Former Baler and Gavilan football player to play for Virginia
Union University
Former Haybaler Ken Vaccarezza will be making a trek across the country this fall after receiving a partial scholarship to play football at Virginia Union University, a Division II school.
Vaccarezza, an offensive lineman at both San Benito High and Gavilan College, sent his applications to eight colleges but only heard from one college – Virginia Union University.
Not wanting to pass up an opportunity, Vaccarezza accepted Virginia’s offer and will be packing up and moving back east on July 31. Practice begins on Aug. 3, and he has to register for classes on the ninth.
“I’m ready to go,” Vaccarezza said.
At Virginia, Vaccarezza hopes he can do well enough to make a run at the pros — either the with NFL or with the Canadian counterpart, the CFL, where Jeff Garcia got his start.
“I’m expecting to do well at both football and academics,” Vaccarezza said. “I want them to teach me more and give me the chance to go to the next level.”
Vaccarezza said he expects to have an opportunity to try out for a position on the starting offensive line. At 6-foot-4, 325 pounds Vaccarezza can be quite a formable opponent.
His family has been supportive of him and plan to drive to Virginia to watch him play in September.
Starting in Hollister, he moved to Gavilan where he played for two years and was a team captain during the 2003 season.
Vaccarezza sports two championship rings from his tenure with the Balers and Rams.
During his junior year at San Benito, the team went undefeated and won the Central Coast Section. The following year the Balers were runners up in CCS.
“High school was fun,” Vaccarezza said. “I really like the coaches from my freshman year through varsity. It was a great program.”
Then during his tour of duty for the Gavilan Rams, the team made two attempts at the Shrine Bowl, making it there the second time.
Vaccarezza could easily continue winning with Virginia Union. The Panthers have a winning record the past eight years and have appeared in the conference championship in three of the past four years.
Rams’ coach John Lango, who has been at the helm of the Gavilan team during their success and said he will miss Vaccarezza’s leadership.
“He was the team captain, and that speaks volumes about him,” Lango said. “Actions speak louder than words. He is a great young man. When you surround yourself with good people, good things will happen, and that is exactly the case with Ken.”
After last season, Lango said his player hit the weight room and trained harder than he had before. Vaccarezza won’t have any trouble adjusting to the new team and the new classes, Lango said.
“Football and school will be the easy part,” Lango said. “Going away from home will be the hard part, but he should do fine.”
Vaccarezza is majoring in business, with a teaching emphasis. He said he would like to teach or coach should a football career not pan out.
