The Wasco Bengals Youth Football & Cheer organization has a rich history of mentorship, which continues to build successful high school, collegiate, and professional athletes. HISTORY OF WASCO YOUTH FOOTBALL
Our story begins with Jim Penner in 1973 under the name “Wasco Packers.” The name was chosen due to the many fields of potatoes and active potato packing sheds in Wasco. Jim served as president and head coach until 1982 when he turned the program over to Marty Jones. Marty Jones served as president and head coach from 1982 until the end of the 1987 season. During his tenure, the Wasco Packers won the Southern Youth Football championship titles in 82, 83, 85, 86, & 87. In 1988 the league added a B team which gave the younger players (6th & 7th graders) more playing time and experience. Up until this point, most of the younger players only got the opportunity to play in a “5th quarter” scrimmage. And similar to previous years, Tony’s A team won the league championship again in 1988. Gary Earl took the reins in 1989 as the President and Head Coach for the A team; he headed the program during the seasons of 89 & 90. Gary’s success continued with his A team winning the league championship in 1990. Tony Jameson returned as President and Head Coach in 1991. Not only did his team take the league championship that year, they took the show on the road to Las Vegas to compete in the National Youth Football Championship Tournament. The Wasco Packers returned to their hometown with a huge trophy in hand and bragging rights to the title of “1991 National Youth Football Champions.”
The Southern Youth Football League disbanded at the end of that season. The Packer’s joined the Northern Youth Football League in 1992 along with a couple of teams left over from the Southern League. The Northern League was made up of teams mainly from Tulare County. The Packers competed in this league through the 96 season. In 1994 Terry Clement succeeded Tony as president and the A team’s Head Coach. In 1997 Wasco joined North of the River’s youth football league which allowed the Packers to compete with teams from Bakersfield, and the surrounding areas. Scott Hight was tapped to take the presidency at the end of the 1997. By then the terminology had changed regarding the age/grade divisions of the teams. Besides being president, Scott became Head Coach of the “varsity” team which consisted of mostly 8th grade boys. NOR was a bit different in that it had four divisions the players could compete in; Varsity, JV, Bantam, and Jr Bantam. This afforded younger athletes the opportunity to compete. At the end of the 98 season, Wasco joined with a group of teams from Bakersfield and the surrounding areas with the goal of creating a league of youth teams with the goal of becoming feeder programs for their local high schools. In 1999, the Wasco Packers became part of a newly formed league, Golden Empire Youth Tackle Football. That year, the Wasco Packers varsity team went undefeated and became the very first varsity division champions of the GEYTF league. An undefeated season, a new league, and the onset of a new century, the staff of the Wasco Packers decided to make a change of their own. They made the decision to retire the longtime, much loved colors of green and gold, and make all of football in Wasco orange and black; in the year 2000, the Wasco Packers became the Wasco Bengals. Since becoming the Wasco Bengals, the success and rich traditions continue to be passed down from generation to generation. Leaders like Darin Fager and Mike Dobbs were instrumental in making the Wasco Bengals who we are today. Current president and varsity head coach Juan Bernal had this to say, "While winning is at the heart of our mission, it's the overall success of our athletes, coaches, parents, and partners that make us champions on and off the field. When I look at our story, one word comes to mind... BLESSED!"
