Hayes to play football at Division II Minnesota-Crookston

Michael Hayes, a member of Reedsburg Area High School's 2009 WIAA Division 3 state champion football team, will receive both an academic as well as a football scholarship and will attend the University of Minnesota, Crookston this fall.

Crookston head coach Chuck Moller said Monday that “As coaches we’re excited to get Michael up here. He’ll get an athletic scholarship and an academic scholarship, we enjoy him and we really like his family.”

Hayes played defensive back and was also the kicker for the Reedsburg football team, and Moller said that “I’m hoping he can kick the hell out of it, there is an opportunity for him here.”

Crookston is a D2 college and has approximately 1,300 students. The Golden Eagles compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

Hayes, a captain on the 2010

Beavers squad, earned second-team all-conference honors as a defensive back and kicker for Reedsburg coach Brian Pottinger last fall.

Minnesota-Crookston is a member of NCAA Division II.

Hayes will join a Golden Eagles team that went 1-10 overall and 0-10 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference last season. Minnesota-Crookston will have a new coach in Chuck Moller. He replaces Shannon Stassen, who had been Crookston's head coach since 2002.

Hayes had two solo tackles and an interception in Reedsburg's 34-27 victory over West De Pere in the 2009 state championship game. He also delivered six kickoffs, averaging 45.7 yards per kick.

Hayes signed his letter of intent April 13. He is the son of Gary and Tammy Hayes.