On Monday, Feb. 29 the MaxPreps Travel Team visited
Aquinas Institute in Rochester, New York to honor its football team on the 11th Annual MaxPreps Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard, which is in its 11th year honoring football. The Little Irish were awarded the prestigious national ranking trophy in an early morning assembly in the auditorium.
MaxPreps and the New York Army National Guard were on campus to celebrate with the football team as they completed an amazing 13-0 season and finished No. 105 in the MaxPreps national rankings. At the start of the ceremony, Principal Ted Mancini introduced MaxPreps representative Matt Vecchione who recounted some of the team’s accomplishments and gave a brief overview of the MaxPreps rankings system.
Photo by Precision Sports Entertainment
Next, he introduced Staff Sergeant Richard Mannara of the New York Army National Guard who took the stage to present the Army National Guard national ranking trophy. SSG Mannara spoke about the great honor this trophy represents within the Army National Guard and was thrilled to present it to such a deserving team. He handed the trophy to assistant coach Bob Higgins who accepted the trophy on behalf of head coach Chris Battaglia who was unable to attend.
Coach Higgins, a history teacher at the school, reminded his students that the Minuteman figure on the trophy represents the United States militia, which they are learning about in class. As he concluded his congratulatory message, he expressed how lucky he and the coaching staff was to have the opportunity to work with such a great group of student-athletes. He also mentioned that the national ranking trophy was "the coolest trophy he has ever seen." Finally, the team joined the celebration to a thunderous applause from the student body.
Congratulations to the Aquinas Institute coaches and players on a great season and high national ranking!
To view the Aquinas Institute TOC Photo Gallery, click
here.
Photo by Precision Sports Entertainment
