Edgewood Academy sent three of its football players to the AISA All-Star football game held at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery on Dec. 4.
The AISA holds this event every year in hopes of broadcasting the state’s brightest and best talent at the private school prep level.
Cooper Freeman, Parker Shaw and Zayne Talley were all invited to the event as well head football coach, Chad Michael who served as an assistant coach on the All-Star staff.
"It's a special week for these guys, and they're special players,” Michael said. “For Parker, Zayne and Cooper, they've done everything for us over the past three years, four years, and I'm just super proud that they had this moment.”
The Wildcats finished their football season with a 3-6 record, which is not up to their standards, but with three players being represented in an All-Star game event there is reason for optimism.
“Something like this really shines a light on the program, and it really shows how we want our program to be reflected , which is an elite and competitive program,” Michael said
Cooper Freeman has played linebacker for the Wildcats over the past three years, adding a strong level of physicality to the Wildcat defense.
“You know at first, Cooper wasn’t a starter for us, and he didn’t even start playing football until later on, because he was a big baseball guy,” Michael said. “But he started at linebacker for us towards the end of his sophomore season and has just grown from there ever since.”
Parker Shaw has been a mainstay in the Wildcat’s starting defensive lineup from his linebacker spot for the past three years. Shaw has consistently been one of the best linebackers at the AISA level averaging 77 tackles a season during his career.
“Parker has always been that guy that has just done everything right, and I think his consistency over his career is unbelievable,” Michael said. “Even when, about two seasons ago, we moved him to the running back spot on offense, he was hardly ever coming off the field, but he never complained about playing too much ever.”
Zayne Talley has been a key part of the Wildcat’s offensive line during his time at Edgewood academy.
“He has just worked very hard on his craft, playing all parts of the offensive line,” Michael said. “He is a technician in his approach and is just always trying to perfect his craft.”
The Wildcats also had six members of its cheerleading squad receive invites to the all-star event. Ava Baxley, Kori Bence, Emerson Boddie, Elizabeth Ellis, Caroline Kennedy, and Kinsey Overton all participated on the sidelines for the Wildcats during the game.
