FYFL Cheer Championships

When rapper, singer, songwriter Flo Rida launched the Florida Youth Football League with his manager, Lee Freezy Prince, they made a commitment to focus on education and the cheer program, empowering student athletes to become leaders on and off the field.

Staying true to their commitment, the FYFL hosted its inaugural cheerleading competition at the Dillard High School Gym in Fort Lauderdale.

Carol City’s own Flo Rida and his friends Christina Milian, Trina, Grammy winner Betty Wright, Brisco and his artists Whyl Chyl and TeamPhylte and a host of others encouraged the cheerleaders to focus on education, understand the importance of teamwork, reach beyond the stars and regardless of which team wins the grand award everyone is a winner.

The FYFL Cheer Competition encouraged participation from the entire family, and families did. The gym exploded with excitement when FYFL moms and dads participated in a jump and tumble off contest.

“Seeing the young ladies of the FYFL happy and getting their mom and dad not only to attend but to participate, make events like this so special,” Flo Rida said in a release.

With Breast Cancer Awareness month, Flo Rida also invited Think Pink Rocks co-founder and breast cancer early detection advocate Kathy Fleishman to discuss the importance of genetic testing for breast cancer.

• FYFL Cheer Competition on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_Y-wmp3ruA.

Orange Bowl YFA

The Orange Bowl Youth Football Alliance, presented by Sports Authority, visited four sites as part of its Park of the Week program. The program recognizes select youth football parks across South Florida each Saturday during the fall.

This past Park of the Week schedule included visits to Miami Xtreme Youth Football members Key Biscayne Key Rats, West Kendall Dolphins and Project Hope Warriors as well as Glades Tri-City Youth Football League members Fort Pierce Seminoles and Fort Pierce Ravens. Teams and coaches from the sites wore various pink-colored items in an effort to help raise Breast Cancer Awareness in October.

Now in its 14th season, the Orange Bowl YFA, presented by Sports Authority, serves more than 16,000 young football players and cheerleaders in nine football leagues across eight South Florida counties and has invested approximately $5 million in youth sports in South Florida since 1999.

In addition to its continued support of the Orange Bowl YFA, the Orange Bowl directly supports locally-based festivals and events, including those that provide participatory opportunities to youth from all over the world, such as Junior Orange Bowl, Orange Bowl Sailing Regatta Series, Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships and Orange Bowl Paddle Championships.

For 78 years, the Orange Bowl has been one of South Florida’s leading civic organizations, driving tourism and economic development as well as supporting scholarships and community athletic facilities. Inspiring thousands of student athletes each year, the Orange Bowl’s activities help foster youth confidence, celebrate student achievement, engage the community and enhance the South Florida economy.

For information about the Orange Bowl Committee and the Orange Bowl Youth Football Alliance, presented by Sports Authority, visit www.orangebowl.org.

Bowling

The Greater Miami Bowling Association named Melissa Perez and Alex Yaniz the Youth Girls and Boys Bowlers of the Year, respectively, for the second consecutive year. They received the awards during the GMBA Hall of Fame Banquet at the Miami Elks Lodge 948.