MARQUETTE---Young kids from around the Upper Peninsula got quite a treat at the Xcel High School Football All-Star Week youth camp Thursday at the Superior Dome. They were paid a visit by Jake Witt, who was drafted earlier this spring by the NFL's Indianapolis Colts.
Witt, a Ewen-Trout Creek High School graduate and Northern Michigan University standout offensive lineman, signed autographs and posed for photos during the session.
Thursday's event was part of the weeklong activities leading up to the annual U.P. High School football game. This year's game features 77 graduating seniors and is set for 1:00 Saturday.
XCEL PRESS RELEASE:
Once the campers arrived, they were taken through the same warmup routine that the All-Star players have been performing all week. Campers were then split into groups.
Stations had been set up on different parts of the field where the All-Star players were there to “coach” them. Stations included punting, kicking, throwing, catching, running and tackling a large padded wheel. Campers got a chance to run a 40 yard dash, which was timed electronically, just like the NFL and the All-Star players at the Skills Challenge.
Another station had a large foam pad where the campers could dive to catch a ball. Campers worked on agility and cutting while running with the ball, then ran through a “gauntlet” of All-Star players holding pads.
The All-Star players all took their turn as coaches when they split up into different stations and showed the football drills and skills.
The campers were very excited to be interacting in such a fun and personal way with the players. Seeing the campers beaming with smiles as they played football with the All-Star players is truly amazing.
The campers were able to be coached by the All-Star players who they all watched play for their local high school teams, and the All-Star players were able to help coach the next generation of kids who wanted to grow up and become like them.
When the camp was done, Witt signed many autographs for the campers and got his picture taken with any camper who wanted to stand next to the larger-than-life U.P. native.
Some of the All-Star players even got their jerseys signed by Witt, hoping it would give them luck at Saturday’s game.
Pictured Below are kids from Munising.
Front Row: Sullivan Ford, Trey Mattson, KC StAmour, Luke Bowerman, Braylin Calhoun, Jackson Lasak. Back Row: Kane Nebel, Josiah Peramaki, Ashton Wymer, Coach Matt Mattson, Riley Murk, Jacob Mattson, Micaiah Peramaki.
Witt, a Ewen-Trout Creek High School graduate and Northern Michigan University standout offensive lineman, signed autographs and posed for photos during the session.
Thursday's event was part of the weeklong activities leading up to the annual U.P. High School football game. This year's game features 77 graduating seniors and is set for 1:00 Saturday.
Once the campers arrived, they were taken through the same warmup routine that the All-Star players have been performing all week. Campers were then split into groups.
Stations had been set up on different parts of the field where the All-Star players were there to “coach” them. Stations included punting, kicking, throwing, catching, running and tackling a large padded wheel. Campers got a chance to run a 40 yard dash, which was timed electronically, just like the NFL and the All-Star players at the Skills Challenge.
Another station had a large foam pad where the campers could dive to catch a ball. Campers worked on agility and cutting while running with the ball, then ran through a “gauntlet” of All-Star players holding pads.
The All-Star players all took their turn as coaches when they split up into different stations and showed the football drills and skills.
The campers were very excited to be interacting in such a fun and personal way with the players. Seeing the campers beaming with smiles as they played football with the All-Star players is truly amazing.
When the camp was done, Witt signed many autographs for the campers and got his picture taken with any camper who wanted to stand next to the larger-than-life U.P. native.
Some of the All-Star players even got their jerseys signed by Witt, hoping it would give them luck at Saturday’s game.
Pictured Below are kids from Munising.
Front Row: Sullivan Ford, Trey Mattson, KC StAmour, Luke Bowerman, Braylin Calhoun, Jackson Lasak. Back Row: Kane Nebel, Josiah Peramaki, Ashton Wymer, Coach Matt Mattson, Riley Murk, Jacob Mattson, Micaiah Peramaki.
