BY KEVIN BONESKE

REPORTER/PHOTOGRAPHER

Rhinelander High School senior Tim Palubicki made it official Tuesday when he signed a letter of intent to play Division III football next season at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Palubicki was joined at RHS by family, Hodag coaching staff and players for the signing ceremony.

“I’m going to be happy to represent the Hodags at UW-Stevens Point,” he said.

Palubicki said he is looking forward to playing football at the collegiate level, for which he hopes to be on special teams his freshman season and then see playing time as a slot receiver.

He said he was also recruited by Lakeland College, but decided to go to UWSP because it “was closer and it felt more at home.”

Palubicki said the Pointers will have a lot of seniors graduating his freshman year in college, which should provide him with the opportunity to play after his first season on the team.

“I’m hoping I can just fill those roles and do as well as they did at Stevens Point,” he said.

Palubicki said UWSP likes to mix up its offense with both passing and running.

“They’re a pass school (on offense),” he said. “Their defense, I would go play there, too, but it’s just wherever they want me.”

Academically, Palubicki said he plans to major in either athletic training or physical therapy.

“Just going through a broken wrist all my senior year (in high school), it was nice to see how athletic training and physical therapy really did for me,” he said. “I want to major in that.”