GALION (Crawford County Now) — Zach Sallee’s senior year on the gridiron was the envy of many high school football players.
The Galion Tigers finished with an 11-2 record, 6-1 in the rugged Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference, and Sallee was named first-team all-MOAC and first team all-Ohio defensive end.
Salle is not resting on his laurels. Rather, he is taking his talents to the next level. He signed his letter of intent on Wednesday to play football next year for the University of Findlay.
Why Findlay? Sallee had multiple suitors, but the Oilers were first on his wish list.
“Findlay was the best academically for me,” Sallee said. “It just worked out the best for football. They had a great season.”
The tradition-rich Division II Oilers — members of the 10-team Great Midwest Athletic Conference — tied for first in the league with Ashland, both with 10-2 records.
“Findlay was always in my head at the top,” Sallee said.
Tigers’ coach Matt Dick described the successes of players like Sallee and his team as a synergistic relationship.
“When you have team success and individuals get rewarded with things like all-Ohio, scholarships, all those things go together,” Dick said. “It goes both ways. We were successful because we had really, really special players, but Zach was successful because he was part of a team that pushed the standard of Galion football. It all kind of works together.”
Sallee recognizes what he has been afforded and that it goes beyond football.
“I have this opportunity when a lot of people don’t, so that’s a big reason why I’m trying to make the most of it,” Sallee said.
Sallee plans to major in exercise science and physical therapy.
Dick noted that players like Sallee who succeed help to continue the culture of Galion football.
“He’s the third of three first-team all-Ohio defensive ends,” Dick said. “So, it’s just starting to become a deal on our defense. We’re thinking about next year — Dom Capretta — we have really high hopes that he will be at that type of level.”
Sallee is aware that, while he was tested in the MOAC and in the playoffs, the level of competition will ramp up playing Division II college ball.
“It’s going to be awesome to go against people that are as determined and work as hard as me,” Sallee said. “I’ll just try to show them what I can do.”
According to his coach, Sallee is far from one-dimensional.
“Some of the things Zach does — running and lifting and how he can be a special athlete on a track or on a football field and still be a lineman — that’s really exceptional and rare,” Dick said.
Sallee is excited to get started with his next chapter at Findlay.
“The GMAC — Ashland, Tiffin, Findlay — they’re always having good records and making playoff runs,” Sallee said. “So, it should be pretty fun.”
Dick has confidence that Sallee will succeed at the next level.
“He’ll figure it out,” Dick said. “Hopefully, it’s the right fit. You never know when you go off to college. But they really wanted him and he wanted to go there. It fits what he wants to do with his future career.”