Westmont High School, July 18th, 2019 7:00 pm Kick-off

Bellarmine

Evergreen   

Fremont   

Gunn    

Homestead  

Independence 

Jame Lick   

Kings Academy    

Lincoln 

Los Altos   

Milpitas  

Monta Vista  

Mount Pleasant  

Mountain View 

Overfelt 

Palo Alto

Piedmont Hills  

San Jose  

Sant Clara  

Silver Creek 

Saint Francis 

Wilcox 

Yerba Buena      

Andrew HIll 

Branham

Christopher

Cupertino

Del Mar

Gilroy 

Gunderson

Harker

Leigh

Leland 

Live Oak

Los Gatos

Lynbrook

Mitty

Oak Grove

Pioneer

Prospect

Santa Teresa

Saratoga

Sobrato

Valley Christian

Westmont 

Willow Glen

North Head Coach

Burt Codera

Head  Football Coach of Santa Clara HS

(remaining staff to be updated when available)

South Head Coach

Ajene Palmer

Head Football Coach at Santa Teresa HS

(remaining staff to be updated when available)

Born in Hawaii, Charlie grew up youngest of nine children in a very athletic family. His talents on the football field awarded him scholarships to prestigious Punahou Academy and Michigan State University. Named "Prep Player of the Decade" in Hawaii and chosen to two college all star games, East-West Shrine Classic and the Hula Bowl, Charlie was content with his life. He was an outstanding athlete, had a wonderful family with his wife Lucy, daughter Carri, son Kale, and was a successful coach and teacher in Los Gatos. However, in 1977 his life was forever turned around. He was diagnosed with a terminal illness, ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, and was given one or, at most, three years to live. The nerve cells that control the muscles were dying. The finely tuned athletic body was wasting away. There is no known cause or cure.

"The scoreboard says Charlie Wedemeyer won't win this game. There's no chance for a comeback now, time is running out. There'll be no 'Hail Mary', no immaculate reception. The gun is ready, and when it goes off, death will remain undefeated," wrote one newswriter.

Typical of Charlie's indomitable spirit, despite the impossible odds, he simply refused to give up and accept defeat. As the illness progressed, he could no longer walk, talk or breathe on his own, and he became totally dependent on a respirator. At one point, Charlie's physical body was ready to give up despite his determination. He realized he could no longer struggle and fight this alone without supernatural strength and support. He found this in a new personal relationship with God. Incredibly, by human standards, he was able to continue coaching; and in 1985, his Los Gatos Football Team won the Central Coast Section Championship with Lucy reading his lips and relaying instructions and plays to the assistant coaches and players.

Coaches Against Cancer was founded in 2009 with the mission to raise money and support the research and fight against cancer.

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Since its inception, Coaches Against Cancer has raised and donated over $100,000 to the American Cancer and National Brain Tumor Societies and to the recently created "Dream Come True" program. We feel very proud of our accomplishments thus far, and have decided to continue with our recent "Dream Come True" success.

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The Coaches Against Cancer-“Dream Come True” program is not a novel concept, but one that we feel really makes a difference to those battling against cancer and to their families. Honoring the Make A Wish concept, we would like to connect with families that have been affected by cancer to find out if we can provide an experience that truly is a “Dream Come True”.

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While our funds are not unlimited, we feel that there will be opportunities when Coaches Against Cancer can help make a difference.

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In order to continue our recent success, we need your help! We need you to share this with friends and family as we look to identify those struggling with their fight against cancer.

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We are asking that you fill out this form sharing the story of your nominated person or family including ideas that will help make their "Dream Come True".

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Stories can be submitted on behalf of someone else or submitted by the person/family, directly.

JOIN THE "FIGHT"

coachesagainstcancer@gmail.com

Some of the greats that have donned an all star jersey in this very special event are Doug Cosbie (Dallas Cowboys), John Tuggle (New York Giants), Jeff Garcia (SF 49ers), the late Pat Tillman (Arizona Cardinals), Trent Edwards (Buffalo Bills/Oakland Raiders +) and many, many more.

There are 45 players on each team from 46 Bay Area schools, representing the very best players in the county. The 2019 South squad is led by Coach Ajene Palmer, Head Coach at Santa Teresa High School. Bert Cordero, Head Coach at Santa Clara High School, will take the reins for the North. This year’s Charlie Wedemeyer All Star Game will be played at Westmont High School on July 18, 2019.

Jim Guido has been the lone game chairman of this event for 30+ years "To have seen all of the amazing young men compete in their last high school game over 4 decades has been an unbelievably rewarding experience. Having the game honor Charlie Wedemeyer since 1984 has been a very special part of this event. His story is something everyone should be inspired by." Charlie Wedemeyer was diagnosed with ALS as a young man and given a short time to live. 32 years later, he finally lost his battle. "Never has there been a man who embraced life in the face of extreme odds and positively affected millions of people like Charlie Wedemeyer" Guido remembers.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the gate on game day, at the Almaden Barbers on Almaden Expressway in San Jose, and soon to be online. For more information on the coaching staff, rosters, and details please visit www.santaclaraallstar.com.

Feel free to email Mike Carrozzo at 

santaclaraallstar@gmail.com