Alana Rose Garbig from Hernando, Florida, will be among 40 young athletes from across the United States to compete in the NFL PUNT, PASS & KICK National Finals Saturday, Jan. 10, in Seattle during the weekend of the NFC Divisional Playoff Game. Garbig, who competes in the Girls 6-7 division, will represent the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after advancing throughout Tampa Bay's local competition, including the Buccaneers Team Championship, which took place at Raymond James Stadium on Nov. 30.
Finalists will compete separately in five age divisions at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Washington, with the top scorer in each group crowned national champion. All participants launch two punts, two passes and two kicks with scores based on distance and accuracy (in feet). The best score from each activity is tabulated to determine the athlete's total. All youngsters advanced to the national finals through local, sectional and team championship competitions held throughout the NFL regular season. The top four scorers in each age group from across the country qualified as national finalists.
NFL Punt, Pass & Kick, which began in 1961, is celebrating its 53rd anniversary. It is one of the nation's largest grassroots sports skills competitions. NFL stars – including Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterbacks TROY AIKMAN and DAN MARINO – competed in the Punt, Pass & Kick program as youngsters.
"USA Football is pleased to manage the Punt, Pass & Kick program," USA Football Executive Director SCOTT HALLENBECK said. USA Football is the sport's national governing body and the official youth development partner of the NFL and its 32 teams. "This fun football competition rooted in fundamental skills continues to capture the imagination of young athletes, boys and girls alike. We congratulate our national finalists and look forward to an exciting Saturday in Seattle."
All participants and their guests are provided airfare, hotel accommodations and tickets to the NFC Divisional Playoff Game between the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers.
Finalists are listed along with the NFL team that hosted their regional competition:
Boys 6-7
*Name * |
Hometown |
NFL team representing |
Easton Reimers |
Missoula, Mont. |
Seattle Seahawks |
Lucian Deering |
McKinney, Texas |
Dallas Cowboys |
Alexander McPherson |
Palm City, Fla. |
Miami Dolphins |
AJ Manning |
Rio Rancho, N.M. |
Arizona Cardinals |
Girls 6-7
*Name * |
Hometown |
NFL team representing |
Alana Rose Garbig |
Hernando, Fla. |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Selena Maldonado |
Hornell, N.Y. |
Buffalo Bills |
Keyera Cameron |
Hemet, Calif. |
San Diego Chargers |
Hannah Campbell |
Winchester, Tenn. |
Tennessee Titans |
Boys 8-9
*Name * |
Hometown |
NFL team representing |
Omar Zachery Jr |
Lawrenceville, Ga. |
Atlanta Falcons |
Matiwos Rumley |
Hebron, Conn. |
New England Patriots |
Jake Epstein |
Boynton Beach, Fla. |
Miami Dolphins |
Jarom Alani |
Ho'okena, Hawaii |
San Diego Chargers |
Girls 8-9
*Name * |
Hometown |
NFL team representing |
Macy Richardson |
Tecumseh, Neb. |
Kansas City Chiefs |
Samantha Ehlers |
Elk Point, S.D. |
Minnesota Vikings |
Lauren Cummings |
Billings, Mont. |
Denver Broncos |
Tylana Abraham |
Kailua- Kona, Hawaii |
San Diego Chargers |
Boys 10-11
*Name * |
Hometown |
NFL team representing |
Isaac Toole |
Rockford, Mich. |
Detroit Lions |
Amari Thomas |
Prince George's County, Md. |
Washington Redskins |
Tyler Jenson |
Albuquerque, N.M. |
Arizona Cardinals |
Raymond Price III |
East Palo Alto, Calif. |
San Francisco 49ers |
Girls 10-11
*Name * |
Hometown |
NFL team representing |
Jayla Medeiros |
Kealakekua, Hawaii |
San Diego Chargers |
Elia Hebel |
Albany, Texas |
Dallas Cowboys |
Remy Minton |
Fort Collins, Colo. |
Denver Broncos |
Olivia Osborn |
Waukesha, Wis. |
Green Bay Packers |
Boys 12-13
*Name * |
Hometown |
NFL team representing |
Dylan Downing |
Lenexa, Kan. |
Kansas City Chiefs |
Elias Espinoza |
Pueblo, Colo. |
Denver Broncos |
Davis York |
Griffin, Ga. |
Atlanta Falcons |
Collin Travasos |
Pleasanton, Calif. |
Oakland Raiders |
Girls 12-13
*Name * |
Hometown |
NFL team representing |
Audrey Lee Pelster |
Burlington, Ky. |
Cincinnati Bengals |
Kirstyn Hines |
Woodward, Okla. |
Dallas Cowboys |
Kendall De La Vega |
Valencia, Calif. |
San Diego Chargers |
Katie Sue Rahilly |
Newberry, Mich. |
Detroit Lions |
Boys 14-15
*Name * |
Hometown |
NFL team representing |
Alex Folz |
Spring Grove, Minn. |
Minnesota Vikings |
Tyler Evans |
Slinger, Wis. |
Green Bay Packers |
Kealiiholookoa Maruyama |
Henderson, Nev. |
San Diego Chargers |
Ettman Noriega |
Sacramento, Calif. |
San Francisco 49ers |
Girls 14-15
*Name * |
Hometown |
NFL team representing |
Elizabeth Moberg |
Port St. Lucie, Fla. |
Miami Dolphins |
Kayleigh Addington |
Lexington, Va. |
Washington Redskins |
Calla Haldorson |
Hamilton, Mont. |
Seattle Seahawks |
Molly Saylor |
South Park, Pa. |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
NFL Punt, Pass and Kick is part of NFL Youth Football, which provides ways for children to play, watch and experience the game of football. For more information, visit www.NFLPPK.com. For other NFL PLAY 60 youth programs, visit www.NFLRUSH.com.