On Wednesday afternoon Greeneville senior Laith Ivy got to take the next step in his academic and athletic career by signing his letter of intent to join the football program at Mount St. Joseph University.
“It feels great to sign today and I have to give all of the glory to God for this opportunity,” Ivy said. “It’s real exciting I can’t wait to get up there and study something to make a career for myself. To get to play football while I’m doing that is a great addition.”
Mount St. Jospeh is a Division III school located outside of Cincinnati, Ohio. They compete in the Heartland Conference and have won the league three of the last four years, as well as advancing to the NCAA playoffs in each of those seasons.
The Lions are led by head coach Tyler Hopperton who is in his 10th year leading the program and is a 2012 MSJ graduate.
“It really reminds of Greeneville. The coaches have been in contact with me almost every day and that has really made me feel welcome,” Ivy said. “It feels like family. They have been their conference champs the last three years and just like Greeneville they hold you to a high standard.”
Ivy has been a standout on both sides of the line of scrimmage while at Greeneville, and at MSJ he plans to play along the offensive line.
He has grown to love battling in trenches while helping the Devils advance to the state semifinals this season, and he is excited that he gets the chance to continue doing that.
“I love hitting somebody and there is no better feeling than asserting your dominance over somebody. I love whooping a guy snap after snap and making them hate the game that they love,” Ivy said.
Ivy plans to study physical therapy and hopes that gives him an opportunity to stay involved in sports once his playing days are done.
