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Queen Creek football player Zach Glaess will be among 60 college and high school scholar athletes honored at the Valley of the Sun Chapter of the National Football Foundation’s 35th Annual Awards Banquet on Saturday, April 2, 2016, at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort.
Additionally, Jake Bowser will receive a certificate as a semifinalist for Shaw Courage Award, which is awarded for exhibiting valor and persevering through adversity.
Glaess, a senior, was among student athletes nominated from 186 high schools and were selected based on the combined criteria of 40 percent Academics, 40 percent Football Accomplishments, and 20 percent School & Community Citizenship and participation.
This marks the third consecutive year that at least one Bulldogs’ player was recognized as a top scholar athlete by the Valley of the Sun Chapter of the National Football Foundation.
The 35th Annual Awards Banquet will be held on April 2 at the Scottsdale Hilton Resort.
“It’s great for our school and football program to seemingly have a player or two receive that honor every year,” Queen Creek football head coach Travis Schureman told the Ledger. “It’s just as important to be successful in the classroom as it is on the football field and the kids in our program are all solid people who try to do it all the right way.”
Glaess, with a 4.315 GPA, was named to the 2015-16 Fiesta Bowl Charities First Team. He earned several All-State and All-Section recognition at three different positions – punter, kicker, and defensive back – after last season. He was also named to the Sports360AZ.com All-Academic Team.
Despite all of the postseason accolades, Glaess was surprised by his most recent recognition.
“It’s such an honor because I didn’t know I was going to receive it,” he said. “Coach Schwartz had talked to me about it and I didn’t expect to make it, especially first team, and then I (did). I was happy when I found out.”
Bowser, a senior offensive lineman and an AIA All-Section III selection, suffered a horrific leg and ankle injury in a 2014 playoff game versus Saguaro, undergoing two different surgeries in the offseason before return to field in 2015.
“It was a long road (to get back) and it (was difficult),” he said. “At some points I didn’t even think I wanted to play football anymore, but I had a lot support from coaches, friends and my family. I just did what I had to do.”
Visit www.aznff.com for a complete list of the 2016 NFF Scholar Athlete Class.
Andrew Luberda began writing for Copper Area News Publishers (CANP) in February 2013 after working 15 years in Healthcare Financial Management. Andy covers sports for 11 high schools. His stories are published in Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner and Superior Sun, in addition to the San Tan Valley Daily PRSS and CopperArea websites. Additionally, he has written human interest stories and business profiles. In May 2012, he earned an AAS in Sports Management at Central Arizona College before graduating with a BS in Communication from Arizona State University in 2014. He and his wife, Kelli, have three sons – AJ, Kyle, and Kade.
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