User:Fthrasher/sandbox
Mons Knights epedemic
[edit]| Established | 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Based in | Mons, Hainaut, Belgium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home stadium | FC Havre | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Head coach | Andy Brutyn | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team president | Franky Thrasher | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | Belgian Football League (BAFL) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Division | LFFA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colors | Black , Gold, White, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League titles | 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | www | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current uniform | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Introduction
[edit]The Mons Knights [1]are an American gridiron football team based in Mons, Belgium.[2] Established in 2012, the team has become a significant presence in the Belgian American football scene, competing in various national leagues and tournaments. They are a member of Ligue Francophone de Football Americain de Belgique
History
[edit]The Mons Knights are an american football team based in Mons, Belgium. The team and organization was created in 2012 under the name "Sharks[3]" in Braine-le-Comte, Belgium. In 2015, and after an undefeated championship season in Division 3, the organization decided to relocate itself and move to Mons. This was a strategic and beneficial choice since Mons is one of the biggest cities in Belgium. With this move we had the opportunity to recruit more players and have more visibility. After the move the organization changed of name from "BLC Sharks" to "Knights Mons". The new name of the organization is a tribute to Saint-Georges, hero of the city of Mons and of the main characters of the folklore and history of the city. The spear, that you can find in the club logo, is also a main part of the culture since the Dragon was killed by Saint-Georges with the spear. Currently the Knights Mons play in the National League (Division 2) of the Belgium American Football League (BAFL). The team is growing as wished since the Knights Mons won the Division 3 Championship in the 2017-2018 season and finished at a deserved third place in Division 2 during the 2018-2019 season. This season the Knights will try to maintain their level and hope to finish the 2019-2020 season with a better standing than the previous one.
Team Development
[edit]- Early Years 2012-2015 : The initial years saw the Mons Knights focusing on recruitment and training, participating in friendly matches and local tournaments to gain experience.
- 2017-2020 : With the arrival of new American coaches, Nick Granado ,Justin Cox and Pat Lockhart the team embarked on a new phase of strategic game planning. This shift resulted in a remarkable turnaround, as the team went from a winless season in Division 3 to undefeated seasons and promotion to Division 2 and finishing in the top 3 of dicivion 2. This year also marked the team's first ventures into youth development, with the establishment of U19 and U16 teams through a collaboration with the Charleroi Coal Miners.
- 2020-2022 The post COVID rebuild: Like many sports across the world in American football was highly impacted by the COVID-19 [4]. The Mons Knights had to rebuild a complete new team from a depleted base of 11 players . This was done under the leadership of new Head Coach James Wellington. Coach wellington brought in former NCAA Div 1 players DA Aquino and Jason Neago to help develop and coach. this endeavor led to the Mons Knights first title in the U20 Categorize in 2023.
- 2022-2024: As of 2022 Defensive coordinator DA Aquino took on the head coach position[5] with the clear mandate from the club president to build a successful program development program based off Coach Aquino's NCAA experience at the UCLA Bruins[6] he brought on James Mathews as Defensive Coordinator
- League Participation: By 2013, the Knights had joined the Belgian American Football League (BAFL), where they began competing more formally. They brought more strategic approach as of 2017
- Achievements: Over the years, the team has achieved several milestones, including [mention any notable championships, awards, or achievements].
Community Involvement The Mons Knights are actively involved in the local community, organizing various outreach programs, youth training camps, and charity events. The team's community efforts aim to promote American football and encourage physical activity among the youth.
Notable Players
- Fabrice Zoppe : Starting Quarterback of the 2024 Season he led the Knights to the Belgian Bowl Victory and with a 102 points scored in the regular season he was the leading scorer in the BAFL for 2024
- Player 2: [Brief description and achievements]
- Player 3: [Brief description and achievements]
Coaching Staff
- Head Coach: Andy Brutyn has been the head coach of the Mons Knights since 2024, bringing extensive experience and a strategic approach to the team.
- Assistant Coaches: The coaching staff includes [Names and roles], each contributing to different aspects of the team's performance.
