Sports

Snodgrass signs letter of intent to play at Valley City State

By Tyler Ohmann

03/12/2013

A second Bottineau High School (BHS) player has made the decision to play football collegiately.

BHS senior Ian Snodgrass recently signed a letter of intent to play football at Valley City State University (VCSU).

Snodgrass played mostly on the defensive line for BHS the past two years and will likely play defensive end for the Vikings.

Snodgrass said he’s always enjoyed football and he got linked to VCSU through their summer camp.

“It (football) is something I’ve always enjoyed my entire high school life,” Snodgrass said. “I’ve gone to the Valley City line of scrimmage camp for four years, and it’s really grown on me.”

He first went the summer before his freshman year of high shool.

“They (VCSU) first got their look at me when I was going into my freshman year, and all the way through my high school life, because I had gone back there every single year,” Snodgrass said. “They get to watch you grow, and see you for who you are.”

He said another reason for choosing VCSU was the community of Valley City.

“The community itself is great,” Snodgrass said. “When you go there, you feel like you’re already part of the family that it is, and you never feel like you’re outside the loop. You just feel like you’re one of them.”

Snodgrass loves defense and is glad to be on that side of the ball at the next level.

“I love defense,” Snodgrass said. “You get to do so much more than you can on offense.”

VCSU is an independent member of Division I in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.  They were 7-3 last season, including a 4-1 record over other independent programs. They are coached by Dennis McCulloch and advanced to the NAIA playoffs as recently as 2011.

However, Snodgrass said that the program being successful was not necessarily why he wanted to go there.

“I wouldn’t say it is important to be a part of it (a winning program),” Snodgrass said. “I would say it is nice that it is that, but I would say it’s more so the character of the people that are there, that you can really connect with, and if you feel like you wanted.”

Snodgrass joins other Bottineau-affliated players in playing for the Vikings: Jake Thurston (BHS ‘07), Matt Bowers (BHS ‘12) and Zach McBeain (DCB ‘12).

Snodgrass is thankful for the opportunity to play, and wishes to thank everyone who helped him get there.

“I’d like to thank the community, coaches, the staff at Valley City, my parents, siblings, who taught me when I was young and everybody else that got me to where I am,” Snodgrass said. “If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be who I am today.”