BY BRAD ANDERSON ‘18
The top scorer in this year’s Wildcat football season wasn’t a WR, RB, or QB. It was the kicker. Senior Matt Trickett had a breakout year that could put him down as one of the best kickers to ever come through Saint Ignatius. Starting out his high school career, he wasn’t known for being a kicker, he had to prove himself.
“Coach just asked who can kick, I raised my hand and the rest was history,” Trickett said.
That cannon of a leg wasn’t always there. Trickett grew up playing two sports every fall – soccer and football. Trickett was a standout performer as a sophomore, becoming the only player to make it to the varsity soccer team. For the next two years, Trickett went back and forth from practices, all while improving his foot’s power and accuracy.
At the beginning of senior year, however, Matt Trickett made a tough decision to only play football his senior year. By this time, he was already having success coming off a successful junior year. In the summer leading into his senior year, Trickett wanted to prove to everyone he was one of the most elite kickers in the country. He went to training camp after training camp and continued nearly everyday to work on his craft. He attended the Kohl’s professional camps, in which he earned himself the ranking of No. 43 kicker in the nation.
”I contribute a lot of my recent success to the people that I have been training with all summer and during the offseason,” said Trickett. “If you want to be the best, you have to train with the best and that is what I spent my summer doing. This season is so special to me because it will be my last in high school. Knowing all the guys around me the past 4 years, and the defeat and loss of our seniors, they led us and inspired us on and off the field to work hard and be better.”
However skilled Trickett may be, many people believe the best thing he is doing on the field is help fighting cancer. Every time Matt Trickett scored in a game, he helped to fight pediatric cancer. Fans made donations and for every point Trickett scored, their donation increases.
“I know some kids with cancer, and it’s really sad to see,” Trickett told WKYC in an interview.
“To be on the field and to be the voice for them, and to give them something to cherish, that’s extremely motivating.”
A season spent raising money to beat cancer could only be complimented with a school record 59-yard field goal.
“For the most part, it was like any other kick,” Trickett said. “We have been practicing long field goals in practice so we knew what we had to do. I knew I had to get off a good kick but I wasn’t worried about that. Everyone individually did their job and I got a great hit off and with a breeze at my back and a great hit like that. I knew it was going in. It took awhile for it to set in, though.
“At first, all I wanted to do was just stare at the ball in amazement but once everyone started cheering I was getting mobbed with hugs, high fives, and congratulations. Other than all that happiness, it was just like any other kick.”
That kick earned Matt national recognition. He was put up for the Kohl’s Kicker of the Week and the Ignatius Student Athlete of the Week. During that same game, Trickett averaged 47 yards on his punts.
“My initial reaction to winning Kohls kicker of the week was definitely very proud. I was proud that I was able to accomplish this success and also proud of all the people around me, supporting me and voting for me because they believe in me,” he said. “Everyone pitched in and voted for me and congratulated me on this accomplishment. That is definitely what made is so special.”
Matt Trickett finished his career with a loss against the Mentor Cardinals. He leaves behind two state championships, a school record, and thousands of dollars raised for pediatric cancer research.
“I want to thank the G-Unit past and present, Sean Wracher, Nick Szubski, and all the people who came out to train and compete with me during the summer,” Trickett said. “Having competitive people around to push you to go beyond your limits is key.”
His senior performance without a doubt has put him in the conversation as one of the best kickers in Saint Ignatius history.
