State College Sends Two More to the Next Level

Tagged under: District 6, News, pfn

Todd Ross | February 7, 2024

During the second signing day two players were honored for their commitments to play in college. Defense linemen Justin Castro-Dixon and offensive lineman Colin Dardis both were honored. Justin will be headed just about an hour away at Lock Haven University part of the PSAC conference. Colin will be going out of state to Ithaca college in New York part of the Liberty League.

I got a chance to speak to Colin about his college decision and who he wanted to thank for helping him get in his position “It was just the coaches, the first time I went there it felt like home they included me in everything, made me see what was going on. They didn’t try to sell me on what Ithaca didn’t have, they didn’t try and make what they did have seem bigger than what they didn’t. They cut it to me straight and told me what they can do for me and I fell in love, it’s home I love everything about it.” He also wanted to thank several people for their help” My coaches, teammates, family, I mean classmates too pushing me to be better in the classroom helping me out if I need help academically. Definitely want to thank my coaches especially my O-Line coach he’s been with me since 8th grade that’s like 5 years which is crazy, feels like just yesterday I was walking out to the summer heat in 8th grade. Those are the people I definitely want to thank.” I also got to talk to State Colleges head coach Matt Lintal he said this about Colin “Colin again just a tremendous young man, a kid who worked extremely hard. Back in 10th grade coming into the program battling with some guys in front of him, you know he learned multiple positions up front which really made him extremely versatile, can play guard can play tackle. He knew everything, that turned into such a huge asset as he was trying to help the younger guys his senior year, you know helping the guys next to him knowing the plays and understanding the bigger picture so Colin’s left a tremendous impact on our program as well. Super excited for him and another all conference selection and just a great young man.” Below is a Picture of Colin and his sister Maggie along with Offensive line coach Maurice Freeman on the left and State College head coach Matt Lintal on the left.

Justin Castro-Dixon was up next to be interviewed. I talked to him about his college selection and why he picked Lock Haven and who helped him reach this goal” so the reason I chose Lock Haven was the brotherhood and the coaches specifically in Coach Craig, Coach Sullivan, Coach Jackson, they really showed me why I should become a Bald Eagle. They’re mentors to me I can’t trust them and I feel comfortable with them.” He also wanted to give thanks to people who helped him through the process “ I want to thank everybody, I want to thank my mother and father for giving me the time to be as good as I am on the field, I want to thank my teammates, the scout players, the JV players, my coaches Coach Lintal, Coach Free, Kuz, older and young Baney, all the coaches who helped me along the way to cultivate who I am.” Head Coach Matt Lintal talked about Justin as a player and a person and had this to say “Justin is all conference football player multiple times but above that he’s a tremendous young man. He’s the kid that’s just a beacon of every room he walks in. He made our team better he makes our school better our community better his impact is gonna leave a long lasting impression on all the kids that he was able to play with and all the kids he’s able to interact with here at school” Below is a picture of Justin Castro-Dixon with his family.

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