Four Patriots Named to Valor Bowl Squad

Four Great Valley football players have been selected for the annual Valor Bowl, which showcases the talents of Chester County senior players while raising money for a great cause.

Selected to the East All-Stars are Patriots running back Charles Showers, quarterback David Hausladen, punter and placekicker Richie Eppleman and offensive/defensive lineman Dan Buchholz.

The game been the East and West teams will take place Thursday, June 2, at 7:15 p.m. at West Chester Henderson High School.

In 1999, West Chester East head football coach Joe Carroll and assistant coach Scott Allison organized the Valor Bowl, noting that other counties such as Delaware and Montgomery held all-star contests in the spring.

The two also decided that, while fans would enjoy seeing players from 16 county schools compete, the game should be for a cause. Carroll and Allison selected the Special Olympics of Chester County.  The Valor Bowl has since raised over $300,000 for the Special Olympics.

The East team, coached by West Chester Henderson's Joe Walsh, is comprised of players from Great Valley, Spring-Ford, Conestoga, West Chester Henderson, O.J. Roberts, Malvern Prep, West Chester Rustin and Phoenixville. The West team consists of Unionville, Downingtown East, Downingtown West, Coatesville, Octorara, Bishop Shanahan, Avon Grove, Oxford and Kennett players and is coached by Downingtown East's Mike Matta.

The Great Valley players who will see action include:

• Buchholz, a two-way starter for Mike Choi's Patriots who recently signed to play college ball at Duquense. Buchholz is 6'5", 240 pounds. He was first team all-Ches-Mont League American Division offensive lineman and made 40 tackles and four sacks on defense in 2010.

• Showers, who ran the ball for the Pats, is 5'11", 200 pounds, running the ball 54 times for 395 yards and two touchdowns as a senior.

• Hausladen, the Great Valley quarterback, is 6'2", 200 pounds and was an honorable mention on the all-Ches-Mont American Division team. He was 87-for-162 for 1,102 yards and eight touchdowns last season and has committed to play for Muhlenberg College.

• Eppleman, a kicking specialist, stands 6'0", 150 pounds and was first team all- Ches-Mont League Amercan Division placekicker and honorable mention punter. He punted 43 times in 2010 for a total of 1,537 yards or 35.74 yards per punt and connected on two field goals and 17 points after touchdowns.

Another special part of the Valor Bowl is the awarding of the Ben Crisi Trophy to the player who most epitomizes the word 'valor' in honor of the late Great Valley coach and teacher who taught at GVHS for over 30 years.