Area’s top players out to impress
College scouts to attend today’s All-Star Game.
GREENACRES — More than 1 00 P a l m B e a c h C ount y senior football players, plus two linemen from neighboring Clewiston, will gather at John I. Leonard High School this afternoon for the Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey and Fronrath All-Star Football Game.
The annual competition kicks off at 1 p.m., and will f e a t u r e p l aye r s f r o m 3 7 schools. Suncoast’s Bobby May will coach the National team, and Olympic Heights coach Chris Kokell will oversee the American team.
May, who won the District 15-5A championship in his first season with the Chargers, will coach three of his own players in today’s game (athlete Leonard Woods, wide receiver/tight end David Anderson and running back/ l i nebacker Josh Powell ) ; while Kokell, in his second season with the Lions, will coach four of his players (quarterback Joseph Poloskey, defensive back/running back Rubens Jerome, defensive back Jason Dodin, and linebacker/running back Tommy Morelli).
“I love that I have four of my guys, and that my coaching staff and I get to go to battle with them one last time,” Kokell said.
May said today’s game is a good opportunity for seniors to showcase their skills in front of college coaches and recruiters, who also attended practices this week.
It also gives players one more chance to t ake the field with their high school teammates and former opponents.
“I love that kids get the opportunity to create memories with the other talented kids in the area,” Kokell said.
Unlike in past seasons, the National and American teams were created largely using school rivalries rather than geography.
Instead of North vs. South, there’s Dwyer (American) vs . Pal m B e a c h Gardens (National); Oxbridge Academy (National) vs. American Heritage (American); Glades Central (American) vs. Pahokee (National); and Olympic Heights (American) vs. Spanish River (National).
“We really wanted to make an interesting game,” John I. Leonard Athletic Director and All-Star Game administrator Doug Magaw said. “Usually the north team is stronger, so we just felt like it would make the game interesting.”
Both coaches expressed confidence in their teams.
“With the big boy, Anthony Wynds, (of Palm Beach Central) at running back and baby Tebow (Alex Piccirilli) from Jupiter at quarterback, expect us to pound the rock,” Kokell said.
“I feel the strength of our team is our passing game,” countered May. “With quarterbacks Eli Mathews and Armani Edden throwing to Jake Birmelin, Don’Dre Swint and Leonard Woods, we will be very tough to stop.”
To check out the rosters, go to the High School Buzz blog at PalmBeachPost.com/ sports.
Notewor t hy: At l a nt i c o f f e ns ive l i neman Maximilian Lynch will make his Team USA debut next week at International Bowl VIII in Arlington, Texas.
The 6-foot-7, 255-pound junior will be among 500 high school and junior high school athletes from throughout the United States who were invited to compete against teams from Canada and Japan.
Lynch will suit up for the Under-18 team, which will play a team from Ontario, Canada, Tuesday afternoon at AT&T Stadium.
“I’m excited to play the game I love with America’s stars on my chest,” he said.
The International Bowl will feature a series of eight games beginning at 10 a.m. Monday and running through 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Age divisions include U14 through U18.
G a m e s c a n b e streamed on ESPN3.
Lynch was selected for the U18 team after participating in South Florida and regional camps.
The 48-man Team USA U18 roster includes five players from Florida. Lynch is the only participant from Palm Beach County. l i v e -