Landon Grant considered continuing his academic and soccer career at a school like Pitt or Penn State.
But Grant won’t be making any trips to The Original Hot Dog Shop or the Berkey Creamery anytime soon.
He’ll find himself eating a lot of fish and chips instead.
Grant, a star forward who led Quaker Valley to a PIAA Class 2A title last fall, decided to think outside the box when it came to picking a college, so much so that he’ll be attending a school outside of the country. Grant begins classes at Richmond International Academic & Soccer Academy (RIASA) in Leeds, England on Sept. 4.
“For me, I was really specific with my college search. I wanted a school that offered an accredited business program and played at a high level, but also wasn’t too far away from home, which I know sounds crazy because I’m going to England now,” Grant said, laughing.
RIASA allows students to take classes toward an American undergraduate degree while playing soccer year round against other schools in England. Grant, who will be on partial scholarship, will play games from September until May. In contrast, most players attending NCAA schools play a schedule that lasts from late August until late October.
Playing a big part in Grant’s recruitment was a man well known in the local soccer community. Gene Klein was named RIASA’s Head of USA Recruitment this spring. Klein was a longtime coach at Quaker Valley who built the program into a state power. He’s also a former coach of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
Klein, who coached Grant his freshman season, said Grant is taking advantage of a great opportunity.
“I think it’s going to be tremendous for a kid like Landon because he’ll be playing at a high level for the next 10 months,” Klein said. “It will be training and playing and fitness. There’s a full-time strength and conditioning coach. Everything you have at a U.S. college, except you’re playing year round.”
Grant was a four-year starter at Quaker Valley and scored 38 goals his senior season. He pulled off a rare feat by winning PIAA soccer and football titles last fall. He was the kicker on the football team.
Grant said his parents will accompany him to England when he moves in next week. He said he’s looking forward to immersing himself in the soccer culture there, which he said will including attending English Premier League games. He’ll major in international sports management.
Returning to the states to attend an NCAA school down the road is still a possibility, too.
“I think it really just depends how this first year goes,” he said. “I’m still talking with schools here and letting them know what I’m doing and that I’ll continue to send them film of my games so they can watch me play. Then, who knows? Maybe after a year I come back and play at one of those schools.”
Yough’s Bach to Pitt … again
For the second year in a row, a Bach sibling who is a standout on the diamond has committed to Pitt. Yough senior baseball player Jarett Bach, a 6-foot-4 left-handed pitcher who led the WPIAL with 77 strikeouts during the regular season, will join his sister at Pitt. Hannah Bach is a freshman on the school’s softball team.
Basketball commitment
Greensburg Central Catholic’s Bella Skatell (Mansfield).
Soccer commitment
Peters Township’s Hannah Stuck (Bucknell).
Volleyball commitment
North Allegheny’s Anna Sprys (Binghamton); Pine-Richland’s Maddie Schieder (Villanova).
First Published: August 16, 2018, 11:00 a.m.
