Tri-County duo signs to play at ECCC
After winning three state championships, Tri-County Academy football duo Bryce Warriner and Brayden Walsh will hope to continue that success at the next level, as they both signed to play for East Central Community College on Friday morning.
Warriner, a quarterback, and Walsh, a defensive back and wide receiver, were both all-state performers during their time with the Rebels and made program history, being the first class of players to win three state titles in four seasons.
“This is a very special group of seniors that we had playing football for us this year,” Tri-County Academy Head Coach Philip Wasson said. “This is the first time in 20 plus years that I have had two guys that will be on the same team at the next level, so that’s just really special to me as a coach and it’s really special to the Tri-County program.”
Warriner leaves Tri-County Academy as the winningest quarterback in program history and was one of the major factors and leaders in the Rebels’ run of success.
“These last four teams that I have been a part of at Tri-County Academy, I feel like have set a new standard for the program going forward,” Warriner said. “Our senior group went to four state championships in four years and won three of them, so I feel like we had a great impact on this program during our time.”
Walsh was one of the state’s best on both sides of the ball during his time at Tri-County Academy, but especially stood out on the defensive side.
“Ever since I transferred here, Tri-County has just been a big family for me,” Walsh said. “I just can’t thank everyone enough for what they have done for me and we had a lot of success on the football field as well.
East Central is one of the state’s best junior college football programs, as the Warriors finished 8-3 last season and made it to the MACCC championship game.
“East Central really stood out to me because of their coaching staff, they really love the game of football,” Warriner said. “I really feel like they can help me grow and develop me both as a player and a person.”
“To put it simply, it felt like home to me,” Walsh said on his decision to sign with East Central. “The coaching staff welcomed me with open arms and they were very transparent on my visit, so it really felt like the right decision for me.”
Now, the dynamic duo that were such integral parts of the Tri-County Academy football program’s recent success will try to replicate that success at the next level and will have a great relationship between them going into college.
“Bryaden (Walsh) and I have been playing football together since he got here in eighth grade,” Warriner said. “We have a great connection on the field and I think we can continue that into the next level.”
“We have really been good friends ever since I got to Tri-County,” Walsh said on his relationship with Bryce Warriner. “We both bonded over the game of football and that led to a deeper friendship outside of just football.”