MOUNT PLEASANT, SILVER CREEK AND EVERGREEN PLAYERS IN ALL STAR GAME

Several Evergreen area athletes to play in 32nd Annual Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Football Game

A total of five graduated Evergreen area football players have been selected to represent their high schools in the 32nd Annual Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Football Game on Wednesday, July 19 at 7:30 p.m. at San Jose City College.

They will join the South team, which is trying to add an 18th overall win against the North Squad, which currently holds 12 wins total. The teams are composed of the best graduating high school football players in the Silicon Valley.

Xavier Mejia, a 6-1, 230 pound offensive/defensive lineman, was named Second Team All League (Defense) Blossom Valley Athletic League. The Mount Pleasant Cardinals recognized him as their Most Outstanding Defensive Player. He will be attending De Anza College in the fall.

“Javier is a good lineman. He’s a tough offensive lineman with the ability to punish defensive lineman. He was definitely one of the standout players at Mount Pleasant,” said South head coach Jason Tenner.

David Carranza, a 6-0, 180 pound linebacker/ tight end, was named First Team All League in the Blossom Valley Athletic League. The Silver Creek Raiders awarded him Most Valuable Player and Mister Intensity. Carranza is also a Scholar Athlete. He is undecided in his plans for the fall.

“David is a natural athlete with an uncanny ability to defeat multiple blockers and find his way to the football,” said Tenner.

Chris Collins, a 6-1, 180 pound defensive back for Silver Creek, was named Second Team All League BVAL. He has received the Scholar Athlete Award for the past four years. He is undecided in his plans for the fall.

“Chris is a tough hard nosed corner capable of dropping the hammer and stopping the run as well as dropping back into man or zone coverage,” said Tenner. “He is aware of what is going on the field and responds well to the opposing offensive changes.”

Jake Manzano, a 6-1, 270 pound offensive/ defensive lineman, was named Second Team All Mercury News (OL), First Team All League (OL) in the Blossom Valley Athletic League for the third year in a row, and League Most Outstanding Lineman. The Evergreen Valley Cougars awarded him Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman for the fourth year in a row. Manzano also received the Certificate of Recognition for academics. He is undecided in his plans for fall.

“Jake is a talented big man who makes the man across from him disappear,” said Tenner. “He is one of those players that doesn’t give up on the play and battles it out until the whistle is blown.”

Joe Duran, a 5-10, 215 pound defensive lineman/ running back, received the Most Valuable Player award from the Cougars his sophomore year. He will be attending San Jose State University in the fall.

“Joe is an athletic down lineman, capable of defeating blocks and wreaking havoc in offensive backfields,” said Tenner. “He really gets in there and disrupts the offenses running game.”

Charlie Wedemeyer is a former college football player and the 1960s Prep Player of the Decade in Hawaii. He attended Punahou Academy and Michigan State University on athletic scholarships.

In 1977, he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and was given three years to live. He is still alive today and is the founder of the Charlie Wedemeyer Family Outreach. The program’s mission is to fight ALS. He will be at the game to encourage players and show his support for this grand tradition.

Past stars include former Arizona Cardinal Pat Tillman; former San Francisco 49ers Jeff Garcia, Brent Jones, and Carl Monroe; former Dallas Cowboy Doug Cosbie; and current 49er Jeff Ulbrich.

Tickets for the 32nd Annual Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Football Game are $15 and can be purchased at several locations as well as at the gate. All proceeds from the game will benefit the Charlie Wedemeyer Family Outreach and other local charities sponsored by the Almaden Valley Rotary Club. For more information about this event, visit www.youthclassic.org.