Rookie Grey Zabel heads for NFL title game with Seahawks

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The Seattle Seahawks will be making their fourth trip to the big game. The team’s trip to the N-F-L’s biggest game means a lot to the Pierre native and his community.

Rookie guard Grey Zabel is headed for a big game battle against the New England Patriots after helping the Seahawks claim the 31-27 win over the Los Angeles Rams in the N-F-C championship.

“The stadium was just electric the entire night. And loud. Yes. Loud. The crowd was amazing, the excitement, and the energy in that stadium, it’s hard to explain how much fun it was,” Grey Zabel’s parents, Mark and Tanna Zabel, said.

Head coach Steve Steele, of Pierre T.F. Riggs High School, says it is a surreal feeling.

“To see Grey at that stage and not even just being a part of the team, but having the success that he’s had, starting every game is a huge accomplishment. And obviously, them having the team success is, even more incredible,” Pierre head coach Steve Steele said.

The Pierre native makes the short list of South Dakota players in the league to make it to the event, falling in line with Adam Vinatieri Jr, Dallas Goedert, Cooper DeJean, and Nate Gerry.

“Having the amount of players that we’ve had from the state get into the league and have some success at the league, really kind of shows all the young kids around the state here that, ‘hey, keep working hard, do your part, and now there’s eyes on us here all the way up and South Dakota just as much as there are everywhere else,” coach Steele said.

And as far as Grey’s parents buying their tickets to the destination in Santa Clara, California…

“Not yet, we didn’t want to jinx ourselves by booking ahead of time, but we are going to get something booked today. And we can’t wait to experience everything that’s going to be part of the Super Bowl,” Mark and Tanna Zabel said. “We love following all three of our boys’ life journeys through sports and life. We just feel very blessed to be a part of it.

Grey’s mom says there will be a party at Larkspur Landing, where Grey’s draft party was hosted. The big game kicks off Sunday, February 8th at 5:30 p.m. The Seahawks will be seeking their second league title.

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