CAMAS — In its 32nd year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, announced this week Jack Colletto of Camas High School as its 2016-17 Gatorade Washington Football Player of the Year. Colletto is the second Gatorade Washington Football Player of the Year to be chosen from Camas High School.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Colletto as Washington’s best high school football player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Football Player of the Year award to be announced in December, Colletto joins an elite alumni association of state award-winners in 12 sports, including Anquan Boldin (1998-99, Pahokee HS, Fla.), Greg Olsen (2002-03, Wayne Hills HS, N.J.), Matthew Stafford (2005-06 Highland Park HS, Texas), Harrison Smith (2006-07 Knoxville Catholic High School, Tenn.), Latavius Murray (2007-08, Onondaga HS, N.Y.), Brock Osweiler (2008-09, Flathead High School, Mont.) and Leonard Fournette (2012-13, 2014-15, St. Augustine HS, La.)
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound senior quarterback and defensive back led the Papermakers to a 14-0 record and the Class 4A state championship this past season. Colletto completed 191-of-304 passes for 2,846 yards and 27 touchdowns against just four interceptions. He also rushed for 1,253 yards and 21 scores on 165 carries. The 2016 Greater St. Helens League Offensive Player of the Year, he recorded 38 tackles, three interceptions and four forced fumbles on defense.
Colletto has maintained a 3.87 GPA in the classroom and represents one of the state’s top academic candidates in meeting the Gatorade award’s broad criteria. He has volunteered locally as a youth football coach.
“Jack Colletto completely destroys every opponent they face,” said Larry Peck, head coach of Battle Ground High School. “He is a true dual-threat passing and running the football and the leader of the best 4A team in the state.”
Colletto remains undecided upon a collegiate destination.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.
Colletto joins recent Gatorade Washington Football Players of the Year Jacob Eason (2015-16, Lake Stevens High School), Austin Joyner (2014-15, Marysville-Pilchuck High School), Reilly Hennessey (2013-14, Camas High School), Max Browne (2012-13 & 2011–12, Skyline High School), Kasen Williams (2010-11, Skyline High School), and Jake Heaps (2009-10, Skyline High School) among the state’s list of former award winners.
As a Gatorade Player of the Year, Colletto will be able to select a national or local youth sports organization to receive a grant as part of the Gatorade Play It Forward program. Every Gatorade Player of the Year state winner receives a $1,000 grant to donate and will have the opportunity to enter for an additional $10,000 spotlight grant by writing a brief essay explaining why their selected organization deserves additional support. 12 spotlight grants — one for each sport — will be announced throughout the year.
To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow the conversation on Twitter #GatoradePOY. For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit www.gatorade.com/poy.
