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South Pittsburg, TN – The South Pittsburg High School Pirate football program boasted a number of accolades this past season. One of those was having a finalist for the statewide Mr. Football Award in Ronto Tipton. All the more impressive to this distinction is that Tipton suffered an injury back in August at the area Jamboree that kept his playing time down for the first two games of the season. Once he found his way back onto the field, well, the rest is history. Multiple 100 plus yard rushing games and a number of his best runs were not for lots of yardage, but an exhibition of leaving defenses flatfooted, watching him get those two extra yards for the first down.
Unsurprisingly, Tipton’s playing days won’t end with his high school graduation. Only recently did the world learn exactly where his career would continue. As it turns out, there will be a real familiarity, as Tipton with be joining another couple of Pirate players at Hudson Valley Community College. Tipton said of his decision, “This was just a place that felt like they could develop me and get me noticed.” Tipton makes no bones about his ambitions to continue playing beyond Hudson Valley. When asked where he saw himself in two years, Tipton smiled and said, “Looking at somewhere big.” Tipton was realistic about the distance from family in Troy, New York. “There’s no doubt there’ll be a adjustment…for all of us, but I really felt like this was the right next step.” Tipton’s transition will ideally be softened by being able to lean on Jaylyn Hubbard and Josh Hutchins, given they have also signed to play at Hudson.
Pirate Coach, Vic Grider said, “Ronto has just done everything we’ve asked of him…on and off the field. He works hard in the weight room. He’s extremely athletic… he’s just been a solid and dependable guy for the team.”
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