For 32 years, the Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Football Game has featured the best high school seniors in Silicon Valley, as both an exhibition of new talent and as a benefit to charity.
Among the young stars on this summerís roster are recent Mountain View High graduates Kevin Metsers and Alec Nelson. Joining them will be 88 other recently-graduated seniors from across Silicon Valley, who will compete in the eventís 32nd annual exhibition on July 19 in San Jose. Sponsored by the Almaden Valley Rotary Club, the event uses all proceeds to help fight Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrigís Disease) and to benefit other local charities. The two Mountain View all-stars will try to help improve the North squadís 12-17-2 record.
Alec Nelson will represent the Spartans at the Silicon Valley Youth Classic as a powerful presence at fullback and linebacker. He said he is excited about the opportunity to be the second member of his family to participate in the Charlie Wedemeyer All Star game. ìMy brother played in it. He told me all about it and I think itís going to be a lot of fun,î he said.
Nelson boasts a long list of high school football accomplishments, including two consecutive years as a first team all leaguer in the Silicon Valley Athletic League. The Spartans recognized Nelson as the teamís most valuable offensive player at the end of the fall season, and during his junior year, the league recognized Nelson as all mid-Peninsula and as most valuable back.
ìAlec is very strong,î said North head coach Carlos Boles, ìyou know you can rely on him to carry the ball those few extra yards for the first down.î Nelson plans to play football while attending West Valley College next fall.
Joining Nelson is teammate Kevin Metsers, who earned his All-Star selection due to his speed and skill at cornerback. He was a first team all-league defensive back in the fall season, and also received honors as co-defensive player of the year for a Mountain View team that specialized in defense.
Metsersí athleticism didnít end on the football field. He was named school athlete of the year after participating in three varsity sports. Metsers started at point guard for the MVHS basketball team and was also a perennial track star in the 100 meter sprint and the long jump. He broke a 10-year-old MVHS long jump record this spring on multiple occasions, eventually setting the top mark at 22-5. He was also the second fastest in the 100 meters at the league finals in May.
ìBeing an accomplished track and field athlete has proven to help Kevin out on the football field,î said Coach Boles. ìWith his speed, no one can get past him.î
In the fall Metsers will attend San Jose State, where he hopes to walk onto the Spartan football team. For now, heís preparing for the Charlie Wedemeyer game later this month. ìI havenít worked out in a while,î he said after a Friday practice in June. ìItís hard but Iím getting back in shape.î
Players are selected for the youth classic based on recommendations of head coaches from schools across the region. Final rosters are determined by the coaches of the North and South squads, who try to represent each high school with at least one athlete.
Some of the gameís recent Mountain View High School alumni include Dustin Johnson, Sean Manson, current Stanford defensive back Trevor Hooper, and Alec Nelsonís older brother, J.D Nelson. A handful of NFL stars have also played in the Youth Classic, including former 49ers Andre Carter and Jeff Garcia as well as former Arizona Cardinal Pat Tillman.
Several other local players are slated to participate in the exhibition. St. Francis will send five athletes: tackle Mark Boskovich, offensive lineman Sioeli Fakalata, defensive back Ryan Perry, quarterback Rich Scudellari, and linebacker Matt Taufoou. Representing Los Altos are linebacker Pete Cronin and defensive back Adam Pittman.
The 32nd annual Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Football Game will take place on July 19 at 7:30 p.m. at San Jose City College. Tickets for can be purchased at the San Jose Box Office for $15.
ìItís 90 of the best high school graduating seniors,î said the gameís spokesperson Stephanie Dreyer, ìit will be fun to see them come together and play a really good game of football.î
