2005 All Star West
Ben VanZale
Fullback
6’1″ 245 lbs.
High School Coach: Matt Prisk
High School: Traverse City West, A
College: Wayne State University
Ben was a two-way, three-year starter for the Traverse City Titans who finished 10-1 this season in the Big North Conference. Ben’s duties on the field were long snapping, fullback and linebacker. Defensively, he holds the Traverse City West career record for tackles at 497. Offensively, Ben rushed for 2,129 yards and scored 34 touchdowns for the mighty Titans. Ben was a two-year captain and two-year, two-way All Region Dream Team selection, as well as defensive captain for both his junior and senior year. In 2003 Ben was selected for the All State Class A Second Team as a linebacker. In 2004 Ben was selected for the All State Class A First Team Defensive captain (linebacker). Ben will play for the Wayne State Warriors in the Fall of 2005.
Ben’s passion for football began with the Pop Warner Football program in Traverse City, when he was ten years old. Ben also participated in Little League Baseball from the time he was in second grade. Ben was a pitcher and catcher for the Titans Varsity baseball team. Ben has volunteered his time to the community as a Youth Friend volunteer in the Reading Mentor program and donated his time to help with the Special Olympics. The Titan Football players performed community service for the DNR in cleaning up the Pigeon River last summer.
Ben would like to thank his father, “who gave up so much of his time to help develop my skills in football and baseball. Another important person in my life has been Coach Angers who is the best coach I’ve ever had. My family has always been there for me at all my games supporting me and I have appreciated that. I love football and it has taught me team unity and made me mentally tough.”
Awards
All Region Dream Team, 2003 and 2004
State Class A 2nd Team linebacker, 2003
All State Class A 1st Team Linebacker, 2004
All State Class A 1st Team Defensive Captain, 2004