*** HIGH SCHOOL'S BEST IN SUMMER ***

High school's best in summer 'star game

Graduating seniors play one last game
By Dick Sparrer

Let's face it. All-star games sometimes have a tendency to be a little on the boring side. Not so, though, when it comes to the annual Charlie Wedemeyer High School All-Star Football Game.

Seven of the last eight games have been decided by a touchdown or less, and three of those games were determined by just a two-point spread.

Expect more of the same this summer when recently graduated high school seniors take starring roles in the Silicon Valley Youth Classic, sponsored each year by the Almaden Rotary Club. And as the annual classic returns for a 32nd time this summer, the question is who will be next stars of the "Best Game in Town"?

The rosters for the 2006 all-star game have been released, and a talented crop of high school seniors will play in this year's game on July 19, 7:30 p.m., at San José City College.

Among the local players set to compete for the South team in the summer game are defensive linemen Melis Barota and Michael Dally and tight end Travis Delamore of Leland, and defensive back Nick D'Antonio, wide receiver J.J. Goulden, linebacker C.J. Miller and running back Shaun Souza of Pioneer.

The local players join an impressive cast of former all-stars, many of whom went on to greatness following their participation in the summer all-star game.

Former 49er quarterback Jeff Garcia (Gilroy/San José State University) is a past all-star who went on to turn pro, along with Doug Cosbie (St. Francis/Dallas Cowboys), Don Schwartz (Mitty/St. Louis Cardinals), Jeff Toews (Del Mar/Miami Dolphins), Rich Campbell (Santa Teresa/Green Bay Packers), Greg Woodard (Silver Creek/Oakland Raiders), Ben Bennett (Peterson/Chicago Bears), John Faylor (Mitty/49ers), Erik Howard (Bellarmine/Giants), Randy Kirk (Bellarmine/49ers). Also included on that last are the late Pat Tillman (Leland/Arizona Cardinals), Carl Monroe (Overfelt/49ers) and John Tuggle (Independence/New York Giants).

The late Ken Caminiti (Leigh) and Bill Haselman (Saratoga) each played in the summer game, then went on to play baseball in the major leagues, and Millard Hampton (Silver Creek) was an all-star who went on to win an Olympic gold medal.

Rotary sponsorship
The Almaden Valley Rotary Club sponsors the football game each summer, with proceeds going to the Rotary charity and scholarship programs. And it all started because members of the Almaden Valley Rotary Club had an idea.

"Three Rotarians came to the police department and met with me at the PAL office," said game chairman Jim Guido, now a Rotarian himself but at that time the head of the San Jose Police Activities League. "They said, 'We have an idea for an all-star football game.' "

So Guido, his PAL staff and the Rotarians went to work to make the idea a reality.

The first game was played in the summer of 1974. With the exception of 1976, the game has been played every summer since, and Guido has been involved in every one of the 32 games.

"The great thing about this game is that there are no politics involved," said Guido. "This game is for the kids."

The players and coaches selected for the 2006 game were invited to a banquet in their honor hosted by the Almaden Rotary Club on May 15 at Three Flames Restaurant in San Jose. Special guest Thomas Bowen, the new athletic director at San José State University, was the featured speaker. Lucy and Charlie Wedemeyer also spoke to the players.

Leland High School head coach Jason Tenner will head up the South squad for the summer game. And Prospect High School coach Carlos Boles will lead the North team in the all-star game.