Totino-Grace Athletes, Coaches Share One Last Stand At All-Star Game

Joe Zrust’s week of preparation leading into Saturday’s All-Star Football Game has been one part athletics, one part social networking.

The defensive lineman has enjoyed meeting some of the best athletes from across the state.

“It’s been great meeting all the guys you read about in the paper,” he said. “Just putting the name with the face and the personality. It’s really awesome, and just playing with a lot of really great players has been pretty sweet.”

Saturday’s 38th Annual Minnesota Football All-Star Game is the final stop for a collection of Totino-Grace football players to enjoy one last game together. The contest begins at 7 p.m. at the University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium, and five members of the Eagles family will be part of the North All-Stars as they face the South.

Zrust and guard Alex Jarosz will play in the game, and linebacker Colin Hustad will be on the sideline despite suffering a broken foot. Eagles coach Jeff Ferguson is one of the North’s assistant coaches, implementing T-G’s defensive system in the game, and retired coach Dave Nigon is also part of the festivities.

For the Eagles crew, it’s a chance to enjoy one more game together while meeting new friends within the state’s football community.

“We’re just trying to have fun,” Jarosz said. “This is all about having a good time out there, but we’re also trying to get some good reps out there and try to win this thing.”

This crop of Eagles players achieved success throughout their time at T-G. , and they also won a title in 2007 while this group of seniors were freshmen. (.)

Jarosz said being able to be part of an elite event with the players and coaches who helped make his high school career so successful is an important part of the experience.

The team took part in a week-long training camp that began in St. Peter on Sunday and led up through Saturday’s game.

“It’s great, it’s an honor to have a coaching staff that we do and win a few state championships,” Jarosz said. “It’s a great time, and I’m honored to be part of this program.”

Jarosz said having Ferguson on the coaching staff helped during the practice week as a support system if any questions arise.

Zrust said he enjoyed getting to know the other coaches on the staff, too. Brainerd’s Ron Stolski, the North’s head coach, has a state record 330 career wins. Blaine’s Shannon Gerrety coached Zrust’s cousin, he said.

However Saturday’s game turns out, these Eagles players will take away a week full of football memories and friendships.

And, perhaps, a lesson or two.

“There are a lot of good football players out there,” Jarosz siad. “You’ve got to stay quick and you’ve got to stay low.”

Spring Lake Park represented at All-Star Game
Spring Lake Park High School graduate Jesse Reemtsma will also be on the field Saturday competing for the North All-Stars.

Reemtsma, a defensive lineman, helped the Panthers to an 8-3 record during his senior year with the program. Spring Lake Park won a pair of Section 6AAAA games—53-0 over Mound Westonka and 21-0 over Benilde-St. Margaret’s—before losing to Totino-Grace 32-6 in the section championship.

GAME INFORMATION
38th Annual Minnesota State All-Star Game
North vs. South (previously Metro vs. Outstate)
Saturday, June 25 at 7 p.m.
TCF Bank Stadium, University of Minnesota campus