When Zach Vraa was a freshman at Rosemount High School, there was talk that Vraa was going to specialize in one sport. That sport was basketball.
Now a senior, you can understand why. At 6-foot-3, Vraa has developed into one of the most athletic and talented players in the mighty Lake Conference. He leads the Irish in scoring at 14.6 points per game, is pulling down seven rebounds and averaging almost three assists per game. To make it even better, Rosemount is 6-1 heading into a Jan. 8 game against Chaska.
So many of today's top athletes decide to specialize in one sport with hopes of developing into the best they can be in that sport by dedicating more practice time and training to that sport. Fortunately for those at Rosemount, Minnesota high school sports fans, and most of all, Vraa, it was a decision that was never made. Instead of being a one-sport standout, Vraa has developed into a three-sport star and one of the top athletes of the Minnesota high school Class of 2010.
In fact, and this is in no way taking anything away from Vraa, but basketball might not even be his top sport. Here is why:
* In early December, Vraa was named Mr. Football in Minnesota. That's right: He was named the top high school football player in the state of Minnesota. This season Vraa caught 39 passes for 783 yards and 12 touchdowns, leading the Irish to a 7-4 record. In his high school football career, Vraa hauled in 113 passes for 1,985 yards and 25 touchdowns.
* He also competes on the Rosemount High track team, and through his junior season, Vraa has been instrumental in helping Rosemount to three Section titles, three Lake Conference titles, two true team section championships, one MSHSL team title and one state true team championship. Individually, Vraa was an all-state competitor as a member of the state runner-up 4-by-200 relay as a sophomore, and also was on the Irish's third-place 4-by-400 relay team. As a junior, Vraa was the state runner-up in the 110M high hurdles (14.76). He was also a member of 4-by-200 and 4-by-400 relay teams that finished second in the state and has been all-state five times as an individual during his track career.
Can you imagine if Vraa had decided to play basketball only? Rosemount football coach Jeff Erdmann certainly can't.
"He is the poster boy for great athletes who should be involved in more than one sport," says Erdmann. "He went from considering playing basketball only, to juggling scholarship options to play football and still succeeding in every other sport that he competes in."
Not to mention, Vraa has a 3.76 grade-point average and is in the school choir.
"What's most impressive to me is how Zach has been a willing and dependable teammate and team contributor despite having the talent to excel in his individual events," says Rosemount head boys track coach Jay Hatleli. "Zach has run various relays and off events for team goals over his career and has done so without complaint."
"Zach is an outstanding athlete," Rosemount boys basketball coach Bryan Schnettler says. "He is very explosive, and his ability to instantly take over games is what is so impressive about him. He’s able to succeed at a high level in three sports because he is naturally very gifted as an athlete, he works hard, and he is very confident in his abilities. Zach is often talked about as being such a great natural athlete, but I would say that his confidence in himself is what makes him so good."
Just how good is Vraa? On the football field, Erdmann says he's the best receiver in the state since former Cretin-Derham Hall star Michael Floyd, who is now playing at Notre Dame. Even though Vraa didn't get the hype of other Mr. Football finalists such as Seantrel Henderson of Cretin or Beau Allen of Minnetonka, for example, Erdmann says those who watch Vraa know how talented he is.
The Mr. Football selection committee consists of 10 coaches from various conferences from across the state. They all sit down and evaluate tape of the Mr. Football finalists, and then make their decision based on those evaluations.
"When you break it down and analyze the things Zach did on the football field, it goes way beyond statistics," says Erdmann. "You just don't see guys do the things Zach does. He does the difficult things on a routine basis. Our offense wasn't focused around Zach; we are actually a team that runs first. But opposing teams always developed their game plan around Zach. That's how good he is."
Vraa can squat over 300 pounds, power clean over 225 pounds and bench over 200 pounds.
"He's a tough blocker, a complete player; he's not some pretty-boy wide receiver who just catches passes," Erdmann says.
Vraa is considering options to play football at North Dakota State, North Dakota, Air Force and South Dakota. He is considering Minnesota, but has not been offered a scholarship, to the dismay of Erdmann.
"He's a Big Ten-caliber receiver, and I am not the only one that thinks that," Erdmann says. "Opposing coaches told us that all the time. He reminds everyone of Eric Decker (of the Minnesota Gophers)."
Schnettler said Vraa was getting looked at by many Division II teams and some smaller Division I programs for basketball before he decided he wanted to play football in college. No matter what decision he makes, or where he goes, Vraa has already made the right choice once, when he decided to play three sports and not concentrate on one.
"He has been a perfect example of how participation in multiple sports is beneficial," Hatleli says. "He has learned to compete in many arenas, and this has transferred from sport to sport. Despite talent, he has become known as a competitor. He will do well in college because of this. Everybody has talent, but not all collegiate athletes enter with the sort of competitive nature that Zach possesses."
Do you have a story idea about a Minnesota prep athlete or team? Do you have a comment or suggestion? E-mail Matt Krumrie at mattkrum@yahoo.com.
