The Peyton Walker Foundation is teaming up with UPMC once again to offer FREE heartscreenings to Big 33 All Stars on the Pennsylvania Team in State College, Pa. this weekend before they hit the football field for their first official practice.
HEART SCREENING DETAILS:
WHAT: PSFCA BIG 33 HEART SCREENING BY THE PEYTON WALKER FOUNDATION AND UPMC AND FIRST OFFICIAL PA TEAM PRACTICE IN STATE COLLEGE, PA.
Pennsylvania’s 38-member Big 33 team will travel to State College April 9 & 10, 2022 for their first PA Team practice in preparation for the PSFCA Big 33 game to be played on Monday, May 30th at Bishop McDevitt High School Rocco Ortenzio Stadium in Harrisburg PA, Dauphin County. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. FREE Pre-Game Fan Experience including an all-day Military Appreciation theme complete with a Military “MURPH” Competition, CPR and AED demos courtesy of The Peyton Walker Foundation, Food Favorites, Family Games, Youth Football Clinics, and more. Veterans and active military get free admission with ID! Henry Hynoski is the 2022 Big 33 Honorary Chairman.
WHERE: FREE HEART SCREENING FOR PA BIG 33 PLAYERS to take place at Ramada State College Hotel, 1450 South Atherton Street, State College PA, 16801.
WHEN: Saturday, April 9, 2022/ 9 AM – Noon
APRIL 9th INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES AT HEART SCREENING:
Julie Walker, The Peyton Walker Foundation Founder & Peyton’s Mom
Garry Cathell, Executive Director, PSFCA Big 33
PA Big 33 Coach John Franco, Tyrone School District & Big 33 PA Team Players
***Heart Screening coverage to be arranged upon request with The Peyton Walker Foundation & Big 33.
Julie Walker, The Peyton Walker Foundation’s Executive Director and Peyton’s Mom says, “I applaud Garry, PSFCA, and the Big 33 coaches for their leadership in continuing to make the heart safety of their top student athletes, a top priority. We are so grateful to our healthcare partner UPMC and their team for dedicating their time this upcoming weekend to perform this important Team Heart Screening, providing an Electrocardiogram, a murmur check and an Echocardiogram when needed to this year’s outstanding athletes to better protect their young lives.”
Walker is a nationally-recognized heart hero, working to prevent Sudden Cardiac Arrest in students, and pointed out that conditions that can cause SCA are often detectable and treatable, yet it is the #1 killer of student athletes in the country. The Foundation provides free routine heart screenings that help to identify potential heart issues that can lead to Sudden Cardiac Arrest. More information at PeytonWalker.org.
“We are so grateful to Julie and her team along with UPMC for helping us to check hearts, protect hearts and offer these vital screenings to our top athletes. Sudden Cardiac Arrest in athletes is real and is in the news all across this country. We are doing everything in our power to help detect hidden heart issues to better prevent it,” said Garry Cathell, Executive Director, PA Scholastic Football Coaches.
Under the leadership of the statewide coaches’ organization, the Dauphin County Commissioners are partnering to support the PSFCA Big 33 Football Classic, an all-star football game, that has also been described as the “Super Bowl of high school football, ” and has been played since 1957. Every U.S. Super Bowl has included BIG 33 Alums since the high school football classic began! Some well-known alumni include: Joe Namath, Joe Montana, Dan Marino, Jim Kelly, Ricky Waters, Ben Roethlisberger, Kyle Brady and Jordan Hill.
***In addition to the PSFCA Big 33 Game, the 2022 East/West All Star Games will take place this year on Sunday, May 29th also at Bishop McDevitt High School Rocco Ortenzio Stadium with games at Noon and 6:30 PM.
For more information go to www. Big33.org or follow them on Facebook @Big33 Football Classic, Instagram @PFSCA Big 33 Football Classic or on Twitter @psfcabig33. Money raised from the game helps support the Big 33 Buddy Program, which connects kids with special needs with all-star athletes in football, cheerleading and beyond. Tickets will be available starting April 15.
SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2022
9 AM – Noon PA
Football Players ARRIVAL – Ramada State College Hotel, 1450 South Atherton Street, State College, PA 16801 – Big 33 Head Coach, John Franco, Player helmet, shoe, glove fittings, Heart Screenings and physicals with The Peyton Walker Foundation/UPMC.
***Heart Screening with The Peyton Walker Foundation and UPMC, Room location TBA. PLEASE NOTE: Heart screening coverage to be arranged upon request.***
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
PA TEAM Afternoon Practice, PRACTICE SITE: PA Players and Coaches/State College High School Stadium (131 W. Nittany Ave., State College, PA 16801)
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
PA Players and Coaches – Evening Practice
SUNDAY, April 10, 2022
PRACTICE SITE: State College High School Stadium (131 W. Nittany Ave., State College, PA 16801)
9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
PA Players and Coaches – Morning Practice
1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
PA Players and Coaches – Afternoon Practice