Come the night of June 15, eight Douglas High School seniors will forgo the traditional graduation ceremony in order to add just one more night to their high school athletic careers.
Douglas placed eight athletes, more than any other school in Northern Nevada, in the 2007 Sertoma Classic All-Star Football Classic, scheduled at the same time as graduation.
Ninety athletes from 30 schools around Nevada will take the field at Mackay Stadium on the University of Nevada, Reno campus June 15 for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
The 26th annual event will pit the Sparks coach Rob Kittrell's Blue squad against Galena High coach Steve Struzyk's Silver squad.
Douglas' representatives will be playing for the Blue team.
In 2004, team selection was changed from geographic boundaries to an alternating selection or "draft" of schools by the two head coaches in an effort to keep both sides relatively equal in size of schools and player talent.
Previously, the teams had been divided by geographic boundaries.
Douglas will be sending Northern 4A Regional Defensive Player of the Year Brent Koontz (a 6-2, 220-pound linebacker), Sierra League Defensive Player of the Year Sean Molina (6-2, 215 defensive tackle) and first-team All-Northern 4A selections Cole Hamzik (6-0, 165 defensive back) and Kevin Rogers (5-8, 210 offensive guard).
Also going to the game will be first-team all-leaguers Ryan Pruitt (5-9, 165 linebacker/fullback), Phil Mannelly (5-11, 185 defensive end/fullback), Reese Kizer (5-10, 190 running back) and Keith Lowe (6-1, 225 offensive tackle).
The blue team will also include superstar Reed quarterback Tony Maldonado and his top two targets Colby Fountain and Kyle Shaney, Sparks quarterback Alex Toler and mammoth offensive lineman Juan Villegas (6-6, 300 pounds), Hug receiver Riley Rowe, Manogue quarterback Ray Barrett and Manogue running back Andrew Sharkey.
On the other side will be North Valleys' all-around star Archie Kovich, Damonte Ranch running back Matt Gardner, Reno quarterback Jon Dankworth and tight end Dan Knapp, Fallon running back Joe Leon, Galena running back Jimmy Sargent, Fallon tight end/linebacker Lyle Gardner, Carson running back Travis Lamborn and Galena defensive end Justin Gates.
Players will begin practicing for the game next week.
