Spring-Ford’s Vu receives Freed Award at PAC-10 Coaches banquet

UPPER PROVIDENCE — Spring-Ford senior linebacker Tim Vu received the prestigious David L. Freed Award during the Pioneer Athletic Conference Football Coaches Association 29th annual all-league banquet Sunday afternoon at the Rivercrest Golf Club.

Outside of being a starting linebacker and the Rams’ play-caller on defense, Vu suffers from Type 1 Diabetes and is also a fine student in the classroom, sporting a 96.6 percent grade point average.

“This is the first time in my five years here that I have had one of my players win this award,’ said Spring-Ford head coach Chad Brubaker. “Despite his stature, Tim prepared himself to becoming a varsity starter. He dedicated himself to getting stronger in the weight room, and he became one of the strongest players pound-for-pound that we have had at Spring-Ford.’

Vu received the award from Brubaker, who also detailed the criteria for receiving the Freed Award. It goes to a senior football player from the PAC-10 who epitomizes the fine character of the late David Freed, a former Spring-Ford lineman who died following a practice incident in 1975 with a blocking machine that is no longer manufactured.

Vu was ever-present even as he navigated the challenges of living with diabetes.

“We had to monitor him on the field and watch what he had for the team meal. But he only missed one day in four years,’ Brubaker said.

Vu will study electrical engineering in college.

Other special award winners were: Brandon Barone, Spring-Ford (Joseph Edwards Scholarship); Seth Jonassen, Perkiomen Valley and Zach Dorsey, Spring-Ford (Bill Rogers Lineman of the Year); Conner Derrickson, Methacton (Offensive Player of the Year); Brett Capobianco, Perkiomen Valley and Brendan Zimmie, Spring-Ford (Defensive Player of the Year); Patrick Finn, Pottsgrove (Two-Way Player of the Year); and Michael Fowler, Pottsgrove (Most Valuable Player).

The All-Academic Team featured Boyertown’s Dalton Hughes, Methacton’s Ryan Hoehl, Owen J. Roberts’ Nicolas Thomas, Perkiomen Valley’s Darrell Philpot, Phoenixville’s Tom Hammaker, Pope John Paul II’s Matt Mesaros, Pottsgrove’s Finn, Pottstown’s Gary Wise, Spring-Ford’s Vu and Upper Perkiomen’s Jason Pirri.

Perkiomen Valley head coach Scott Reed gave closing remarks after his Vikings captured the 2014 PAC-10 championship with a perfect 9-0 record. It marked Reed’s second title in 11 years of coaching the Vikes.

Notes — Dave Reidenouer, a former Ches-Mont League football star at Pottstown High School and Bloomsburg University during the 1970s, served as master of ceremonies and introduced guests. … Boyertown head coach George Parkinson delivered the invocation.