The Camp’s Role in a Winning Legacy
The Kirtland football program has become a model of sustained excellence, boasting 259 victories and eight state championships over the past twenty years.
Central to that legacy is the annual youth camp, a summer staple that draws dozens of elementary and middle school players to the high school field for games, competitions and hands‑on instruction.
Coach Tiger LaVerde, who leads the camp, repeatedly tells participants that the experience is about more than wins; it is about learning the fundamentals and, above all, having fun.
For many of the current seniors, the camp is a full‑circle journey. Lucci Cantini, now a senior starter, remembers the excitement of being a camper, while Mario Lorber, who once attended as a child, now serves as a counselor, teaching the same techniques he once learned.
The mentorship extends beyond the field. Players such as Jack Turk and Caden Fall grew up watching older teammates like George Prusock, and the continuity of the program’s offensive scheme ensures that each generation inherits the same playbook.
Looking ahead, Lorber says he hopes to return one day and see the kids he coached at camp competing on the high school varsity, a testament to the camp’s lasting impact on the community.