Sports

Day 2 Update: Chronicling Mission Viejo's Trip East to Challenge No. 1 Football Team

Diablos and their entourage visit Princeton, where they hold another practice before heading out for a double-decker bus tour of lower Manhattan on Day 2 of their trip that culminates with a game Saturday against nation's top-ranked team, Don Bosco Prep.

Reader submission:

Day 2:

Another memorable day for the Mission Viejo Diablos here in New York as they prepare to match up against Don Bosco Prep on Saturday evening. The Diablos conducted a very productive 2 1/2-hour practice this morning in "Tiger Stadium" on the beautiful Campus of Princeton University.

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After lunch it was on to lower Manhattan for a 1 1/2-hour double-decker bus tour. The bus tour included Wall Street and the Financial District, then traveled north along the East River past the United Nations Building. Next, a turn west to Central Park, past Trump Tower, Rockefeller Center and straight through Time Square. The tour continued down 5th Ave. and onto Broadway, where it finished up back at Battery Park.  

The team then had two hours of free time to sight see in small groups. The finale of the tour was the lighting of the "Twin Tower Beams of Light" near Ground Zero.   

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One last bus ride back to the team hotel and another team meeting finished out the day. Tomorrow we're off to West Point Academy for a campus tour and a final team practice.

Thanks for all of your support. Go Diablos! 

-- Ed Kaufer, Action Sports Photography

(Sports editor's note: Check out ESPNLA.com's video interview with Austin Reuland and Coach Bob Johnson after the Diablos' season opening victory.)

Day 1:

Greetings,  

Busy first day for the Mission Viejo Diablos football team in New York, where they will face Don Bosco Prep (ESPN's No. 1-ranked high school team) on Saturday evening.  The Game will be shown live at 4 p.m. on Cox Channel 3 with viewing parties at Oggies Pizza in Mission Viejo and also at Buffalo Wild Wings at the Kaleidoscope.  

After the team breakfast, the Diablos were treated to a full "VIP" tour of the New York Jets Training and Practice Facility. The tour, conducted by the Jets staff, included the massive indoor full-sized practice field, the Jets players' locker room and the weight room (with a few Jets players at work on the weights). They also toured the team dining facility, the Jets' wall of fame and outdoor practice fields. 

From there, the Diablos took busses to the new Meadowlands Stadium (the Jets' and Giants' home field) for a two-hour practice. After practice and showers, the Diablos once again boarded busses for a trip to Ground Zero. The team viewed the progress that has been made on the "Freedom Tower," currently reaching 88 stories near the site of Tower 1.  

Next it was on to 42nd Street on the west side of the city to embark on a harbour cruise of lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty.  What a thrill for the players to see, up close, one of our country's most important icons. After the cruise it was off for a team dinner and then back to the hotel for meetings.   

Tomorrow, the Diablos will practice at Princeton University and then take a double-decker bus tour of mid-town Manhattan.  

-- Ed Kaufer, Action Sports Photography


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