0-3), whose offense that coach Ricardo Yanez warned was off form did not begin firing until late in a 51-34 defeat to Thailand. There is a three-way tie behind Spain in Group B with USA, Germany and the Netherlands all at 1-1, while Korea stands at 0-2.

The diminutive USA team, the DAC Panthers from New York, gives up a considerable height advantage to some opponents, but scored within a minute against Suri Middle School from Korea and held on to win 25-24. A touchdown from Eddie ‘Playmaker’ Roscigno, who then made a saving tackle as time ran out, proved the decisive score. Against the Schuldorf Bergstrasse Hillsiders from Germany the Queens and Long Island youngsters struggled to cope with the partnership of brothers Max and Lukas Kleinscorge, who both stand more than six feet tall and exploited their aerial threat in a 45-24 win.

The day got off to a high scoring start when Chaopraya Wittayakom School from Thailand and Canada’s champion provided offensive fireworks in a nail-biting game that produced 119 points. Defending the world title won by their countrymen a year ago in Beijing, Thailand slumped to a 26-6 deficit, but bounced back to level the score at 52-52 late in the game. The Thais looked to have secured victory when Chinnawat Wongsuwan punched in a four-yard touchdown pass to Yutthana Ngoenmueang for a 59-53 advantage.

Canada mounted a drive that appeared to have staled until a pass interference call with 12 seconds to play and torrential rain hammering down set up a grandstand finish. A Ben Allen pass to Vincenzo Cannata tied the game and a dramatic extra point pass to Colton Farago secured victory. “It was a good day for us and naturally we’re pleased,” said Canadian coach Shawn Gretchen. “We can’t ask any more of them than to win each game. But they were close games, so we’re not going to become complacent or over confident.”

Canada faces a winless Mexico on Friday at 10.15am, eyeing a quarterfinal clash with the eventual fourth-placed team in Group B, which will become clearer when USA meets Spain and Germany takes on Korea at 9am.

USA vs. Korea game recap
The DAC Panthers kicked off the NFL Flag Football World Championship with a thrilling narrow 25-24 victory over Korea, dropping the Asian team to 0-2 after its 58-50 opening game loss to the Netherlands. The appropriately nicknamed ‘Playmaker’ Eddie Roscigno (below right) made a game-saving tackle as time expired having caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Yanni Gavalas moments earlier.

The US team went ahead on the game’s first drive as Anthony Libroia rushed for a touchdown and the Gavalas to Roscigno combination tagged on the extra point. Korea answered with a score of their own, but a Gavalas tackle on the extra point attempt kept the team from Queens and Long Island in the lead.

Nicky Athanasopoulos (below) reeled in a touchdown catch for a 13-6 USA lead and after a defiant defensive stand the Panthers might have added to the advantage, but Athanasopoulos was tackled at the goal line as the first half ended.

Nam-Hoon Kim twice pulled Korea back to within one point with two touchdown catches either side of another Athanasopoulos score, then earned Korea its first lead of the game at 24-19.

With only 34 seconds remaining the game looked out of reach of the Americans, but a pass interference call gave Gavalas the ball at the three-yard line and he found Playmaker for the victory.

USA 12 Spain 20
The DAC Panthers came within a touchdown of equaling unbeaten group leaders Spain as the second day of competition resumed at the NFL Flag Football World Championship in Cologne, Germany. Time expired on the youngsters from Queens and Long Island as they tried to halt the Pere Vives Vich team from Cataluña in order to mount one last offensive drive late in the game.

Dropped catches and tough defense dictated the first half and with 41 seconds remaining Nicky Athanasopoulos came up with an interception at his goal line. Two Gavalas passes to Anthony Libroia took the ball to the three-yard line where the same combination punched in a touchdown with 17 seconds on the clock. An extra point pass attempt fell incomplete, leaving the Panthers down by a point.

US hopes were dashed on the first play after halftime when Bas Nelemans caught a pass lofted over the Panthers defense for a 13-6 lead. Eddie Roscigno denied the Spaniards an extra point with a timely tackle a yard from pay dirt. Spain extended the lead to 20-6 when quarterback Cuadras hit Nil Vidal in the end zone for another touchdown.

The New York youngsters were far from finished and a clinical no huddle drive inside the two-minute warning produced four completions, the last a short toss from Gavalas to Roscigno for a touchdown and a 20-12 result.

