New Canaan and Greenwich freshmen play in All-American game
Two freshmen from Fairfield County participated in The Football University (FBU) Freshmen All-American Bowl in Naples, Florida on December 20.
Michael Gildea of New Canaan and Peter Vomvolakis of Greenwich were selected for the prestigious showcase after participating in the FBU camp in Florida last summer.
“I was ecstatic, it was an awesome experience,” Gildea said. “At camp, I felt like I had a good chance and it was a possibility I could play in the game. I thought it would be good for exposure because I’d love to play in college one day at a school like Michigan.”
Both players were selected captains of their respective teams after three days of practice leading up the game.
The FBU All-American Bowl is a developmental week showcasing the nation’s best freshman football players.
Around since 2009, the event has allows freshman football players of the highest level a place to compete in one location against the best in the country.
Two teams are selected, comprised of the top 60 student-athletes in their graduating class, Gildea was on one team and Vomvolakis was on the other. The two had met at the camp over the summer.
Notable alumni from the game include All-Americans Christian McCaffrey, Shea Patterson, Sony Michel, Cam Akers, Trevor Lawrence, Will Grier, Isaac Nauta, Harrison Bailey, JT Daniels and Dylan Moses.
The 6-foot-5-inch, 280 pound Gildea was a left tackle on the offensive line on New Canaan’s freshmen team this past fall.
Vomvolakis, a 6-foot-2, 295 pound freshman, started every game on the varsity for Greenwich, starting at defensive tackle for two games before shifting back to the offensive line the rest of the season.
“Nobody starts every game on varsity as a freshman. It was not easy but it was a great experience,” Vomvolakis said. “I got a lot of confidence playing varsity but even that can’t prepare you for the kids you see in the FBU game. When I found out I was picked after camp I was so happy I
was even smiling while I was sleeping.”
Both local players left Naples impressed with the other players they saw.
“The game is so fast and the players are so strong,” Vomvolakis said. “You can see first-hand what college speed is like. They guy I was going against in the game has multiple offers already.”
Gildea also matched up against a top prospect.
“One guy I blocked has five power-5 offers,” Gildea said. “I started playing in seventh grade and some of these guys have been playing longer than that. I picked up the game pretty quickly. Just block the guy in front of you and then you just keep learning the position from there.”
The camp over the summer brought together some of the nation's top football prospects from grades 6 through 12, with over 1,500 athletes competing.