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Chase Shiltz had originally committed to North Dakota State for wrestling.
After another stellar season on the gridiron, the Panther senior discovered his heart was more into football than wrestling.
Football is what Shiltz will participate in at the college level.
Thursday, he decided where he will be going.
Shiltz made a verbal commitment to Northwest Missouri State.
“After all the wrestling stuff, after football season, I decided that I was going to play football,” Shiltz said.
Shiltz picked Northwest Missouri State over a preferred walk-on offer from Iowa State.
A recent visit to Maryville sold Shiltz on becoming a Bearcat.
“I went down there and fell in love with it,” Shiltz said. “It felt right there.”
Shiltz had plenty of success at Creston. Now he’ll join a program that’s in the middle of a dynasty in Division II. The Bearcats have gone 55-2 the past four seasons, with three perfect seasons and three national championships in the past four seasons.
“They definitely have a dynasty,” Shiltz said. “(Former Creston and Northwest Missouri State star Collin) Bevins said he won more national championships than games he lost there.”
Joining a winning program fits in with Shiltz’s personality.
“I’m a really competitive person. I hate to lose,” Shiltz said. “That’s the way they are down there. They hate to lose.
“Knowing they have a dynasty, have a lot of success — it feels good to go to a program where they have success.”
Shiltz plans on playing running back.
He knows his physical skills will have to evolve at the next level.
“I will definitely get on a program, grow a lot,” Shiltz said.
Shiltz added he’s undecided on a major at this point.
Creston senior Colton Bolinger recently decided his intentions to sign with Grand View University in Des Moines.
Bolinger expects to namely play offense as a tight end.
He has excelled on the gridiron for the Creston/Orient-Macksburg Panthers as a run-blocking tight end and all-Hawkeye 10 caliber defensive end and punter.
Grand View was in 2016 a top 10 ranked NAIA football program that finished 9-3 and was bounced from the national tournament by Lindsey Wilson.
Bolinger says he stressed about the decision, but that he ultimately feels comfortable with it.
“I did not know much about Grand View before but when went on a visit to the Grand View campus in mid-December, I really liked it,” Bolinger said. “They have a lot of experience in their coaching staff, have a great offensive scheme that I feel I can pick up on quickly, and also win a lot of football games.”
Bolinger, a 6-5 240-pounder, figures to contend for playing time at tight end for a successful program.
“I feel that after a year of putting in a lot of work and gaining some size and speed, I have a good chance at gaining a spot,” Bolinger said. “It’s all about how much I work for it. They recruited me as a tight end so I will be playing offense. They use their tight ends a majority of the time in their offense which I am looking forward to as well.”
Bolinger feels comfortable with the atmosphere surrounding the program, and with what he can accomplish academically and after college, perhaps in Des Moines.
“The head coach (Mike Woodley, who has been coach since the football team started in 2008) really emphasizes excelling in academics which I feel is important,” Bolinger said. Also being located in Des Moines there are great opportunities after college. Overall I’m very excited to have the opportunity to continue my football career and want to thank everyone who has helped me along the way. “
Bolinger is undecided on a major.
February 1st is National Signing Day for the NCAA, whereas the NAIA does not have official letters of intent.