October 12, 2024

Newton’s Galanakis picks William Penn football

New offense should help Galanakis get early opportunity

By Troy Hyde

Newton senior Tayvin Galanakis, seated center, held a signing ceremony at the high school last week. Joining him for the event were mother Lindsy Maxwell and sister Ni'Marley Maxwell, seated left, father Tony Galanakis, seated right, and (back row, from left) Teagan Galanakis and step mother Stacy Henwood. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

Newton senior Tayvin Galanakis never got the chance to play high school football with his uncle Jaron Roush.

But thanks to COVID-19 and a redshirt season, Galanakis and Roush will play on the same team this fall.

The Cardinal senior chose William Penn as his next destination and he made things official with a signing day at Newton High School last week.

“I almost went to Minnesota West, a junior college in Minnesota,” Galanakis said. “But William Penn gave me an offer I couldn’t turn down. I also get to play with my uncle Jaron Roush. We never got the chance to play in high school because we were too far a part.”

Galanakis chose William Penn over scholarship opportunities at Waldorf University and Graceland University.

“It’s an amazing campus, the coaches are great and it looks like a promising future there,” Galanakis said.

Newton senior Tayvin Galanakis will play college football at William Penn University. He held his signing ceremony last week at the high school.

Newton football coach Andy Swedenhjelm said William Penn is changing its offense and needs more receivers to adhere to the switch from a triple option to a spread.

“It’s a great fit for him. It’s an opportunity for him to work his way into the lineup,” Swedenhjelm said. “They are recruiting a whole bunch of receivers. He can compete right away because they will use a lot of receivers with the new offense.”

Galanakis hopes to take a similar route at William Penn that he took at Newton. He didn’t break into the lineup for the Cardinals until his senior year. He had no offers to play college football before the start of his final prep season.

“I need to work as hard as I can. That’s what I did here,” Galanakis said. “When I started here, I got no playing time and no looks, but I kept working and finally got my shot. It will be the same thing in college.”

Galanakis made four catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns this past season for the Cardinals. He had a long of 53 yards and averaged 24.3 yards per catch.

“You get four years of playing time and you’ll get a shot when it’s your time,” said Galanakis, who is undecided on a major. “I just need to keep improving and growing my game. That offense will be amazing. Hopefully I get a chance to play next year.”

Newton head football coach Andy Swedenhjelm, left, and assistant football coach Tom Weeks joined Cardinal senior Tayvin Galanakis at his signing ceremony last week. Galanakis will play football for William Penn at the next level. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

Swedenhjelm said Galanakis added 15-20 pounds to his frame during the offseason heading into his senior year. He may need to continue to add some weight before the end of this summer.

“He’ll have to bulk up,” Swedenhjelm said. “He’ll probably want to put on another 15 by the end of the summer to prepare himself for the college game.”

Galanakis joins a William Penn program which has not registered a winning season since going 7-4 in 2017. The Statesmen were 3-8 in 2021.