Mustangs’ Edenfield signs with Cal U
Laurel Highlands’ Ian Edenfield has made the decision to concentrate on one sport in college, as the senior signed with California University of Pennsylvania where he will play football and major in special education.
“I love football and it’s my favorite sport,” Edenfield said. “I have been playing since I was five and my dad knows the coach down there. It is very enticing to be a part of a national contender. They have what I want to major in and that was a big selling point.”
The Vulcans are coached by Gary Dunn, and in the past two years have gone 20-4 and 12-2 in the the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Division. California qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs the last two seasons, and won a first-round game in 2016.
Edenfield was a do-everything player for the Mustangs and coach Zack Just, who stepped down after last season to take a job as head principal at South Allegheny Elementary.
“No one is more deserving than Ian,” Just said. “For the past four years, he’s been one of our hardest workers. He is super dedicated, and we like that fact that he is playing local.
“We like that Coach (Gary) Dunn is trying to build up the program with local kids. Selfishly, I like that he is going to be close so we can watch him play, and both of his parent are Cal alums, so very special signing for sure. I feel like Ian is going to go there and compete for playing time right away.”
Edenfield, who is the son of Chris and Carla, and has a sister, Bailey, was First Team Big Nine All-Conference on offense and defense this year. He was also Honorable Mention All-State at tight end. Edenfield was Second Team All-Conference as a linebacker and Honorable Mention All-Conference at tight end his junior season. He First Team All-Conference tight end as a sophomore, and was also All-County for three years.
“Ian is well respected around the conference for a reason,” Just said. “We put him up against everyone’s best player. We put him up against Trinity’s kid (Ben Phillips) that is going to Akron. He went up against Thomas Jefferson’s Noah Palmer, who is going to Pitt, and the (Blake) Zubovic kid from Belle Vernon who is also going to Pitt. He held his own and got the better of them in most of those games, which shows you what a special player he is.”
Edenfield, who also plays baseball, has enjoyed a very successful high school wrestling career, and is in the midst of another strong season.
He was the runner-up in the state tournament last year at 220 pounds, and is one of the favorites to get back to the finals this March. Edenfield, who didn’t wrestle his sophomore year due to a broken ankle, has a career record of (78-20) and is (24-5) this season.
Edenfield had offers to wrestle in college, but he decided that football was the best decision for him.
“It was kind of hard to decide on what to do with wrestling,” Edenfield said. “I would also like to coach after my playing career is over.”
Chris Edenfield has coached his son in wrestling, as the Mustangs do not have a high school team. The two traveled the country looking for the best competition for Ian.
Chris and Carla are both California University of Pennsylvania graduates, as Chris played football. Chris has coached at Laurel Highlands since 2002, and works with the secondary and running backs.
“I will always love Cal, but it didn’t factor into Ian’s decision,” Chris said. “We talked to a lot of different coaches, but I wanted Ian to make the decision and didn’t put pressure on him to go there.”
The Edenfields went through the recruiting process, and Ian was also impressed by Fairmont State, Mercyhurst and Edinboro.
“We enjoyed the whole process,” Chris said. “We didn’t have any negative experiences with any school. It was a very hard decision for Ian to make, but it is a once in a lifetime experience.”
The Vulcans have several Mustangs on their roster in Chad Livingston and Jimmy Pierce.
“It is going to be awesome to be playing with some of my former teammates,” Ian said.