Jake Meissnest got a tune-up for his college football career at Saginaw Valley State as a member of the Michigan High School All-Star East team.
The East team lost a 30-20 contest to the West squad on July 23 in a game played at The Big House on the campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
‘Playing in the all star game was amazing. The Big House is the biggest football stadium in the world. It’s something I’ll never forget,? Meissnest said.
From July 16-23, the members of the two teams spent the week practicing at Michigan State University. The players and their families were also invited to a banquet on July 23.
?(The Michigan High School Coaches Association) did such a nice job with this. The banquet was gorgeous. This will be a good spring board for him as he is taking off for (Saginaw Valley) in about a week,? said Chris Meissnest, Jake’s father.
Meissnest said rivalries forged by battles in the OAA between players such as himself and Lake Orion wideout Ryan Allison and Rochester Adams defensive tackle Bahar Faik were ancient history and did not take away from the sense of community felt during the prep week.
‘It was really fun. Everyone was really down to earth. We were living in the dorms for eight days, everyone left their doors open,? Meissnest said.
In terms of his play on the field during the all star game, Meissnest felt he gave as good as he got and his only disappointment was losing the game.
‘Not to be braggadocio, but I held my own pretty well,? he said.
Now with the all star game behind him, the book on Meissnest’s high school football career is closed, but his college odyssey is just around the corner.
Come Aug. 1, Meissnest will make the move to Saginaw Valley State where he will live in a townhouse with other football players. Football camp begins on Aug. 4.
‘I used to feel real prepared for college, but recently I have been getting a little nervous,? Meissnest said.
Meissnest trained at a local gym to get into shape for the step up to college football competition.
Meissnest was a three-year varsity starter on the Clarkston High School football team and was selected for the all star game as an offensive tackle. He won the Wolves? Hog award, given to the best offensive lineman as a junior and senior; and on JV as a freshman. In his junior and senior years, Meissnest played both ways as an offensive and defensive tackle.
Aside from football, Meissnest played varsity basketball for two years and participated in varsity track for three years. This past year he was a member of the state final qualifying power lifting team.
He will attend Saginaw Valley State on a scholarship and plans to study finance with an eye on becoming a sports agent down the road.
Until he leaves for college, Meissnest will continue to reside with his parents, Chris and Karen. He has two sisters, Katie and Emily.