Area athletes and coaches were well represented this summer in Indiana all-star games in both football and baseball. Athletes Wyatt Woodall from Southmont, Isaac Gayler from Fountain Central along with Crawfordsville’s Kale Wemer were all selected to play in Indiana All-Star North/South games.
Area coaches also were a part of the all-star games. Southmont head football Coach Desson Hannum helped coach Woodall’s team as a tight ends coach. Crawfordsville baseball coaches Brett Motz, Rrett Welliever and Wemer’s brother Cole Wemer were assistants for the baseball series.
Wabash College’s new Assistant Head Football Coach and Defensive Coordinator Jake Gilbert was the head coach of the South football team. Gilbert coached his last season as head coach at Westfield High School last year. Gilbert previously coached at North Montgomery High School.
Woodall was a member of the South all-star team in the 58th Annual Shriners North/South Football All Star Classic. The South team won 41-14.
Woodall played on all the special teams in the game and every other series at middle linebacker. He appreciated the chance to play against Indiana’s best.
“I was excited to represent Southmont as the second player ever selected to play in the all-star game,” Woodall said. “I was a little nervous because of the unknowns. However, all the guys were great and by the end of the week we were very close.”
Woodall, who will be a Marian University Knight this fall, appreciated having his head high school coach alongside him during the experience.
“Having Coach Hannum there was awesome,” Woodall said. “It was nice to have him there to talk to and hang out with.”
Woodall saw the week-long experience as a reward for all the work he has put in on the football field.
“When I was a freshman, I never thought I would have gotten to play in the all-star game,” Woodall said. “I see it as a reward. I have had to stay true to myself. The work me and my teammates put in when no one is watching paid off.”
Hannum was proud of his player. He said Wyatt fit right in and represented his school against players from larger schools very well.
“It was exciting to have one of our players represent South,” Hannum said. “He played well and I was proud of him.”
Gayler was on the losing end of the score, but that did not diminish the experience for the Mustang.
“I was pretty confident going into the camp,” Gayler said. “I quickly realized there is a big difference between the teams I played against and the athletes from 4A and 5A schools. Overall it was a great experience.”
Gayler played tight end and saw action in three of four quarters.
“Playing in the game really was the cherry on top of my athletic career,” Gayler said.
Gayler will attend Ivy Tech this fall to study to be an electrician.
Wemer was able to pitch one inning out of the three all star games in the Indiana Baseball Coaches Association North/South All Star games. His performance did not disappoint because he did what he did to opponents all spring, he struck out all three batters he faced.
“It was fun playing with and against players I have played in the past,” Wemer said. “I had just finished playing baseball in Tennessee for seven days and had to rush back to play in the all star games. I only pitched one inning to save my arm.”
“It was a great experience and a true blessing,” Wemer said.
Wemer enrolled at Purdue University this summer. He plans on playing for the Boilermakers and has been working out with the team.
All three athletes thanked their parents, teammates and coaches who helped them during their high school careers.
