Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, May 26, 2011

The IFCA created this award to honor the legacy and memory of former Aplington-Parkersburg Coach Ed THOMAS, who was tragically murdered in 2009 while supervising the schools weight room. Coach THOMAS centered his football program around the ideals of faith, family, and of course, football. The Ed THOMAS Award honors young men whose activities on and off the field best reflect those values which were so much a part of the life of Coach Ed THOMAS.

Football coaches from across the state were invited to nominate players for this award, and the nominees submitted a resume and information about their faith, family and football. A committee of IFCA members reviewed the nominations and selected one winner from each football classification in the state of Iowa. IFCA Executive Secretary Ken WINKLER was in Mount Ayr on Tuesday, May 17, to present a certificate to SOBOTKA and as well as one to the school. SOBOTKA will also receive a plaque from the THOMAS family at half time of the Iowa Shrine Game on July 23 at Jack TRICE Stadium in Ames. SOBOTKA is the son of Gary and Darla SOBOTKA of Mount Ayr.

"It is a tremendous honor for the entire Raider team to have Matt selected as the very first Class 1-Awinner of the Ed THOMAS award," said coach Delwyn SHOWALTER. "Matt is a outstanding young man who really represents the values of faith, family and football that were important to Coach THOMAS."

"We have tried to stress those same values in our program, so all of us associated with Raider football take a lot of pride in this honor," he said. "Faith is a very important part of Matt's daily life, and his faith is evident in both his words and hisdeeds," SHOWALTER said. "He was always willing to stand up for his beliefs and do the right thing. It was a big part of who he is and how he was raised. Faith is not something that Matt thinks about on Sunday mornings, it is the way he lives his life every day."

"Matt comes from a tremendous family and they provided the love, guidance and support that sent Matt down the right path of life," SHOWALTER continued. "You could tell how important family was to Matt by watching him after each ballgame. He would always walkover to the fence and get hugs and handshakes from grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters, and of course his mom and dad."

"I am extremely proud of our entire 2011 football team, and especially the senior class," SHOWALTER said. "Many of our players won major awards and were recognized for their accomplishments and character both on and off the field. Matt's selection as the Ed THOMAS winner is the icing on the cake. In my mind, it is the most prestigious award in Iowa high school football."

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2011