Sidney High School senior signs with Peru State College

Sidney High School senior Dalton Schilz signed a letter of intent Wednesday afternoon in the high school's media center to play football as a Bobcat with Peru State College starting this fall.

"I'm looking forward to wearing 'Bobcat Blue,'" Schilz said.

As a senior, Schilz is preparing to graduate from Sidney High School this May. He said he began playing football in kindergarten, moving to tackle football in the fourth grade.

"I've pretty much been playing football my whole life," Schilz said.

"He's a team player," said Sidney Head Coach Chris Koozer. "He probably played some positions he didn't want to. It's good to see him rewarded by playing at a college level."

Born and raised in Sidney, Schilz said his biggest inspiration is his parents. He said Peru State College just felt right when he and his parents went on a tour.

Peru State College in Peru, Neb. is the state's first college that offers online and traditional classroom undergraduate and graduate programs.

Schilz said he will be taking classes for teaching, physical education and health.

"Practice starts August 6, then classes will begin two weeks after that," he said.

Schilz said he hopes to pursue teaching in the future and plans to stay in Nebraska, possibly returning to Sidney after college.