Traverse City Record-Eagle

Football

May 28, 2009

Zakrzewski adds third D-1 offer

Two TC West players drawing D-1 looks, too

TRAVERSE CITY -- The Division 1 football offers are starting to roll in for Matt Zakrzewski.

The Traverse City St. Francis junior, who had already received scholarship offers to Missouri and Central Michigan, added Western Michigan to the mix. The Broncos extended an offer Wednesday night. Gladiators coach Greg Vaughan expected Indiana to follow suit soon.

"It's always a surprise with every one," Zakrzewski said of Western Michigan's offer. "I sent them my stuff and they came up to talk to coach Vaughan. They saw my tape and I guess they liked what they saw."

Zakrzewski -- a 6-foot-3, 225-pound defensive prospect -- is about to aggressively hit college camps once school ends. He will take final exams on June 11, attend Michigan State's camp the next day, take the ACT a day later in the Lansing area and then hit the road for visits to several other schools.

"It's going to be a quick eight days," he said. "I'm going to get back, rest my legs and be ready for football season."

Zakrzewski will also work a summer job and hopes to have committed by the time the Gladiators kick off the season with Benzie Central on Aug. 28.

"That would be ideal, but I'm going to go to camp and see if I get any more offers," Zakrzewski said. "I want to make that decision before football, but if I can't honestly decide, I'll wait until after football."

The St. Francis Class of 2010 already has a Division 1 player in linebacker Max Bullough, who verbally committed to Michigan State last year. And there could be a couple more in Peter Rigan and Ben Swan.

"Schools have inquired," Vaughan said about Rigan. "Some kids get to their senior year and realize it's something they want to do. With his size and his name, some schools are interested."

Rigan -- a 6-foot-6, 280-pound lineman -- is the younger brother of Patrick Rigan, who signed with Michigan State but had his career cut short by injuries.

Swan focused on running track this spring, but has still drawn interest as a running back.

"With the exception of Missouri, the same schools that have talked to Matt have tape on Swannie," Vaughan said. "With where we are in northern Michigan and with our style of offense, he has to get to camp and show people what he can do."

College recruiters are also beating a path to Traverse City West. Coaches from Michigan, Michigan State and Central Michigan -- among others -- have been at the school a couple times in the past month to see offensive lineman Blake Goodell and defensive lineman Craig Wilson.

Goodell, whose father Terry starred at Central Michigan University, has hit a growth spurt in the last eight months, blossoming into a 6-4, 265-pound prospect. A center, Goodell played at 6-1, 215 last fall, according to Titans coach Tim Wooer.

The 6-2, 250-pound Wilson has added nearly 30 pounds to his frame.

"Those two have been living in the weight room," Wooer said.

Wilson, who runs a 4.8 to 4.9 40, has impressed with his athleticism and strength. He's benched 225 pounds 23 times.

College coaches have told Wooer they want to see the two perform at camps this summer. Goodell and Wilson plan to camp at Michigan State, Michigan and Central Michigan.

A third Titan, defensive back Anthony West, is also drawing recruiting interest.

Text Only
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    Continued ...
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  • LMC could vote St. Francis out

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    Continued ...
    Feb 6, 2010 11:00 pm 1 Photo
  • Bullough among 21 signed by Spartans

    Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio is sure the off-the-field headlines that embarrassed his program last season didn't hurt him on the recruiting trail, which included signing linebacker Max Bullough from Traverse City St. Francis.

    Continued ...
    Feb 4, 2010 7:30 am
  • Frankfort quarterback headed to Northwood

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    Feb 2, 2010 7:30 am
  • Top 10: Thirlby gets a facelift

    It took more than a decade, but Thirlby Field is slated to get its final touches.

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    Dec 31, 2009 7:10 am 2 Photos
  • Tuesday, December 29, 2009
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    Continued ...
    Dec 29, 2009 7:20 am 2 Photos
  • Friday, December 18, 2009
  • West's Goodell headed to N. Illinois

    Blake Goodell dreamed of playing Division I college football when he was little. That dream moved closer to reality this week when the TC West offensive lineman verbally accepted a scholarship offer to play at Northern Illinois.

    Continued ...
    Dec 18, 2009 7:25 am 1 Photo
  • Monday, November 30, 2009
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    Nov 30, 2009 7:53 am 1 Photo
  • Senior gets first pop at holding trophy

    Traverse City St. Francis won the opening coin toss on Saturday at Ford Field and deferred. Gladiators coach Greg Vaughan took the same approach when it came to accepting the Division 7 state championship trophy.

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    Nov 30, 2009 7:51 am 1 Photo
  • Swan's big day drives Glads to title

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    Continued ...
    Nov 30, 2009 7:50 am
  • Wednesday, November 25, 2009
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    Continued ...
    Nov 25, 2009 9:35 pm
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    Continued ...
    Nov 25, 2009 7:45 am 2 Photos
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    Coaches at Montague and Ovid-Elsie don't take Cody Kater and Chris Robinson for granted. They are impact players who've made their marks in high school football. And that's why they were chosen the Associated Press Division 5-6 co-Players of the Year for their standout senior seasons.

    Continued ...
    Nov 25, 2009 7:45 am
  • Finals game to be shown at State

    Saturday morning's Division 7 state football championship game between unbeatens Traverse City St. Francis and Hudson will be shown live at the State Theatre.

    Continued ...
    Nov 25, 2009 7:45 am
  • Tuesday, November 24, 2009
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    Continued ...
    Nov 24, 2009 7:40 am 1 Photo
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    Continued ...
    Nov 24, 2009 7:40 am
  • Sunday, November 22, 2009
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    The Traverse City St. Francis coaches prepared their team to fight for every yard in Saturday's Division 7 semifinal, but in the end it was the big plays that made the difference.

    Continued ...
    Nov 22, 2009 8:04 am 2 Photos
  • Forest Park blanks Frankfort in semifinal

    It was rough going for the Frankfort offense Saturday afternoon at Northern Michigan University's Superior Dome. The Panthers, who were limited to four first downs and 45 yards, were shut out by Crystal Falls Forest Park in a Division 8 state semifinal contest.

    Continued ...
    Nov 22, 2009 7:05 am
  • Friday, November 20, 2009
  • Ravenna, St. Francis meet again

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    Continued ...
    Nov 20, 2009 7:30 am 2 Photos
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    Continued ...
    Nov 20, 2009 7:30 am 1 Photo
  • Wednesday, November 18, 2009
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    Mike and Andrew Pratley shared in each other's success last weekend. Andrew is the head football coach at Ogemaw Heights, and Mike is a longtime assistant at Frankfort. It sets up an unusual situation Saturday.

    Continued ...
    Nov 18, 2009 7:47 am
  • Monday, November 16, 2009
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    Traverse City St. Francis will play Ravenna Saturday at Ferris State University.

    Continued ...
    Nov 16, 2009 8:00 am
  • Familiar foes for Glads, Panthers

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    Continued ...
    Nov 16, 2009 8:00 am
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    Continued ...
    Nov 16, 2009 6:20 am 1 Photo
  • Football: Glads survive scare

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    Continued ...
    Nov 16, 2009 6:20 am