As a Los Altos High freshman, Pete Cronin didn’t imagine getting any closer to the Charlie Wedemeyer High School All-Star Football Game than the stands.
“I never thought I’d make it,” he said. “I was 5-7 and 130 pounds, and I thought it was an unreachable goal.”
Cronin has grown a lot since he attended that game with his dad, transforming into a 6-foot-1, 195-pound linebacker who was voted SCVAL El Camino Division Defensive Player of the Year last fall. Yet despite his stellar senior season, Cronin was surprised to receive an invitation to play in tonight’s all-star game.
“It caught me a little off guard – I didn’t expect it,” he said. “But I was pretty excited.”
Cronin will be one of 11 local players in the 32nd annual game, set to kick off at 7:30 p.m. at San Jose City College. Also known as the Silicon Valley Youth Classic, the game pits the top graduated seniors from north Santa Clara County against those from the south side.
Cronin’s North squad also includes Los Altos teammate Adam Pittman (CB); Mountain View High’s Kevin Metsers (CB) and Alec Nelson (FB); St. Francis High’s Mark Boskovich (OT/DT), Sioeli Fakalata (OL), Ryan Perry (DB/RB), Matt Taufoou (FB/LB) and Rich Scudellari (QB); Homestead’s Jay Atkins (RB/DB) and Caleb Wilcox (LB/TE); and Mitty’s Doug Williams (WR/FS), a Los Altos resident. Additionally, Homestead graduate Jason Tenner, head coach at Leland High, is guiding the South.
For Metsers, tonight’s game is a chance to show he can play with the best.
“I want to prove myself against the receivers,” the cornerback said. “I hope we play a lot of man (-to-man defense), so I can show that I can stay with them.”
At 5-6, Metsers is the shortest defensive back on the team and will face several 6-footers. Not that it bothers him.
“I’ve been going against taller guys all my life,” said Metsers, who plans to walk on at San Jose State in the fall. “There are a lot of different ways to guard people – you just have to stay in front of them and be more physical.”
On the other side of the ball, Scudellari is anxious to throw to his all-star receivers tonight.
“We’ve got some great receivers with size and speed,” said the Yale-bound quarterback. “I have a whole bunch of guys to throw to.”
Although the team has been practicing together for less than three weeks, Scudellari likes what he sees from the North offense.
“I think we’ll surprise some people,” he said. “The scrimmages are very encouraging. We’re ahead of where I thought we’d be.”
But will the North team be ahead at the end of tonight’s game? The South has won the last four games and six of the past seven.
“The coaches have mentioned that a few times, to say the least,” said Scudellari, referring to a coaching staff led by Carlos Boles of Prospect High. “We’re all very competitive and the goal is to win. I’m confident in our abilities – we have guys who can hit, run and score points.”
Added Metsers: “The coaches have used (the losing streak) as motivation and I think we have a good chance to win it.”
As a spectator, Cronin didn’t see the North win, so he’s eager to change that now that he’s a player.
“This could be my last football game,” said the Los Altos resident, who intends to play rugby at the University of Arizona next year. “I want it to end in a good way.”
The Charlie Wedemeyer High School All-Star Football Game is named after the former coach at Los Gatos High who suffers from ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Tickets are $15 and proceeds benefit local charities. For more information, visit www.youthclassic.org.
