Colt Stimmell To Continue Academic And Football Career At Ithaca College (06/07/18)

Clarion Area Football standout Colt Stimmell will be continuing his football and academic career at Ithaca (NY) College. Ithaca is an NCAA Division III program, under coach Dan Swamstrom. In Swamstrom’s first season at the helm in 2017, the Bombers were 8-3 overall and 4-1 in the Liberty League, where they were co-champions along with Rensselar Polytechnic Institute (RPI).

(Photo submitted) Colt Stimmell flanked by his parents Amy and Michael Stimmell. (standing) North Clarion Superintendent Steve Young and Clarion Bobcat Head Coach Larry Wiser

Among his past coaching duties, coach Swanstrom was the quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Pennsylvania from 2014-2016. The Quakers were the Ivy League champs in 2015-16. Coach Swamstrom is also the past head coach at Strattford High School in Texas, where he coached future Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback Andrew Luck.

Coach Swanstrom had this to say about his new recruit, “Colt attended our camp and he showed a demeanor that we really like in student-athletes. He has a very competitive nature and is relentless when he is trying to achieve his goals.”

Colt, a 5′-11,” 206 lb offensive lineman and defensive end was a big factor in the Bobcats success during his high school career, including his senior year, when the Cats went 12-1, winning the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference (KSAC) Large School Division crown and District Nine Class AA championship before advancing to the PIAA State quarterfinals.

(photo by Bri Nellis /Bri Nellis Photography) Colt proudly wearing his North Clarion and Clarion Area monagrams

Among his awards are KSAC All-Conference Interior Line and Tri-County Sunday/Courier-Express All-Stars First Team Offense.

On offense, Colt had 41 pancake blocks his senior year. He also had some stellar totals on defense, where he had a career total of 257 tackles and 22 sacks.

Colt’s top reason for choosing Ithaca “because it is one of the top film schools in the country. He will be majoring in Cinema and Photography in Ithaca’s Roy H. Park School of Communications and plans to pursue a career in production. His other reason was to play football for the “Bombers as a defensive end in a high intensity D3 program.”

Colt listed his favorite game this past season as the District Nine Class AA Championship “… against Kane. It was a close game, intense, exciting, rewarding.” And Colt will also get to represent the Bobcats two more times before becoming a Bomber. He will be a member of the North Squad in the Lezzer Lumber Football Classic All-Star Game, on Friday, June 22nd at Mansion Park Stadium in Altoona and the Frank Varischetti All-Star Game the following Friday, June 29th at Brockway.

(Photo by Michael Stimmell) Colt Stimmell proudly wearing his Ithaca jersey

He plans to spend his summer lifting weights, with the goal of putting on twenty pounds to get ready for college football in the fall.

Colt is a student at North Clarion, which has co-opted with Clarion Area for football for several years. And anyone who has been involved with the program realizes that the team makes no distinction between North Clarion and Clarion Area players, considering all members Bobcats. But it is interesting to note that Colt is the first of the North Clarion players on the team, to sign to play college ball.

Colt shared his thanks to Clarion Area and the team and also two entities from the northern part of the county, “As a North Clarion student , I would like to thank Clarion Area for allowing me to play on their team. Thanks to the coaches and players for their acceptance from day one. I would also say thank you to our biggest sponsors from the North Clarion area, Fryburg Sportsman’s Club and Venus Telephone. Their financial help went towards both players fees and transportation to practices.”

(Photo by Gary Wiant /Vinyl Graphics Unlimited) Colt in action against Moniteau

Colt went on to thank those nearest and dearest to him, “Thanks to my parents and family for their unending support and for pushing me to be the best I can be. To my grandparents and other family members who traveled as much as three hours one way to see me play and never missed a game.”

He concluded saying, “Thanks to the coaches I’ve had over the years that helped me thrive on the field. And thanks to my fellow teammates for giving me the best experiences and times of my life. I’ll never forget the time we’ve shared together.”

Bobcat mentor Larry Wiser emphasized Colt’s unselfishness, saying, “Colt Stimmel was again one of Bobcat players who made the move from running back to line in the best interest of the TEAM. Like most of the offense and defensive line they do not get the kind of attention that quarterbacks and running backs get, but his play along with his other brothers on both sides of the ball were significant.

(Photo by Gary Wiant) Colt flanked by his parents, Amy and Michael Stimmell on Senior Night

At defensive end he played a very solid game for Coach Weber’s crew. This Bobcat will do whatever is good for the TEAM at Ithaca.”

Coach Wiser concluded, “I will miss his positive attitude and hard work.”

Clarion defensive ends Coach Lee Weber stated, “Colt is one of the most disciplined defensive ends  we ever had playing for our Bobcats.  He came to Clarion via North Clarion and in his sophomore season, he immediately made an impact to the program.  He wasn’t a starter at the varsity level yet, but helped our program by being a strong, aggressive and relentless example of a football player.

“Through his determination and efforts at practice, he made everyone around him better.  At the junior varsity level, Colt dominated his opponents, not only by bull rushing, but also by running by the blockers with his surprising speed at the defensive end position.  He had many sacks and many more tackles to help lead our defense and JV’s to another undefeated season.”

Bobcat linemen and coaches. Front (L-R) Thomas Wurster, Nick Cherico, Zak Bauer, Seth Nellis, Colt Stimmell, Jacob Selker. Back (L-R) Coach Nate McClaine, Bowman Hartley, Tanner Oberlander, Greg Kalinowski, Andrew Guth (Honorary Lineman), Nick Porciello, Tyler Schmader, Eathan Remmick, Coach Shane McKillop.

With a year under his belt, Colt was ready to step in and start at the varsity level the next two seasons.  He was always a good pass rusher,  but stopping the run was something he had to work on at the defensive end level.  With film work, he understood the game better and with repetitions, he played the game better!  Once he understood angles and trap blocking, he was tough to beat on the outside and on the inside.  Pitch plays were no longer a problem and he closes down on trap blockers probably better than anyone I ever coached. Colt, along with Tom Wurster and Jacob Selker, were three fearsome athletes most offenses stayed away from.”

Coach Weber went on, “I am so proud of the time and effort he put into the sport and he made my job easy by being very coach-able.  He was willing to humble himself and wanted to learn everything he could.  I appreciate these qualities very much!

“One of his dreams is to play college football.  Now that he has signed with Ithaca, he will set higher ones.  Coming in as a freshman, it will be difficult at times, but I am sure he will put out the same kind of effort and determination to get through the tough times.  As good of a high school player as he was, there is still much more growth and I am very excited to see this bloom at the college level.  Good luck Colt and keep going after your dreams!”

(Thanks to Bri Nellis/Bri Nellis Photographs, Gary Wiant/Vinyl Graphics Unlimited, the Stimmells and North Clarion and Clarion Area for photos. CONGRATULATIONS, COLT! ALL THE BEST AT ITHACA AND IN ALL YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS!!!!)