Youth sports hero grew up in Fallbrook

Being up in years and having a spouse with compromised immune issues, I’ve been mostly at home with cabin fever. However, being a former lacrosse coach, I was really looking forward to February when I usually get to see college games on TV. This past Saturday (Feb. 20) was especially rewarding.

The news that youth sports was going to be permitted again, having been cancelled for a year due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, brought this day into perspective.

In 2006, my college teammate, Chas Mudie and I started the Fallbrook Warrior Youth Lacrosse program. Many wonderful youngsters have come through the program and gone on to play for Fallbrook High School. Several have also gone on to have successful careers at the college level.

My special day centered around a young boy, now a young man, who came through Warrior lacrosse – Gianni Orlando. Like virtually all our young boys, he had never played the game and learned the game through the Warrior Program. He was a team member during the 2011 and 2012 seasons, leading the team in scoring his second year.

Gianni is now a senior at the U.S. Air Force academy and a starter at midfield. During the game that I was able to stream on my computer, I saw him playing for the first time since he was a kid playing on the Potter Jr. High grass. Midway through the game, Gianni scored! I was so excited for him and his parents, Tonya and Bobby.

Air Force was playing a good Utah University team, and it was back and forth with both teams exchanging leads. Sure enough, the game goes into overtime. It's sudden death – next goal wins! A few minutes later, you got it, Gianni scores the winning goal!

Youth coaches are not rewarded monetarily. But on this special day, I sure was. Great game Gianni.

Frank Rotunda