Pettit Signs with UNK

Sidney senior Zach Pettit committed to play football as an incoming freshman for the University of Nebraska-Kearney on Wednesday at Sidney High School. Pettit plans on playing strong side defensive end while majoring in Pre-Pharmacy.

Pettit has been a standout athlete and top academic performer throughout his time at Sidney High School, and has been rewarded for his efforts with a KHOP (Kearney Health Opportunities Program) Scholarship to help with the costs of attending college.

Pettit's parents, Kelcey Pettit and Tanna Zingula, attended the ceremony and beamed with pride as Zach signed the commitment papers.

"This is such a great opportunity for him. We're really excited that we'll be able to continue to see him play, but we're even more exited about the KHOP scholarship," his mother Tanna said.

When asked how he came to select UNK to continue his education and playing career, Zach said, "They contacted me at the end of junior year to attend their football camp, so I grabbed my pads and went. They really welcomed me as family, and they were very nice and supportive. There's a great feeling there and I'm excited to be part of the team."

UNK Football is a competitive force in a tough Division II field, regularly battling for top honors among the schools the division.

Pettit plans on playing strong side defensive end, the position he played for the Red Raiders. Sidney Football Head Coach Chris Koozer attended the ceremony, and praised Pettit afterward saying, "He's going to do a great job there. He's a really strong kid with a great motor, and very smart. He would call out what front to use on defense when normally that's the linebacker's job. He's always thinking and a couple steps ahead of everybody else on the field."

Pettit enters UNK as a freshman later in the year as the beneficiary of a KHOP Scholarship. The scholarship fund was created to recruit and educate students from rural Nebraska who are committed to return to rural Nebraska to practice healthcare.