Palisadians Punt, Pass & Kick

A new tradition was started last Saturday morning when the Palisades-Malibu YMCA conducted the National Football League’s Punt, Pass and Kick qualifying competition at Palisades High. Despite the 8 a.m. start time, 31 Palisadians made up most of the 41 Los Angeles-area participants in this year’s event, which the YMCA hopes to make it a yearly occurrence in the community. “This was the first time we’ve offered it here and we’re excited to make it an annual event like the track meet,” YMCA Director of Administration Lionnel Zaragoza said. “We had a good turnout and it was a lot of fun for everybody.” The event consisted of five age divisions (ages 6-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13 and 14-15) and the winners of the four older divisions will advance to the sectional round for a chance to advance to the national finals, held at a real NFL game. Palisadians had the home field advantage so naturally they dominated Saturday’s competition. Participants’ scores were determined by adding up the total distances in each of the three categories–punting, passing and kicking (off a tee). Jessica Rubin won the girls’ 6-7 age group with a combined distance of 39 feet, while fellow residents Nathan Russell and Zane Danton placed second and third in the boys’ 6-7 age group. Nathaniel Broidy of Los Angeles won the boys’ 6-7 age group with a distance of 146 feet, 10 inches. Miller Moss won the boys’ 8-9 division with a total combined distance of 203 feet, 10 inches while fellow Palisadians William Coquillard and Sam Swartz were second and third. Palisadian Caroline Douglas won the girls’ 8-9 division with a mark of 103 feet, one inch. Palisadians took first place in both the boys’ and girls’ 10-11 divisions. Mila Danton won the girls (84 feet, two inches) and Collin Flintoft won the boys (286 feet, 10 inches), followed by locals Benjamin Jacobs and Kai Padden in second and third. Brandon Ordonez of North Hollywood won the boys’ 12-13 age group with a combined distance of 265 feet, nine inches and Palisades resident William Winkenhower came in second with a total distance of 232 feet. In the boys’ 14-15 age group, Benjamin Kreitenberg of Tarzana measured out best with a distance of 317 feet, six inches. Accuracy was also factored into the scores, so if a ball was thrown 50 feet but landed 10 feet outside of the specified zone, the distance was recorded as 40 feet, subtracting 10 feet from the total of 50. “Our Optimist Club is dedicated to serving our youth, and we’re looking forward to sharing more great days of football and fun in the future,” Pacific Palisades Optimist Club President Geoff Shelden said.