USA 40 Netherlands 48
The DAC Panthers agonizingly finished eight points short of claiming second place in Group B with a 48-40 loss to the Netherlands. The defeat combined with Korea and the Dutch team finishing with a 2-2 record dropped the 1-3 Panthers to fifth spot in the standings as they also lost a head to head tiebreaker to fourth-placed Germany.

It was a cruel end to the Queens and Long Island team’s NFL Flag Football World Championship aspirations. The youngsters had gone into the second day of action with a 1-1 record after beating Korea and losing to Germany on Thursday, but went down 20-12 to group winner Spain before being edged out by the Netherlands.

The Panthers matched Leonardo Lightning from Lieden score for score until late in the game when a fortuitous interception gave their opponents a 48-34 lead. Eddie ‘Playmaker’ Roscigno showed the spirit that has driven Team USA throughout the tournament by snaring a 30-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Yanni Gavalas as time expired.

It was Roscigno who answered a Sven Adriaanse touchdown on the Netherlands’ opening drive with a scoring catch, but the Dutch receiver scored again immediately to increase the lead to 14-6. Nicky Athanasopoulos made a key catch at the five-yard line to keep a Team USA drive alive and it was Roscigno again who kept the Panthers in contention with a touchdown to trail by only a point.

When Bas Nelemans put the Netherlands ahead 20-13 with less than a minute remaining in the half USA looked certain to trail at halftime, but replied with a decisive no huddle offense. Athanasopoulos caught a touchdown pass from Gavalas with 19 seconds remaining and Roscigno tied the game at 20-02 going into the half.

After Berend van der Zaag had restored the Dutch advantage Athanasopoulos came up with a 30-yard scoring grab in reply and Roscigno’s point after tied the game.

In keeping with the pattern of the close game Adriaanse put the Netherlands 34-27 ahead, but when Team USA mounted another comeback Angelo van Heusden found himself in the path of a short pass by Gavalas and waltzed four yards into the end zone.

MANHASSET PRESS

ONLINE EDITION FRIDAY September 8, 2006

Tough Loss Ends Panthers' Title Hopes

Gavalas Father and Son Team Tackle
NFL Flag Football Tournament

The DAC Panthers from Queens and Long Island agonizingly finished a touchdown short of claiming victory over the Netherlands and second place in Group B of the NFL Flag Football World Championship (FFWC) in Cologne, Germany.

The defeat combined with Korea and the Dutch team finishing with a 2-2 record dropped the 1-3 Panthers to fifth spot in the standings. They lost a head-to-head tiebreaker to fourth-placed Germany to instead meet winless Mexico in the ninth-place playoff.

It was a cruel end to the Queens and Long Island team's world championship aspirations. Coached by Manhasset's Jimmy Gavalas the youngsters had gone into the second day of action with a 1-1 record after beating Korea and losing to Germany on Thursday, but went down 20-12 to eventual group winner Spain before being edged out 48-40 by the Netherlands.

Among the team's stars was Yianni Gavalas, who attends Shelter Rock Elementary School. Another star was Roslyn resident Nicky Athanasopoulos. "Luck just wasn't with us and we fought hard, but trying to overcome the size of some of our opponents proved too much," said coach Gavalas. "I'm extremely proud of the boys and away from the field of play this has been a great life experience for every one of us."

The Panthers qualified for the FFWC by winning the NFL Flag national title in November at the 10- to 12-year-old age group and have since moved up to the 12- to 14-year-old bracket, which included many players at the upper end of the age scale at the world championships.

Receivers Anthony Libroia and Eddie Roscigno caught touchdowns in the loss to European champions Spain (4-1 overall), who later advanced to a place in Saturday's semifinal against Thailand (4-1), the winners of the 2005 tournament. The other finalist will come from the match-up between unbeaten Canada (5-0) and Japan (3-2).

Defeat left the Panthers needing a victory against Leiden Lightning from the Netherlands and the teams matched each other score-for-score until late in the game when a fortuitous interception gave the Dutch a 48-34 lead. Roscigno showed the spirit that has driven Team USA throughout the tournament by defiantly snaring a 30-yard consolation touchdown pass from quarterback Yanni Gavalas as time expired.

