A new All-American game is hitting the world of high school sports in January.
The United States Marine Corps, in partnership with Junior Rank, a Chicago-based company that holds a number of combines around the country, will host the inaugural Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl on Jan. 3, 2012.
The game will take place at Chase Field in Phoenix, and will feature 100 of the nation's top high school seniors, divided geographically into two teams: the East and West.
The Proving Ground, an invitation-only combine for 300 of the nation's top juniors, will also take place. Both events will be held in conjunction with Fiesta Bowl activities around the Phoenix area.
Both Junior Rank and the Marines Corps value the development of characteristics that can help young men succeed in life away from sports, according to Major General Ronald Bailey, Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruiting Command.
"Leadership, attitude and teamwork are integral to both the United States Marine Corps and Junior Rank," he said in a release. "So we are proud to partner with an organization whose mission is to help young men develop character, integrity and focus on academic excellence; three keys to victory both on and off the field."
Junior Rank founder Shaon Berry echoed the sentiment.
"The United States Marine Corps is the embodiment of honor, tradition and working with your teammate to achieve an objective," Berry said in a release. "Nothing will stop a Marine from his objective. The parallels between a winner on and off the field, those same core values, will be manifest in the participants of the bowl game and combine which bears the name of the United States Marine Corps."
The game will be televised nationally, with details to be released in the future.
The Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl joins the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and Under Armour All-America Game to become a third major postseason all-star game.
