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MAY 2007
STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
This month’s featured Student-Athlete of the Month is Tyler Puckett, a Senior from Litchfield High School,
Litchfield, MN. He began playing varsity baseball in his Sophomore Year. When not playing first base
or in the outfield, he is the team’s starting left-handed pitcher. At 6” 4,” as a lefty,
his fastball has been measured in the mid 80’s mph. As a batter, he bats right handed and is currently experiencing
a great year with a batting average near .550, while possessing excellent power to all fields. Last year
as a Junior, he received a “Gold Glove Award” for his overall fielding abilities. (For
more specifics regarding his Baseball career at Litchfield HS, checkout his Individual Player’s Profile found on the
CPOA’s Home Office web-site www.cpoa.com under “Baseball, Male Athletes.”
In speaking to Tyler recently, he conveyed to me his love for the game of baseball. He vividly
remembers his early years as a kid, beginning with his experiences in T-ball, through Babe Ruth and with Cal Ripken American
Legion Baseball prior to his joining the Varsity squad at Litchfield HS. Although his team is struggling a-bit
early, he expects the team will rally to be in a competitive position within his conference. At 6”
4” weighing a trim 230, he possesses all of the physical attributes and overall talent that college coaches are looking
for. Tyler said, “CPOA has given me the opportunity to be recruited from all over the U.S., having
received over 20 letters of interest from collegiate coaches.” He said, “I want to find the
right opportunity to play baseball in college.” He is hopeful that he will get a chance to play right-away,
wanting to be seen as an immediate attribute to the eventual college baseball program he will commit to. Tyler said,
“there has been allot of interest in me from colleges here in Minnesota and throughout the upper Mid-West, so it
is very probable I will not be going too far away for college.” Right now, he feels that he has a 95%
chance to stay close to home as he is strongly considering attending a college in the neighboring State of Wisconsin.
He is very pleased to be on the Honor Roll this year, which shows that he not only is a great student-athlete, that he too,
is an accomplished academic all-star as well. All of us at CPOA wish Tyler the “Best of Luck” in making
the right college choice and for obtaining the best athletic and academic experiences made available to him.
The featured Student-Athlete for the Month of April 2007 is Keilon Riddley, a Senior from St. Agnes
High School in Minneapolis, MN. He is a two year varsity basketball player beginning his play at Partick
Henry HS his Junior Year followed by his transfer for his Senior Year at St. Agnes HS. At 6” 1,”
he is very versatile in playing both the 3 and 4 position for the Aggies. He averages 19.3 points per game while acquiring
10.4 rebounds per game as well. Keilon, according to his coaches, ‘has a great work ethic, he
is very quick and powerful possessing body control both in his movement with and without the ball.” (For
more specifics regarding his Basketball career at St. Agnes HS, checkout his Individual Player’s Profile found
on the CPOA’s Home Office web-site www.cpoa.com under “Basketball, Male Athletes.”
In a recent interview with Keilon, he said he signed a contract with Tony Udean, College Prospects
of America, “because he wasn’t receiving any serious interest from college coaches entering his Senior Year.”
He talked to his coaches both at school and with his off season team, the AAU Northsiders, who recommended that he contact
College Prospects of America to enroll in the Marketing Program for HS student-athletes. After joining with
CPOA, he said "I began receiving interest from college coaches right away, and college coaches began attending our games."
He said, “I received at least 15 – 20 inquires from college coaches from all over the U.S. According
to Keilon, his family has told him that being enrolled with CPOA was a good experience for him, it helped with maintaining
a positive attitude throughout this year. He said, “I had the confidence knowing CPOA would give
me the exposure to colleges and universities, and that it would ultimately result in having the opportunity to play basketball
after HS for a college somewhere.” Recently, he has made the commitment to attend Concordia College this
Fall. His decision to stay close to home was based on his family first, and an opportunity to make the basketball team
with the hope to be able to play right-away. He plans to seek a degree in teaching, with the pursuit in special education
training and assistance. All of us at CPOA wish Keilon great success at Concordia College for the pursuit
of his educational dreams and his ability to an extended basketball career in college.
