Editor’s Note: This is a press release sent by Airo Sports Management. We fully believe in this mission of teams staying together and preparing for the season in the 7v7 format that most teams use during the summer months. We look forward to promoting this and we believe that most teams will only benefit from this.
WESTON, FL, JAN. 10, 2015 – Florida-based Airo Sports Management today announced the nation’s biggest 7v7 initiative with the formation of a statewide 7v7 tournament that is intended for Florida high school or scholastic teams.
The statewide platform will feature eight (8) regional or qualifying events from March-June 2015 with a championship event slated for the weekend of June 18th-21st in Kissimmee at Austin-Tindall Regional Park.
“We are excited to host the Airo 7v7 state championships this June,” Glenn Allen from the Central Florida Sports Commission said. “As the host of the FHSAA state championship, it makes perfect sense to host both the tackle and the 7v7 championship in our region.”
The initiative is also supported and endorsed by the Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) that promotes the idea of prep teams staying and playing together in the off-season under the direction of their prep coaches. Coach Shelton Crews, executive director of the FACA was excited about the innovation in place here.
“Every Florida high school plays 7v7 in some fashion or format. The idea of a statewide tournament featuring athletes from the same school being coached by their own coaches has had huge support from our coaches for some time,” Crews said. “We are excited that Airo has built this great opportunity for our prep athletes and coaches. The FACA is excited to see it become a reality. We expect hundreds of teams and thousands of athletes from across the state to participate in this championship event.”
The statewide event was the brainchild of Dave Menard, founder of Airo, a company which specializes in building 7v 7 events around the country. A few years ago, Menard traveled to Texas to witness the Texas State 7v7 Championship and was impressed.
He saw more than 500 teams participate from across the state and 150 teams qualify for the championship round at College Station. The vision is the same here.
“Most importantly,” Menard stated, “It was high school teams playing together and playing for their prep coach. It was awesome.”
The Texas event has been heralded as the single biggest football event in the country in terms of athlete participation. Menard believed that the same scholastic concept could be established in Florida.
“Florida has some of the best 7v7 teams in the country and has been a leader in the 7v7 movement,” Menard added.
Besides the Florida Coaches Association, Menard set out to enlist additional help when he contacted Richard McGuinness, creator of the U.S. Army Bowl on NBC that has featured the nation’s top preps for more than 15 years. McGuinness had experienced the rise in 7v7 football all over the country and sold his interest in his New Jersey based company in 2014 to launch a series of new football ventures. McGuinness has since become a partner with Menard in Airo and is excited to launch the Florida statewide event this spring.
“Rich shared the vision of growth opportunities for 7v7 here in Florida and across the country,” Menard stated, “and he spent 15 years building the nation’s biggest youth and prep football properties through national sponsorship, media and football passion.”
“I really believe in the 7v7 mission, which allows athletes to improve their ability in the off-season,” said McGuinness . “Now Florida prep teams have a chance to play for a state championship in December and in June.”
But the Florida teams who are crowned state champs in Orlando in June will have one more opportunity to compete against elite competition a few weeks later. Menard and McGuinness plan to announce the creation of more 7v7 events in nearby states in the upcoming weeks with other state champion teams from other states meeting up on July 17th -19th. They are in talks with Tallahassee to host that event given its central location to the surrounding states.
“We have a lot of momentum in the scholastic 7v7 movement throughout the south and we are excited to tie it all together in Tallahassee,” Menard stated.
The announcement has caught the attention of legendary Florida football recruiter Dwight Thomas, who evaluates the top Florida preps for the nation’s top colleges. “This whole deal is downright awesome,” Thomas stated. “Never before have we had a football event like this. Three rounds – regional, statewide and nationwide – run by professionals like Dave and Rich with the backing of the Florida coaches. This is a win-win-win for the state of Florida, our great athletes and our football coaches.”
In the next few weeks, Menard and McGuinness also expect to announce a title sponsor, a television deal and a web cast deal.
The statewide effort to promote the Florida Championship will be led by Coach Randy Bethel and a team of other top coaches from throughout the state. Coach Bethel was a standout football player at Vero Beach High School. He won two national champions at the University of Miami and was drafted by the New England Patriots. He currently serves as Football Chairman for the Florida Athletic Coaches Association and is currently coaching at Vero Beach High School.
Airo is the nation’s leader in 7v7 events. Airo creates safe, organized and exciting 7v7 events for middle school and prep athletes.
Regional Events and Dates
The Tampa Florida Regional Qualifying Tournament will be held on April 25th, 2015 in Tampa Florida. Please contact Bryan Reed for more information at breed@airo7v7.com.
The Central Florida Regional Qualifying Tournament will be held on April 11th, 2015 at location TBA. Please contact info@airo7v7.com for questions or concerns.
The Orlando Florida Regional Qualifying Tournament will be held on April 18th, 2015 at Columbia High School 469 SE Fighting Tiger Dr, Lake City,FL. Please contact Brian Allen for more information at ballen@airo7v7.com
The Northwest Florida regional Tournament is June 6th at Godby High School, 1717 West Tharpe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32303. If you have any questions or concerns please contact AIRO regional director Todd Lanter via email tlanter@airo7v7.com or cell phone at 850-728-8998.
The South Florida tournament is April 11th in West Broward. If you have any questions or concerns please contact AIRO regional director Josh Darrow via email jdarrow@airo7v7.com or cell phone at 305-968-0057
The Treasure/Space Coast Florida Regional Qualifying Tournament will be held on April 11th, 2015 at Vero Beach High School at 1707 16th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960. Please contact Randy Bethel for more information at rbethel@airo7v7.com .
The SW Florida Regional Qualifying Tournament will be held on June 7th, 2015 in Naples Florida. Please contact John Schwochow for more information at jschwochow@airo7v7.com .
