21
2011 Justin Pettenger
Defensive Back
5’10″ 185
High School Coach: Kevin Townsend
High School: Freeland, B
College: Saginaw Valley State University
Justin is the son of Robert Pettenger and Marnie Pettenger-Caballero. He has an older sister Keighlee (20), and a younger brother Brendan (6).
Justin started playing football in the fifth grade for the Valley Youth Football League. Justin’s freshman year he was asked to join the varsity football team at Freeland High. He has since played 41 straight games without a single injury. Although Justin’s main position was running back, he also played safety, defensive back and returned kicks (punts and kick returns). He was also a two-year captain for the Freeland team both his junior and senior years. Justin’s sophomore year he helped lead the team to win the TVC District Championship, and both his junior and senior years lead the team to the playoffs. Justin’s senior year he had 170 carries for 1632 yards. He had a total of 2486 all purpose yards, 27 touchdowns, 39 tackles and 1 interception. For his career, Justin has 4288 rushing yards (6778 total all purpose), 65 touchdowns, 151 tackles and 8 interceptions. Justin is the current holder of 19 Freeland all time varsity football records. Justin also has numerous acknowledgments in All Conference/All Area/All State credentials as well as having been named several times to the All Area Dream Teams. He was named Captain/MVP of the Midland Daily News Dream Team his senior year. Justin has been awarded an athletic scholarship at Saginaw Valley State University.
Justin participated in the first annual “Clash For A Cure” football game in Freeland in 2010, a very successful fundraiser focused on cancer research and awareness. He was also involved with the “Pigskin Poets” in which football players spent time reading with the younger children in the Freeland school district. He also spent time working with the Freeland youth football camps. Justin was a member of varsity track and was starting point guard for the basketball team until his sophomore year.
Justin thanked his family, friends and coaches “for being so supportive and encouraging me throughout my football career.” He gave a special thanks to his “Grandpa Archie who has always been such a big influence in my love for football, and to Coach Townsend for all of the time he has put into making me the player I am today. I am really going to miss you Coach.”
Justin started playing football in the fifth grade for the Valley Youth Football League. Justin’s freshman year he was asked to join the varsity football team at Freeland High. He has since played 41 straight games without a single injury. Although Justin’s main position was running back, he also played safety, defensive back and returned kicks (punts and kick returns). He was also a two-year captain for the Freeland team both his junior and senior years. Justin’s sophomore year he helped lead the team to win the TVC District Championship, and both his junior and senior years lead the team to the playoffs. Justin’s senior year he had 170 carries for 1632 yards. He had a total of 2486 all purpose yards, 27 touchdowns, 39 tackles and 1 interception. For his career, Justin has 4288 rushing yards (6778 total all purpose), 65 touchdowns, 151 tackles and 8 interceptions. Justin is the current holder of 19 Freeland all time varsity football records. Justin also has numerous acknowledgments in All Conference/All Area/All State credentials as well as having been named several times to the All Area Dream Teams. He was named Captain/MVP of the Midland Daily News Dream Team his senior year. Justin has been awarded an athletic scholarship at Saginaw Valley State University.
Justin participated in the first annual “Clash For A Cure” football game in Freeland in 2010, a very successful fundraiser focused on cancer research and awareness. He was also involved with the “Pigskin Poets” in which football players spent time reading with the younger children in the Freeland school district. He also spent time working with the Freeland youth football camps. Justin was a member of varsity track and was starting point guard for the basketball team until his sophomore year.
Justin thanked his family, friends and coaches “for being so supportive and encouraging me throughout my football career.” He gave a special thanks to his “Grandpa Archie who has always been such a big influence in my love for football, and to Coach Townsend for all of the time he has put into making me the player I am today. I am really going to miss you Coach.”
Awards
All Area Dream Team, Midland Daily News, 2008, 2009 & 2010
All Area Dream Team Captain/MVP,
Midland Daily News, 2010
Dream Team, Saginaw News, 2010
All Tri-Valley Conference, 2008, 2009 & 2010
All Area, 2008, 2009 & 2010
All State Division 5-6, AP, 2009 & 2010