From the moment the kids step onto the practice field, it is evident they have soaked up the buzz surrounding the league and turned it into motivation.
“I think [the players] are so pumped up,” said Kari Atencio, a team mom. “They are really motivated. I think when we hit that turf the first game they are going to be really excited too.”
The turf the teams will play on is the artificial turf at the brand new Jim Scott Stadium. Each Saturday, four of the teams will play their home games at the $9.5 million stadium while the other four teams play on the road.
The only way this setup was possible for the league was through the support of Estancia High and its generosity to the league.
Out of respect for that generosity, the board members of the league decided to have the same nickname as Estancia and changed it to the Eagles this year.
Costa Mesa Pop Warner and Estancia has become somewhat community partners with the intention of convincing young athletes to stay in Costa Mesa and not go to schools like Mater Dei.
“It takes bodies when it comes down to it,” said Mike Bargas, Estancia’s football coach. “Hopefully we can benefit through each other and keep kids in the community.
“It bonds the community, city, school and everything all around.”
A step in sparking that bond was for Costa Mesa Pop Warner to establish a good program that will bring more and more kids out each year. The enrollment went up 50% from last year and league president Steve Mensinger projects the numbers to increase from almost 300 players this year to 500 players within a few years.
