Valerie's Boys

For most of Americans, the term “Friday night lights” means only one thing - Football!As the end of August nears and September “falls” upon us, high schoolers everywhere are already deep into training for the season. Waking-up early to get a morning jog in, and going late to get those extra reps in. As the sun starts to set, they look back at the days training to see if there was anything they could have done better? Tomorrow’s another day and they have chores and possibly homework yet to finish before finally getting some rest.High school football for some is a right of passage, it’s a sport as old as the american spirit; and it can be expensive. The schools do their best with what they’re given but most of the time it’s not enough. With the recent state budgets cuts the schools are forced to pass on more and more of the cost to the parents. Coupled together with the recovering economy and high unemployment rates, it can be very difficult to find the necessary funds for these young people to participate. In some cases the cost of playing the season is too great for family’s to afford.Luckily for students their are concerned community members that create booster clubs to help them get back on the field. There are people that believe that everyone deserves the same opportunities, and for good students that want to participate in the gridiron sport there’s booster programs that help.“It can cost as much as $200,000 a year to run a football program” head football Coach Mike Bargas from Estancia High School says, “So the communities help and the booster programs are critical to run the football program”. Despite the help funding the program, Each student is asked to contribute $600 to help cover things like uniforms, shoulder pads, helmets, travel, training facilities and much more.When Valerie Torelli of Torelli Realty in Costa Mesa heard about a chance to help a couple of outstanding young men play this season at Estancia High School she jumped on the opportunity.Coach Mike Bargas said “These two young men are examplarery figures of the Costa Mesa community. They are both humble, salt of the earth, type people that come from blue collar family’s. They are great both on and off the field.”For Ron Urqueza (#5, QB), playing this season means a lot to him and his family. The help that Valerie Torelli  has provided for him and Arturo Ortega, #52, has been more than words can explain. “It wouldn’t be fair to the team if they all had to pay, and I didn’t” Urqueza said talking about the cost of playing football. “I have to be a teamplayer... always believe in your dreams and goals” that is the voice of a young role model.With the help Torelli is providing for these young men they will be able to participate in this seasons games. You can go cheer on Valerie’s boys in their first scrimmage match against Bolsa Grande this Friday Sept. 30th, 3pm at Estancia High School. Check out their schedule here for their regular season games.