Sports

CPMS football player chosen for national team

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Thomas Middleton, an eighth grader from Cedar Park Middle School, has been invited to play in the first-ever Football University Youth All-American Bowl taking place in San Antonio on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009. The event will be broadcast live on the Internet. Middleton, an offensive lineman for CPMS, has been described as an impact player at nose guard and played well this season for head coach Karl Murphy.

The Football University Youth All-American Bowl honors the top seventh and eighth graders in the nation, bringing them together to play in an all-star format on a national stage. The Football University Youth All-American Bowl is modeled after the U.S. Army All-American Bowl which will also be held in San Antonio. Both games are produced by SportsLink.

The Youth All-American Bowl Week will showcase the top 40 seventh graders and the top 40 eighth graders. Additionally, the week will consist of practices, a skills competition, break-out sessions with Hall of Famers, current and former NFL stars and celebrities, such as legendary high school football coach Herman Boone. The Youth All-Americans will have VIP access to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and will also be honored during that game on Saturday, Jan. 3.

The selection process for the FBU Youth All-Americans began this fall and all players were selected by Dec. 1.

The selection process consisted of Football University's regional directors and scouts located throughout the United States identifying the top youth talent in America. The scouts attended youth games, met with area coaches and determined nominations. All nominated players went through an interview process.

Ray Lewis III, son of current Baltimore Ravens Linebacker Ray Lewis, was the first athlete selected for this inaugural game. The younger Lewis earned his own MVP honors this year leading the LMP Junior High football team to its first winning season.

Once selected, players were eligible to be profiled in “Sports Illustrated” for Kids as All-Americans, as well as featured in other media outlets both local and national. Other national sponsors of the Junior All-American Bowl are Russell Athletics, Schutt Sports, Athletic Republic, World Sporting Goods and “Sports Illustrated for Kids.”

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