Cody Krall, a senior at Greater Latrobe High School, who is a Second Team All Conference football player, has navigated a journey filled with both triumphs and challenges. Throughout his high school career, he went through multiple surgeries that he never let stop him from excelling on the football field. With all of his dedication shown on and off the football field, countless memorable games, he showcased his resilience and commitment to the sport. Although as Cody nears the end of his high school career, he stands at a crossroad with an important decision that will shape his future. 

Cody had his first surgery on his left shoulder his sophomore year of high school, then proceeded to have another smaller surgery on his right shoulder his senior year.The first surgery he had was for a torn labrum, so now Cody has 4 anchors in his left shoulder. The one senior year was just a clean up for his right shoulder to stop it from popping as much. He had a different recovery with each one. For his senior year recovery he said, “I had physical therapy two days a week and all the other days I’m in the weight room on my own.” Cody only had his sling on his senior year for two days while the one he had in sophomore year he had to keep the sling on for eight weeks. 

With the small surgery he had this year impacted him enough that he would not be able to wrestle his senior year. Although Cody did not wrestle for many years, he began wrestling his freshman year, had surgery his sophomore year not allowing him to wrestle, and got back to it his junior year before having to have another small surgery his senior year. He had to make the decision to have the surgery. He said, “It definitely wasn’t an easy decision but I knew if I wanted to play football in college that I needed to get the surgery done and wrestling wouldn’t be in the cards.” 

Although Cody is cresting  his senior year, he has a very hard decision to make and has to make it soon. He not only has to decide if he enjoys college in general, but also the football aspect. Cody said, “Football is pretty important in my college decision but for me it’s a little different because I won’t be getting any scholarship money so I have to find a place I can afford to go to and also enjoy but also get a good education for four years.” Since he will be going D3 Cody is not able to receive scholarship money for playing football at the schools. Therefore the offers to play there are so that he knows if he decides to go to that specific school he is already on the team and the coach wants him there, unlike Lycoming the coach will eventually offer but just has not yet.

Cody has many different options of colleges; some have given him official offers such as Allegheny College, Baldwin Wallace University,Waynesburg College, and most recently WestMinster College. Cody also has an unofficial offer from Lycoming College. Out of all those schools Cody said, “As of right now my top picks are Waynesburg University, Lycoming College, and Westminster College.” These 3 schools made his top picks based on the campus life and the football establishments. He is weighing his options carefully, balancing his passion for football with his future academic and financial goals and needs. Although on February 12, 2025 he decided where he will be continuing his career and education. Cody decided that he will be attending Westminster College in the 2025 fall semester.

Cody has had an incredible high school journey, filled with challenges and triumphs that have shaped him into the person he is today. As he had to face the critical decision of where to continue his education and football career, he stands at a pivotal moment that will define his next chapter. His story is one of unwavering strength, resilience, and an unyielding commitment to his goals, no matter the obstacles that have come his way. The choices he makes in the coming months will set the stage for the next four years of his life, but if his past is any indication, Cody will continue to pursue success with the same determination that has carried him through every challenge thus far.