That set up a best-of-three series against the winless Las Aguilas from Mexico for ninth place overall. The Mexicans' physical and height advantage showed through against the tired Queens youngsters, who lost 44-14 as Roscigno again came up with two USA touchdowns. The teams met again on Saturday in Cologne to conclude the three-game series.

A Promising Start
The Panthers started the tournament by posting credible 1-1 record in the opening games.

The diminutive USA team scored within a minute against Suri Middle School from Korea and held on to win 25-24. The appropriately nicknamed 'Playmaker' Eddie Roscigno made a game-saving tackle as time expired having caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Yanni Gavalas moments earlier.

The New York team went ahead on the game's first drive as Anthony Libroia rushed for a touchdown and the Gavalas to Roscigno combination tagged on the extra point. Korea answered with a score of its own, but a Gavalas tackle on the extra point attempt kept the team from Queens and Long Island in the lead.

Roslyn's Nicky Athanasopoulos reeled in a touchdown catch for a 13-6 USA lead and after a defiant defensive stand the Panthers might have added to the advantage, but Athanasopoulos was tackled at the goal line as the first half ended. Nam-Hoon Kim twice pulled Korea back to within one point with two touchdown catches either side of another Athanasopoulos score, then earned Korea its first lead of the game at 24-19.

With only 34 seconds remaining, the game looked out of reach of the Americans, but a pass interference call gave Gavalas the ball at the 3-yard line and he found Playmaker for the victory.

Against the Schuldorf Bergstrasse Hillsiders from Germany, the Queens and Long Island youngsters struggled to cope with the partnership of brothers Max and Lukas Kleinscorge, who both stand more than 6 feet tall. The hosts exploited their aerial threat and the fervor of the home crowd in a 45-24 win.

The Panthers scored first when Roscigno collected a Gavalas pass, but the German brothers struck immediately, then capitalized on two interceptions and a stalled US drive to move ahead convincingly by 25-6 at halftime.

The youngsters refused to be overwhelmed and fought back in the second half as Athanasopoulos answered another German touchdown with a fine catch to take a Gavalas bomb into the end zone. The Panthers fell behind 39-12 before Gavalas spread the passing game around, hooking up with Brian Kruger for a short gain, Roscigno down the right flank and then Libroia for a touchdown and a 39-18 score.

A weaving run by the impressive Lukas Kleinscorge opened an unassailable home team lead, but USA had the final say when Roscigno turned quarterback and hit Gavalas for a first down and his teammate repaid the favor by passing for another end zone score.

A Disappointing Ending
In the final contest, the DAC Panthers once again found Mexico's offense too potent and slipped to a 52-33 defeat in their last game of the championship series.

Playing for ninth place in the tournament, the New York youngsters went into the second game of a best-of-three series trailing by a loss suffered on Friday and were unable to force a third game.

"We knew coming into this tournament that it was going to be difficult, but I think we can go home proud that we played well and were close in most games," said Jimmy Gavalas. "We started off well by beating Korea on Thursday, but the size and speed of some teams has been too much for us. I hope we can win the national finals in November and come back again next year and be more competitive."

The Panthers might not have been crowned champions on the field, but the six 11- and 12 year-olds competing in the seventh annual event aimed at 12- to 14-year olds left a lasting impression on their opponents. They won the FFWC Fair Play Award for their conduct and for amassing the fewest number of penalties during the tournament.

"They kinda see us as their little brothers," said Eddie Roscigno, who scored his 10th touchdown of the tournament in the loss to Mexico. "They are all very friendly and even though we're smaller than they are they know we can play well and put points on the board."

The world title went for the second year in a row to a team from Thailand as the Chaopraya Wittayakom School from Bangkok defeated Canada's Ecole River Heights from Manitoba 45-32 in the championship game. Japan's Fujitsu Junior Frontiers claimed third place ahead of Pere Vives Vich from Spain.

Against Mexico, Eddie Roscigno tied the game at 14-14 after teammate Nicky Athanasopoulos had cancelled out an opening score. But Las Aguilas from Monterrey opened up a 32-14 advantage as halftime approached. Before the interval Anthony Libroia danced down the right sideline and was stopped within 2 yards of the end zone with five seconds remaining. Quarterback Yanni Gavalas hit Libroia as the half closed and the same combination tagged on a two-point conversion to remain in contention at 32-20.

