All-Star Game Has Special Meaning for Washburn Receiver Cedric Chappell

Cedric Chappell, a 6-foot-2 wide receiver from Minneapolis Washburn, will play for the South team in Saturday’s Minnesota Football High School All-Star Game at TCF Stadium. Chappell, who is hoping to conclude his high school career on a high note, is dedicating his game to former teammate Montrell Wade.

Wade, who was an All-Metro selection in 2009, was accidentally shot in the head in February of 2010 when someone was playing with a gun in a south Minneapolis home.

Chappell has been a standout two-sport athlete for Washburn.

Chappell helped lead the Millers football team to a 7-4 mark, losing in the Class AAA, Section 2 finals to LeSueur-Henderson 60-32. He played both sides of the field and had 44 catches for 817 yards and nine touchdowns and seven interceptions as a defensive back, including three against Minneapolis South. Chappell had three receiving games of more than 100 yards and three contests with two touchdowns.

Chappell was also a standout on the basketball team. He averaged 12.9 points per game this season as the Millers finished 21-6, losing to Waconia 69-66 in the Class AAA, Section 6 semifinals. Chappell scored in double figures in 18 of his 27 games with a season-high 22 points in their 85-80 upset win over defending AAA champion St. Paul Johnson in the Twin Cities championship game.
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Chappell is representing the South team in the Minnesota Football High School All-Star Game this weekend. The two teams, North and South, spent the week in St. Peter and Patch.com caught up with him at the All-Star Game media session to learn more of his high school career, Saturday’s game and college future.

Southwest Minneapolis Patch: How has the week been?

The week has been fun with different types of talents out here, especially being a city kid and playing with a lot of out-state, suburb kids. It is pretty good. We are enjoying ourselves out there in St. Peter and getting to know each other and we are just having fun.

Southwest Minneapolis Patch: Did you know many of the players beforehand?

I knew Andre Lewis (St. Paul Central and Reggie Gandy (Minneapolis DeLaSalle). I knew them two from playing against them. I knew C.J. Smith from Burnsville. I played against him, but the rest of the guys I didn’t know. It was pretty good for me, because we get to know each other and come play here together Saturday. 

Southwest Minneapolis Patch: What all have you been doing this week in St. Peter?

This whole week, we have been practicing and trying to get the plays down since it is an All-Star Game, there are a lot of plays. We are just learning the new plays.

Southwest Minneapolis Patch: Have you been doing anything fun down in St. Peter to get know your teammates and the opponents from the North team.

We went swimming and got in the hot tub. We crack jokes and play games. We watch movies and stuff. We walk to the stores and get junk food for the night. 

Southwest Minneapolis Patch: You are staying in the dorms. Is that a fun experience for you?  

Yes. It is fun, because when we get to college, we will know what we are up against, so it wouldn’t be anything new since we have seen how the dorms are.

Southwest Minneapolis Patch: Where are going to school this fall?

I am planning on going to North Dakota School of Science. It is a two-year and after that, I’ll take my options from there. 

Southwest Minneapolis Patch: What types of things have you been working on to improve yourself as a player to get ready for your freshman season?

Just getting my routes down and timing of the ball.

Southwest Minneapolis Patch: What is going to stick out as some of the highlights of your career at Washburn?

I had a very close friend, Montrell Wade and I am wearing his number today. That is why I played so hard this whole season. I play hard every season, but I really dedicated the season to him. I think that is one of my highlights, playing for somebody that loves football the way I do.

Southwest Minneapolis Patch: How is he doing?

He is doing good, actually. He is attending college in Minnesota.