Season-by-Season Performance
[edit]A detailed breakdown of the Mons Knights' performance over the seasons can be found below:
- 2018: BAFL Div III Champions
- 2019 BAFL Div II Third Place[7]
- 2023: LFFA U20 Champions
- 2023 BAFL Vice Champions[8]
- 2024 BAFL U17 Champions[9]
- 2024 Belgian Bowl Champions[10]
| Date | Type | Country | Home | Visitors | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Jun 24 | Final | Belgium | Mons Knights | Waterloo Warriors | 33-30 |
| 16 Jun 24 | Semi-final | Belgium | Mons Knights | Ghent Gators | 30-28 |
| 02 Jun 24 | Regular | Belgium | Mons Knights | Waterloo Warriors | 10-0 |
| 19 May 24 | Regular | Belgium | Mons Knights | Ostend Pirates | 8-16 |
| 05 May 24 | Regular | Belgium | Mons Knights | Bruges Broncos | 39-0 |
| 21 Apr 24 | Regular | Belgium | Liège Monarchs | Mons Knights | 3-6 |
| 14 Apr 24 | Regular | Belgium | Mons Knights | Ghent Gators | 21-20 |
| 24 Mar 24 | Regular | Belgium | Verviers Mustangs | Mons Knights | 0-9 |
| 17 Mar 24 | Regular | Belgium | Fighting Turtles | Mons Knights | 45-14 |
| 03 Mar 24 | Regular | Belgium | Mons Knights | Amay Atomics | 28-0 |
2024Senior Roster
[edit]| {{center Mons Knights 2024 Roster }} | ||||||
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Quarterbacks
Wide receivers
Running backs
Offensive linemen
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Defensive linemen
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Coaching staff
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Teague's Take Powered by Mons Knights as of 2023 The Mons Knights developed a partnership with NFL Veteran George Teague this led to the development of the Teague's Take Camp this is non profit football camp that aims at developing European Football players with an NFL veteran player.
Future Prospects The Mons Knights continue to strive for excellence, focusing on player development, strategic gameplay, and community engagement. With a solid foundation and a growing fan base, the future looks promising for the Knights.
External Links
- Official Website
- Facebook Instagram
- Europlayers
- Foot US – Les Knights de Mons sur le toit de la Belgique : « Nous avons toujours su rebondir après les défaites ! » (+ PHOTOS & VIDÉOS)
- FOOT US - Les Knights de Mons filent en finale du championnat belge (French)[11]
References
- ^ "Mons Knights". Europlayers. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
- ^ "Annexe Personnes morales". www.ejustice.just.fgov.be. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ^ "Braine-le-Comte Sharks". Europlayers. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
- ^ Wong, Ashley Ying-Ying; Ling, Samuel Ka-Kin; Louie, Lobo Hung-Tak; Law, George Ying-Kan; So, Raymond Chi-Hung; Lee, Daniel Chi-Wo; Yau, Forrest Chung-Fai; Yung, Patrick Shu-Hang (2020-07-28). "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports and exercise". Asia-Pacific Journal of Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy, Rehabilitation and Technology. 22: 39–44. doi:10.1016/j.asmart.2020.07.006. ISSN 2214-6873. PMC 7386263. PMID 32821648.
- ^ "Foot US: l'Américain Dylan Aquino est le nouvel entraîneur des Knights de Mons (vidéo)". sudinfo.be (in French). 2022-11-06. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
- ^ Hodges, Jim (1996-10-25). "Aquino Suffers Recurrence of Illness". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
- ^ "Les Knights Mons misent sur la jeunesse | Tele MB". www.telemb.be (in French). 2021-01-25. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
- ^ "Finale loupée pour les Knights, battus par Ostende (0-27) | Tele MB". www.telemb.be (in French). 2023-06-18. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
- ^ Sudinfo (2 June 2024). "Un premier titre de champion de Belgique en U17". SudInfo. p. 1.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Grégory, Lefrancq (30 June 2024). "Foot US – Les Knights de Mons sur le toit de la Belgique : « Nous avons toujours su rebondir après les défaites ! » (+ PHOTOS & VIDÉOS)". SudInfo Sport. p. 1.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Bessière, Bessière (17 June 2024). ""FOOT US - Les Knights de Mons filent en finale du championnat belge"". TELE MB. p. 1.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)