On February 4th, 2015 twenty-seven State High seniors signed off to play sports at the collegiate level. Among them were a whopping seven football players, four of which will be traveling to college as a package to play alongside one another.

State High football players John Weakland, wide receiver, and Barrett McMurtry, offensive line, plan to stick together for another four years and are taking their talents to Shippensburg University. Weakland is excited to play football at the collegiate level but looks forward to the education he’ll receive. McMurtry is also looking forward to spending time in the classroom. Both Ship commits are excited to make new friends but plan on staying in touch with each other. “It will be great to play alongside Barrett,” Weakland said, “I’ve known him for a long time and look forward to playing a couple more years of football with him.”  McMurtry reflected what his teammate had to say. “For sure,” he said, when asked if he and Weakland would stay in touch. “John and I are really good friends so I can’t wait to keep playing football with him in college.” The duo will take the field in Shippensburg, PA this fall along with 2014 State High graduate, Jordan Good.

Barrett and John aren’t the only State High football players embarking on a journey to play college football together. Connor Pighetti and Matt Harpster are headed to Thiel College to spend the next four years on the field in Greenville, PA. Pighetti, a long snapper, is “really looking forward to being a part of a college football team.” He said that “it’s an amazing feeling knowing that what you’ve worked so hard for has finally paid off.” Harpster, a center, agreed when asked what he was most looking forward to. “I’m looking forward to making new friends and playing college football,” he said. The duo plan on rooming together and are happy that they’ll be seeing a familiar face on and off the field.

Pighetti leaves us with something great to keep in mind, whether you’re playing a sport at the collegiate level or not. “Going to college is going to change a lot of things,” said Pighetti, “but I think it’s important to remember where you came from and never forget the guys you spent countless hours with on the football field.”