"This is going to be one of the most memorable games I've ever been a part of," said Willow Glen's Chris Hobbs after a 20-15 South win last summer.

"It was everything I hoped it would be," said Pioneer's James Dunne after the 2002 game.

"This will be one of my grandpa stories," said Prospect's Tony Barba.

"I'll remember this the rest of my life," said Prospect's Ryan Schaefers.

More recent high school graduates will be making memories of their own when the 31st edition of the Wedemeyer Silicon Valley Youth Classic, sponsored each summer by the Almaden Valley Rotary Club, returns to the San José City College turf on July 20, 7:30 p.m.

Among the local players set to play for the North team in the summer game are lineman Ramsey Habib, wide receiver Casey Modiri, defensive back Connor Quinn and running back Daniel Weller of Westmont; linebacker Michael Howery of Del Mar; and linebacker J.P. Nation of Prospect.

The local players join an impressive cast of former all-stars, many of whom went on to greatness following their participation in the summer all-star game.

NFL quarterback Jeff Garcia (Gilroy/San José State University) is a former all-star who went on to turn pro, along with Doug Cosbie (St. Francis/Dallas Cowboys), Don Schwartz (Mitty/St. Louis Cardinals), Jeff Toews (Del Mar/Miami Dolphins), Rich Campbell (Santa Teresa/Green Bay Packers), Greg Woodard (Silver Creek/Oakland Raiders), Ben Bennett (Peterson/Chicago Bears), John Faylor (Mitty/49ers), Erik Howard (Bellarmine/Giants), Randy Kirk (Bellarmine/49ers). Also included on that list are three players now deceased--Pat Tillman (Leland/Arizona Cardinals), Carl Monroe (Overfelt/49ers) and John Tuggle (Independence/New York Giants).

Bill Haselman (Saratoga) and the late Ken Caminiti (Leigh) each played in the summer game, then went on to play baseball in the major leagues, and Millard Hampton (Silver Creek) was an all-star who went on to win an Olympic gold medal.

Rotary sponsorship

The Almaden Valley Rotary Club sponsors the football game each summer, with proceeds going to the Rotary charity and scholarship programs. And it all started because members of the Almaden Valley Rotary Club had an idea.

"Three Rotarians came to the police department and met with me at the PAL office," said game chairman Jim Guido, now a Rotarian himself but at that time the head of the San Jose Police Activities League. "They said, 'We have an idea for an all-star football game.' "

So Guido, his PAL staff and the Rotarians went to work to make the idea a reality.

"We had a marriage of sorts," said Guido of the relationship between the Rotary and PAL. "They came up with the idea which was a good one, and we had the expertise to put the game together."

The first game was played in the summer of 1974. With the exception of 1976, the game has been played every summer since, and Guido has been involved in every one of the 30 games.

"The great thing about this game is that there are no politics involved," said Guido. "This game is for the kids."

Football banquet

The players and coaches selected for the 2005 game were invited to a banquet in their honor on May 9. Special guest John Ralston, a former coach for Stanford, San José State University and the Denver Broncos, introduced the evening's guest speaker, brand new San José State University football coach Dick Tomey. Charlie and Lucy Wedemeyer also spoke to the players.

North team

Westmont High School coach Tony Santos will lead the North team in the all-star game. Members of the North team include:

Archbishop Mitty--Joe Ciesinski, kicker/defensive back; Nick Gancayco, running back; Jason Triggas, lineman. Cupertino--Bronson Farr, running back; Matt Ravadge, lineman. Del Mar--Michael Howery, linebacker. Fremont--Sean Garrett, lineman. Gunn--Adam Juratovac, lineman. Harker Academy--Adhir Ravipati, wide receiver. Homestead--Chris Morris, running back; Marc Robinson, linebacker. Leigh--J.J. Flannery, defensive back; Billy Flick, defensive back; Andy Holloway, wide receiver; Kiel Trudeau, quarterback; Brian Wendt, linebacker. Los Gatos--Vincent Bellotti, defensive back; Michael Brienzo, wide receiver; Chris Cuthbert, lineman; Erik Rollin, quarterback; Liam Smith, lineman; Evan Wynne, lineman. Milpitas--Bien Alegre, lineman; Michael Fullbright, defensive back. Monta Vista--Matthew Delgado, lineman. Mountain View--Dustin Johnson, tight end. Palo Alto--Nathan Ford, quarterback; Ted Way, linebacker; Matt Wismann, wide receiver. Prospect--J.P. Nation, linebacker. Santa Clara--Sundar Pappu, wide receiver. Saratoga--Peter Rutti, running back; Adam Sato, linebacker; Phil Spencer, defensive back/wide receiver. St. Francis--Ekahi Casino, wide receiver; Mike Morales, linebacker; Josh Pickles, linebacker; Chris Reese, linebacker. Westmont--Ramsey Habib, lineman; Casey Modiri, wide receiver; Connor Quinn, defensive back; Daniel Weller, running back. Wilcox--Daniel Beeby, lineman; Chip Leffel, lineman; Greg Pratt, linebacker.

South team

Pioneer High School head coach Mark Krail will head up the South squad for the summer game. Members of the South team include:

Andrew Hill--Richard Achica, defensive tackle. Bellarmine--David Abraham, linebacker; John Gill, offensive tackle; Steve McGovern, cornerback. Branham--Kenny Chadwick, linebacker; T.J. DeStefano, quarterback. Evergreen Valley--Steven Walraven, quarterback. Gilroy--Jared Gamm, linebacker. Gunderson-- Dytanion Eley, cornerback. Independence--Samson Lepisi, tight end; John Merritt-Sharp, offensive tackle. James Lick--Michael Andrade, running back. Leland--Alex Bynum, linebacker; Gabe Castaneda, offensive tackle; Blake Ferras, defensive end. Lincoln--Raul Figueroa, running back; Chris Garcia, offensive guard; Patrick Yanez, linebacker. Live Oak--Shaun Standridge, wide receiver; Dustin Vertin, center. Mt. Pleasant--Hasaan Jackson, fullback; Mark Tavares, defensive lineman. Oak Grove--Kenny Calderone, defensive lineman; Adley Fagaautau, defensive lineman; Sam Guerra, offensive guard; Burton Iosefa, running back; Sean Lawyer, defensive lineman. Overfelt--Marc Fuentes, wide receiver. Piedmont Hills--Terrence Critchlow, cornerback; Steven Pinon, running back. Pioneer--Rolano Gomez, defensive end; Bobby Lopez, punter/kicker/ defensive end; Steve Matos, offensive guard; Pat Walsh, center. San Jose--Gerrick Carpenter, strong safety. Santa Teresa--Marlon Rosales, running back; Marvin Rosales, strong safety. Silver Creek--Raymond Romero, defensive tackle; Alex Senegal III, defensive tackle. Valley Christian--J.R. Adams (posthumous); Michael Moreno, safety; Kyle Thompson, linebacker; Justin Wills, offensive guard. Willow Glen--Nate Torres, offensive tackle. Yerba Buena--David Andrade, quarterback; Richie Martin, wide receiver.