WCHS star tailback Tristan McClone signed Friday to play football at Marian University. McClone is flanked by his parents Cassie and Dustin. In back are WCHS Athletic Director Dave Anson, WCHS football coach Phil Jensen, WCHS defensive coordinator Kris Hueber and Marian assistant coach Jacob Topp (Photo provided)

WARSAW – Warsaw Community High School senior tailback Tristan McClone has marched up and down the gridiron the past two seasons, sometimes untouched and sometimes carrying the ball and opponents with him.

On Friday, McClone made his first steps of his march toward collegiate athletics official with the signing of a letter of intent to attend Marian University in the fall where he will continue his football career with the Knights in Indianapolis.

With accolades pouring in after a record-setting season as a junior – an Indiana Gridiron Digest Prime Time 25 member entering the fall – McClone was the focus of opposing defenses his entire senior season, yet the gritty workhorse in the Tiger backfield turned in impressive performances night after night earning him Indiana Football Coaches Association First-Team All-State honors along with his second consecutive Times Union Offensive Player of the Year award.

Twice a Northern Lakes Conference All-Conference pick, the 3-year starter for the Tigers holds school records for yards in a season (1,716), Carries in a season (320), yards in a game (322), Touchdowns in a game (5), Career Carries (643), Yards per game in a season (171.8) and he finished with 3,340 career rushing yards.

While McClone has used his 5-11, 205 pound frame to plow through and past opponents, he has also had a tremendous impact for the Tigers’ Track and Field program.  A state qualifier in the 4×100 meters, McClone has twice earned All-NLC recognition, is a three-time conference and sectional champion, two-time regional champ, and he will be seeking his fourth varsity letter for the Warsaw Track & Field program.

The son of Cassie and Dustin McClone, Tristan has been tremendously active both with athletics as well as with organizations locally, as recognized by the Optimist and Rotary Clubs, and the WCHS Scholar Athlete Award winner has been named the WHME TV46 Student-Athlete of the Week.

While it has been difficult for opponents to trip up McClone on the field, the fleet-footed back has hardly stumbled in the classroom where he has earned a 10.44 grade-point average (12-point scale) while enrolled in numerous honors courses.

McClone intends to study Business Management at Marian, where the Knights have experienced a tremendous amount of success on the gridiron in the seven years of the program’s existence.  Marian, the 2012 NAIA National Champions, have an impressive 48-23 record in that span with two conference titles and three appearances in the NAIA FCS.