Ivy League play begins, and SoCal players seek

Jackson Renger, the star outdoors linebacker on Los Alamitos’ Southern Section Division 2 championship soccer staff last season, packed his baggage and boarded a flight on Aug. 14 to start life as an Ivy Leaguer at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.

Armed with a 4.4 grade-point average and recollections of profitable a championship with his best associates, Renger is getting into the world of school soccer while competing in an educational setting that includes the best of the best.

“I’ve been told football might be the easiest part,” he said. “I’m coming in to be surprised.”

The Ivy League continues to recruit players from Southern California. Former St. John Bosco quarterback Caleb Sanchez is getting into his junior 12 months at Columbia, which has 10 Southland merchandise on its roster. St. John Bosco defensive back Dorian Franklin is dedicated to Harvard.

Aiding Renger are eight other players from Southern California on the Cornell roster.

“They said it will be fine and help me,” he said of the transition.

Renger visited Cornell 3 times last 12 months but has accomplished little preparation this 12 months for what he might be going through in his balancing act of soccer and teachers. He’s going to trust his expertise and earlier experiences.

“My biggest concern is the academics,” he said. “Throw on top of that football, that’s going to be a real challenge. They said you have to be on top of your stuff and can’t let either get on top of you.”

When Renger left home last month, he packed what he might, flying to New Jersey to go to household, then drove to New York with his mother and father before transferring in on a Sunday. He had hernia surgical procedure in July and spent six weeks recovering and still believes he ought to have the option to contribute on the sphere as a freshman.

One factor he didn’t deliver to Cornell was a heat jacket for snow. He didn’t trust the shops in Orange County.

“That’s what I’m thinking,” he said. “They’re going to sell me something useless.”

So he’ll trust the shops in New York or perhaps obtain suggestions from teammates once the snow comes.

He’s going off to school to explore and take a look at himself on and off the sphere. That’s what Ivy Leaguers do.

“Cornell is such a unique and big school,” he said. “I’m not sure what I want to do. I want to try different things when I’m there.”

Football has taught him the most important lesson for anybody who performs sports activities — never stop.

“This is a whole new challenge. I’ll put my head down and try,” he said.

Friends are welcome to ship mittens, ski caps and scorching soup when the snow comes. Football begins on Sept. 19. The Southern California natives are sure to shake arms after video games and focus on happenings back home while never forgetting that “Winter is Coming.”

The breath of a dragon gained’t save them but a heat coat will.

A glance at players from local faculties on Ivy League rosters:

Harvard: DB Chase Mason, San Juan Hills; DB Iroc Cordova, Inglewood; Okay Dylan Fingersh, Capistrano Valley; OL Nate Turk, Loyola; DL Mikhal Johnson, Sierra Canyon.

Brown: DL Caden Harman, Sierra Canyon; DL Mitch Mooney, San Marino.

Yale: DB Dillon Rickenbacker, St. John Bosco; WR Davis Wong, Brentwood.

Pennsylvania: LB Trevor Pajak, Mater Dei; WR Tyler George, Corona Centennial.

Columbia: WR Caden Butler, Chaparral; WR Bryce Coleman, Crean Lutheran; WR Elliot Cooper, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame; DB Ethan Fullerton, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame; QB Caleb Sanchez, St. John Bosco; DL Austin Coronado, Glendora; WR Jarod Sersansie, JSerra; DL Will Matthew, Orange Vista; TE Santiago Hernandez, Harvard-Westlake.

Cornell: WR Cameron Shannon, JW North; DL Darryl Davis, Culver City; TE Brandon Gilbert, Murrieta Valley; TE Adrian Ortiz, Redondo Union; LB Jackson Renger, Los Alamitos; Okay AJ Salo, Chaminade.

Dartmouth: OL Ryan Turk, Loyola; LB Timothy Ioane Jr., Tustin.

Princeton: LB Fifita Tauteoli-Moore, Corona Centennial; QB Wyatt Becker, Sierra Canyon; RB Kai Honda, Gardena Serra.