Red and White head coaches have announced team rosters for the first Northeast Nebraska All-Star Football Classic, which will be played on June 8, 2013 at Norfolk’s Veteran’s Memorial Park.
Retired National Hall of Fame football coach Bob Schnitzler of Battle Creek will coach the White team and long-time Northeast Nebraska area football coach Rich Rethwisch of Wayne will coach the Red team.
Mike Fuehrer, Sports Development Manager for the Norfolk Area Sports Council said the All-Star Classic Board of Directors are very pleased with the number of quality athletes on both the Red and White teams and the coaches they will play for.
“We anticipate a very competitive game,’’ Fuehrer said. “The feedback we have received from a large number of kids leads us to believe that these young men are anxious to strap their helmets on. Especially the ones who won’t be going on and playing college football.’’
Fuehrer said the coaching staffs have spent the past 30 days putting their rosters together. “The coaching staffs will start the process of communicating with their teams,’’ he said. “Both teams will arrive in Norfolk on June 3. The Red team will practice at Norfolk High and the White team will practice at Norfolk Catholic.’’
Schnitzler will be assisted by Bill Mimick of Lindsay Holy Family, Carlie Wells of Elgin/Pope John, Joe Anderson of Oakland-Craig, Rod Brummels of Osmond and Steve Porter of Norfolk.
Rethwisch will be assisted by Jeff Jensen of Creighton, Jeff Bellar of Norfolk Catholic, Tim Kassmeier of Norfolk Catholic, Greg Warneke of Pierce and Doug Konopasek of Niobrara/Verdigre.
Fuehrer said Red and White teams were broke down from a pool of 59 high school squads representing the greater Northeast Nebraska area. All players participating were nominated by their respective high school football coaches.
The Red team’s roster is made up of the following players: Chet Beckmann of Bloomfield; Trevor Krugman of Boyd County/Lynch (at Spencer); Levi Nielsen of Creighton, Travis Allvin, Justin Jansen and Brady Steffen of Crofton; Grant Dickes and Danny Loecker of Hartington Cedar Catholic; Kyle Kardell and Justin Saunders of Laurel-Concord/Coleridge; Dalton Bichlmeier, Kenneth Blank, Nathan Johnson and Aarin Rathke of Lutheran High Northeast (at Norfolk); Eli Schreier of Niobrara/Verdigre; Jordan Bellar, Riley Knaake, Garret McCarthy and Kyle Schaefer of Norfolk Catholic; Ty Eiler of O’Neill St. Mary’s; Eddie Francois, Aaron Hanlin Nate Meier and Trent Spieker of Pierce; Sam Burki of Ponca; Scott Manley, Mike Offerman, Nate Rogers and Zack Stingley of South Sioux City; Ramsey Jorgensen of Wayne; Marcus Claussen of Wausa; Caleb Akins, Ben Borer and Marcus Marcellus of West Holt (at Atkinson); and, Landon Frenchman of Winnebago.
The White team’s roster includes Casey Johnson, Jerod Pochop and Travis Wright of Battle Creek; Beau Bremer, Tanner Mazour and Blake Slizoski of Boone Central/Newman Grove (at Albion); Colton Tomka of Clarkson/Leigh; Travis Kester of Clearwater/Orchard; Blake Anderson, Andrew Heithoff and Ross Schindler of Elgin/Pope John; Nate Hass and Austin Peatrosky of Guardian Angels Central Catholic (at West Point); Nathan Bazata of Howells-Dodge; Blake Strecker of Humphrey; Corbin Eisenmenger, Jake Werner and John Wieser of Humphrey St. Francis; Kyle Frauendorfer and Jackson Schnitzler of Lindsay Holy Family; Jacob Gaudreault of Madison; Terrence Dawson, Cody Merchant and Cole Wiley of Norfolk High; Zach Denton of Oakland-Craig; Michael Hedlund, Derrick Hostert and Tate Laursen of O’Neill/Ewing; Andrew Folkers and Carlin Krienert of Osmond; Frank Hartley of Spalding/Spalding Academy; Jeb Nordby of Stanton; Alex Metzler of Tekamah-Herman; and, Brent Hanneman and Thomas Wapelhorst of West Point-Beemer.
Bellar, who serves as President of the Board of Directors, said more than 120 student-athletes were nominated by their head football coaches. “We are very excited to have the first teams selected to play in the Northeast Nebraska All-Star Football Classic,’’ Bellar said. “The game will represent many of Northeast Nebraska’s best football players and quality young men.
“We think it will be a great experience for these players as well as their families. We’re also looking forward to show casing our great facility at Veterans Memorial Field as well as bringing many people into our great community on game day. This should be a great week for the players and a great event for all to enjoy.’’
Rethwisch said he sees two coaching staffs that care about making this year’s event a tribute to area athletes and a fun time for all. “The linemen selected for the Red team show some interesting athleticism and it will be fun to see what we can do with them to enhance our offensive production,’’ he said. “”Defensively, we have some big kids with footwork capabilities.’’
Rethwisch said offensively his team hopes to be able to showcase speed at skill positions. “The goal is to be able to let them play, and, as a coaching staff work to make sure we stay out of their way,’’ he said. “It will be fun to be a part of a very special all-star week.’’
On Schnitzler’s team, 19 area football squads are represented. “These players are stand outs from their high school, and, with such talent, we should be able to put together an outstanding all-star team,’’ Schnitzler said.
Schnitzler said his coaching staff looks forward to big things ahead. “With this being the first all-star game in Northeast Nebraska, it should provide a starting point for many great games in future years ahead,’’ he said. “We’re very excited to meet with the players. They have speed, size and outstanding work ethics. It should be an outstanding game.’’
Faith Regional Health Services of Norfolk is the game’s Title Sponsor. Coaches, players and fans are encouraged to visit the All-Star Classic website (www.nenallstarfootballclassic.com) for updates.
