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SPORTS BRIEFLY
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 28, 2003
WIMAUMA -- The Rural Youth Soccer Association (RYSA) will have its third annual end-of-season jamboree and gran fiesta from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Wimauma Civic Center, 5795 Hillsborough St.
There will be soccer matches, Mexican food and a trophy presentation during the two-hour event.
The RYSA, an affiliate of the Florida Youth Soccer Association, just completed the first season of competitive soccer with USA Soccer.
Its slogan, "Cuerpo Sano, Mente Sana," or "Healthy Body, Healthy Mind" reflects RYSA's mission to build character in addition to great soccer players.
"The association is responsible for keeping kids off the streets and motivating them to do better in school," said parent Juan Gomez, whose 12-year-old son, Juan Gomez Jr., plays in the league.
"It is a catalyst for overall community-building and health education for the whole family . . . . We are pleased with the results."
The community-run league is sponsored by Hillsborough County Department of Parks and Recreation, Pocos Hijos Para Darles Mas and the Redlands Christian Migrant Association.
It is "a bright light of hope" in a community often regarded as underprivileged, said Alayne Unterberger, executive director of the Florida Institute for Community Studies. "It is a place for Latino children, living in rural south county, to participate in organized sports."
Football, cheerleading registration
DOVER -- The Dover Cowboys Football and Cheerleading squads, for boys and girls ages 41/2 through 16 years old, will have registration from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Beef O'Brady's, 812 W Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Seffner. Other registration times are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 12, May 3 and 17, June 17 and July 19 at the football field, 2820 Gallagher Road. The squads offer payment plans, multiple child discounts and football and cheerleading clinics. Call 630-4807.