The decorated high school athletic career of recent West Central Valley graduate Billy Larsen produced an opportunity for him to continue playing football at an in-state college institution. Larsen signed with the Graceland University football team last April and will compete for a wide receiver position on the Yellowjackets’ offense. Eric Addy coached Larsen for three seasons on the football field and his senior track season. Addy told Raccoon Valley Radio on the July 16th Guthrie County PM Sports Page that Larsen continued working with the West Central Valley football team over the summer months. “It’s good for him to come back and for our guys to see that ‘hey, I can go play college football and be from West Central Valley'” Addy said, “He’s a great example of that.”

Larsen’s senior season featured 28 receptions for 297 yards, helping West Central Valley to a 3-6 overall record. He joins a Graceland University football team that went 1-10 last fall as a member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The 2018 West Central Valley football season commences three Friday’s from today on August 24, traveling to Urbandale for a nondistrict game versus the Des Moines Christian Lions.