2000 High School Heisman Finalists Announced

December 12, 2000 (Dallas, Texas) - The Downtown Athletic Club, SchoolSports and SportsLink announced today the finalists for the first-ever High School Heisman (based purely on athletic ability). The award produces by Hero's Salute Awards Company, will go to one player in each of the six balloting regions across the country: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, South, Midwest, Southwest and Far West.  The award will be presented at halftime of the National High School All-Star Game, December 30th at Highlander Stadium.

Northeast
Kevin JonesCardinal O'Hara PrepPARunning back
Charles RushCathedral PrepPADefensive lineman
Eugene NottinghamAmityville HighNYRunning back

Mid-Atlantic
Mark WigalMorgantown HighWVRunning back
Semaj RichardsonGaithersburg HighMDRunning back
Chris LeakIndependence HighNCQuarterback

South
Adrian McPhersonBradenton Southeast HighFLQuarterback
Montrell JonesLouisville Male HighKYWide receiver
Demarius BilboMoss Point HighMSQuarterback

Midwest
Joe MauerCretin-Derham HallMNQuarterback
Pat MasseySt. IgnatiusOHDefensive lineman
Brett BasanezSt. ViatorILQuarterback

Southwest
Cedric BensonMidland Lee HighTXRunning back
Donta HicksonMcKinney HighTXRunning back
Justin HollandBear Creek HighCOQuarterback

Far West
Tyler EbellVentura HighCARunning back
David KoralPacific PalisadesCAQuarterback
Derek AndersonScappoose HighORQuarterback

For more information contact:M-Streets Media, Inc.   Tanya Benson
214.841.1000 or 214.450.3291 (cell)
tbenson@mstreetsmedia.com
 

National High School All-Star Football Game Begins Sculpting The First Ever High School Heisman Award After Kenneth Hall

December 5, 2000 (Dallas, Texas) - Sculpting begins today on the first ever High School Heisman, as presented by New York's famed Downtown Athletic Club (the same institution that presents the college Heisman Trophy).  This marks the first time the Downtown Athletic Club has leant the Heisman name to a trophy other than the collegiate award.  The National High School All-Star Football Game together with the Downtown Athletic Club (DAC) and Hero's Salute Awards Company teamed up to present this award to the top six high school seniors from across the country. The High School Heisman is to be presented at halftime of the National High School All-Star Game in Dallas. Hero's Salute Awards Company, Sportslink, Inc. and the Downtown Athletic Club have commissioned the sculpture, which will bear the likeness of Ken Hall of Sugarland, Texas, who is generally regarded as the greatest high school running back in history.

"The Heisman Memorial Trophy Trust and the Heisman Foundation are proud to be associated with the 2000 National High School All-Star Game," said Rudy Riska, Executive Director of the Heisman Memorial Trophy Award. "Our association with this National All-Star Game is a natural for the Heisman. We look forward to this year's game and plan to support this game for many years to come."

The Heisman Trophy is the ultimate symbol of excellence in college football. This game rewards high school athletes for their excellence on the playing field.  In 2000, the Downtown Athletic Club (DAC) will present the six "Downtown Athletic Club/Heisman All-Star Awards."  The award will go to one player in each of the six Heisman Balloting regions across the country: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, South, Midwest, Southwest and the Far West.

Ken Hall, also known as the "Sugerland Express", holds the national record for High School career rushing yards at 11,232 career yards (from 1950-1953).  He also holds the first, sixth and eighth place rankings in Texas High School Football rushing yards per season with (4,045 yards in 1953), (3,458 yards in 1952) and (3,160 yards in 1951).   Hall, who now lives in Fredericksburg, Texas, also holds the first, second and fourth place rankings in Texas High School Football average yards per game in a season with (337.1 in 1953), (288.2 in 1952) and (263.3 in 1951).

"I'm extremely honored that Hero's Salute Awards Company, the DAC and Sportslink, Inc. have selected me to be the model for the High School Heisman. This award is a great honor for the young men who will receive it. I'm proud to be involved with an award that will be given to the top high school football players for years to come," said Ken Hall.

Sportslink, Inc. the owner of the first ever National High School All-Star Football Game, selected Hero's Salute Awards Company to sculpt the trophy last week. Hero's Salute Awards Company has made their mark in the award business by creating unique awards for heroic fireman.

"We are proud to be associated with an award that exemplifies the same values, workmanship and standards that our company stands for," said Troy Terry, President of Hero's Salute Awards Company.  "We are looking forward to working with Sportslink, the Downtown Athletic Club and Ken Hall on the first ever High School Heisman award."

The National High School All-Star Football Game will feature the top 75 high school seniors from across the country. They will compete in the nation's premier all-star football game in an East vs. West showdown Saturday, December 30th at 2 p.m. The game will take place at Highlander Stadium (Highland Park H.S.) and will broadcast live nationally on Fox Sports Net to 70 million homes. The spokesman for this game is Hall of Fame Great, Tony Dorsett.

Based in Morristown, New Jersey, Sportslink, Inc. is a sport marketing company that specializes in managing and producing event properties and creating targeted sponsorship opportunities for companies looking for effective marketing. Tickets for the event are available by calling 214.653.0239 and tickets cost $12.