Chino Hills football player Zane Poulter signs NLI with Army
CHINO HILLS, Calif. — Zane Poulter is one of several student-athletes at Chino Hills High School who signed the National Letter of Intent and accepted a full scholarship to college. This fall, he will attend the United States Military Academy, an NCAA Division 1 school.
As his last year in high school draws to a close, Zane contemplates his impending college and military career.
鈥淲hen I was younger, I鈥檇 always thought about possibly going into the military, and maybe serving,鈥� said Zane. He said he hadn鈥檛 considered serving through a service academy like West Point.
鈥淢y cousin got an offer to play at Army, so I started thinking about that,鈥� he said. He started communicating with the coaches who he says were all nice and invited him for a visit. 鈥淭he coaches and players are all very accepting.鈥�
Last June, Zane and his parents Clint and Jessica traveled to West Point, New York, to meet the coaches and tour the school. They also visited colleges in Nevada and San Jose, but Zane felt confident about Army. 鈥淭he visit just sealed the deal for me,鈥� he said.
Zane loves football. He is also a pitcher for the varsity baseball team and played other sports in the past. But he appreciates the family aspect of being on the football team made up of players with different backgrounds who wouldn鈥檛 have otherwise created an inseparable bond.
As an outside linebacker, his primary objective is to rush the quarterback and set the edge for the run. 鈥淎long with this, I鈥檒l drop into coverage and play some zone defense,鈥� said Zane. 鈥淚 like that my position gives me the opportunity to have a serious impact on the game.鈥� His favorite memory of playing football occurred in his eighth-grade year when he made a diving catch to win the game with his team.
As a student, Zane is just as serious with a 4.2 GPA and an aptitude for math and problem-solving. One of the challenges of being a student-athlete is juggling his schoolwork and practice. He manages this challenge by staying on a consistent schedule. Besides playing football, Zane plans to major in mechanical engineering and is considering the Corps of Engineers while he serves. He鈥檚 expressed an interest in working with NASA or the space program.
Before he starts his college education in the fall, Zane will head to West Point in June for Beast, the term given to the Cadet Basic Training Zane which is like boot camp and lasts for six weeks. For the following four years, he will concentrate on his studies and upon graduation, will enlist with the Army as an officer and serve five years.
Despite being far away, this California native is counting on technology to keep him connected with his family and friends. West Point is in upstate New York and will undoubtedly be a change for Zane. 鈥淭he seasons are definitely one of the things I鈥檓 worried about,鈥� said Zane. 鈥淪outhern California is really cold when it鈥檚 50 or 60 degrees and we鈥檙e freezing.鈥�
His focus is clear, and his dedication is unwavering. Zane admires his grandfather, Bill Poulter, for being a hard worker and exemplifying what it is to be a man, teaching Zane how to treat others, respect everyone around you and put the Lord first.
He credits his parents with instilling confidence in him. 鈥淚 used to be really shy,鈥� said Zane. His dad gave him the advice to 鈥榥ot let what other people think to determine your self-worth, if you always care about what other people think then you won鈥檛 ever get anywhere in life.鈥� Zane said that it helped him in school, sports and talking to people. 鈥渋t鈥檚 definitely made a difference in my life.鈥�
Zane is the youngest of three. His older sister, Pricilla, is 22 and Cade is 19. They have two dogs, Lucky and Bandit. He considers himself hardworking, kind and intelligent. He prizes his relationship with God and feels blessed with the many opportunities he has been afforded.
A motto he likes to live by and impart to other students and athletes came from a fellow football player, Kade Musser: do something today your future self will be proud of. Zane takes this to heart. 鈥淵ou want to be able to work today and have something to show for it in the future.鈥�
Zane is grateful to all his family, friends, coaches, principal, teachers and his girlfriend, Emma Anderson, for supporting him along the way.
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