Nine Football Players Get Scholarships to Four-Year Schools
The Siskiyous football players who signed this offseason to play at four-year schools were part of a sophomore class that helped the program rise to a higher level of success last fall.
All nine are set to receive their diplomas during the May 16th commencement, and they all received scholarships from their new schools.
“They’re great kids who put the work in and set the standards for our new guys,” said head coach Adam Groppi. “We’re excited for them, and they’re excited about having the opportunity to go see the world.”
Offensive lineman Andrew Bouska of Glencoe, OR, a two-time 1st Team All-Golden Valley Conference pick, has signed with Division 2 Upper Iowa University.
The other eight Eagles who are moving on all signed with smaller NAIA schools. Four are headed to Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kansas: 1st Team All-GVC linebacker Marcus Delgado of Mount Shasta, defensive back Lance Stewart of Mount Shasta, linebacker Noah Snyder of Eugene, OR, and kicker/running back Genaro Reyna of Cashmere, WA.
Defensive linemen Key’Shawn Thomas of Bremerton, WA, and Julian Lehman of Corvallis, OR, were both All-GVC Honorable Mention and are both on their way to Madonna University in Livonia, Michigan.
Linebacker Soren Slowikowski of Ashland has signed with Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and defensive lineman Brody Thomas of Caledonia, Ontario, is returning to Canada after signing with Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario.
They were all key players on an Eagle football team that went 7-4 overall last fall after winning just two games the previous year. The 2024 Eagles finished second in conference and hosted the Northern California Bowl in early December. It was the first time in seven years that the football team reached the postseason, and this is the largest number of off-season signings for the program since 2019.
Groppi said one other Eagle player is considering moving on to play more college football, and a couple others had offers but decided not to pursue football.
Reyna, Thomas, Lehman, Slowikowski, and Delgado were all members of the Eagle track and field team this spring, and Groppi said Reyna plans to continue both football and track at Kansas Wesleyan.
Another former Eagle, Rashaan Broomfield of Weed, moved on from Siskiyous in 2017 to play football at Kansas Wesleyan.
“We’re celebrating these guys,” said Groppi, who is still recruiting players for the upcoming season. “It shows that if you put in the work, you never know what doors will open for you.”
Now in his second year as the Eagles’ head coach, Groppi said a strong group of returning players from last year’s team looked good during spring workouts and practices, and he’s optimistic about the incoming class of recruits.
By Steve Gerace