On Wednesday, February 6, several Saint Ignatius senior student athletes will sign letters of intent as part of the National High School Signing Day festivities. If you cannot make it to the Breen Center to catch the event, you can watch from home as SIBN will pick up coverage starting at 3 PM.

In the meantime, Eye sports reporter and SIBN broadcatser John Fanta ’13 is posting a series of profiles on the seniors headed off to play next year. Tweet him your comments and questions and check back for updates.

Ty Sanda
Saint Ignatius Soccer Midfielder
University of Akron

One of the great team players for the Saint Ignatius 2012 soccer team, Ty Sanda not only can score but he is one of the most gifted passers to have gone through the Saint Ignatius Soccer Program. Being awarded All-American honors, first-team All-Ohio, Ohio co-Player of the Year in Division I,  Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association Mr. Soccer, Ty had an exceptional 2012, and it didn’t just occur on the soccer pitch. Ty received Academic All-Ohio honors as well. As if that wasn’ t enough, he can top all of his awards as he was the Greater Cleveland Player of the Year and a Plain Dealer All-Star. Ty ended his career with 29 goals and 19 assists. In 2012, he finished with nine goals and nine assists. Sanda’s dry sense of humor and his love for the game have driven him to so much success at West 30^th and Lorain. Sanda is heading to one of the best soccer programs in all of the land. Founded in 1954, the Akron Zips soccer team has had an outstanding run of success. In 2010, the Zips were the NCAA Tournament Champions, and have been runner-up twice. Head coach Jared Embrick became the seventh head coach in The University of Akron men’s soccer program in December of 2012.

Nick Taljan
Saint Ignatius Soccer Midfielder
Bellarmine University

Another strong talent for the Saint Ignatius Soccer Program, Nick Taljan did have to fight through adversity in his senior season. Although he went through a tough ankle injury, Taljan fought back and had his highlights on the soccer pitch. He started the season very well for the Soccer ‘Cats as Saint Ignatius had won their 18^th consecutive game in their home opener of 2012 when Taljan hammered two goals into the back of the net. Later on in the season, Taljan came back from injury and scored two goals for the Wildcats as they won their 499^th game in program history over University School and Coach McLaughlin had won his 299^th game in his coaching career. As Saint Ignatius sports reporter Eddie Dwyer put it, Taljan had “paved the way” for the Soccer ‘Cats to their milestones of 500 program wins and Coach’s McLaughlin’s 300^th  career win. Taljan is heading to Division II, where he’ll play in the Great Lakes Valley Conference for the Knights of Bellarmine Univeristy. Taljan is heading to Kentucky to play for coach Tim Chastonay. Taljan looks to bring his great skill to the next level for Coach Chastonay and the Knights.

Jacob Roth
Saint Ignatius Soccer Defender
Bowling Green State University

An all-around athlete with size, strength, and a leg that is extremely powerful, Jake Roth will be flying for the Falcons of Bowling Green beginning in the fall of 2013. A tremendous defender, Jake Roth scored five goals and had nine assists for 15-1-3 Saint Ignatius. Roth was a first-team Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association player, first team All-Greater Cleveland player, and was honored on the 2012 Plain Dealer All-Star Team. Jake came up in the clutch for the Wildcats throughout the season as Coach McLaughlin awarded the stud defender with Most Valuable Player and Most Valuable Defender at the end-of-the-season banquet. An outstanding achievement for Roth was being selected as an All-American. Roth went down to Alabama for the East/West game in December. When he was selected, he smiled and said, “I’m not only an All-American. I’m an All-American Wildcat.” Head Coach Eric Nichols has been at Bowling Green for four seasons. The Falcons fell in the first round of the MAC Tournament in 2012 to Akron. Nichols values academics very much, as the Falcons received the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Team Academic Award in 2012. Jake Roth is on his way to the Mid-American Conference, and looks to make an impact on Bowling Green in the future.

Andres Kolaczko
Saint Ignatius Soccer Defender
Ashland University

When Saint Ignatius Soccer Coach Mike McLaughlin thinks about Andres Kolaczko, he thinks of the word “Magis,” or more. Andres has always done the “more” for Saint Ignatius. An honorable mention All-Greater Cleveland player in 2012, Andres was also awarded the Magis and Coaches Cup awards at the team banquet. Kolaczko displays what the Saint Ignatius Soccer Program is all about and what 302 career game-winner Mike McLaughlin is trying to instill in all of his players. Andres was “Mr. Hustle” for Saint Ignatius, as his stout defense was part of a Wildcat defense that produced ten shutouts in the 2012 season. Kolaczko will further his soccer career with the Eagles of Ashland. Ashland competed tightly in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action, as they finished at 8-8-2 on the 2012 season. Jon Freeman will be in his fourth season as the head coach of Ashland next fall. Ashland is annually regarded as one of the top programs in the region a Freeman has the Eagles playing at a high level every year. Kolaczko looks to continue bringing his hustle and passion for the game for the Purple and Gold of Ashland in 2013.

