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From Mt. Pleasant to Pella: 3 Panthers sign with Central
Andy Krutsinger
May. 19, 2021 8:09 pm
MT. PLEASANT — There was a whole lot of red and white in the Mt. Pleasant Community High School media center on Tuesday. Three Panther seniors donned those colors while all signing with Central College in Pella.
Two of those Panthers, Jack Johnson and Chase Williamson, inked their names for the Central football team. Two days ahead of state track, Karsyn Lamm signed to join Central track and field.
Johnson stepped into the quarterback position this fall, but the former running back says he is getting set to slide into a new spot when he gets to Pella.
“The first year, I'm going to work as a slot receiver,” Johnson said. “(Coach) just told me to keep an open mind, because I told them wherever they want to put me, I'll go.”
Johnson was a burner on the ground this year, running for 916 yards and 12 scores. He passed for 1,240 yards and five touchdowns.
Johnson’s top receiver from 2020 will be right beside him at college. Like Johnson, Williamson plans on playing slot for the Dutch.
Williamson caught 31 passes for 558 yards and two scores last season. He caught five touchdown passes one year prior, all from 2020 graduate Brody Bender, one of the current Central quarterbacks.
“Starting senior year with the recruiting process, I talked to Brody a lot,” Williamson said. “Throughout the process, I thought Central was the best fit.”
Both Johnson and Williamson said they wanted to stay in Iowa, and particularly that they wanted to stick close to Mt. Pleasant.
“I was huge on staying in the state of Iowa,” Williamson said. “I wanted to stay close to home because I’m a huge mama’s boy.”
Lamm will be following in her mother’s footsteps by heading to Pella. She says the staff there made it feel like the right place to continue her track and field career.
“I looked at different schools, but it was definitely the coaches that brought me back to Central,” Lamm said. “I really liked the head coach, and the hurdles and jumps coach.”
Lamm says she may be stepping into the world of multi events once she gets into college. The Panther senior already has the hurdles and jumps down, as proof by her line of work this season, but she says she’ll have to work on the throwing part.
“I actually did a pentathlon when I was in seventh grade,” Lamm said. “I wasn’t very big, and I remember throwing the shot put like 10 feet in front of me.”
Lamm has plans to go into prepharmacy but says she isn’t entirely sure. Williamson plans on majoring in physical education, and Johnson is undecided.
Surrounded by family, Mt. Pleasant’s Jack Johnson signs his letter of intent for Central College football on Tuesday. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)
Mt. Pleasant’s Chase Williamson poses with his family after signing with Central College football on Tuesday. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)
Mt. Pleasant’s Karsyn Lamm poses with her family after signing her letter of intent to join the track and field team at Central College. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)