"Just the fact that [Branden Stevens] is 14 and has been able to hang in there with the big guys and learn all he has, won him his position," [Cory Waldbauer] said, "and we are running a pretty high-level offence."

"I definitely agree that I'm the leader out there," he said. "The safety has to be the quarterback of the defence, and leadership is a big thing for me. It's always something that I try and do."

"[Antonio Paletta] (5-foot-9, 170 pounds) grew a little bit in size from last year," Waldbauer said, "and the confidence he drew from last year's tournament, along with knowing the system and the coaches, allowed him to take over as a leader."