Three Royal players chosen to play for East All-star football team
Joe Lang, Sam Christensen and Valente Cortez
ROYAL CITY — Three members of last fall’s 1A state championship football team – Royal High School – will play for the East in the state senior all-star game.
The 2016 Earl Barden All-Star Classic for 2A,1A and 2B high schools will be played on Saturday, June 25, at 1 p.m. at Earl Barden Stadium at East Valley High School in Moxee.
Representing the state champion Knights will be running back-defensive back Joe Lang, wide receiver-defensive back Sam Christensen and offensive tackle-linebacker Valente Cortez.
The teams were selected from the nominations of the coaches from each league in the state. The selection process took place in early January.
The game was started in 1995 with the financial and organizational leadership of the late Earl Barden. He was a successful businessman in the Yakima area and was highly influential in the support given by the Yakima community to start this game.
Head coaches for the 22nd Annual Earl Barden Classic are: West – Nick Lucey, Squalicum and the East – Mark Mochel, EV-Yakima.