What started as an 8th grade hobby has carried him through his first two years of college. And if all goes to plan, Mark Walsh Jr. of Dos Palos will keep his passion and hobby of football a part of his life well into the professional level.</p><p>He started playing football during 8th grade in Los Ba&#241;os and continued through all four years at Dos Palos High School.</p><p>"I was on varsity my sophomore, junior and senior year at Dos Palos as a running back and fullback," Walsh Jr. said, totaling over 3,000 yards rushing. "They're hard on you at Dos Palos, but it kept me going."</p><p>Walsh Jr. said he was able to focus on his future goals with the support he received from his high school coaches and teammates.</p><p>Upon his high school graduation, Walsh Jr. headed to Reedley College in Reedley and has been one of three starting running backs for the last two years. It was there he was noticed and awarded with a full scholarship for football, as well as his academic achievements, and sent on his way to his next endeavor: the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, Kansas.</p><p>"I'm going to start the 2008 season as a red-shirt sophomore," Walsh Jr. said, leaving him a year to gain experience and get used to the USM football program. "I should be set as their starting running back and receiver for the 2009 season."</p><p>His father said after receiving the $20,000 scholarship to play football, in addition to a $3,000 academic scholarship, tuition for the year is well above "taken care of." His scholarship was granted after taking into consideration his football potential, as well as GPA, Walsh Sr. said.</p><p>"I'm really excited to start the season," Walsh Jr. said. "The scholarship is a lot of stress off my parents. And I can get a great education there, which is the first thing on my mind."</p><p>"Football just comes with it," he added.</p><p>Walsh Jr. said he plans on majoring in sports management, with a minor in coaching, planning to graduate in 2010. from USM. His goal, if playing in the NFL doesn't happen first, is to become a trainer.</p><p>"I love sports and I love working out; so I picked something that has to do with those things," Walsh Jr. said.</p><p>Walsh Jr. is set to fly out to his new home this month after a summer-long training program sent to him from Kansas, with his season starting the second week of September as part of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) at the National Association of Intercollegiate Division II level.</p><p>"I think he's excited to get back into playing the game, learning the system and getting his education," his father said. "That's what his plan is.</p><p>"I don't know how much prouder a father can be," Walsh Sr. said of his son. His mother, Mary Jane Walsh is equally proud. "He's worked hard for where's he's going and this is just one more level he's completed."</p><p>Walsh Jr. agreed that he's spent many years working towards this place in his life and appreciates everyone who's helped him along the way, from 8th grade coaches in Los Ba&#241;os to high school coaches in Dos Palos and his teammates at Reedley.</p><p>"It's been a lot of hard work with school, work, practices and games," he said. "But something good is coming out it."</p><p>And most would agree that hard work pays off. It always does.</p><p><i>Enterprise reporter Samantha Salas can be reached by phone at (209)388-6562 or by e-mail at ssalas@losbanosenterprise.com.</i>