Gila River Youth Honored at Summer League Awards Ceremony
August 22, 2025
Jeston Morris
Community Newspeerson
Sacaton, Arizona — On Saturday morning, July 26, families and staff from the Gila River Indian Community gathered at the Sacaton Fairgrounds to celebrate the Summer League Award Ceremony. The event was hosted by Tribal Recreation and Wellness in partnership with Playmakers Youth Sports.
Playmakers operates an official NFL Flag program, providing a safe, fun, and competitive space for youth of all skill levels to learn the game and grow as athletes. Through their ongoing collaboration with Tribal Recreation and the Community, they also support other sports like basketball, helping these leagues grow and succeed.
The event began at 8:30 a.m. as families and teams gathered to recognize the accomplishments of young athletes. Staff from Tribal Recreation and Wellness offered opening remarks.
“I just wanted to share the positive experience all of you are witnessing with these leagues,” said one staff member. “It’s a relationship between Playmakers and Gila River
Our goals are to continue this work, to grow, and to provide a safe space for families. We welcome all feedback to make this opportunity even better.”
Damien Dedmon, President of Playmakers, also spoke: “This past season has been awesome. Feedback from referees and parents is a great sign. For me, I’m super thankful for all the support.”
The ceremony honored 10 basketball teams and 8 flag football teams. Youth athletes, ranging in age, were awarded either medals or championship rings. Basketball awards featured the Jr. Suns logo, while flag football featured the NFL Flag-branded logo. Each team had the chance to take photos and proudly display their medals or rings, celebrating their hard work and dedication.
As the event came to a close, Coach Andres Lopez, a community member, shared his perspective. Lopez coached five teams this summer—three basketball and two flag football. “It’s important to be out with the youth and the community,” he said. “I want to show them the possibili ties beyond our boundaries and what can be brought to Gila River. As they grow, they can continue to learn through sports and find opportunities to better themselves.”
The ceremony wrapped up a successful summer season, highlighting the strong community support behind youth sports. Events like these shine a light on the positive impact of youth programs that encourage, uplift, and inspire the next generation.
With the summer leagues complete, attention now turns to the upcoming fall season. Tribal Recreation and Wellness is exploring a variety of sports for youth, adult, and elder leagues.
For more information, contact Tribal Recreation and Wellness at Wellness.Center@gricnsn.us or Playmakers at playmakersfflinfo@gmail.com.