Axel Perez, 11, left, puts on his Caballeros football shoulder pads over a Jayhawks t-shirt next to his teammate Diego Castro, 12, right.
Dressed in bright red T-shirts, football cleats and shoulder pads, the 31 boys warming up on the South Junior High football field look just like any Lawrence youth football team having Friday afternoon practice.
But these player are Caballeros, not Cowboys, and hail from Playa del Carmen, Mexico. The team was in town as part of an International Youth Football Exchange. The exchange gives the Caballeros and the Lawrence Gorillas an opportunity to meet and build friendships as well as compete against one another.
The teams will play two football games Sunday at YSI Sports Complex, 4911 W. 27th St. Ages 9-12 will play at noon, and the game for the 12- to 14-year-olds will be at 2 p.m. The Gorillas travel to Mexico next year.
Caballeros team member Jose Maria Torquemada is ready for Sunday. “I’m happy because we have the chance to play in another country with other people,” he said.
Quinn Miller, head coach of the fourth-grade Gorillas, traveled to Playa del Carmen this year during spring break. While he was there, he met the Caballeros manager Lourdes Rodriguez, who told him about the exchange one of the Caballeros teams had done earlier that year with Windsor, Colo. Miller liked the idea, and soon the Gorilla coaches were setting up an exchange in Lawrence.
“It became much bigger than I thought, but it’s also been very rewarding at the same time,” Miller said.
Playing football isn’t all the Caballeros plan to do in Lawrence. Before their Friday practice, the team went shopping downtown and ate lunch at South Park.
They also went to the Lawrence High School football game Friday night and today will attend the Kansas University football game against Duke, where they will be recognized on the scoreboard.
The Caballeros stay with host families while they are in Lawrence. “We will have a very nice opportunity to meet a lot of people, be able to learn from the games, and be able to also realize that there are no borders anymore,” Rodriguez said.
Miller agreed. “What I’ve noticed is, the kids are all the same. It doesn’t matter where they come from,” Miller said. “They’re very excited, there’s some times they listen, there’s some times they don’t. They’re all kids.”
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Sigmund (anonymous) says…
"The Caballeros stay with host families while they are in Lawrence. “We will have a very nice opportunity to meet a lot of people, be able to learn from the games, and be able to also realize that there are no borders anymore,” Rodriguez said."
Yes feel free to sneak back across the imaginary border anytime to be exploited as illegal labor.
maxcrabb (anonymous) says…
^ comments ^ = fail
mommyoffour (anonymous) says…
Wow, I thought racism was something we should be ashamed of. But I guess the people above are proud of being jerks! My son will meet the boys on Sunday and I hope none of you show up. Just Wow!
maxcrabb (anonymous) says…
mommyoffour- Right on.
Sigmund (anonymous) says…
mommyoffour (Anonymous) says… "Wow, I thought racism was something we should be ashamed of."
Racism is something to be ashamed of. I'd feel the same about anyone, regardless of their race, who doesn't believe in the borders of a sovereign nation. BTW, best of luck to both sides with the game. Hopefully both sides will respect the rules, including those imaginary lines.
maxcrabb (anonymous) says…
Sigmund, you are taking the quote out of context.
beerguy (anonymous) says…
I met them at the KU game, their English was very good. They were open and friendly and I doubt any of them were more then 15 years old.They must of came from well off families. Learning English as good as theirs is not cheap.
George_Braziller (anonymous) says…
Grandma - Next time, try reading a bit about Lawrence history before you shoot off your mouth.
If you do it will be easier to extract your cranium from your sphincter.
eagleeyes (anonymous) says…
Number_1_Grandma ,I can't believe you can turn this article into a racism issue. We are talking about KIDS from Mexico having the oppertunity to come play football in the USA. By the way I went to watch the games and they kicked the Lawrence teams butt 48-0.
punkrockmom (Nikki May) says…
And the 9-12 year olds played the 4th graders who are 9 and 10) and the 12-14s played 6th graders who are 11-12. Not really equal age wise. Just saying the score doesn't really matter.
eagleeyes (anonymous) says…
punkrockmom- Wow that doesn't even sound fair. Why would they do that? I did knowtice the Mexico team players were way bigger. Make since now. Looked like everyone had a goodtime.
punkrockmom (Nikki May) says…
I'm not sure why they did that. I didn't really have much knowledge of the games, just know which teams played. Probably just the easiest way to work it out.
rroot01 (anonymous) says…
I was a host parent of two great kids who had a extraordinary experience (along with my two boys). Thanks to Quinn and John and their families for making it happen.
The entire weekend was fantastic. Football, tailgating, perfect weather and making new friends.
There was an age difference but overall it didn't matter. Our boys faced the challenge and it made both the 4th and 6th grade teams better. The other LYF teams better watch out now! I'm sure the Caballeros just enjoyed kicking some Gorilla butt!