The Southeast Elite Sharks football team is heading to the championship in their first season. The Sharks are a 12U and 14U football team formed of all-star football players entering middle school and high school from Moore, Scotland, and Richmond counties.
“We were told it couldn’t be done because of the rivals,” said coach Larry Mont.
The team was founded by Mont of Moore County, John Carter of Richmond County and John Priest of Scotland County. Mont has coached with the Sandhills Patriots for four years and is on the coaching staff at Pinecrest High School. Rinardo Marsh coaches the 12U team.
The team is part of the Carolina Youth Alliance league out of Charlotte. This is the first team to combine student-athletes from three rival schools in the dominant southeast high school conference. The idea was to take the best of the best and showcase the all-stars in a spring league.
All pictures are contributed.
“We really care about these kids,” said Mont.
Coaches and staff volunteer their time and travel up to two hours away on Saturdays for games.
“We hope that when these kids play each other over the next four years, they won’t look at each other as rivals but will say, ‘That’s my friend, let’s do something after the game,’” said Mont.
With this being the first season, the teams were made up of invited players, but tryouts were still held.
“We want to prepare them for the next level,” said Mont.
Positions are earned and not handed out as the coaches prepare them for high school, and they hold players accountable.
“They are students first, then athletes,” said Mont. “The athletes are held accountable for their grades and behavior at school. If they get into trouble or are failing, they don’t play.”
The 12U team only lost one game this season to Voltage and will be facing them on Saturday. The 14U team also only lost one game. They will play their rival and defending champions Powerhouse Pride on Saturday at 5:45 p.m. in the championship. Both championship games will be held at Mooresville High School.
~Written by Sandhills Sentinel Reporter Curtis Self.