The second half began cruelly for the Panthers when Daniel Moreno made a full stretch grab for a touchdown and a 39-26 Mexico advantage, but Brian Kruger's score and an extra point pass to Roscigno kept the USA in touch at 39-27.

Mexico raced to a 55-27 lead, but in keeping with their never-say-die attitude, the Panthers hit back to have the final say when Gavalas found Athanasopoulos for a consolation score.

The US team and 29-strong party of family and friends landed back in New York at JFK airport on Sunday evening.

MANHASSET PRESS

ONLINE EDITION FRIDAY August 18, 2006

Championship NFL Flag Football Team Visits New York Jets

The DAC Panthers, the Queens and Long Island NFL Flag champions visited New York Jets training camp this past Tuesday, all as a way to prepare for the NFL Flag Football World Championship (FFWC) in Cologne, Germany.

A week after meeting with Jet players and coaches, the team will travel to Germany for the big FFWC tournament.

Among the DAC Panthers star players is Yanni Gavalas of Manhasset.

Yanni, his teammates and coach Jimmy Gavalas will meet with Jets first-year head coach Eric Mangini and Jets players to receive a message of good luck and tips on how to take on the world.

Once in Cologne, they will face teams from Canada, China, Germany, Holland, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Spain and Thailand at the city's Leichtathletik Stadium from Aug. 22 to 26.

"I hope they can show me how to become a better quarterback so that one day I can play for the Jets like Chad Pennington," said Panthers signal caller Yanni Gavalas, in advance of the meeting. "We're all very excited to be going to Jets camp and then to Germany for the world championships."

The Panthers are in the middle of a pre-season training camp of their own, in preparation for their shot at the world title. The team will practice at Cunningham Park in Fresh Meadows on Aug. 17, 18 and 19 at 5.30 p.m. to perfect their game plan.

The flag champions are Kostas Akoumianakis (Holliswood, Queens), Eddie Roscigno (Astoria, Queens), Brian Kruger (Bayside, Queens), Anthony Libroia (Flushing, Queens), Yianni Gavalas (Manhasset) and Nicholas Athanasopoulos.

The squad won the NFL Flag National Tournament of Champions title at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, FL, in November. Every year more than 100,000 children throughout the United States play in NFL FLAG football leagues.

The Panthers' progress can be followed at the website www.NFL-Flag.com, which will be updated from Cologne with news, photos, quotes, results, and statistics. A daily blog will begin at Jets camp on Tuesday and run for the duration of the FFWC.

The champions of Japan and Korea became the final two teams to qualify for the FFWC, completing the tournament's 10-team line up. Suri Middle School from Daegu won the right to represent Korea by winning the national finals in Seoul. The Fujitsu Junior Frontiers won the Japanese crown in front of a 6,200 home crowd in Kawasaki.

A week after meeting with Jet players and coaches, the team will travel to Germany for the big FFWC tournament.

Among the DAC Panthers star players is Yanni Gavalas of Manhasset.

Yanni, his teammates and coach Jimmy Gavalas will meet with Jets first-year head coach Eric Mangini and Jets players to receive a message of good luck and tips on how to take on the world.

Once in Cologne, they will face teams from Canada, China, Germany, Holland, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Spain and Thailand at the city's Leichtathletik Stadium from Aug. 22 to 26.

"I hope they can show me how to become a better quarterback so that one day I can play for the Jets like Chad Pennington," said Panthers signal caller Yanni Gavalas, in advance of the meeting. "We're all very excited to be going to Jets camp and then to Germany for the world championships."

The Panthers are in the middle of a pre-season training camp of their own, in preparation for their shot at the world title. The team will practice at Cunningham Park in Fresh Meadows on Aug. 17, 18 and 19 at 5.30 p.m. to perfect their game plan.

The flag champions are Kostas Akoumianakis (Holliswood, Queens), Eddie Roscigno (Astoria, Queens), Brian Kruger (Bayside, Queens), Anthony Libroia (Flushing, Queens), Yianni Gavalas (Manhasset) and Nicholas Athanasopoulos.

The squad won the NFL Flag National Tournament of Champions title at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, FL, in November. Every year more than 100,000 children throughout the United States play in NFL FLAG football leagues.

The Panthers' progress can be followed at the website www.NFL-Flag.com, which will be updated from Cologne with news, photos, quotes, results, and statistics. A daily blog will begin at Jets camp on Tuesday and run for the duration of the FFWC.

