By Kevin Eckleberry

Sports Editor

Troup High’s Alex McGhee didn’t want to decide between football and wrestling.

Thanks to Shorter College, he won’t have to.

McGhee has signed a letter of intent to play both sports at the NAIA school in Rome.

While the football program is well-established and has recently been to the NAIA playoffs, the wrestling program will be in its first year.

“I’m very excited to be going on a football scholarship, and it’s even better that I’m going on a football and wrestling scholarship,” McGhee said. “Those are the two sports I love to play. I’m really excited.”

Shorter is getting an impact performer in both sports.

In football, he was a big-play linebacker.

In wrestling, he was a standout at 189 pounds who finished second at the Region 2-AAA meet to qualify for state.

McGhee knows there’ll be a huge jump in the competition level, but he said he’s “ready for the challenge.”

McGhee said his wrestling coach, Clint DeMooney, found out about the budding wrestling program at Troup and helped him make that connection.

He visited Shorter, and when he found out he could play both sports, it was an easy decision, especially when he got to know the coaches.

“Me and the coaches hit it off automatically,” he said. “We’re real comfortable. I’m real good with everybody so far.”

McGhee graduates this weekend, and then it’ll be off to college.

He has already met the necessary requirements to admittance to Shorter.

“I’m excited,” he said. “I’m ready to go.”

McGhee said part of the thrill of earning an athletic scholarship is seeing the reaction of his parents.

“It means a lot to my parents,” McGhee said. “It’s a dream come true for me to go to college with not just one, but two scholarships.”