Milwaukee youth football team honors fallen teammate, aims for nationals
Milwaukee youth football team needs help after tragedy
The CLE Panthers youth football team in Milwaukee just wrapped up an undefeated season in the wake of a tragic loss of an 11-year-old teammate and is now raising money to compete in a national championship.
MILWAUKEE - The CLE Panthers youth football team in Milwaukee just wrapped up an undefeated season in the wake of a tragic loss.
What we know:
The 11-year-old players spent the season honoring their late teammate, Deon "Mister" Sargent, who was shot and killed in Milwaukee last month.
The shooting happened around 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 16, near 68th and Silver Spring.
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Prosecutors have charged a 13-year-old in Sargent’s death.
Milwaukee 11-year-old boy fatally shot; 13-year-old in custody
11-year-old Deon Sargent was shot and killed during a robbery near 68th and Silver Spring in Milwaukee on Tuesday night, Sept. 16.
What they're saying:
"The kids losing him and losing a best friend of their own – for them to keep their minds still level-headed and still able to compete for the rest of the season, is immaculate," said Corey Collins, coach and vice president of the CLE Panthers. "He was our mini adult. He was the motivation of why we want to keep doing this. He makes you not want to give up."
And Collins says they won’t.
Now, the team’s motivation is to take their undefeated season to the next level – competing in the national championship this December in Atlanta.
"Trying to get our boys to the Nationals. They deserved it. Long, hard season – they worked hard for it," Collins said. "Do not keep your head down, Mister is smiling at us in heaven right now."
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Big picture view:
The CLE Panthers hope to bring home a national title in Sargent’s honor.
"We are nonprofit, we are trying to raise money to get them down there. That’s the only thing holding us up right now, they’re ready – we are ready," said Collins. "Whatever we get we are going to work with – no matter what we are going to get the kids out there," Collins said.
What you can do:
A GoFundMe has been set up to help cover travel expenses for the team’s trip to nationals.
The Source: The information in this post was collected and produced by FOX6 News.