BY MIKE ECKERT
CHARLEVOIX -- A couple of weeks ago, Bill Ivan took a spring break trip that sounded like it was more suited for a campaigning politician than a high school junior.
Ivan and his parents went to East Lansing. Then they went to Iowa. And to Indiana, to North Carolina and then to Ohio.
The cross-country trip wasn't just a getaway from the daily grind of being a student at Charlevoix High School. Instead, Ivan was scouting locations and getting acquainted with the schools and football teams he may one day suit up for.
"It's kind of an interesting experience," Ivan said. "You have to pick and choose. You do it to narrow down the campuses, and I wanted to go so I could get a feel for everything."
"It was definitely eye opening. You got a feel for everything. There were some surprises and some disappointments."
At 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, Ivan has aspirations of playing Division I football.
"It had always been in the back of my mind, but when it really hit me that Division I would be a possibility was in February of my sophomore year when I got my first questionnaire (from Purdue)," Ivan said. "That's when I thought this may be a possibility."
That led Ivan and Rayders head coach Don Jess to take a proactive approach to his recruiting.
"We sent film to every big college there was," Jess said. "That really helped. Obviously, Big Ten schools aren't coming up to see our games."
Teams have sent recruiters to Charlevoix to talk to Jess. This week, Michigan State and Central Michigan made appearances.
Schools can't comment on recruits, but Jess said recruiters have liked what they've seen from Ivan.
"Obviously, the first thing is his size gets attention right away," Jess said. "Then on film they see how aggressive he is and how well he played on the offensive line. Once they meet him, they find out he's a great character kid. He's got a high GPA (3.9) and he's one of the hardest working kids in the program."
The academic side has also been a factor for Ivan as he looks at schools. Right now, he is looking at majoring in education, but also has interest in sports management.
"It's a big decision," Ivan said. "(You have to ask) is this also going to give me a great education, on top of playing football. Knowing my grades are good is a good backup plan, in case this doesn't go the way I want it to."
The next step for Ivan will be to attend summer camps, but he had to narrow his choices down.
"If you try to go to every one, you just can't. You'd be dead by the end of June," Ivan said. "I wanted to narrow it down to five."
And after the spring break trip, he did. Ivan will attend one-day camps at Michigan State, Indiana, Iowa and Central Michigan while also participating in a longer camp at Michigan.
"A kid from northern Michigan is not going to get an offer until they see you in camp... unless you're (St. Francis All-Stater Max) Bullough," Jess said.
Bullough verbally committed to Michigan State last fall. However, he may not be the only Division I recruit out of the Gladiators class of 2010.
St. Francis coach Greg Vaughan said 6-foot-4, 225-pound Matt Zakrzewski has received interest from Michigan, Cincinnati, Michigan State, Central Michigan and Missouri, among other schools.
"He's been to quite a few schools," Vaughan said of his tight end/defensive back. "It's been everything from strong safety, to inside linebacker, to outside linebacker, to a defensive end type. It all depends on what type of defense they're running."
Gladiators running back Ben Swan has also had some interest from a couple of schools, but because he is playing spring sports it has been harder for him to pursue his options this spring.
Regardless, the Lake Michigan Conference will play this fall with a number of Division I prospects in the fold.
"I said it last year and I meant it, that our conference gets us ready for the playoffs," Vaughan said. "It says there definitely is talent up north and we're getting more and more recognition. Schools are now looking all over the country and they're going to find kids.
"I like that you don't have to be the biggest thing in your town. In Traverse City, we have 300 kids in our high school, and potentially two Division I kids. If you're good enough, they'll come find you."
