McAlduff chooses next path of football career, decides on The Apprentice School

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on July 3, 2015 1:49 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

Luke McAlduff intended to smack a few golf balls around some of the nation's most-challenging courses as a member of the William Peace University men's golf team.

McAlduff, instead, is trading in his golf clubs for a blowtorch.

The Wayne School of Engineering signed a grant package to play football this fall at The Apprentice School in Newport News, Va. At the same time, he'll receive on-the-job training to become a welder and is guaranteed a supervisor spot in the company upon graduation.

"It's a unique place, very small," McAlduff said. "Everyone wants you to succeed and they're willing to provide you with the things you need. If you don't meet their standards or are more involved in the class than the (actual) job, you lose both your scholarship and your apprenticeship."

The school receives 5,000 applicants each year and selects just 250 based on their academics, especially mathematics. Not only do they offer positions in welding, but 12 other areas of expertise.

Students are in class for 10 weeks and receive 3 1/2 hours of instruction on Monday and Tuesday. They work seven-hour days from Wednesday to Friday to learn and refine the tools of their trade. Also built into the schedule is a three-week layoff from class, but not from work.

McAlduff described it as a "very good opportunity."

But it came as a surprise, too.

The three-sport letterman wasn't aware of the ship building corporation until former GHS golf coach Ray Lippert mentioned it one afternoon. Lippert made some phone calls and McAlduff did some research of his own.

They finally made an appointment to meet first-year head coach Paul White, who had extensively searched for a punter/kicker to replace Blake Penix, who graduated after a stellar senior campaign. White traveled to Goldsboro and watched McAlduff during a two-hour afternoon workout.

"He sent me a text a week before he came," McAlduff said. "He is very into football. It all happened really fast. He liked that I was versatile in kicking and punting. The call (back from him) kind of surprised me. When I got it I was shocked that it happened."

McAlduff served as Goldsboro High's punter and place-kicker for three seasons. He averaged 46.2 yards per kickoff, 32.1 yards per punt and successfully converted 14 of 20 PATs in 11 outings this past season.

The Cougars finished 1-10 overall.

An NCAA Division III indepent, The Apprentice School is coming off of consecutive 1-9 seasons. McAlduff hopes he can go in and make an impact on special teams play.

"I believe I can get better," said McAlduff, who shaved off 30 pounds during the summer with a disciplined workout that included weight training, conditioning, situps and pushups.

"I'll have the right coaches who can help me become a better player than I am right now and keep on working. I was thinking about playing golf for them, too."

The school, which has less than 1,000 students, offers seven sports and also has a drumline. The men's and women's basketball teams compete in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) and the wrestling program is a member of the National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA).