I am starting this petition in regard to the CFBISD decision to not allow the WCT Bulldogs to leverage our district’s facilities for their practices. I am writing as a parent of an athlete for CFBISD at Blalack Middle School and the WCT Bulldogs 7v7 Football Team.

In hopes of the district reconsidering this decision, I want to ensure that you understand what the WCT Bulldogs organization brings to this community.

First, Andres Ruiz and his team of coaches (many of whom are CFBISD alumni) are using this organization as a ministry and to build respectful and hard-working young athletes. I can testify that throughout the 2024 Spring season my 12 year-old not only got faster, stronger and more skilled in the game of football– but he learned the importance of showing respect to his coaches, showing up each and every practice, being on time, and how much hard work impacts the outcome of games. Although I think the most important lesson that he learned during his time with this team is the importance of helping his teammates. While Coach Ruiz keeps registration fees for WCT Bulldogs very low, this was still a financial challenge for many families. So these boys banded together and did fundraisers and a car wash to raise money for player scholarships and to cover the cost of the traveling to the state tournament so that anyone that wanted to participate wouldn’t miss the opportunity. I want to be clear that removing the use of district facilities is likely to impact registration fees, which would make it increasingly difficult to engage many CFB families.

Second, the WCT Bulldogs is setting out to build a talent pipeline of top football athletes for this district. This WCT Bulldogs directly serves athletes in CFB and is held during the football off-season, providing additional opportunities for skill-building, building strength and endurance and creating team bonds. I saw immediate outcomes from my son and many of his middle school teammates playing for the 13U WCT Bulldogs in the 2024 spring/summer season as the 7th Grade Blalack Middle School Football team went undefeated in district this Fall, led by many of the same boys that had played together in this league.  Imagine the talent that could be cultivated, the bonds that can be built, and the legacy that could be created in this district if this organization could continue to operate and maintain their lower registration fees in order to reach more of the young men across the community!

My hope is that instead of blocking the WCT Bulldogs, that the coaches of this district instead link arms with this organization and support the growth and development of these young men.