2009 All Star
Gerrit Rauch
Defensive Back
6’2″ 195 lbs.
High School Coach: Brett Foerster
High School, Class: Portage Central, A
College: Grand Valley State University
In Rocket Football at age seven, it was clear that Gerrit was not only skilled but had a fearless passion for contact. His varsity role began later in his sophomore year, when he started at free safety and backup quarterback, and continued his starting role at free safety in his junior and senior years. As a senior captain and starting quarterback, he lead the team to a third straight conference championship, post season action, and earned team MVP and Athletic Achievement awards with 891 rushing yards, a team-leading 14 touchdowns plus 4 touchdown passes. On defense, he amassed 90 tackles and assists during his junior and senior years from his free safety position.
Gerrit considered attending college on a scholarship to play Division I baseball. As the varsity starting shortstop, he hit .401 as a sophomore and .438 as a junior while leading the team in home runs, finishing the 2008 season at 34-3. Gerrit was also an accomplished downhill ski racer, finishing in the top ten in the 8-state Regionals, and competed in the USSA Junior Olympics in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
When Gerrit finsihed his senior football season, his life-long dream to play football at four-time national championship Grand Valley State University became a reality.
Awards
All Conference 1st Team Quarterback, 2008
All Area Division 1-4 , 2008
Player of the Year, Kalamazoo Gazette, 2008
All Area 1st Team Defensive Back, 2008
All State Division 2 Defensive Back, Detroit Free Press, 2008