YOUR AD HERE »

Tinlin, Nelson to play in Sertoma Classic

Steve Yingling, Tribune sports editor

Cody Nelson of Whittell High and Garrett Tinlin of South Tahoe High have been selected to play in the 2010 Sertoma Classic all-star football game for seniors on Friday night in Reno.

Nelson, a linebacker and running back, helped Whittell qualify for the postseason the past two years and will go on to play for Santa Rosa Junior College.

Ironically, Nelson will be coached on the Silver team by Truckee’ Bob Shaffer, the same coach who headed the team when Atherton played in the Sertoma Game in the 1990s. Carson High’s Blair Roman will oversee the Blue team.



Tinlin, a first-team All-Sierra League tight end, has signed a partial academic/athletic scholarship to play for Malone, a Christian University in Canton, Ohio. One of the state’s quarterback sack leaders as a junior, Tinlin thrived on offense his senior year under first-year coach Kevin Hennessee. He made 60 receptions for 700 yards and nine touchdowns for the Vikings.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at the University of Nevada’s Mackay Stadium.



Schools that will be represented on the Silver team include Whittell, South Tahoe, Spanish Springs, Lovelock, Truckee, Douglas, Reed, Hug, North Valleys, Elko, North Tahoe, Wooster and Damonte Ranch.

The Blue team will include players from Carson, Galena, Bishop Manogue, Fernley, Yerington, McQueen, Fallon, Reno, Dayton, Silver Stage, Spring Creek, Sparks and Battle Mountain.

After an orientation meeting on Sunday, the teams were scheduled to practice twice a day on Monday through Wednesday.

The Sertoma Classic started in 1981 by the Sparks Sertoma Club, which forms a committee annually to select the two head coaches. Schools then nominate qualified players who have graduated by game night for the coaches to consider.

Tinlin is the only all-star graduating on Friday. His South Tahoe graduation starts at 4 p.m., giving him little time to commute to Reno for the all-star game.

“I’ll have to head off early and not take any pictures with my family,” he said. “I definitely want to play in this game. Ever since my (older) brother (Brandon) played in the San Diego all-star game I wanted to do that for this league.”

General admission tickets are $10.


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

Readers around the Lake Tahoe Basin and beyond make the Tahoe Tribune's work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Your donation will help us continue to cover COVID-19 and our other vital local news.