East Bay Boy Among 40 Elite Athletes In National Competition

A Walnut Creek boy will be among the 40 young athletes from across the United States participating in a football skill competition hosted by the NFL this weekend, according to the event’s officials.

Brock Diano will join one other California athlete, a girl from Yuba County, as representatives of the Oakland Raiders at the NFL’s Punt, Pass & Kick National Championships on Saturday in Indianapolis.

Diano will compete for national accolades in the 8- to 9-year-old division, one of five age groups.

The competition will take place in the Indianapolis Colts practice facility, according to the event’s officials. During the annual event, participants launch two punts, two passes and two kicks and are scored on distance and accuracy.

This competition began in 1961, according to the event’s officials. Young athletes make it to this national stage through local, sectional and team championship competitions. Each age group’s top 4 scorers nationally advance to Saturday’s competition.

Participants and their guests are then provided airfare and hotel accommodations in Indianapolis and will be provided tickets to a game between the Colts and the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

Winners of Saturday’s competition will be recognized during that game.

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