🏈 Holloway 12 & Under: Champions of Kinston

They didn’t just play football. They carried the weight of a city’s hope. In 2025, the Holloway 12 & Under football team stormed through the Kinston/Lenoir County Recreation Football League and claimed the City Championship, proving that when Kinston youth are guided with the right leadership, they can excel beyond expectations.

The Road They Ran

Holloway’s journey to the title meant facing every powerhouse in the area:

• Fairfield — rooted in Fairfield Park, known for strong fundamentals and community pride.

• Martin C. Freeman (MCF) — a tradition‑rich program out of Freeman Gym, always a contender and respected rival.

• Greene County — revitalized by the Touchdown Club, bringing toughness and energy from Snow Hill.

• La Grange — the Tigers, fueled by local tradition and fierce rivalry.

• County — representing the broader Lenoir County Parks & Recreation program, giving kids across the county a chance to shine.

  
  

Each opponent brought history, pride, and talent. But Holloway brought something stronger: unity, discipline, and belief.

The Championship Moment

When the final whistle blew, the scoreboard crowned Holloway champions. But the real victory was in the faces of parents, coaches, and community members who saw their children achieve greatness.

The Celebration at King’s

At King’s Banquet Hall, the celebration was electric. Coaches stood proud, parents smiled through tears, and the community cheered as trophies gleamed under the lights. It wasn’t just a banquet — it was a promise that when we celebrate our kids, they give us more to celebrate.

Shout Outs That Matter

• 👑 Champ — the heartbeat of the team, whose leadership lit the way.

• 🧢 Coaches — for their wisdom, patience, and relentless belief in these kids.

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parents — for the rides, the cheers, and the sacrifices that made this possible.

• 🏘️ Community — for filling the stands and lifting the team higher.

• 💧 Gatorade — for caring enough about our small town to pitch in and keep our champions fueled.

✨ More Than Football

“Every child I see in that field is one less I’ll see on the news. And I’m grateful for Champ and every other person that makes this possible.”Quarla Blackwell

Why Celebration Matters

We must normalize celebrating our kids’ success — not just when they stumble, not just when they fail. Too often, the spotlight shines only when trouble comes. But when these young athletes achieve greatness, when they show discipline, teamwork, and pride, the coverage is faint or absent.

Local news outlets have a responsibility here. They take time to post when kids are in trouble, but very rarely recognize them when they do good. That has to change. Because every headline about failure is a missed chance to inspire, and every headline about success is a chance to build hope.

The Legacy

The 2025 championship is more than a trophy. It is proof that Kinston’s children are capable of greatness when given guidance and love. Holloway 12 & Under didn’t just win the city — they gave us hope, pride, and a reason to believe in the future. And if we celebrate them loudly, consistently, and unapologetically, they will keep giving us more to celebrate.

Written and inspired by Quarla Blackwell

PHOTO GALLERYN OF BANQUET