By Kevin Connelly

kconnelly@vindy.com

Growing up, all Vito Penza wanted to do was play quarterback.

Instead, he was continuously told his body frame was too big, his strength was better served elsewhere, or his physical style would never thrive at that position.

So when Penza finally got the chance to play under center at Ursuline High School his senior year, the big, strong, physical football player proved the joke was on those who doubted him. He also caught the eye of Dartmouth College, which offered him a chance of a lifetime.

“It’s always been a dream to go to the Ivy League and especially play Division I football,” Penza said. “It’s a blessing, and I’m just so grateful for my parents putting me in a position to achieve it.”

The Ursuline senior was also looking at Cornell and held offers from Eastern Michigan and Air Force, but after one weekend on campus and an in-home visit from Big Green head coach Buddy Teevens, Penza knew.

“I definitely get the Youngstown atmosphere with the genuine people and just how welcoming they are,” he said of Hanover, N.H. “As soon as I sat down and talked with Coach Teevens, I knew he was the man I wanted to play under.”

There are no academic or athletic scholarships in the Ivy League. Instead, schools can provide financial aid to students, including athletes, if it’s granted. Excelling in athletics only enhances your chances of being admitted, but none of that was a concern for Penza.

“I knew it was the best possible situation and I knew I couldn’t pass up an Ivy League education,” he said. “Given the opportunity to graduate with an Ivy League degree, I think it’ll be well worth it.”

Penza plans to start as an economics major, with a concentration in finance and international trade. His sister, Christina, lives in Turin, Italy and he would love to join her there — first through study abroad, then in the business world.

On the football field, Penza made it very clear he intends on playing quarterback for the Big Green.

“I’m definitely going in as a quarterback,” he said. “I’m going to compete. I know they have a great quarterback in Dalyn Williams up there right now, but as a competitor I’m definitely going to try and at least give it a shot to win the starting job.

“If not, I don’t think there’s a better player sitting behind Dalyn Williams.”

When Dartmouth first started recruiting Penza, he was playing a lot at running back and linebacker for the Irish. With help from the Ursuline coaching staff, and Penza’s commitment to the quarterback position, he never lost sight of where he wanted to be. After Chris Durkin graduated and moved on to Virginia Tech, he finally got his chance.

“Vito is a great team player and contributor,” said Ursuline football coach Larry Kempe. “This year he stepped in and worked very hard at his craft.

“He was able to lead this senior class and that’s a big reason why we had the success that we did.”

Kempe said Penza is the first Ivy League student-athlete he’s had in his 10 years as a head coach. He attributes that to the priority his quarterback put on academics from the start.

“I’m very proud of Vito,” Kempe said. “I think that’s a testament to his hard work hard in the classroom and on the football field.

“I think it’s a heck of a compliment to our academic institution to have the Ivy League and an academy show strong interest in one of our kids. That’s great for Ursuline High School.”

Penza also expressed his gratitude toward his coaches for helping him along the way. He said he and Kempe spoke everyday in the fall about leadership and how that doesn’t mean do everything yourself.

“I think the biggest thing is how much room for improvement [I have],” Penza said. “Every day I’m going to try and get better and work on my skill set.

“Coach Kempe played a very big part in my success and I’ll never be able to repay him.”

Penza made his second visit to Dartmouth’s campus last weekend — a place he calls an extension of home. Although he hasn’t been much of a skier or snowboarder recently, he might have to get back into it after observing his soon-to-be classmates.

“It was pretty cool going up [last] weekend and just seeing students walking around with their skis and snowboards, ready to get on the bus that was gonna take them up there,” Penza said. “I just think that it’s such a cool experience to be able to do all that stuff and still be a Division I football player at a prestigious institution like Dartmouth.

“It really opens a lot of doors — and I think I’m gonna have a lot of fun on the slopes.”