Buckmeier to play at AT&T Stadium
NRHEG freshman Alex Buckmeier is one of 60 of the nation’s best high school freshmen and sophomore football players selected to the U.S. Under-16 National Team, which will compete against Canada in the 2016 International Bowl on Friday, Feb. 5, at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas. Kickoff is 1 p.m. CT.
Buckmeier, a 5-foot-10, 210-pound defensive lineman, recorded 33 total tackles (20 solo), 1.5 sacks and four tackles for losses this past season as the Panthers posted a 6-3 record.
Four high school-aged U.S. National Teams will compete against national teams from Canada in the seventh annual International Bowl series. U.S. Select Teams at the high school and junior high level also will compete as part of the series.
The U.S. Under-16 head coach is Tom Bainter, who has been a high school football head coach in the Seattle area for 18 years, including the last 15 years at Bothell High School, where he led the 2014 Cougars to the school’s first state championship. His teams also have twice finished state runners-up. A health and physical education teacher, Bainter served as the head coach for the 2015 Under-15 U.S. National Team and the running backs coach for the 2009 U.S. Under-19 National Team, which won a gold medal at the IFAF Under-19 World Championship in Canton, Ohio.U.S. rosters and coaching staffs will be announced throughout November and December and available at www.internationalbowl.com. Canadian rosters will be announced in early 2016.
The games are a collaboration of the sport’s national governing bodies in each country – USA Football and Football Canada – featuring top student-athletes in high school football’s greatest annual international competition.
The event will feature a week of practices and activities for each team, culminating in internationally sanctioned competitions. The schedule includes (all times CT):
Sunday, Jan. 31
U.S. Under-19 National Team vs. Canada Under-19 National Team, 3 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 3
U.S. Under-14 Select Teams: Stars vs. Stripes, 1 p.m.
U.S. Under-15 Select Teams: Stars vs. Stripes, 4 p.m.
U.S. Under-18 National Team vs. Canada Under-18 National Team, 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 5
U.S. Under-16 National Team vs. Alberta Under-16, 1 p.m.
U.S. Under-18 Select Team vs. Ontario Under-18, 4 p.m.
U.S. Under-17 National Team vs. Ontario Under-17, 7 p.m.
Single-day general admission tickets are $10. Single-game sideline passes, which include access to the field club, are $50. Games also will be broadcast throughout the United States.
“This is an exciting opportunity for these young men to represent their country on the football field and learn from top coaches while working alongside the best athletes in their grade levels,” USA Football CEO Scott Hallenbeck said. “To play on the same field as the Dallas Cowboys will make this a memorable experience for our coaches, athletes and their families.”
“I’m looking forward to this extraordinary opportunity to lead some of the finest young athletes in our nation and represent our country on the football field,” Bainter said. “It’s rare to get play for your country in a sport you love. To be able to do it in football, America’s most popular sport, is truly special.”
The NCAA recognizes USA Football’s International Bowl as a national team competition. Playing for the United States in the International Bowl is exempt from high school seniors’ two all-star game appearances. USA Football and Football Canada are among the 71 national federations who are members of IFAF. IFAF’s member nations span six continental regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania and South America.
2016 U.S. Under-16
National Team roster
Jared Ables, Henderson, Nev.; Justin Allen, Leesburg, Va.; Cayde Anderson, Fortson, Ga.; Max Barnet, Old Bridge, N.J.; DeAnte Bernard, Albuquerque, N.M.; Kyle Bilodeau, Mechanicsville, Va.; Jonny Bottorff, Quincy, Ill.; A.J. Brown, Grovetown, Ga.; TaShumbrae Brown, San Marcos, Texas; Alex Buckmeier, New Richland, Minn.; Jose Castillo, San Diego, Calif.; Sebastian Class, Spring Hill, Fla.; Luan Cosmo, Marietta, Ga.; Aric Davison, Richland, Wash.; Brandon Dickerson, Fort Mill, S.C.; Jaden Dottin, Arlington, Mass.; Kylan Draper, Camdenton, Mo.; Christian Dremel, West Caldwell, N.J.; Evan Durbin, Littleton, Colo.; Joshua Edwards, Alpharetta, Ga.; Bailey Elder, Tacoma, Wash.; Michael Erhart, Westlake Village, Calif.; Jake Galli, Arlington, Va.; Joel Girtman, Jr., College Park, Ga.; Frank Grant, Old Bridge, N.J.; Garrett Graves, Grass Valley, Calif., Boulder, Colo.; Dylan Hawk, Washington, Mo.; Nyquee Hawkins, Newark, N.J.; Grant Hutchison, Versailles, Mo.; Jalen Jackson, Powder Springs, Ga.; Benjamin Kaufer, Phelan, Calif.; Will Kuehne, Westlake, Texas; Elie Maurice, West Orange, N.J.; Edward Maxwell III, Centreville, Va.; Jalen Mayden, Rowlett, Texas; Ethan T. Negron, Sayreville, N.J.; Bulah Nyang, Marietta, Ga.; Lucas Openlander, Sullivan, Mo.; Wellington Pereira, Wayland, Mass.; Greggory Rodgers II, Grovetown, Ga.; Thomas Romig, Honeoye Falls, N.Y.; Mason Russell, Windermere, Fla.; Diego Sanchez, Los Lunas, N.M.; Anthony Session II, Murrieta, Calif.; Nolan Smith, Savannah, Ga. Aaron Soto, Watsonville, Calif.
Samuel Todd, Bishopville, Md.; Teon William, Russellville, Ky.; Preston Toner, Murrieta, Calif.; Jack Topping, Carrollton, Texas; Victor Vega III, Orlando, Fla.; DeOnte’ Washington, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Norman Washington, Hillsborough, N.J.; Thomas Washington, Tacoma, Wash.; Ryan Wheaton, Hillsborough, N.J.; Jake Wooldridge, Chatham, Ill.; Trey Wilson, Upper Montclair, N.J.
2016 U.S. Under-16
National Team coaching staff
Tom Bainter, Bothell, Wash.; Wayne Voorhees, Broomfield, Colo.; Terry Summerfield, Barlow, Ore.; Jim Monson, Bothell, Wash.; Bill Christensen, Bothell, Wash.; Matt Gegenheimer, Savage, Minn.; Brandon Younger, San Jose, Calif.