'Still in shock': Thomas graduate Reese Dykstra treasures Long Island football scholarship

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'Still in shock': Thomas graduate Reese Dykstra treasures Long Island football scholarship

Long Island tight end Reese Dykstra, a Thomas Worthington graduate, celebrates during a November 2022 game against Central Connecticut State. Dykstra played his first two years on a partial scholarship but received a full ride during a team meeting Aug. 16. Video of the moment went viral.

Dave Purpura, Columbus Dispatch · The Columbus Dispatch

Wed, Aug 30, 2023 ·

4 min read

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Reese Dykstra might not have fielded so many congratulatory calls and texts over the past two weeks if he had won the lottery.

In a sense, the Thomas Worthington graduate did exactly that, though the stakes might have made this even sweeter. And none of the well-wishers want anything in return, other than for Dykstra to reap the rewards of a full scholarship to play football for Long Island University .

"If they have my number, they've reached out," said Dykstra, a redshirt sophomore tight end for the Sharks, who open their season Saturday at Ohio University.

Such news after two years of partially paying his own way through college, then learning earlier this summer that his bill would almost triple, would have been life-changing in any case. But the moment Dykstra, 21, learned of his good fortune went viral — it was captured on video by LIU 's sports information department during a team meeting Aug. 16 and shared on social media, leading to it being picked up by national media outlets.

"It was huge news and a complete 180 (-degree turn) of my life," Dykstra said. "I'm still in shock from it, basically."

Long Island's Reese Dykstra, a Thomas Worthington graduate, makes a tackle during a September 2022 game at Kent State. Dykstra moved from linebacker to tight end later last season.

Dykstra did not necessarily travel a linear path to college football , despite being a third-team all-state linebacker for Thomas as a senior in 2020. He originally was being recruited to Urbana University by former Ohio State offensive lineman Jim Cordle, but that school closed in spring 2020.

Any recruiting visits were canceled that summer because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Cordle, who eventually was hired at LIU, continued to woo Dykstra. Dykstra committed to the Sharks despite not visiting in person until shortly before his freshman year.

A partial scholarship meant Dykstra still was on the hook for a couple thousand dollars, but it did not take tuition increases into account. Dykstra had to pay roughly $6,000 last year, an amount that more than tripled over the summer due to federal student aid regulations.

Long Island's Reese Dykstra, a Thomas Worthington graduate, high-fives a teammate during a November 2022 game against Central Connecticut State. Dykstra played his first two years on a partial scholarship but received a full ride during a team meeting Aug. 16. Video of the moment went viral.

Dykstra's older brother, Louis, turned 24 this summer and therefore was no longer considered a dependent, meaning Reese and his parents, Kim and Corey, would not receive as much aid.

Reese, an economics major who already held a part-time job, never considered switching schools.

"In no way was he leaving," said Kim Dykstra, a teacher at Columbus' Downtown High School who pushed her son to approach coaches about a larger scholarship. "I think it's hard for a kid to say: 'Can I have more money?' "

LIU coach Ron Cooper was familiar with both Dykstra's predicament and his work ethic. Dykstra saw limited playing time as a linebacker his first two years and switched to tight end midway through last season, making two catches for 39 yards and filling more of a blocker's role.

"He took his lumps and bruises," Cooper told News12 Long Island last week. "His attitude has been unbelievable. His grades are outstanding, and he can play football. He has all the things it takes to be on a full scholarship.

"We don't give anything away."

Long Island's Reese Dykstra, a Thomas Worthington graduate, makes a reception during a November 2022 game against Central Connecticut State.

Cooper called the team together Aug. 16 for what he said what was a compliance meeting. Dykstra noticed cameras when he entered the room, and remembered one of his teammates saying he felt like the cameras were pointed at Dykstra.

Cooper took a call minutes later, and soon announced that he was on FaceTime with Kim. She had received the news less than an hour before while in a grocery store and joined coaches in breaking the news.

Cooper made the announcement, and Dykstra was overcome with emotion while his teammates celebrated with hugs and pats on the back.

"I saw such a look of validation," Kim said. "He was in awe. He felt really respected and valued.

"This year was going to be such a huge challenge, then this happened."

Word spread fast, including back to his alma mater.

"He deserves this," said Mike Picetti, who became Thomas' football coach in 2020. "He was just a great role model for the other kids on what our expectations were going forward. He set an enormous example."

Saturday promises to be special in at least one respect. Both of Dykstra's parents and a handful of other relatives graduated from OU, and Dykstra has fielded so many ticket requests that he "can't even put a number to it."

On the field, however, Dykstra said this game and the rest of the season will be no different.

"I'm still maintaining the same path," he said. "I'm still putting my head down; I'm still working to continue to be the best I can be. But other than that, it's still surreal."

dpurpura@dispatch.com

@dp_dispatch

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio native Reese Dykstra treasures full football scholarship to LIU

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