Rashadeem Gray Will Play Football in North Dakota

After racking up more than 1,600 rushing yards and leading the Blue Dukes to a historic football season, Whitefish Bay senior Rashadeem Gray plans to head to Grand Forks, N.D. after graduation.

The Whitefish Bay tri-athlete has committed to playing football for the University of North Dakota next year. The school offered him a full-ride scholarship after recruiting him for about a year. Gray also received interest from Western Illinois University and Northern Iowa University.

Gray has visited the North Dakota campus twice and was able to spend time with the coaches and players. He said he and his mother both felt the school would be a good fit.

"They're in the process of building a program, which is what we've been doing in Whitefish Bay," Gray said. "I'm looking forward to being a part of that."

North Dakota is a Division 1 AA football team playing in the Big Sky Conference. Prior to this current school year, the school competed in Division 2, where it took the national championships in 2001. The school's old nickname, The Fighting Sioux, has been ruled offensive by the NCAA, and Gray said he's curious to see what the new nickname is going to be.

Gray, who is also a strong wrestler and track star, said North Dakota does not have a wrestling program, and he hasn't yet decided if he will join the track team at UND.

Although he said his friends wish he was playing closer to home, Gray said he is looking forward to joining the team and is not bothered by the distance from home or the cold temperatures. 

"I don’t mind cold," he said. "We visited last week when it was snowy and icy, so I've seen it at its worst."