Ankeny offensive lineman Owen Liechti has signed a letter of intent to play at the University of Montana, one of the top programs in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision.
Liechti flipped to the Grizzlies after originally committing to Columbia University of the Ivy League.
“(Columbia) was a great opportunity, and I’m grateful for the interest I received from every program that recruited me,” said Liechti. “Although over time, as I continued to build relationships with the Montana coaching staff, something just clicked. The culture there is incredibly strong–the way they develop their players, the standard they hold, and the family atmosphere around the program really stood out to me.”
Liechti helped the Hawks to a 7-3 record this season. The 6-foot-8, 290-pound senior was the anchor of an offensive line that allowed running back Daniel Larmie to be the fourth-leading rusher in Class 5A with 1,322 yards.
Liechti was named to the all-district first team. He earned second-team honors as a junior, when he played at Ankeny Centennial.
Liechti said he was sold on the Grizzlies when he took his official visit to Missoula.
“When I talked more with the coaches, it felt like a place where I could grow not just as a player, but also as a person and a student,” he said. “Academically, Montana offered a path that matched what I want to do long term, and athletically the fit felt right. The support around the program, the community, and the competitive environment made it clear that this is where I want to be.
“At the end of the day, Montana felt like home, and I’m extremely excited to be part of the Griz family,” he added.