LAWTON, Okla. (KSWO) – “We had faith in the community of Lawton to come together and make the season happen. It takes a whole village so we really felt like the community was very engaged and wanting to participate in sports here. So we felt really good about it coming in and I think we feel great right now”, said Matt Elliott, General Manager of Play Lawton.
All successful youth sports programs start with parent support— and after finishing up their first season— E-S-M is feeling good about how it serves kids.
“I felt like it was a good thing it’s good that the kids were able to have a season that they were able to play. It gives them something to look forward to we like to get out and watch the kids play”, said Lenora Miranda, a local parent.
ESM VP Andy Ballard knows his team had a rocky start with coming in a month an half before football was slated to begin. He welcomed the challenge.
“This time, you know with the short term that we had to get going, and just trying to get all the different stakeholders and the transition into some of the staff with the city — it was a good worthy challenge, then we executed”, said Ballard.
Ballard says it took more than just his team, but the rest of the village.
“That is something to be proud of and it took everybody and took the parks and rec helping, it took the coaches helping, the booster clubs helping and so it was a really cool thing to see.”, said Ballard.
The last parent I spoke with is thankful for E-S-M because she was worried her son couldn’t play football until a few years later.
“I’m excited because I didn’t think my son was gonna be able to play until he got to middle school and now he’s got the experience to play and learn before he gets thrown into there with the big boys in school”, said Shawna Barnes, a local parent.
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