A series to share #smiles across our community through the achievements of our local youth, brought to you by Olsen Orthodontics.
Written by Vince Tropea
(Lander, WY) – Lander Valley High School football standout Paxon Hollingshead will officially be a Knight after signing to Carleton College this week in Lander, where he was surrounded by family and friends.
Hollingshead, who played quarterback his senior year but also had experience as a safety on defense, told County 10 that he will continue his football career at the Minnesota college, and may even go out for the baseball team. He said that he plans to go into the medical field, with a focus on either biology or chemistry.
Hollingshead said one of his gridiron highlights was the Tigers’ victory over Jackson in November, which marked the first time the Tigers had won a playoff game since 2004.
“The big one was the playoff game against Jackson; that was probably the best game I had,” Hollingshead shared. “And I also did it on a twisted ankle, too.”
Hollingshead visited Carleton last summer, before senior year. He liked the college’s size and how easy it was to get around the campus, and was excited that the football program operates on a twice-a-week practice schedule to help place an emphasis on academics.
Hollingshead was supported by family and friends at the signing, including mom Samantha, dad Patrick, stepmom Ambrosia, grandparents Trish and Ted, sister Paisley, and a gallery of bros.
“I’m just so proud of how hard he’s worked in sports and school, his whole high school career, and then just accomplishing what he wants to go do, so excited for his future,” Samantha shared. Mom had some great advice for Paxon as he heads off to the next chapter. “Just to keep being responsible and a leader, and don’t lose sight of yourself.”
“I’m super proud of him, not just for football, but because he chose a really good high academic school for his future,” Patrick said. “He wants to be a neurosurgeon, and I think that this school that he’s picked out will set him up for an Ivy League med school, and we’re excited that he’s playing football. He also has a chance to walk on for baseball, so being an athlete, his whole upbringing, I think it’ll be good to be part of another brotherhood when he gets there, it’ll help him out in school, I think.”
Patrick explained that Carleton football coach Tom Journell started recruiting Paxon about a year ago. Patrick already has some Knight gear on its way to show his support. He said the Minnesota college will also be a great fit because Paxon is a big Vikings fan.
Patrick echoed Paxon’s view that the Jackson game was a highlight.
“Probably had one of the best games, maybe that a quarterback’s had in Lander, and two days before that, we didn’t know if he was gonna play because his brand ankle was so bad. A lot of people didn’t even know that he could hardly walk, and then he had a heck of a game. …I was proud of all the boys, the way they played.”
Hollingshead credited Coaches Rounds, Burton, and Moffat with pushing him to be his best.
“I just put in the work every day; football practice is hard, but at the end of the day, it was worth it, and we got better as a team. We went from 0-9 to winning some playoff games.”
