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*** PRESS RELEASE 2007 *** |
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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CHARLIE WEDEMEYER HIGH SCHOOL ALL-STAR FOOTBALL GAME RETURNS TO SPARTAN STADIUM ON JULY 18TH SILICON VALLEY YOUTH CLASSIC TO MAKE TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO SPARTAN STADIUM (SAN JOSE, CA – June 18, 2007) The Almaden Valley Rotary Club is proud to present the 33rd annual Charlie Wedemeyer High School All-Star Football Game featuring the best graduating high school senior football players from the Silicon Valley. The game will be played at Spartan Stadium on Wednesday, July 18th at 7:30p.m. The game marks the return of the Youth Classic to Spartan Stadium in nearly seven years. “The Almaden Rotary Club is happy to be bringing the Youth Classic back to Spartan Stadium,” said Jim Guido, Game Chairman. “We have an extremely talented group of football players this year, which should make for a fun and exciting game.” Last year, it took the North 11-plays and one ultimate pass to make it 64-yards down the field to score the final touchdown, putting an end to the South’s four-year winning streak. In a close 7-3 win over the South, the North clinched the victory with a single pass, across the field, from former quarterback of St. Francis, Richie Scudellari to former North teammate Chantz Staden, from Westmont High School. The coaches selected for this year’s game are Andy Penwarden for the South and Jeff Mueller for the North. Penwarden became head coach at Willow Glen High School in 2003. He has since led his team to two league championships, as well as a victory in the first round of CCS play-offs, which was a first by a division C team. Mueller has been the head coach at Monta Vista for six years. Mueller has dedicated much of his time at Monta Vista High School to rebuilding the football program. Mueller was recognized for his achievements in September of 2006 by the 49ers as head coach of the week. “I am honored that the Almaden Valley Rotary Club has chosen me as the coach of the North for the 2007 Youth Classic on July 18th,” said Mueller. “I am looking forward to a great game.” The return of the 33rd Annual Silicon Valley Classic commemorates one of the greatest Bay Area football coaches, Charlie Wedemeyer. Wedemeyer is the former head football coach at Los Gatos High School, and is currently the freshman coach. As a former college athletic scholar Charlie was seen competing on the football field at both Punahou and Michigan State University. He was acknowledged for his abilities in the 1960s when he was declared the “Prep Player of the Decade” in the state of Hawaii. In 1977, he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease and was given at most three years to live. In 1985 he could no longer walk, talk, or breathe on his own, and he became totally dependent on a respirator. With his strong will, passion, and determination he lead his Los Gatos Football Team on to win the Central Coast Section Championship with the support of Lucy (his wife), whom read his lips in order to relay instructions and plays to the assistant coaches and players. Charlie is still alive today and with the assistance of his wife Lucy, he continues to give motivational speeches at college universities, medical conferences, hospitals and professional athletic teams. In 1993 Charlie founded the Charlie Wedemeyer Family Outreach program. As an organization their mission is to support the fight against ALS, as well as instill inspiration and motivation within today’s youth. He will be at the game to encourage players and show his support for this grand tradition. Past stars, of the Youth Classic, include former Arizona Cardinal Pat Tillman, current Tampa Bay Buccaneers Quarterback Jeff Garcia, former 49er Carl Monroe, former Dallas Cowboy Doug Cosbie, current 49er Jeff Ulbrich, and recently drafted Buffalo Bills Quarterback Trent Edwards. Tickets for the 33rd Annual Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Football Game are $15 and can be purchased at The Almaden Barber Stylist, located on Almaden Expressway, as well as at Old Republic Title Locations within the surrounding San Jose Area. Tickets will also be sold at the gates on game day. All proceeds from the game will benefit the Charlie Wedemeyer Family Outreach Program, as well as other local charities sponsored by the Almaden Valley Rotary Club. For more information about this event, visit www.youthclassic.org. The Almaden Valley Rotary Club, Chartered in 1969, is composed of a wide cross section of men and women involved in local businesses and professions. The club has fellowship meetings every Friday regarding interesting and informative programs dealing with topics of local and global importance. In addition, they sponsor a variety of youth programs and activities in Santa Clara Valley. The Almaden Valley Rotary Club is a member of Rotary District 5170, comprised of 57 clubs with approximately 4,000 members. For more information, call (408) 268-7196 or visit www.avrotary.org. Global Spectrum (global-spectrum.com) is the fastest growing venue management firm in the world with more than 60 facilities throughout the United States and Canada. The Philadelphia-based company is part of one of the world’s largest sports and entertainment firm Comcast-Spectacor, which also owns the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association, the Philadelphia Phantoms of the American Hockey League, Flyers Skate Zone, a series of community ice skating rinks, Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, a regional sports programming network, Ovations Food Services, a food and beverage services provider, New Era Tickets, a full-service ticketing and marketing product for public assembly facilities, and Front Row Marketing Services, a commercial rights sales company. In a partnership with Disson Skating, Comcast-Spectacor televises 10 ice skating extravaganzas annually on NBC-TV. CONTACT: Ryan Lester |