For Holley senior Zach Day, a dream came true when he signed with Gannon University on February 1 to play Division II football.
Zach has played football for Holley Middle School/High School since seventh grade, and he started playing on the varsity team mid-way through his freshman year. He played offense as a tailback or defense as a linebacker for the Holley Hawks. He was named to the Genesee Region League All-Star Second Team as a sophomore and to the First Team the last two years.
As a defensive player, he had 85 tackles for the past year, with 51 of them solo, taking five sacks and eight tackles for a loss. As an offensive player, he ran a total of 524 yards and had four touchdowns.
“I can honestly say that I don’t feel anyone has had more of an impact on our program for the last three years than Zach,” said Varsity Football Coach Wil Prince. “He is one of those special players that you feel privileged to have had the opportunity to coach. When I would pull him from a game due to injury, he would protest and tell me, ‘But my teammates need me.’ I have never met a more selfless player, always putting his team’s achievements before his own. He has been a three-year starter for our team, and he has worked extremely hard on the field and in the classroom. Zach is respected by all the coaches in the county and they speak very highly of him. Opposing teams strategize how to play against him; he is a player to be reckoned with. He plays football with respect for the game and his opponents. I am extremely proud of Zach and wish him well.”
“I am so proud of Zach and all that he has accomplished both on and off the field,” said District Superintendent Robert D’Angelo. “I wish him continued success and have no doubt that he will become an asset to the football program at Gannon.”
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