The Mad Dogs Flag Football of Palm Coast’s Elite 15U travel team has qualified for the AAU Junior Olympic Games in Houston on July 25-27.
The Mad Dogs Elite won the Battle at Bradenton IMG Academy AAU Junior Olympic Games Qualifier on June 1 to advance to the national championships.
The team is raising money for the trip to Houston. It was holding a 50-50 raffle at the Mad Dogs playoff games the morning of Saturday, June 1, at Ralph Carter Park and again at the championships at Matanzas High School 4-9 p.m. later in the day. The team is also looking for sponsors.
The Elite 15U team has won nine of 13 tournaments and has catapulted up the Zorts National Power Index to No. 2 in the nation for 15U boys flag football teams. The team has won nine of 13 tournaments since April 2024 and placed in the top four last year at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Summer Nationals in Canton, Ohio.
They also placed in the top 10 playing against teams from Hawaii, Canada, Jamaica and Connecticut in March at the Youth World Championships at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports.
The Mad Dogs Elite 15U travel flag football team at the Youth World Championships at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports. Courtesy photo
“We have a great bunch of kids,” coach Joey Arzuaga said. “The boys have worked very hard and besides being nine-time champions, they also have the respect of many teams around the state because of their great respect and character on and off the field. Coach Chris Parks and myself work with the boys weekly on football and life skills in general.”
The players began playing together in March, 2024 in 14U competition. “We do a lot from a bonding standpoint,” Arzuaga said. “Coach Parks and I promised the boys that we’ll stick with them as long as they want to run it together.”
For more information on how to support the team in its fundraising efforts, go to the teams Facebook page: 15U Mad Dogs Elite Flag Football or email [email protected].
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