• Scholarship amount: $5000
• Name of Winner: Sam Pachl
• College Attending: UW-Eau Clair (Plays Football at UW)
#31 Blugolds Defensive End
Height: 6-3
Weight: 209
Year: Freshman
Hometown: South St. Paul, Minn.
Previous School: South St. Paul H.S.
Three-time letterwinner and two-year starter in football.
All-Conference Team Captain.
The first recipient of the Justin C, Crane Memorial Scholarship was awarded on May 14, 2014 to South St. Paul High School Senior, Samuel Pachl. We’d love to share a little about Sam with all of you who support Jutty’s Buddies to meet the kind of great young man your donations support!
According to the South St Paul Foundation, our scholarship has the strictest requirements, considering academics, athleticism and character – but we now know that it is this exact criteria which has found us the perfect first recipient! As we have gotten to know more about Sam, the similarities between he and his family with Justin is quite amazing!! Sam is a great representative of Justin and what this scholarship stands for!
Sam Pachl, was born and raised in South St. Paul, Minnesota to Jason and Amy (Wicke) Pachl, lifelong residents and SSP alumni themselves. This fall, Sam will be attending and playing football for the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire.
In the words of SSP Football Head Coach, Chad Sexauer: “Sam is an outstanding football player/athlete, however he’s a better person. His character, work ethic and ability to address difficult tasks will serve him well as he starts the next chapter in his life. Sam Pachl is another example of the tradition of exceptional student/athletes that walk the halls of South Saint Paul High School. It has been a pleasure to coach Sam and watch him grow as a man.”
In addition to football, Sam also wrestled and participated in track & field while at South St Paul High School. He was also a member of SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving). Sam said that his favorite class in high school was Sports Marketing. He really enjoyed learning about different jobs, endorsement deals and how the overall market works.
As Sam ventures off to UW-Eau Claire, he is looking forward to entering the next chapter into adulthood, meeting new people and the independence of living on his own. We look forward to following Sam’s football career at UW-Eau Claire and wish him all the best!!