Ohio City - Saying he always wanted to attend an Ivy League School, Saint Ignatius' gifted senior student athlete Justin Sands shared with this corner on Monday afternoon that he will be furthering his education and football career at the University of Pennsylvania.

"They have a very good football program with a great tradition," said Justin, a two-year mainstay at safety for Wildcats Hall of Fame Head Coach Chuck Kyle '69. "I just felt at home there whenever I visited Penn. The staff always treated me really well."

Justin (6-0, 200 pounds), who was voted by his teammates as a Captain this season, said he was recruited by Penn as a free safety.

"I am really excited," Justin said. "I plan to be in the Business School."

Before deciding on Penn, Justin also considered Lehigh, Columbia, Cornell, Davidson and Dayton.

"Now I can focus on being with my teammates and winning the state championship," Justin said of making his college choice before Saint Ignatius' first scrimmage, which is tomorrow (Tuesday) versus Solon at 10 AM on the Comets' storied Stewart Field.

FROM COACH KYLE: "I'm just very happy for Justin. He is a young man who does it right on the football field and in the classroom. Justin always seems to have goals and a desire to get to them.

"It's nice to see that his high school goals are being reached, both academically and athletically," Coach Kyle continued. "What a wonderful opportunity, an Ivy League School to study at. Penn is an historical university in an historical area. I know he is excited for this opportunity and he has earned it. We are really excited for him." 

This corner would like to express my congratulations to Justin, who is a first-class young man, his family and the entire Saint Ignatius Football Program.