Grammar pair eager to impress US colleges
FOOTBALL: Toowoomba Grammar will add another footnote to its proud football heritage over the coming weeks
Keanu Tuart and Willem Baines are headed to the United States to undertake college scholarships.
The 2018 graduates will both head to New York to play football and study.
Tuart will join TGS old boy Kyle Parish at Long Island University to play Division One football and study Business Management.
“I’m very, very nervous but excited at the same time,” Tuart said.
“College football in America is a big step for a lot of boys in Australia and especially here at Grammar.
“I’m very excited to be going up to the next level.
“I have a few friends playing over there, and they’ve told me the football is at a very high standard – it’s very intense.
“There’s a lot of pressure on the physical side, but I’m really looking forward to it.”
The young attacker hopes to make a name for himself quickly on the college scene.
“I’m looking to make an impact in my first year. My team has a lot of international players,” Tuart said.
“My goal is to make an impact in the first year and try and develop from there.”
Baines, who flies out next week, will join Sussex College in New Jersey.
Having already spoken to his coach, Baines hopes his work ethic will help him force his way into the team.
“I’m spoken to the coach already, and he’s a really nice bloke,” Baines said.
“He’s already signed a few new players and he’s keen for me to get over there.
“I’m really excited. It’s an opportunity that doesn’t come around too often.
“I think I’m an aggressive type of player and I pride myself on my work ethic, and I think America will be a very big opportunity for me.”
Both boys were selected through the Toowoomba Grammar School Football Pathways Program in partnership with Aussie Athletes Agency and started their application process last November, before being selected by their respective universities and signing Letters of Intent in late February this year.