Drew Levavasseur of Coudersport High School headlines this
week’s additions to the Big 30 Don Raabe Charities Classic list of
players who have accepted invitations to play in the 34th annual
game.
Levavasseur is joined on the Pennsylvania side by Bryan Dempsey
of St. Marys Area High School and Jeremy Gurdak of Youngsville High
School.
For the New York squad, this week’s additions include Paul
Myszka of Hinsdale Central School, Jeff Gamble of Pioneer Central
School and Matt Crandall of West Valley Central School.
Levavasseur is a 5’9″, 195-pound fullback and linebacker. He was
named to the distinguished honor roll or honor roll for every
report card during his high school career. He was also a 2006 Olean
(N.Y.) Times Herald Big 30 all-star, a runner-up for d9sports.com
2006 defensive player of the year, was named an AML North all-star
for 2005 and 2006, won the 2005 Coudersport best defensive back
award and holds a school record for the javelin.
Levavasseur plans to major in pharmacy in college.
His reason for playing in the Charities Classic is “the long
lasting tradition and honor of the Big 30 Game, plus getting one
last chance to play high school football.”
Levavasseur believes his biggest thrills were “winning the AML
and District 9 championships back to back in 2005 and 2006 and
beating Curwensville three times in one year.”
He enjoys football, basketball, track and hanging out with his
friends and family.
Levavasseur says his favorite team is the Philadelphia Eagles,
and Jeremiah Trotter is his favorite player.
Dempsey is a 5’10”, 175-pound quarterback and defensive back. He
is a member of the National Honor Society, was named to the Who’s
Who among American High School Athletes and was named St. Marys
High School’s offensive MVP.
Dempsey plans to major in business at either Penn State or
Clarion.
He wants to play in the Big 30 Game “to represent my school and
because it is an honor to be chosen to play in this game.”
Dempsey believes his biggest thrill was “playing in the District
9 championship game.”
In his free time, Dempsey likes playing football, basketball,
baseball and Xbox 360.
Dempsey’s favorite team is the Pittsburgh Steelers and his
favorite player is Hines Ward.
Rounding out this week’s Pennsylvania additions is Gurdak.
Gurdak is an honor roll student, was named all-region cornerback
first team, received the best team defensive back award and was a
two-year letterman.
He plans to major in marketing and management at Penn State
Behrend.
Gurdak’s reason to play is that “I’ve been watching the Big 30
Games the past couple years. Ever since the first time I saw it
I’ve wanted to play in it. It’s definitely an honor.”
His biggest thrill was “playing with all my friends and finally
beating Eisenhower after five years.”
Gurdak’s hobbies include football, basketball, hanging out with
friends and his girlfriend Casey and collecting football cards.
Gurdak’s favorite team is the Green Bay Packers and his favorite
player is Brett Favre.
Joining the New York side is Myszka, a 5’10”, 215-pound fullback
and linebacker.
Myszka was a team captain and defensive MVP.
He plans to study welding at Alfred Tech.
Myszka wants to play in the Big 30 Game because “it is my last
opportunity to play football, which has always been my favorite
sport, before entering college level football.”
He says his biggest thrill was “taking out whoever has the ball
when playing defense and giving it my all to let my team score on
offense.”
Myszka enjoys football, baseball, hunting and fishing in his
free time.
His favorite player is Jeremiah Trotter and his favorite team is
the Philadelphia Eagles.
Also joining the New York roster is Gamble, a 6’4″, 280-pound
two-way tackle.
Gamble was named Pioneer Central outstanding male athlete and
was an all-league honorable mention.
He is still undecided on his plans after high school.
Gamble says his reason for participating in the Big 30 Game is
that “it is one more chance for me to play high school football and
I feel it is an honor and privilege to represent my school and
state in this game.”
Gamble believes his biggest thrill was “beating our crosstown
rivals on their home field.”
Gamble’s hobbies include sports and music.
Gamble’s favorite team is the San Diego Chargers, and his
favorite player is Jeff Saturday.
This week’s third addition to the Empire State roster is
Crandall, a 5’6″, 220-pound two-way tackle.
Crandall is a member of the National Vocational Technical Honor
Society, received the 21st Century Leadership award and was a
football captain for two years.
Crandall plans to major in electrical engineering at Wells
College.
He wants to play in the Don Raabe Charities Classic because “it
is a once in a lifetime chance and I will probably not play
football in college because Wells College doesn’t have a football
team. And I want a game to remember the rest of my life.”
Crandall says his biggest thrill was “the thrill of getting a
tackle or making the big block to help the team win the game.”
His hobbies include hunting, hanging out with friends,
collecting sports cards and exercising.
Crandall’s favorite team is the Buffalo Bills, and Tiki Barber
is his favorite player.
This year’s game will be played at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 4 at Bradford
High’s Parkway Field.
The game pits graduated seniors from Pennsylvania against
graduated seniors from New York.
New York holds a 17-14-2 advantage.
The first 33 games produced over $1,150,000 donated to numerous
charities and personal causes throughout the Twin Tiers.
Today’s additions bring the total to 30 players – 15 per side –
who have accepted invitations to play in the game.
