The Heroes, a team sponsored by Partnership for Results, won the 10- and 11-year-old championship last week in the Champions for Life Indoor Soccer League. They defeated Booker T. Washington 8-6 i the title game.

The Heroes is a team that was created under the No Child Left Behind Act through Partnership for Results. Partnership for Results oversees the centers at Casey Park Elementary, Genesee Elementary, East Middle School and West Middle School. The centers were started in 2000 and the soccer program itself began in 2002. The centers give children activities to participate in after school hours to go along with their education.

“There are a number of ways you can support learning,” said supervisor Susan Muldoon. “One of those ways is through athletics.”

Muldoon said the programs, which also include art, cinematography, dance, computer technology and basketball, are in place as an effort to close the learning gap for children, especially those in low-income families.

“Primarily our focus is academic assistance and then character education,” Muldoon said. “We try to keep the two hand in hand. Getting the children out in the community is very important. We try to get them into activities that they may not normally be able to be exposed to. Exemplary behavior is rewarded through participation in the activities.”

The two teachers coaching the Heroes team, Sue Valentino and Candy Jones, both agree that the children are getting so much more than a lesson in soccer.

“These kids came into this with little to no experience in the game,” Valentino said. “So they have definitely grown there, but they also have grown in their behavior in school and their desire to come to school. They know that in order to participate in the fun stuff they have to do their work.”

“The children are learning about teamwork too,” Jones added. “They also learn about responsibility and sportsmanship, and about them finding something they are good at as well. You can see how excited they get when they realize they can be successful at something, then they work twice as hard to have that privilege.”

As part of a grant through Partnership for Results, the Heroes are bused to Champions for Life to play and have little time to practice, which makes their 7-1-0 record that much more impressive.

And when the players collected their medals, it was clear that they found something they love and that they have support behind them.

“That is what makes us succeed,” Muldoon said. “We have the right people working with them. Motivation is key. These teachers tie everything that happens in the classrooms in with this program as well, along with helping them with their homework. The staff is key to this program being successful, by letting the kids know they care and by being passionate about what they do.”

Two players on the team, Susan Boberg and Destiny Flanigan, both said that being part of the Heroes taught them teamwork.

“I like that some of the teams we played were really challenging,” Flanigan said. “It is fun to be challenged like that and learn to play different teams (while) working together.”

“We certainly are very proud of our kids,” Muldoon added. “This is proof that if you give kids a chance they can excel at almost anything.”