Warren’s Joel Chevalier to kick for Marietta College
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VINCENT -- Prior to Wednesday afternoon's basketball practice, Warren senior Joel Chevalier made it official he'll attend Marietta College to play on the gridiron for head coach Andy Waddle.
A three-year hoops and two-year soccer letterman, the Warrior never played football until his junior year.
"It was a blast," Chevalier said of competing after being coaxed by classmates and Warrior head coach Matt Kimes. "It's an amazing opportunity to further my education and academics."
During his senior year, where he earned second team all-Ohio status, Chevalier made 37 of 39 extra points and 4 of 6 field goals with a long of 40. On his 27 punts, he averaged 39.3 yards, had a long of 65 and placed eight boots inside the 20.
"He's got a soccer background to start," Kimes admitted. "My first year here I saw him play basketball and I was like this guy can help us on the football field and I got after him a little bit. When we were doing kicker tryouts he was pretty powerful from the beginning. I think he felt like he had a future in it.
"He started working at it and started getting some lessons and going to some camps. We felt like once we got inside the 25 offensively we were in field goal range, which you can't say that at a lot of places at the high school level, for sure."
Chevalier said he's leaning toward a degree in sports medicine with a minor in coaching.
"I've been kicking a ball all my life so it just came naturally," he said. "The kicking part was a pretty easy transition, but the whole game of football was just different and took a while to get used to.
"They (the Pioneers) got a senior coming back so I'm just going to go in there and try to compete and try to make the team better. I like to say I'm pretty consistent."
The Warrior said the plan is to stay on campus and added "it's going to be different not having to worry about other sports now in college so I'll have more time to focus and get better."
Coach Kimes watched his kicker finish 9 of 13 on field goal attempts during his two seasons with a career long of 43 yards.
"Hard working kid," added the coach.
"(Chevalier) developed in the weight room and he bought into that part of it and just a very natural strong leg."
Although Chevalier said he's not met anyone on the Marietta College football roster, he added "from what I've been looking at in the recruiting it's going to be a lot of kids I know.
"I'm excited for the experiences.
"It's going to be different than high school, but I'm excited. It (playing for Warren) just shaped me into a better man and helped me learn attributes to life."
Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com