The 2013 Lindbergh High School football Flyers will be awarded the National Football Foundation’s 2014 Top Program Award during a ceremony Sunday, May 4.
The honor will be presented by the St. Louis-Tom Lombardo Chapter of the National Football Foundation during the organization’s 22nd annual awards banquet, which will start at 4:45 p.m. at Orlando Gardens, 4300 Hoffmeister Ave.
The Top Program Program Award is presented to the football team with the best team grade-point average and outstanding community involvement. The honor is presented to one team in Missouri and one in Illinois. The Edwardsville High School football squad will receive the Illinois award.
The St. Louis-Tom Lombardo of the National Football Foundation is “dedicated to preserving the spirit of football, its character building attributes and its vital role in the education process,” according to the organization’s website.
The last time the Flyers won the team award was in 2002.
Lindbergh Head Football Coach Tom Beauchamp told the Call it is a significant achievement for his 2013 squad.
“It’s a tremendous honor for our kids to get an award like this because it’s a true team award,” he said. “It takes everybody involved in the program to be part of it, and I think its one of the biggest honors a team can get in St. Louis.
“I’ve felt that way for years and years, and it’s a tremendous accolade, not only for the team, but the school and the community.”
Of all the things Lindbergh does for the community, Beauchamp said is most proud of Sunday Night Lights, an event that the school hosts in the fall. The annual event provides a fun and exciting high school football game experience to young children with cancer, and each child is sponsored by a football player on the team.
Besides the team award the Flyers will receive, Lindbergh’s Garrett Krueger will receive two awards Sunday night — the Scholar-Athlete Award, which is given to players who excel in academics, athleticism and community involvement, and the Rams’ Top-25 Players Award.
The Suburban West Conference defensive MVP, Krueger was a two-way standout at defensive back and wide receiver, and was named All-State Wide Receiver.
He will receive a scholarship with the Scholar-Athlete Award and has already committed to playing at the University of Arkansas in 2014.
Beauchamp said Krueger was one of the most dynamic players he has ever coached.
“Garrett is the kind of player who does everything right, even when no one is watching,” he said. “He holds himself to the highest standard. He’s what coaches dream about coaching, and opponents dread competing against.”