Derek Hren
6’0″ 174 pound Six-Time All American Swimmer
North Carolina State

A special leader and senior co-captain for the Saint Ignatius Swimming and Diving Team, Derek Hren has been special from the very moment he jumped in the water. Hren is a six-time All-American and has been a consistent leader for Saint Ignatius this winter in the 2012-2013 season. Last year, Hren broke a new team record when he swam to a 2^nd place finish at the 200 yard IM with a new team record of 1:50.34 at the OHSAA State Tournament. Hren was also part of the 200 yard Medley Relay team that broke a new team record of 1:33.24. Highlights this year include winning the 100 Breast Stroke at the Ned Reeb Invitational at Ohio State University and breaking pool-record times when the Wildcats went to Strongsville in the 200 IM and the 100 breaststroke. Coach Braden Holloway could not be more excited about the NC State Wolfpack Swimming Team. Holloway was hired in 2011. He is a graduate of NC State (2001) and knows the NC State attitude. Derek Hren, a true leader, will be in the Atlantic Coast Conference next year.

Tom Rolle
5’11” 50 pound Left-Handed Pitcher
Ashland University

Tom Rolle is on his way to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Rolle, who was one of the aces for the Saint Ignatius Baseball Squad in 2012, looks to live up to his great potential again in the spring.  Tom will most certainly be the anchor of the staff this season, as Coach Brad Ganor has many expectations for him.  Tom came up in the clutch, with his huge outing to advance Saint Ignatius into the Regional Round of the OHSAA Playoffs. Rolle threw a tough three-hit, five-inning outing, who picked up the victory to give Saint Ignatius a 2012 District Title. Rolle even started the season with a gem for the Wildcats, as he struck out eleven hitters in the Wildcats’ opener of the season. The Ashland Eagles finished 27-25 in 2012 and just missed out on the NCAA Division II Tournament. Manager John Schaly enters his 16^th season at the helm for Ashland. In 2011, Schaly won the 900^th game of his career.  Rolle looks to tow the rubber for the Purple and Gold of Ashland in the spring of 2014.

Kyle Pluta
6’2″ 175 pound Right-Handed Pitcher
Tiffin University

A baseball captain for the upcoming 2013 season, righty Kyle Pluta will be one of the trademark leaders for the Saint Ignatius Baseball Wildcats. Kyle had a junior year in which he had to fight through adversity, but he fought by putting forth his full effort. The highlight of his 2012 spring was his performance that was part of a pitching staff effort in which he struck out two in one inning against the St. Edward Eagles. Pluta peaked as the season went on, and he matured very well. Pluta looks to further his pitching career in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, as he will be a Tiffin University Dragon. Head Coach Joe Wilkins is taking over as manager this spring. He has been with the club for four years previous to this year as an assistant. Pluta looks to light it up as he’ll be wearing the green and gold at a fine Division II school, Tiffin.

Dan Rowbottom
5’11” 175 pound Middle Infielder
University of Illinois

The spring of 2013 has not even arrived yet, and Dan Rowbottom is already displaying his leadership as he will be a captain for the Saint Ignatius Wildcat baseball team. Dan Rowbottom “fell in love,” as he said, with the Fighting Illini of the University of Illinois. He was a Sun News All-Star selection in 2012 and was a part of one of the strongest middle infields in the state throughout last season. Rowbottom garnered a batting average of .313 in 2012 as he hammered nine doubles, three triples, and a homer on the season. Rowbottom is heading to the Big Ten, as he will be wearing the orange and navy blue at Illinois. The Fighting Illini have most recently appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 2011, in which they were also the Big Ten Tournament Champions in the year 2011. Coach Dan Hartleb enters his 8th season as the manager at Illinois. He has recruited and developed 65 professional players and 26 All-Americans (9 freshman All-Americans).

Kevin Kavalec
6’3″ 240 pound Tight End/Defensive Lineman
Boston College

One of the most dominating defensive lineman in the state of Ohio in the years 2011 and 2012 will be on his way to the Atlantic Coast Conference. Kavalec, who was a two-time first teamer on the AP All-District squad and a two timer on the All-Ohio team, also was a captain on the 2012 Saint Ignatius Wildcats. Kavalec has been a wrecking ball coming off the edge as a defensive end, as the big man was known for putting pressure on every single quarterback he laid his eyes upon for the Wildcats. Kavalec is on his way to Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, where he will where the Maroon and Gold at Boston College. The Eagles are 13-9 in postseason bowls and have claimed one national title all-time (1940). New coach Steve Addazio will be in his first season next fall. As Coach Kyle said at the football banquet at the end of the year, Kevin is “a special player and a force to be reckoned with.”