On April 15, senior athletes from all around the Jackson area were emailed by their football coach to inform them they had been selected to the first ever Jackson Area All-Star Game.
“The game is the brainchild of retired coach Wes Gall from Manchester,” head football coach Jeremy Killinger said. “Lenawee County has long had an event like this and he wanted to bring it to Jackson County.”
The coaches expect this event to be a success. They are budgeting for 10 spectators per player, and they have drafted a final number of 72 players. This would be a much larger crowd than normal as they are expecting 7,200 people.
The players were drafted in a process that was conducted by coaches from around the area. They moved players from offense to defense and also took into account any special request made by the players. Stockbridge has five players nominated to play in the All-Star Game: Gary Killinger, Drew Robinson, Joey Ballagh, Jalen Rogozinski and Zach Fletcher.
Gary Killinger was drafted as a linebacker.
“I feel like it’s a big accomplishment for me especially since it’s the first ever Jackson All-Star game, and I am most excited to be able to play with my friends one last time,” Killinger said.
Drew Robinson was another player being drafted, and who will finish his football career at Anderson University in Ohio.
“I will participate and I am very excited to do so and I’m most excited to show the players in Jackson what I got since we never really played those schools,” Robinson said.
Joey Ballagh was drafted as a kicker for the all star game, though Ballagh is continuing his basketball career and not his football career at Spring Arbor University, he is still excited to participate in the All-Star Game.
“I was really surprised when I saw I was drafted for this because there are a lot of great players to choose from,” Ballagh said.
Finally, we have the senior tight end and outside linebacker Zach Fletcher being drafted.
“I’m really excited to just play the sport I love again one last time, competitively,” Fletcher said.
Though almost all players who were drafted are going to play, senior quarterback Jalen Rogozinski was also another offensive player to be drafted, but is unsure if he wants to play.
“I haven’t decided if I am going to play due to my work schedule, but it definitely feels great to be picked for the All-Star Game,” Rogozinski said.
The game is tentatively to be held on June 21 according to coach Killinger and will be a large attraction for all sports fans.
Prior to the game the players will practice for a week before the game. The practice will allow the players to get to know each other and also get back into the shape of playing a full contact regulation MHSAA football game.
“Hoping attendance is good and people come out and support the players in one last game vs. local guys they have likely played against in the past,” Grass Lake coach Randy Cole said.