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Queen Creek football player Zach Glaess was among 60 college and high school scholar athletes honored at the Valley of the Sun Chapter of the National Football Foundation’s 35th Annual Awards Banquet last Saturday night at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort and Villas.
Glaess, a senior, was among student athletes nominated from 186 high schools who were selected based on the combined criteria of 40 percent Academics, 40 percent Football Accomplishments, and 20 percent School & Community Citizenship and participation.
Zach Glaess (center) with QC asst. coach Mark Swartz (left) and AZNFF Awards’ host Kevin Ray (right).
This marks the sixth consecutive year that at least one Bulldogs’ player was recognized as a top scholar athlete by the AZNFF. Previous Bulldogs’ honorees include Adam Brczek (2010), Andrew Sawyer (2011), Dean Wenger (2012), Carson Sawyer (2013), and Bryce Dobbs (2014). Additionally, Carson Jones won the 2012 AZNFF Frances Kush Dedicated Student Award.
“It’s great for our school and football program to seemingly have a player or two (who) receive that honor every year,” Queen Creek football head coach Travis Schureman told the Ledger. “It’s just as important to be successful in the classroom as it is on the football field and the kids in our program are all solid people who try to do it all the right way.”
Glaess, with a 4.315 GPA, was named to the 2015-16 Fiesta Bowl Charities First Team. He earned several All-State and All-Section recognition at three different positions – punter, kicker, and defensive back – after last season. He was also named to the Sports360AZ.com All-Academic Team.
Despite all of the postseason accolades, Glaess was surprised by his most recent recognition.
“It’s such an honor because I didn’t know I was going to receive it,” he said. “Coach Swartz had talked to me about it and I didn’t expect to make it, especially first team, and then I (did). I was happy when I found out.”
Glaess signed his national letter of intent in February to play football at Missouri University of Science & Technology, located in Rolla, Missouri.
Visit www.aznff.com for a complete list of the 2016 AZ NFF Scholar Athlete Class.
Andrew Luberda began writing for Copper Area News Publishers (CANP) in February 2013 after working 15 years in Healthcare Financial Management. Andy covers sports for 11 high schools. His stories are published in Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner and Superior Sun, in addition to the San Tan Valley Daily PRSS and CopperArea websites. Additionally, he has written human interest stories and business profiles. In May 2012, he earned an AAS in Sports Management at Central Arizona College before graduating with a BS in Communication from Arizona State University in 2014. He and his wife, Kelli, have three sons – AJ, Kyle, and Kade.
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