The Dream Comes True Wednesday, February 24, 2010 By Huston Jack Cody Poole and Tyler Brassfield move the line of scrimmage during Senior Night against Smithville. They, along with Mitchell Ruckman will continue their playing careers at Missouri Valley College. - Advertising Every young boy who has ever walked this Earth has had the same dream. That dream is to play professional sports. The kids dream of making the game winning catch or batting the winning run in. Every star athlete today started in the same place...school. Cameron gives the opportunity to all high school students to participate in sports, whether it be football, basketball, soccer, tennis, or any of the others. After high school, there are two paths every athlete must choose to travel down. The two paths are to leave their playing days behind or to continue those days in college. After the successful season the Cameron Dragon football team had this year, three Dragons chose to follow the second path. Senior football players Cody Poole, Mitchell Ruckman, and Tyler Brassfield have committed to the Missouri Valley College located in Marshall, MO. The Vikings play in the Heart of America Athletic Conference and are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Opponents of MVC include Benedictine, William Jewel, and Graceland University. "I'm extremely excited to be playing in college," said Senior Football Co-Captain Mitchell Ruckman. "Missouri Valley is going to be a great place to play." Mitchell played right tackle and defensive end for the dragons and led the team in defensive touchdowns. He will continue playing at the defensive end position in college. "I have to gain a lot of weight for the spot I'm going to play at," said Mitchell. "The coaches want me at about 240 pounds, so I've been eating and lifting a bunch to do that." Mitchell was recruited by more than just MVC. Missouri Southern, Benedictine, Missouri Western, and a few other colleges and universities were in the process of recruiting Mitchell. In the end, MVC won out. "The facilities and staff at the college are really nice," said Mitchell. "The campus is great and isn't too far from home, so my family will be able to come and watch my games." Mitchell will be joined by Cody Poole at MVC. Cody played left tackle and defensive end for the Dragons as well.  "The coaches seem very nice and knowledgeable," said Cody. "They are moving me to tightend. Basically, I'm going to be more of another tackle than an actual tightend, but either way it's going to be a fun ride." Cody, along with Mitchell, will have to gain a lot of weight. "The coaches would like to see me gain about 60 pounds. They want me at about 260 or 265. Now I'm eating a bunch of food and lifting like a madman trying to gain weight." Cody and Mitchell were evaluated on January 18 at a combine, or a tryout,  put on by MVC for their football prospects. The activities for the day included bench press, the forty yard dash, the pro agility, and a few other drills that tested the endurance, speed, and strength of athlete. Tyler Brassfield also participated in the combine but on January 25. Tyler played center and defensive tackle for the Dragons. "I'm very excited to be playing football in college," said Tyler. "I really didn't think I was, but after the combine, the coaches liked me enough and now I'm playing in college." "These kids have a great opportunity ahead of them," said Head Football Coach Mr.David Rash. "They have worked really hard to be able to continue on to the next level. Missouri Valley is going to be great for them." All in all, Cody, Mitchell, and Tyler have a long and hard path ahead of them, but that path can turn into a great life experience for them which will always be with them. They get to live out a dream that only a select few get to experience and, on top of that, they get to do it with some of their friends that they have bonded with through the sport they love, football.

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