Irvine’s Ethan Shank picks up yards for Irvine in a game this season (Photos courtesy Lina Raigosa).
Irvine High’s outstanding receiver and free safety Ethan Shank has made a verbal commitment to play college football and continue his academic career at Division III Pomona Pitzer, he said Thursday night.
Shank and his Irvine teammates are getting ready to take on fourth-seeded Ocean View Friday night at 7 in the opening round of the CIF Division 11 playoffs at Irvine Stadium.
“I went to a camp over the summer, the West Coast Elite,” Shank said. “That was held on Pomona Pitzer’s campus and they were one of the schools that was there and I was talking to during the process. What really drew me to them was their academic standing along with their talented football team.”
Shank said he plans to major in biology or science.
While Shank has excelled on both offense and defense at Irvine, it appears his future in college is on the offensive side.
“I’m being recruited mostly as a receiver,” he said. “I’m willing to play both offense and defense but I’m being recruited as a receiver.”
Shank and his teammates are excited about being in the CIF playoffs Friday night. It’s the first time since 2014 that Irvine has advanced to post-season play.
“I’m super excited and can’t wait for tomorrow’s game, it will be a good one,” he said. “It’s awesome that we get to be with this group of guys. It’s such a great team and I love playing with them. As many games as I can get with them, I’ll take.”
The players were excited to learn they were advancing, Shank said.
“We were definitely stoked, knowing that we didn’t play to our best that Northwood game (Northwood won 21-13),” he said. “So we wanted to redeem ourselves and we wanted a second shot. What better way to do it than in the playoffs. We’re looking forward to proving ourselves tomorrow.”
PLAYER TO WATCH: IRVINE’S ETHAN SHANK MAKING BIG PLAYS
-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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