John Wallace, a senior at Somerville High School, has accepted a position on the Umass Amherst Football Roster beginning in Fall 2011.

John Wallace to play Division 1 Football for UMass Amherst in Fall 2011
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Somerville, MA. John Wallace, a senior at Somerville High School, has accepted a position on the UMass Amherst Football Roster beginning in Fall 2011. Wallace, who is 6’ 4” and weights 265 pounds, has played on both the Defensive and Offensive lines on the Somerville High School Football team for all four years of his high school career. During the 2010 season he made 5 sacks, and 66 tackles, 47 of which were unassisted. He was a Greater Boston League All-Star in both 2009 and 2010 and was named to the ESPN.com 1st Team All-State in 2010.

Harry Marchetti, Head Coach of Somerville High School Football, responding to the news of Wallace’s scholarship, says “In my thirty plus years of coaching I believe John is as determined a student-athlete as I have been. His desire to succeed on the field is incomparable. His single-mindedness to be the best will lead John to achieve tremendous things both on the field at UMass and in any future endeavors John wishes to pursue.”
Of John’s skill on the field Coach Joseph A. Curtatone says, “John has the build and skills to make an impact at that level, but more than that he has an outstanding work ethic. When you get to Division 1 in college, everyone on the team is a former high school all-star. They’re all big and fast too. Yet John has the commitment and character to make himself into a special player in the college game. He’s a natural leader both on and off the field.”
The process of recruiting Wallace to play college football was initiated by Coach Curtatone in late Spring of John’s junior year when Curtatone introduced UMass Amherst Coach Butterworth to John’s performance on the field and in school. In addition to watching Wallace’s junior year football tapes, Coach Butterworth and his colleagues in Amherst observed John’s performance at a week-long Boston College Football Camp in June 2010 and again at a one-day UMass Amherst Camp in July. Butterworth kept in touch with Wallace and Coach Curtatone through the Fall 2010 season, and made the initial offer to Wallace by telephone on November 18th.
“The recruitment process was grueling,” says Wallace. “I saw other friends getting athletic scholarship offers from other schools and, in spite of being actively scouted by UMass Amherst, Boston College and the University of New Hampshire, I had heard nothing. When I finally received the offer I was excited and relieved.”
John Wallace’s offer to play football at UMass Amherst is not simply because of his athletic competencies. In addition to starting for the Somerville Highlanders, John also plays Ice Hockey for Somerville High School, is a member of the Best Buddies Club, and carries a course load that has included at least three honors courses each year. He is currently taking Honors Pre-Calculus and Honors English. John completed his elementary education at Somerville’s Lincoln Park Community School, now known as the Dr. Albert F. Argenziano School at
Lincoln Park. Somerville High School Athletic Director Nicole Viele says, “John is a model student-athlete. He maintains a quality grade point average while balancing his athletic responsibilities. Receiving a full athletic scholarship to a Division 1 school like UMass Amherst is a once in a lifetime experience. I am certain John will do well.”
When asked about his college aspirations John reflects on words of advice from Somerville High School Freshman Football Coach Makonnen Fenton, “Coach told me the main goal (of this scholarship) is to get a free education. I take that seriously. While I am undecided on my major heading into college I know I want to finish in four years with a quality education and meaningful learning experiences.” He is also enthusiastic about being an offensive lineman for the UMass Minutemen. “I want to go (to UMass) there and be a four year starter. I would love to compete for a top notch bowl game and a title for UMass. “

(from Somerville Public Libary)