The featured Student-Athlete for the Month of March 2007 is Blake Sczepanski, a Senior from Stephen-Argyle
Central High School in Stephen, MN. He is a very talented athlete who plays varsity football, basketball
and track. He has great strength, agility and stamina, playing both ways as a running back and line backer for
the 9 Man Stephen-Argyle Central Football Team. He is 6’1,” 190 pound player who has been instrumental
in helping the football team to be a “three time” State Champion. He has received numerous
awards during his football career, among them being named an “AP All State Running Back.“
(For more specifics regarding his football career at Stephen-Argyle Central HS, checkout his Individual Player’s
Profile found on the CPOA’s Home Office web-site www.cpoa.com under “Football, Male Athletes.”
In a recent conversation with Blake, he said, “when I was a Sophomore, I had no idea where I wanted
to go to college.” That same year in December 2004, he signed a contract with College Prospects
of America. His reason for signing up, “I knew it would produce for me a greater number of college programs
to choose from,” he said. Tony Udean, CPOA State Director, first contacted him by letter, then he met
with him and his family in a follow-up home visit. Blake said, “both he and his father wanted to sign
up right away, his mother wasn’t sure at first.” He began receiving interest from college coaches
about two months after signing (03/05), and had several area colleges scouting him and attending many of his games during
his Junior Year. “I received at least 50 inquires from college coaches from all over the U.S., but, when
it came right down to making the decision, two programs stood out above the rest. College Prospects of America produced
for him great marketing tools,” he said. He was especially pleased with the great exposure the videotape provided.
(The Videotapes can be sent to coaches and viewed on the home office website www.cpoa.com). “I highly recommend the CPOA Marketing Service for anyone who wants to know if there is more opportunities
out there for them.” Blake is currently enjoying the basketball season in preparation to begin the State
Playoffs where he believes, his school has a real good chance to make it all the way. He feels he has been able to relax
and enjoy his last few months as a Senior, knowing that his decision to attend North Dakota State University is now behind
him. Once there, he will pursue a Degree in Criminal Justice, and perhaps, follow-up with a Law Degree some day.
We wish you great success in pursuit of your education at NDSU and we look to watch your Football career “kick off”
when the Football Season rolls around this Fall, Good Luck!
The featured Student-Athlete for the Month of February 2007 is Chris
Hamers, a Senior who attends the Onamia High School in Onamia, MN. He is a very gifted athlete who competes
in three different sports, football, golf and is currently a valued member and Captain of his basketball team. He is
a 4 year player, a 6’ 2,” 1-2 Guard, who has reached a high school milestone in scoring over 1,000 points
in his career. (For more specifics regarding his basketball career at Onamia HS, checkout his Individual
Player’s Profile found on the CPOA’s Home Office web-site www.cpoa.com look under “Male Athletes, Basketball.”
In a recent conversation with Chris, he said “College Prospects of America has been a real asset to
him, giving him the much needed exposure to college coaches he did not have before the first of the year.”
He reported that prior to signing up with CPOA in January, he had only received 4 or 5 inquiries from college basketball coaches.
Now he says, “I have received around 35 letters of inquires, they have been coming in 4 to 5 every week
since signed by CPOA.” He said, “when I met with Tony Udean, CPOA MN Director, an
individual marketing profile was determined for me to send my personal information to 1,226 U.S. Colleges and Universities."
The most surprising thing he said, “I have received numerous compliments on my abilities in the coaches letters,
so I know they have seen my Players Profile and my personalized videotapes provided through CPOA Marketing Services.”
(The Profiles and Videotpes can be sent to coaches and viewed on the home office web-site www.cpoa.com). His biggest regret “that I did not sign up earlier, I wish I had now that
I see the results I am getting. I would highly recommend this program to anyone who wants the exposure to more colleges
and universities.” Other than continuing his playing of basketball in college, he currently plans to
seek a degree in Business Management. Congratulations Chris, we know you have what it takes to achieve
your college dreams! We look forward to hearing from you as you go through the process in selecting where it is you
plan to go to college.
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