Sterling Shaw and Andrew Betschart will showcase their talent in a pair of high school all-star football games.
Shaw and Betschart, formerly of Central Valley, will represent Central Catholic when they play for the South squad in the 39th Lions All-Star Game this Saturday at Modesto Junior College.
The 27th Annual Chowchilla Rotary All-Star Football Game will be held on June 29 in Merced.
Sterling and Andrew will suit up for the North team.
"I'm fired up," said Betschart, a 6-foot-4 245-pound lineman. "I'm really honored they picked me."
"I found out in March I got selected to play in both all-star games," said Shaw, who will contribute at running back. "My goal was to at least play in one before I headed off to college to play football. I'm excited. I want to win. I hate losing more than anything."
Shaw joined Betschart at Central Catholic during the 2010-11 school year.
Sterling played two seasons of varsity football.
He contributed at running back, strong safety and defensive end, and on special teams during his senior year. Shaw was named to the Western Athletic Conference first team. Sterling rushed for 943 yards and seven touchdowns for Central Catholic, which compiled a 10-3 overall record, advanced to the semi-final round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV playoffs and finished second in the WAC (5-1). Shaw tallied 29 tackles and 31/2 sacks.
Sterling missed the Raiders' final two games with a broken leg. He was on crutches for three months.
"It was tough being on the sidelines knowing I couldn't do anything," Shaw said. "I felt helpless. I get to finish my high-school career the way I wanted to. The recovery's been long. I should be back to normal pretty soon."
Sterling played JV football at Central Valley his sophomore year. He missed half of the season following hip surgery. Doctors removed a benign bone tumor.
Shaw gained 124 yards and scored one touchdown in a 26-7 loss to crosstown-rival Ceres High at the freshman level in 2008.
Shaw earned a scholarship to Southern Oregon University.
Betschart attended Central Catholic for three years.
Andrew was a two-way starter at the varsity level for two seasons.
He was named to the WAC First Team as a senior. He made 58 tackles, registered nine sacks and recovered one fumble.
Betschart earned second-team, all-league honors his junior year.
"I loved every second of it," he said.
Andrew will continue his football career and education at Delta College.
He was recruited to play offensive line alongside former Central Catholic teammate Mitch Young.
Sterling and Andrew were looking forward to reuniting with Pitman High School's Kyle Martinez at the Lions All-Star Game.
Martinez, Betschart and Shaw were teammates at Central Catholic as juniors and at Central Valley in 2008.
Kyle, a 6-foot-1 220-pound linebacker, declined the invitation.
Martinez will spend the majority of the summer training with the San Francisco City College football team.
"I really wanted to play in the game," Kyle said. "I can't. The coaches want me up there already."
Lance Mitchell, San Francisco's linebackers coach, played for the Oklahoma Sooners and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft.
"I'm really excited," Martinez said. "That's a huge opportunity for me to learn. He has a lot of knowledge. It's going to be a good experience. If I can prove myself there, I can play anywhere."
Martinez plans to transfer to a Division-I college following his freshman year.
Kyle filled a pivotal role while propelling Pitman to a 10-2 overall record, Sac-Joaquin Section Division-I quarterfinal playoff appearance and runner-up finish in the Central Catholic Conference (4-1) last fall. Martinez was selected to the CCC First Team.
Shaw and Betschart, formerly of Central Valley, will represent Central Catholic when they play for the South squad in the 39th Lions All-Star Game this Saturday at Modesto Junior College.
The 27th Annual Chowchilla Rotary All-Star Football Game will be held on June 29 in Merced.
Sterling and Andrew will suit up for the North team.
"I'm fired up," said Betschart, a 6-foot-4 245-pound lineman. "I'm really honored they picked me."
"I found out in March I got selected to play in both all-star games," said Shaw, who will contribute at running back. "My goal was to at least play in one before I headed off to college to play football. I'm excited. I want to win. I hate losing more than anything."
Shaw joined Betschart at Central Catholic during the 2010-11 school year.
Sterling played two seasons of varsity football.
He contributed at running back, strong safety and defensive end, and on special teams during his senior year. Shaw was named to the Western Athletic Conference first team. Sterling rushed for 943 yards and seven touchdowns for Central Catholic, which compiled a 10-3 overall record, advanced to the semi-final round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV playoffs and finished second in the WAC (5-1). Shaw tallied 29 tackles and 31/2 sacks.
Sterling missed the Raiders' final two games with a broken leg. He was on crutches for three months.
"It was tough being on the sidelines knowing I couldn't do anything," Shaw said. "I felt helpless. I get to finish my high-school career the way I wanted to. The recovery's been long. I should be back to normal pretty soon."
Sterling played JV football at Central Valley his sophomore year. He missed half of the season following hip surgery. Doctors removed a benign bone tumor.
Shaw gained 124 yards and scored one touchdown in a 26-7 loss to crosstown-rival Ceres High at the freshman level in 2008.
Shaw earned a scholarship to Southern Oregon University.
Betschart attended Central Catholic for three years.
Andrew was a two-way starter at the varsity level for two seasons.
He was named to the WAC First Team as a senior. He made 58 tackles, registered nine sacks and recovered one fumble.
Betschart earned second-team, all-league honors his junior year.
"I loved every second of it," he said.
Andrew will continue his football career and education at Delta College.
He was recruited to play offensive line alongside former Central Catholic teammate Mitch Young.
Sterling and Andrew were looking forward to reuniting with Pitman High School's Kyle Martinez at the Lions All-Star Game.
Martinez, Betschart and Shaw were teammates at Central Catholic as juniors and at Central Valley in 2008.
Kyle, a 6-foot-1 220-pound linebacker, declined the invitation.
Martinez will spend the majority of the summer training with the San Francisco City College football team.
"I really wanted to play in the game," Kyle said. "I can't. The coaches want me up there already."
Lance Mitchell, San Francisco's linebackers coach, played for the Oklahoma Sooners and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft.
"I'm really excited," Martinez said. "That's a huge opportunity for me to learn. He has a lot of knowledge. It's going to be a good experience. If I can prove myself there, I can play anywhere."
Martinez plans to transfer to a Division-I college following his freshman year.
Kyle filled a pivotal role while propelling Pitman to a 10-2 overall record, Sac-Joaquin Section Division-I quarterfinal playoff appearance and runner-up finish in the Central Catholic Conference (4-1) last fall. Martinez was selected to the CCC First Team.
