Correspondent Photo/Bill Koch Darius Javey, along with his son Darius “Pop” Javey, 9, pictured with a mural of the Ohio Cheney Cowboys, the traveling youth football team that Javey and his fiancée founded in 2019. stand in front of
YOUNGTOWN — City resident Darius Javey was uncomfortable with the spotlight solely on his work with children. After all, “it takes a village” to form a healthy community, Jabee said.
Jaybee, 32, grew up in Youngstown, attended Eagle Heights Academy for middle school, attended East High School and graduated from Mahoning Valley Opportunity Center in 2010. He works as a laborer for the Youngstown Water Department.
Jaybee said he was always involved in sports during his school days. Pointing out the pitfalls that many of his classmates had fallen into, he said: It took me out of a difficult time and gave me a better mental state. ”
In 2019, Jaybee and his fiancée, Timketa Hamilton, decided to give back by starting a youth football league. Jaybee credited Hamilton with doing “all the investigation and behind-the-scenes work” while interacting with children and their parents. The result was the traveling youth football team known as the Midwest Bengals.
During that time, Lewis Jones was coaching his own youth football team, the Little Cheney Cowboys. Last year, they decided to affiliate and changed their name to the Ohio Cheney Cowboys.
But it continued to grow. Troy Williams has been coaching a youth basketball team called the Youngstown Pride since 2010, making it a natural fit for the new organization.
Last year, the Ohio Cheney Cowboys served 163 children ages 6 to 11, with separate teams for each age group. In addition to coaching soccer and basketball, they have branched out into baseball, track and field, and wrestling. In addition to Jaybee, Jones, Williams, and other coaches from previous youth sports teams, many people volunteer their time to help make the program a success. “These women are all working hard, just like the rest of us,” Williams added.
The connection with Cheney gave them access to the high school’s facilities, including the soccer field and gymnasium. Jaybee said he is grateful for the support of Athletic Director Nick Sfera, who also provides Youngstown schools with a “feeder system” for future athletes.
Teams are divided into “Rec” and “National”. Rec leagues are open to everyone, regardless of ability, and the emphasis is on participation. Nationals are more advanced because they compete with similar teams across the country. This year, they visited all of Ohio, not just Pittsburgh and Detroit.
Most participants live in Youngstown, but this is not required. In fact, Jaybee picks up the kids in Warren and “treats them like his own” just like any other kid in the organization. Some of the players are children of the Jaybees.
Jones admitted that he made mistakes when he was younger and said that for him, coaching is “trying to dissuade kids from following the path that they have chosen.” Adding, “I have more fun than the kids. We played at Ohio Stadium, but my coaching experience at the Horseshoe was second to none.”
Jaybee said he likes that the program not only fosters healthy peer relationships, but also helps produce better sons and daughters and better scholars. He said, “I love watching them improve every day and get smarter every day.”
Running a program costs a lot of money between travel and equipment costs. They hold fundraisers throughout the year and are always looking for fundraising ideas. They are a 501(c)(3) and anyone who wants to become a supporter can find them on Facebook under Ohio Cheney Cowboys or call Jaybee at 330-951-9203.
The Jaybees got Williams to summarize why they’re doing this. future. ”
To suggest a Friday profile, contact Metro Editor Marly Reichert at mreichert@tribtoday.com or Features Editor Ashley Fox at afox@tribtoday.com.
