UW-Oshkosh To Host High School Football All-Star Classic

Twice as many football players will shine on the turf of J.J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium when the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh hosts the 33rd Annual Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) All-Star Classic on Saturday (July 18).

The event previously featured one game that involved athletes from each of the state's high school football divisions. This year, two separate contests will be held, one at 2 p.m. for Division 4, 5, 6 and 7 stars and another at 7 p.m. for Division 1, 2 and 3 standouts. The games showcase the top high school seniors from the 2008 football season.

Head coaches in the Division 4-7 game are Tom Chase of Weyauwega-Fremont for the North and Mike Haynes of Pardeeville for the South. The North will be guided by Mike Taake of Mauston and the South by Mike Lange of Brookfield Central in the Division 1-3 contest. All four squads began practicing on Sunday (July 12), with the North honing their skills at UW-Oshkosh and the South at UW-Whitewater.

The Division 1-3 North roster features 2008 WFCA All-State first team selections Bucky Dixon of Hayward, Matt Kerswill of D.C. Everest, Ethan Nauman of Mosinee, Seth Stanchik of Hudson, Chris Vandervest of Ashwaubenon, Nate Wara of Oshkosh North, Nick Winch of Stevens Point and Cole Zwiefelhofer of Chippewa Falls.

Racine Horlick quarterback Steve Morris, the 2008 WFCA Offensive Player of the Year, leads the Division 1-3 South team. Other all-state first team performers on the Division 1-3 South squad are Joey Balthazor of Arrowhead, Brooks Braga, Ryan Groy and Max Nicholson of Middleton, Tyler Dippel and Dylan Drunch of Hartford Union, Mike Ebener of Kenosha Tremper, Ben Erickson of Greendale, Darius Feaster and Shelby Harris of Homestead, Dion McClain of Racine Park, Grant Peonitsch of Sussex Hamilton, Percyl Sallis and Tramell Williams of Milwaukee Bay View and Chris Severson of Waunakee.

Fourteen players who helped their high school team to a state football championship last fall will participate in the games. The list of players feature Feaster, Harris and Jeff Budzien of Division 1 champion Homestead, Clinton Heckner of Division 2 champion Kimberly, James De Young, Brock Jensen and Mike Solberg of Division 3 champion Waupaca, Jared Abbrederis and Parker Detjens of Division 4 champion Wautoma/Faith Christian, Jordan Rahm and Wade Sebold of Division 5 champion Colby, Jordan Bauman of Division 6 champion Stratford and Reese Hartlage and Max Vos of Division 7 champion Catholic Central.

The Wisconsin High School Football All-Star Classic is being held in Oshkosh for the 28th time. The contest was held at Madison's Camp Randall Stadium from 1999 to 2002 and Menasha's Calder Stadium in 2004.