Brick By Brick
GROVE CITY — Just 13 months ago, the Grove City College football team was in the midst of a 33-game losing streak.
But the Wolverines were determined to stick to their vision.
Brick by brick.
Just 17 games later, offensive guard Ethan Fry was jumping into the arms of Karns City graduate and fellow senior offensive lineman Dalton Callihan in a fit of joy.
Just 11 wins later — seven coming this season and six in the last six weeks — Grove City College head football coach Andrew DiDonato was getting misty-eyed after the Wolverines received a bid to the ECAC Division III James Lynah Bowl against Morrisville State.
That game will be held at Robert E. Thorn Field at 1 p.m. Saturday — another home game for a program that has made great strides in such a short period of time.
“Honestly, I don't know if I've ever been a part of a moment that was more special,” DiDonato said of the moment when his team's bowl bid was announced. “I was in the back of the room, seeing their reaction, my eyes immediately welled up with tears. Just the sheer excitement of knowing where we were two years ago and what they were experiencing now, it was one of those moments that I'll never forget.
“If I'm blessed enough to coach this game for my whole career, I don't know if there will be a moment as sweet.”
The turnaround has been stark and several Butler County players have made a big impact on the Wolverines' change in fortunes.
They have been the mortar that's held those bricks in place.
Karns City graduate and senior right tackle Dalton Callihan has anchored the offensive line.
Two more former Gremlins, senior Ethan Conto and junior Luke Salerno, have made a big impact at linebacker.
Senior Sam Henson, a Seneca Valley graduate, has also turned in a stellar year at linebacker and Butler graduate Rob Kunst has contributed in a variety of ways.
Callihan, Conto and Henson are team captains.
“I'll say this about Dalton, we were in a game a few weeks ago and we found ourselves down 20-0 in the first quarter,” DiDonato said. “Dalton is a captain and the way he talked to the guys — he didn't panic; he didn't get frustrated. He just stayed positive and had the guys focus on the right things, and we ended up pulling that game out late.
“Ethan and Dalton and Sam Henson as well — their leadership as captains has been instrumental in what we've been able to accomplish.”
What Grove City has accomplished puts this team in rare air in the 126-year history of football at the school.
The 7-3 record this season is the best since 1997. The Wolverines are 11-6 since snapping that 33-game losing streak last season.
Saturday's game against Morristown will also be just the second postseason appearance in program history.
“It's amazing. These seniors were 0-20 at the halfway point of their college careers and for them to get to this point ... to get us in position where we're 7-3 and playing a postseason game, I think our seniors have as amazing of a story as anyone.”
But the seniors don't want that story to reach its denouement just yet.They want those who come after them to reach the ultimate destination of the vision that was laid out for the football team when DiDonato took over in 2016.“It's just another brick,” Callihan said. “Our goal is to win PAC championships, not play in ECAC bowls. But obviously this is a gigantic brick to get to this point.”It's also another week spent with their teammates.That's something Conto relishes.“I've been playing with Dalton for the longest time and Salerno,” Conto said. “It's a great opportunity to play one more time with them and all the guys on the team. I made great friends and they are all my brothers.”For Conto, it was a welcome treat to extend his career another week.“It feels like I'm playing on borrowed time, but it's a special thing,” Conto said. “I thought I was done.”Grove City is determined to send those seniors out with another win.“This is by far the biggest game I've ever played in, I would say,” Henson said. “And it will be my last one.”Salerno in particular wants to cap the season with an eighth victory.“A lot of my friends are seniors,” Salerno said. “We thought last week that, 'Hey, maybe this Thiel game was our last chance to play together,' but now this is their last game. I want to do it for them. They got us here.”But each player will say the vision has gotten them here.“That vision the coaching staff has, that brick-by-brick foundation they have set, is clear,” Salerno said. “It's great to know the people you are playing with have the same vision you have, too. It's easier to work together when you are all working for the same thing.”
