Coeur d’Alene football star, Boise State commit selected for Marines’ 2015 Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl

Photo By Staff Sgt. Reece Lodder | Drew Berger (center), an inside linebacker for the Coeur d’Alene High School Vikings and 17-year-old native of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, stands alongside his family and receives his Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl jersey from Sgt. Alex Angle (left), a local Marine recruiter, and Capt. Ryan Sahlberg (right), the operations officer of Marine Corps Recruiting Station Seattle, before a game against the Lake City High School Timberwolves at Coeur d’Alene High School in Coeur d’Alene, Oct. 17, 2014. Berger is the sole Idaho player among approximately 100 student athletes from across the nation selected to participate in the game at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., Jan. 4, 2015. He follows in the footsteps of his brother Chase Blakley, a fellow Vikings football alum and Boise State University football player who played in last year’s Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Reece Lodder)  

COEUR D'ALENE, ID, UNITED STATES

10.21.2014

Story by Sgt. Reece Lodder  

Marine Corps Recruiting Station Seattle

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho - Marine Corps Recruiting Station Seattle is excited to announce the selection of Semper Fidelis All-American Drew Berger, an inside linebacker for Coeur d’Alene High School’s football team, the Vikings.

Surrounded by his family and teammates before a game against the Lake City High School Timberwolves at Coeur d’Alene High School Oct. 17, 2014, the 17-year-old Coeur d’Alene native was presented his 2015 Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl jersey by Capt. Ryan Sahlberg, the operations officer of Marine Corps Recruiting Station Seattle, and Sgt. Alex Angle, a Marine recruiter in Hayden.

The Semper Fidelis Football Program demonstrates the Marine Corps’ commitment to developing quality citizens and reinforces its core values of honor, courage and commitment. To be named Semper Fidelis All-Americans, top-rated high school football players from across the nation are evaluated on their success both on and off the gridiron. In addition to their stats, players are chosen based on their character, academic performance and leadership.

The sturdy 6’1”, 225-lb. Berger is the sole Idaho player among approximately 100 student athletes from across the nation selected to participate in the game at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., Jan. 4, 2015. He follows in the footsteps of his brother Chase Blakley, a fellow Vikings football alum and Boise State University football player who played in last year’s Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl.

“Drew’s selection for the Semper Fi Bowl is the culmination of a tremendous amount of hard work on his part,” said his father, Jon Berger. “It’s pretty special for us as parents, serendipitous almost, to have two sons become Semper Fidelis All-Americans.”

In eight games this season, Berger racked up 50 tackles on defense and 466 yards on offense. Off the field, he maintains a 3.2 cumulative GPA and stays active in the community by assisting with youth athletic programs. He also helps raise money for cancer research to honor his late grandfather Roger Hewson, an Army veteran of World War II who later died from cancer. Following his high school graduation, Berger will join his brother Chase at Boise State University.

“The Marines show great leadership talent and protect our country, so it’s an honor to participate in the Semper Fi Bowl,” Berger said. “It means a lot to carry on the tradition of Chase, my brother, playing in last year’s game. It was a great experience for him to be a part of, so I’m excited for it.”

The fourth annual Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl will be nationally televised on Fox Sports 1. For more information about the program, visit www.SemperFidelisFootball.com or www.facebook.com/SemperFidelisFootball.

• Date Taken: 10.21.2014
• Date Posted: 10.21.2014 16:51
• Story ID: 145706
• Location: COEUR D'ALENE, ID, US
• Hometown: COEUR D'ALENE, ID, US