BEFORE UMD: Carved out a solid career in the Waseca High School trenches, seeing time on both the offensive and defensive fronts ... helped lead the Blue Jays to their inaugural state tournament appearance as a starting offensive tackle in 2009 … handled a starting assignment for three years in all (2009-11) ... was entrusted with captaincy responsibilities as a senior for head coach Brad Wendland's Blue Jays … also lettered four times in track (shot and discus) and three times in basketball, where he led the Blue Jays in scoring and rebounding en route to team Most Valuable Player and All-South Central Conference honors on the hardwood in 2010-11 … is the son of Kevin and Julie Sass.