Simms ’16 Earns Scholarship to Football Powerhouse Oregon
K
eith Simms ’16 has earned
a diverse
University of Oregon, where
coaches
a full scholarship to the
he will play Division I football
this fall (see sidebar for a list of 16 seniors playing college sports).
Simms — a linebacker who had
more than 40 scholarship offers
from colleges including Stanford, the University of Maryland, and
Virginia Tech — says his Landon
person. My emphasized that there are a lot
of things in your life other than
sports, and that’s something I’m going to carry on in my life no
matter which level I’m playing at.” Simms’ father Patrick said this
teacher-coach-mentors helped
was a big reason Keith transferred
maximizing his potential in the
a sophomore. “Landon was the
pave the path to Oregon by
classroom and on the gridiron.
Coach Padalino has always kept me grounded and kept me focused, and he’s always believed in me. – Keith Simms ’16 “[Head] Coach [Paul]
Padalino and assistant coaches [Rob] Bordley ’66, [Charles]
Harley, [Conor] Cassidy ’06 and
[David] Holm have all had a huge impact in my life,” Simms said.
to Landon from St. Albans as best academic and athletic fit for Keith,” Patrick said. “It’s
not so much the football or the scholarships — I have been a
really proud parent watching him
coaches’ focus on balance. “Coach Padalino has always kept me
a lacerated liver cut short Simms’ senior football season.
“It was tough to be on the
sidelines at first,” Keith said, “but I feel like it made me a better teammate and a better leader
because it showed me what it
takes to inspire a team even when you’re not on the field.”
“What I saw come out in
for his peers emotionally when
said. “That transition said more about him as a person and his
experience at Landon than just his
performance on the athletic field.” “The measure of who we are
grounded and kept me focused,
is how we deal with adversity,”
Simms said. “Going to Landon,
responded to losing his senior year
and he’s always believed in me,” you become a diverse student,
SPRING 2016 | LANDON SCHOOL
WATER POLO Isher Gill George Washington University Rahul Gill Connecticut College
That growth was evident when
he couldn’t physically,” Padalino
Simms is also thankful for his
LACROSSE Griffin Brown Colgate University Justin Conner Cleveland State University
SOCCER Charles Branche III Ohio Wesleyan University A.J. Miele Dickinson College
the happiness in him.”
concepts my coaches instilled in way.”
FOOTBALL Mark Ebo College of the Holy Cross Joseph Gagnon Washington and Lee University Keith Simms University of Oregon Jacob Wright Ohio Wesleyan University
Drennan Green United States Military Academy Eriksen Johansen Denison University Tyler McTague Ohio Wesleyan University Brian Menendez Salisbury University
three years at Landon, just seeing
Keith was this ability to be there
me are going to carry me a long
BASEBALL Matthew Brady Carleton College Patrick Lightner Marist College
grow as a young man over the last
“I still have a lot of improvement
left, but some of the skill sets and
CLASS OF 2016 COLLEGE ATHLETES
Bordley added. “The way Keith
is a wonderful testament to him.”
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