Historic signing for Wasiyo
First Hoosic Valley player to earn scholarship
SCHAGHTICOKE >> Anthony Wasiyo had waited for this moment for a very long time.
The Hoosic Valley senior, who transferred in this year, signed on the dotted on line to NAIA Division I school Tabor College on Monday afternoon, becoming the first Indians football player to be offered a scholarship offer on the gridiron.
“It’s a big accomplishment,” Wasiyo said. “I read a stat that only 4% of athletes end up with a scholarship and most of them don’t get a full scholarship. So it’s a big accomplishment for me and my family.
Wasiyo was a standout for the Indians this season, holding his own on both sides of the ball, but he was especially dominant on the defensive line.
By the end of the season this fall, Wasiyo finished with 144 total tackles, six sacks and three forced fumbles. He was named a first-team Class D South all- star and was part of The Record’s small-school all-star team.
In addition, he competed in the Section II Exceptional Senior Game and that game may have had the biggest impact on Wasiyo’s football future.
“It was the week after the all-star game,” Wasiyo said of when he was first contacted by Tabor coaches. “We started talking after that and they saw my footage YouTube.”
Wasiyo has yet to visit the campus in Hillsboro, Kansas but he’s spoken with coaches and future teammates over the phone and looks forward to the opportunity to join a squad that went 10-3 last season.
“My goal is to start as a freshman,” he said. “I just want to contribute to the team as much as I can, whether that be special teams, offense or defense.”
For the Hoosic Valley football program, which faced every obstacle to potential cancellation and new coaches this past season, Wasiyo’s scholarship and future football career is a testament to how much he brought to the team.
“Anthony was a leader on and off the field,” Hoosic Valley coach Pete Porcelli said. “Many of our younger players respect and look up to him, and when Anthony spoke people listened. Anthony is the epitome of a student athlete; works hard in the classroom, works hard in the weight room, and works hard on the football field. He will be sorely missed and we wish him continued success on his college football journey”
While Wasiyo isn’t quite sure what his exact role will be next season, the Valley standout standout is simply excited that he’ll even have the opportunity.
A life-long football player, Wasiyo couldn’t have imagined a college future without football and now he’s looking at a college experience that not only includes football but also a full scholarship offer.
It’s more than he could have hoped for.
“I was surprised when I got the message,” he said. “It was really shocking, I didn’t think I’d be getting a full one. It just kind of happened and we were all really excited. “
Now that Wasiyo knows what’s up next for him, he’s hoping that the success he’s had will help inspire a brandnew set of Hoosic Valley football stars.
“I couldn’t have done it without them,” he said. “I might be the first but I don’t want to be the last. I want to see another kid leave the school with a scholarship offer next year and the year after that.”