Ohio City - Connor Kennedy '18, whose play at wide receiver and in the defensive secondary helped Saint Ignatius to a Division I State Runner-Up finish in 2016, will be furthering his education and football career at the College of the Holy Cross next year.
Connor committed to Holy Cross this week. Holy Cross was founded in 1843 by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in Worcester, Massachusetts. It is a highly selective, four year, undergraduate, liberal arts institution.
"They reached out to me and asked me to come to their camp, fortunately I was able to make it out there," said Kennedy, who also competed in the 4x100 and 100 meters on the Wildcats' track and field team that finished among the top 10 big-school programs in Ohio this past spring.
"They gave us a tour of the campus, which is just outside of downtown Worcester, Massachusetts," Connor continued. "The campus itself is just beautiful. The tour started with the buildings up hill and we just worked our way down. Two of their veteran senior players took us around campus. It was a great tour, very informational."
Connor said he met all of the Holy Cross football coaches at the camp, including Head Coach Tom Gilmore, who has produced 102 players who have go on to earn All-Patriot League honors. Coach Gilmore is currently in his 14th season as the head of the football program.
"I love the coaches," Connor said. "They were very instructive and were very welcoming to me."
Coach Darren Paige will be Connor's position coach at wide receiver and Connor added that Holy Cross Defensive Coordinator Mike Kashurba was the coach who recruited him. Coach Kashurba is from Grove City.
"Valparaiso offered me first," said Connor. "I went to a showcase at Northwestern and they liked what they saw. At the top of my list was Villanova, because that is where my Dad played. But I am very fond of my choice of Holy Cross."
This corner would like to express its congratulations to Connor, a first-class young man, his family, which has a rich Saint Ignatius Wildcats tradition, and Wildcats Hall of Fame Head Football and Track Coach Mr. Chuck Kyle.