West Lynn Pop Warner preps for Disney trip

Preparation for the West Lynn Pop Warner B team’s scheduled trip to Disney to take place in the national championship games is a two-pronged deal.First, obviously, there is football. But coach Maurice Cordy has had to put that off in favor of the other – much more arduous – chore of fund-raising.The team won the right to represent Lynn – and the New England region – with its win last Saturday over Wolcott, Conn., in the regional championship game.”The kids have been doing well,” Cordy says. “They’re really excited about going. They’ve been out canning and everything. I haven’t seen kids this excited since I’ve been here.”The league has already held some fund-raisers. And it got a big boost from the city when it donated to the league gate and concession stand proceeds from two EMass playoff games at Manning Field Tuesday.Now that the fund-raising campaign is running and under control, Cordy can concentrate on football. The players start practicing today and will go through Saturday morning. Then – depending on whether they charter a bus or fly – they will either leave for Disney early Sunday or early Monday.”We still haven’t worked that out yet,” said Gina Tillotson-Cordy, the coach’s wife, team mother, team manager, and publicity agent for West Lynn Pop Warner.When the Rams get down there, they will get put in one of two B divisions: The Warner or Tomlin. They are guaranteed two games, the first one being a bracket semifinal Tuesday. The second one – depending on whether they win or lose – will be Saturday, for either the bracket championship or the consolation game.”For some reason, they’re doing it that way,” Cordy said. “They’ve split us up so that there are two B champions. But if we win, we’re certainly going to consider ourselves champions.”Tuesday’s game is against the Fort Worth (Texas) Colts, “and we’re excited about that,” Cordy said. “They play tough football down there ? and we play tough football, too.”Neither team knows anything about the other, Cordy said, “which ought to make it interesting.”We’re just going to go in there and do what we do ? and they’re going to do what they do. May the best team win. You can’t game-plan here.”But after that,” he said, “Disney films each game and will sell us the tapes, so we’ll have something to go by next Saturday.”The league must still raise a considerable amount of money to make the trip. It will have a fund-raiser tonight at the Blue Note on Sagamore Street, where everyone will pay a cover charge, as well as a pep rally at Lynn Classical Friday at 7:30.Those wishing to donate can contact Tillotson-Cordy at (857) 249-9130, WLPW president Amy Robinson at (781) 632-8202, or vice president Stacie Miller at (781) 983-9114. All checks can be made payable to West Lynn Pop Warner.Anyone who would like to donate via credit card can do so by following the PayPal link at www.leaguelineup.com/westlynnrams.