Torrington Trailblazer senior Jacob Wamboldt signed his letter of intent Wednesday to play football for Black Hills State University in Spearfish, S.D. this fall.
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TORRINGTON – Torrington Trailblazer senior Jacob Wamboldt signed his letter of intent Wednesday to play football for Black Hills State University in Spearfish, S.D. this fall.
“I’m just excited to get it all official,” Wamboldt said. “I just want to get up to Spearfish and start working. There was no place with such a family-like atmosphere and the coaching staff up there is great. I just fell in love with Spearfish, the school and the football team.”
Wamboldt excelled in the trenches for the Blazers this past fall, playing on both sides of the ball. He was named all-conference, all-state and the 3A East lineman of the year this past season. Wamboldt was also named to the USA Today all-Wyoming first team as an offensive lineman and earned a spot on the Casper Star-Tribune Super-25 first-team. The Blazer was selected to the Wyoming Shrine Bowl to be played this summer.
On defense this past year, Wamboldt recorded 3.6 tackles per game, with 17 solo and 30 assisted tackles throughout the season. Rounding out his stat line, the senior chipped in seven tackles for loss and a sack. In the trenches on offense, Wamboldt helped anchor the offensive line on the best offense in 3A, a unit that racked up 367.9 yards and 37.8 points per game.
The 6-foot, 2-inch, 280-pounder is slated to clog up the middle as a nose guard for BHSU in the fall.
“I just hope to contribute as much as I can,” Wamboldt said. “I’m a pretty good-sized guy so I think I can definitely contribute right away, hopefully. I’m definitely a guy who can mess some stuff up and stuff the guys up front.”
Wamboldt is looking to contribute to a team that posted a 4-6 record last year, with a 3-2 record in Spearfish and a 1-4 record on the road. The Division II program picked up wins over Adams State University (47-41 2OT), South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (25-24), New Mexico Highlands University (50-40) and Western State Colorado University (40-0).
“Just for him to have the opportunity to move on to a good school with some good coaches is awesome,” Torrington coach Mark Lenhardt said. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see Jake playing as early as next year. He has all the size and strength you need to play at the D-II level and I expect him to continue to grow and get better.”
Wamboldt is the third linemen for the Blazers to sign to play college football in as many years. He joins Colton Bustillos, who signed with Carroll College in 2016, and Logan Harris, who signed, and started at center, with the University of Wyoming last year.
“Any time that we are getting kids placed into school, it’s a wonderful deal,” Lenhardt said. “If we can get a kid to move on out of a small town like this every year to play college football, I really think that’s great for our program and our community.”
Wamboldt still has time before he hits the gridiron in Spearfish, and he’s looking forward to the opportunity.
“I appreciate everything I have been able to accomplish and everything that has been given to me,” Wamboldt said. “To be on scholarship to play football is something I have always dreamed of. It never really seemed like a reality until these past couple of years. It’s definitely an amazing experience.”
