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PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Football — in June?
It’s not a phrase you hear often, but former Richwoods High School and University of Illinois standout running back Kendrick Foster’s High Profile Athletes faced off against other 7-on-7 teams from as far away as Iowa.
Foster said that 7-on-7 is a great way for people who don’t want to tackle but still enjoy the sport.
“I mean, you’re not getting hit like.. Tackle. You’re dealing with concussions. Just from a safety standpoint, we like to have them wear soft-shell helmets, but nobody really hits each other,” he said.
Foster went on to say how 7-on-7 is the future of football.
“This is the next generation. This is the future. If you don’t want your kid to play tackle just yet and you want them to learn from a Division I athlete and some good male figures, this is the place to be,” he said.
As for the players?
Brody Grebner, an 11-year-old for HPA, enjoys playing the game he loves without worrying about getting hit.
“I love football. I’ve been playing it since I was five. [in 7-on-7] I don’t have any fear of getting, like, blindsided or getting hit hard for no reason,” he said.
In a similar sentiment, Richwoods High School sophomore Jai Schultz said he loves working on the little things.
“I like working on my mechanics and turning for the ball and my running form too. That goes with track too, and 7-on-7,” he said.
While teaching is a big part of the coaches’ roles, Jaron “Coach Roc” Tunks loves how kids can take what they learn and use it in everyday life.
“Outside of football, the kids build relationships early, and building development, just showing them, you know, right from wrong, as young men,” he said. “That way, they can take the foundation that we built and the relationships they’ve built with their teammates and carry that on to the rest of their lives.”
While football was in Peoria, the All-Pro Tour took to the greens of Metamora.
Men’s and women’s titles were up for grabs Saturday at Metamora Fields Golf Course this afternoon.
Pekin’s Mason Minkel played in his first pro tournament. He finished at 4 under for the tournament.
Former Illinois Central and Bradley University golfer Ethan Brue had a strong tournament finish at -17 under, tying him for 10th place.
Brue said he went pro in 2019, took a few years off, and returned to the game this summer.
“I really did not have any plans of playing a bunch of golf this summer, but I played really well in the U.S. Open qualifier, and I almost made it to the U.S. Open this year. And I got a chance to play in this, and couldn’t pass it up, really
Former Illinois Wesleyan golfer Jimmy Morton also had a stellar weekend, tying for 6th at 17 under.
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