Wawasee’s Austin Pearish signed to play football at Defiance College Thursday.
Pictured in front, from left, are Samantha Pearish, Austin Pearish and Ken Pearish. In the back is Wawasee vice principal Vince Beasley, Wawasee assistant football coach Adolph Hathaway, Wawasee head coach Josh Ekovich and Wawasee principal Kim Nguyen.

SYRACUSE — Thursday was a big day for a former Wawawsee athlete.

Austin Pearish signed to continue his football career at Defiance College.

“I picked Defiance for the family friendliness I felt when I visited,” Pearish said. “I am looking forward to a great four years, meeting new people and, of course, playing football.”

Defiance competes in the Heartland Athletic Conference and is an NCAA Division III program.