Sound the alarm

By Fred Jeter

Published: November 20, 2008

As a volunteer fireman for Manakin Company No. 1, Michael van Reekum appreciates the value of getting somewhere fast.

He has flashed that same four-alarm speed, chasing down quarterbacks for Collegiate's Virginia Independent Schools (VIS) champion Cougars.

"I don't know what it is, but I seem to kick it into a higher gear when I see the quarterback rolling out," said the 5-11, 205-pound defensive end.

Wreaking havoc was van Reekum's calling card for a Cougars squad that punctuated a 9-1 season by edging visiting Flint Hill 14-7 in Saturday's state final.

Saving one of his 11 sacks for the final, van Reekum totaled 25 QB takedowns as a junior/senior.

Overall, van Reekum combined foot speed, a nose for the ball and well-crafted spin and power moves for 51 tackles this season, many coming for minus yardage.

"Michael is so explosive that other teams had to game plan for him," Collegiate coach Mark Palyo said. "That's a huge statement to make about a defensive end."

Palyo goes so far as to compare van Reekum to former University of Richmond standout Mark Megna, an undersized lineman drafted by the New York Jets.

"I'm not saying Michael is there -- yet," Palyo said in reference to Megna. "But he's that style player."

DEE-fense: van Reekum was all-Prep/all-VIS as a junior and is in line to bag similar honors this season.

He credits his aggressive, ears-pinned-back pursuit with the assuredness he had an army of backup.

"When I made a mistake, our linebackers -- Hunter Broome, David Corrigan and Clayton Wickham -- were right there for me," van Reekum said. "I think we proved that Collegiate is not all about offense."

Broome was the overall team leader in first-hit tackles (98), followed by Corrigan (66) and Wickham (64).

Collegiate posted three shutouts to borrow some of the flood lights from QB Jake McGee, the area passing leader and also a rangy free safety on defense.

"We're known for our offense," Palyo said, "but our defense had as much impact on our success."

Track, too: van Reekum is a unique defensive lineman in that he runs the 100-meter dash on the track squad. He's also anchored the 400 relay. During 40-yard trials in August, he was clocked in 4.53 seconds.

He's a rare combination -- swift enough to race sprints but also strong enough to excel in tossing the shot put and discus.

van Reekum joined the Goochland Fire Department about a year ago and spends a night a week, and many weekends, tending to duties in the Manakin fire house.

"It's something I really want to pursue; something I definitely want to continue in college," he said.