The champions of Japan and Korea became the final two teams to qualify for the FFWC, completing the tournament's 10-team line up. Suri Middle School from Daegu won the right to represent Korea by winning the national finals in Seoul. The Fujitsu Junior Frontiers won the Japanese crown in front of a 6,200 home crowd in Kawasaki.

MANHASSET PRESS

ONLINE EDITION FRIDAY June 30, 2006

Manhasset's Gavalas Goes to Germany for FLAG Football World Championship

The NFL FLAG Football World Championship is the highlight of the Flag Football season. National teams representing Canada, China, European Union (3), Mexico, Japan, Korea and Thailand vie to be world champions. The 2006 tournament is being held in Cologne, Germany showcasing the top flag football players from these 10 countries. More than 1,500 kids from 16 countries compete in national competitions to represent their country at the FFWC. All language barriers are removed and the players form lasting friendships as they visit cultural attractions during this weeklong tournament.

Manhasset resident Yianni Gavalas is commandeering the six boys from the United States. The NFL selected Yianni and his teammates, the DAC Panthers, to be TEAM USA after they won the National Title on ESPN in November. The NFL is flying the boys to Cologne Germany for a week of games and activities.

Along with his teammates, Yianni will try to bring the World Title back to the United States. Last year the team from Thailand beat the US team, MoSteel team from Miami, to win the World Title. The 2006 TEAM USA is comprised mostly of boys from Queens with the exception of quarterback Yianni Gavalas of Manhasset and Nicky Athanasopoulos of Roslyn.

Yianni and his teammates will be leaving for Germany in August. Until then they are practicing every week to prepare for the best competition the world has to offer. This year's TEAM USA is at a disadvantage as the international age requirement tops off at 15 years old unlike the US requirements that splits up the younger boys (11) and the older boys (12-14) into two groups. Yianni and most of his teammates are 11 years of age. Last year's USA representative that lost in the finals to the team from Thailand was comprised of mostly older boys. Regardless the boys are practicing hard for this once in a lifetime opportunity.

For more information on NFL Flag Football go to www.nflyouthfootball.com.

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Flag Football Team From Queens Heads To Germany To Compete For World Title

August 10, 2006

A group of boys from Queens hoping to be the kings of flag football are headed to Germany to play for the world title in their age group. NY1’s Roger Clark attended practice Thursday as they prepared for the big games, and he filed this report.

It was an early morning practice for the DAC Panthers. The six boys have been playing flag football together since last August, racking up victories along the way.

“They're all AAU basketball players. They're pretty good basketball players, so it just transferred into this sport and it's worked real well," says DAC Panthers coach Jimmy Gavalas.

It’s worked so well the Panthers won the NFL Flag Football National Championships last November in Florida, qualifying them for the world championships in Cologne, Germany, starting August 22nd.

Flag Football is pigskin without the tackling. To stop the person with the ball, you grab one of two strips or flags from a belt players wear.

The Panthers, all 11 and 12-year-olds, say they are looking forward to representing the USA.

“I'm excited to go to Germany to play football and meet other kids from other countries," says player Yianni "Silent But Deadly" Gavalas.

There are players from nine other countries. And how about the journey to Deutschland? It’s a real adventure.

“My grandfather told me there were a lot of churches and a lot of sauerkraut and [bratwursts],” says Eddie "Playmaker" Roscigno. “And beer.”

Well, he can't have any beer, but he can have some brats.

The DAC Panthers are going to be facing some tough competition in Germany, going up against guys that are older than them, and bigger than them. But they don't think it's really going to be a problem.

“We're going to have to play hard since they are bigger and stronger,” says Nicky “Iceman" Athanasopoulos. “We’ve just got to play tougher, and just got to win."

"They're a little bit taller. They're not that tall. But I think we can beat them," says teammate Kostas "Coast to Coast" Akoumianakis.

"Our chances are going to be good because we might be small, but we're fast," adds teammate Anthony "Moo Moo" Libroia.

No one has more faith in the guys than their fans. Some 29 relatives and friends are making the trip.

“If they keep their heads together and try very hard and go there to have fun, they should do well,” says Jackie Libroia, Anthony’s mother.

If you want to keep track of the boys' progress, you can check www.nfl-flag.com throughout the tournament.

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