For about the last three years or so, it’s been Central Tigers lineman Josh Marino’s desire to play college football. His dream became a reality last Wednesday morning when he signed a letter of intent with Oklahoma Baptist University.

“Ever since freshman year, I made a decision to do it (try to get to play college football),” Marino said. “I’ve been working toward this goal. Now, that it’s finally coming into fruition, I’m excited. It’s going to be awesome.”

“I’m very excited for Josh,” Central football coach Jeremy Thompson said. “It’s well deserving. He’s worked hard for this. It’s been a goal he’s had in mind for about three years now. In his sophomore year, he started talking about it. He was wanting to play college football. The work he put in to get this opportunity, he’s very deserving. I know he’s going to move on to the next level, and have a great (college) career.”

It’s almost a certainty that Marino will be red-shirted for the 2024 season, but the Central senior believes that’s a good thing for him.

“I’ll probably be redshirted,” he said. “When I went on my visit, there’s a very high chance I’ll be red-shirted. I’m actually more excited because I’ll have a year to develop, get better and hone my craft.”

Something even more special about signing with OBU is who will be joining Marino. About 30 minutes prior to him signing his OBU football letter of intent, CHS senior cheerleader, and Marino’s girlfriend, Avery Warner also signed a letter of intent with OBU to be a part of the pom/dance team.

“It’s very helpful,” Marino said about signing with OBU. “I’m very excited we get to go to the same school.”

Even if his chance at college football wasn’t going to materialize, he was all but certain he was going to college in Shawnee.

“It felt like that was where the Lord wanted me to be,” the CHS senior lineman said. “I was going to go there either way, whether I played college football or not. It just so happened that football became part of the plan, so I’m excited.”

“Josh’s character and hard work, everything Josh has going into his future, Josh is going to be very successful at anything he does,” Thompson said. “To go represent the Central Tigers wearing that (OBU) Bison uniform is very exciting for me.”