KISSIMMEE – The Clearwater Tornadoes have qualified for the southeast region finals of the Adidas/Airo National 7v7 Team Tournament next month to be held in Georgia by virtue of their final-four appearance in the inaugural state tournament this past weekend in Kissimmee. The Tornadoes were defeated by eventual champion Jacksonville-Ribault in the semifinals, but the rules of the tourney stated that the last four teams on the day would automatically qualify for next month’ regionals. Palmetto and Boone are the other two programs that will represent the state.

The team used the event as a team-building exercise away from the field on top of the opportunity to compete that they were going to face on it. Clearwater Head Coach Don Mesick said the 20-member squad headed over on Thursday night and stayed in a hotel in the Orlando-area and were using the road trip as a reason to get stronger as a team as well.

Mesick praised the production of some of his players that have already enjoyed excellent offseason’ and should carry that production into the fall. Quarterbacks Garrison Bryant and Austin Day rotated each game for Clearwater while WR’s Zach Lehman and Jacquez Jones were virtually unstoppable at times as a combo. Running back Adarious Lemons was a major contributor until he and Lehman started suffering from severe cramping at the end of the brutally-hot 2-day stretch.

Defensively-speaking, Mesick was quick to mention the Byrd Twins at CB, (Jaquez and Jatavious) along with rising senior Cammeron Ellis, who is a DE that is really starting to come into his own rhythm this offseason.

The event took place at Austin Tindall Park and was attended by 50 teams from around the state. The regional finals will be held in Valdosta, Georgia on July 17th-18th with four teams from Louisiana and Georgia competing versus the four teams from the Sunshine State.

Both Clearwater and Palmetto will be participating in the BCP 9-Route Tournament on July 11th-12th at Fishhawk Sports Complex as well.