Lineman Max Tuerk Named to National Football Team

Max Tuerk of Santa Margarita Catholic High was one of seven offensive linemen named Wednesday to the 2012 U.S. Under 19 National team in football. As a member of the team, Tuerk will play in the third annual International Bowl on Feb. 1—National Signing Day—in Austin, TX.

Members of the 50-player team will be named throughout November, but Tuerk is one of two players from the Southland among the 31 named thus far. The other is wide receiver Jordan Payton from Oaks Christian in Westlake Village.

Tuerk (6-6, 290) has committed to USC.Behind a running game that features Ryan Wolpin and quarterback Johnny Stanton, Santa Margarita is 7-1 overall, and 2-1 in the Trinity League; it plays host to St. John Bosco (7-1, 2-1) on Friday before ending the season against Servite (8-0, 3-0). The Eagles are ranked No. 3 in Orange County, and Servite is ranked No. 1.

Other linemen named with Tuerk are: J.J. Denman of Fairless Hills (PA) Pennsbury;  Boone Feldt of Buda (TX) Hayes; Mark Harrell of Charlotte (NC) Catholic; Trey Keenan of Argyle (TX); Caleb Stacy of Cincinnati (OH) Oak Hills; and Spencer Stanley of Fort Worth (TX) Trinity Valley.

The International Bowl is sanctioned by International Federation of American Football. IFAF is composed of 62 nations spanning six continents that possess a national federation dedicated solely to American football.

The U.S. Under-19 National Team, comprised of high school athletes, will face an IFAF World Team of top players age 19-and-under from outside the United States. Both teams will field a roster of 50 players. Team USA’s players and coaches are selected by USA Football.

The U.S. team is coached by Steve Specht, the head coach of Cincinnati St. Xavier High School.