On Tuesday, January 31, the 7th Annual MaxPreps Football Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard brought us just outside Tampa to Seffner, Florida, home of the Armwood High School Hawks. The Hawks come in nationally ranked at No. 9 in the MaxPreps Freeman Rankings poll and are only one of fifty schools that are being recognized by the Army National Guard out of 16,000 teams in the U.S.A. The Hawks completed a perfect 15-0 season to secure the Florida 6A State Championship and received their first state championship since the 2004 season.
I arrived on campus as the JV basketball game began and met with Coach Sean Callahan who directed me to the gym lobby where we set up and prepared for the our ceremony, to be held at halftime of the varsity boys basketball game. As we excitedly waited for the ceremony to begin all the players were given their commemorative Tour of Champions t-shirts by Florida Army National Guard Staff Sergeant Randy Munch. Our ceremony kicked off with Athletic Director Don Hill introducing Sergeant Munch, who then spoke about exactly what it means to be on a team and the great character and dedication of Armwood's Hawks. He then presented the coveted Army National Guard national ranking trophy and championship rafter banner to Coach Callahan and the team's captains to commemorate their accomplishments both on and off the field.
Following the ceremony the coach and team moved out to the gym lobby where local media interviews, photos and celebrations took place. The football players could not have been more excited about the honor as they gladly posed with their new "Minuteman" trophy. This honor could not have gone to a more deserving team. Congratulations to Armwood High School, Coach Sean Callahan and the Hawks on your great season!