April 20, 2024

Hawks’ Ehresman to play football for William Penn University

By Jocelyn Sheets

Lynnville-Sully senior Sage Ehresman signed a letter of intent to play football next year at William Penn University in Oskaloosa. On hand for Wednesday’s signing were, seated, William Penn receivers coach Aaron Hinnah, left, and Lynnville-Sully head football coach Mike Parkinson and, standing, his parents, Shane and Tashia Ehresman, and sister Kasiah, middle. (Jocelyn Sheets)

SULLY — Sage Ehresman became “the guy” in the backfield for Lynnville-Sully’s football team as a junior. Ehresman put up back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons for the Hawks, leading Lynnville-Sully back to the Iowa Class A playoffs his senior season.

Ehresman signed a letter of intent Wednesday to play college football at William Penn University in Oskaloosa.

“Their program had a lot of interest in me. What William Penn brought to the table was everything I wanted academically and their football program really fits my abilities as well,” Ehresman said of his decision. “Their strength program is really good and I’m going into exercise science.”

The 5-foot-9-inch running back became Lynnville-Sully’s second all-time rusher, finishing with 2,998 yards on 462 carries.

As a senior he rushed for 1,392 yards on 282 carries helping the Hawks to an 8-4 season and advancing to the quarterfinal round of the Class A playoffs in November.

Ehresman earned Class A All-District honors as a running back the past two years. He caught 12 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns as a senior. He scored 26 touchdowns rushing the ball his senior season.

“I’m excited about the opportunity William Penn is giving me to continue to play football at the college level,” Ehresman said. “I’ll be playing at slot back, which is a running back position in their triple option offense.”

Ehresman stepped into a full-time starting running back spot for the Hawks as a junior and respond with a 1,047-yard rushing effort. He was the Hawks’ quarterback as a sophomore, completing 25-of-51 passes for 309 yards with four touchdowns.

In his four years on the Hawk football team, Ehresman has scored 43 rushing touchdowns and 320 points. He had a 79-yard kickoff return for a touchdown as a senior.

Ehresman earned Class A second-team all-state honors as a tailback his senior season. He also was selected to the 2016 Iowa Shrine Bowl South Team.

“William Penn has a great football program, and I believe I can help fill in at spots with my play-making abilities. My work ethic is going to pay off for me at the college level, but my skills which come from that — my quickness and speed — and my football smarts will help me help the team,” Ehresman said.

“You have to work smart not just hard. My mom helped me a great deal on working smart as an athlete. She’s got the fitness background,” he said.

Ehresman is the son of Shane and Tasha Ehresman of Sully.

William Penn went 7-4 in 2015 under head coach Todd Hafner. It is an NAIA program and a member of the Heart of American Athletic Conference.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535
or jsheets@newtondailynews.com