LF_122718

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the lake forest leader | December 27, 2018 | 31
Cekay signs letter of intent to Colgate University
Alyssa Groh, Editor
22nd Century Media
File Photo
1st-and-3
Stars of the week
1. Grace Tirmazlis
(above). The
star Lake Forest
forward scored 21
points to go with 8
rebounds in a win
over Waukegan
last week and
followed it up with
17 points in a win
over host Warren
in the opening
game of the
Scouts’ holiday
tournament.
2. Taylor Cekay. The
freshman gymnast
won three of four
events and the
all-around title
at Lake Forest’s
host quad meet
Thursday, Dec. 20.
3. Halle Douglass.
The star junior
guard scored 22,
19 and 18 points,
respectively, in
the Scouts last
three games, all
victories.
Lake Forest High
School senior Ryan Cekay
made his dream of playing
football in college officially
a reality when he
signed his National Letter
of Intent to play for Colgate
University in Hamilton,
N.Y., Wednesday,
Dec. 19.
Family, friends, teammates
and coaches
watched eagerly as Cekay
signed his name in the
school’s Metcalf Foyer.
To kick off the ceremony,
LFHS Athletic Director
Tim Burkhalter talked
about Cekay’s drive to be
a good player.
“This is not just an accomplishment
for just
Ryan, but everyone here
understands the commitment,
dedication and hard
work that is involved in
getting to this point,” Burkhalter
said. “There is an
awful lot of family and
friends here today that
have been a part of that. It
is a group effort to get to
this point.”
Getting to the point of
playing football on the
college level was not easy
for Cekay.
During his sophomore
year with the Scouts,
Cekay was a quarterback.
Varsity coach Chuck Spagnoli
called him into his
office and told Cekay he
was going to change position
and be a wide receiver
for the varsity team.
Cekay recalls being
shocked, but followed his
Mike Cekay (left) and Allison Cekay (right) watch their son Ryan sign his National Letter of Intent to play football at
Colgate University Wednesday, Dec. 19, at Lake Forest High School. Photos by Alyssa Groh/22nd Century Media
coach’s guidance.
“I stuck with being a
wide receiver and grinded
hard to get where I am,”
Cekay said.
To help the transition
from quarterback to wide
receiver, Cekay worked
with EFT Sports Performance
in Highland Park.
“To get to where I am
now, EFT played a huge
role in that,” Cekay said.
“Working with EFT exposed
me to a lot of the
greater athletes and made
me become a better player.”
Cekay also said all of
the Scouts’ coaches were
a huge part to helping him
become the athlete that he
is today.
In this senior season,
Cekay totaled 40 catches
for 588 yards and four
touchdowns and collected
offers from Cornell University,
Columbia University,
San Diego State
University and Colgate
University.
Although it was a difficult
decision, Cekay
realized he belonged at
Colgate.
“Colgate offered me a
full ride, and that is huge,”
Cekay said. “I loved the
school and also wanted to
be somewhere with high
academics. After watching
[the football team]
this season, I saw that
they are a great team and
they competed. I want to
go to college and win, get
a great education and be
Ryan Cekay (center) stands with some of his teammates
after signing his National Letter of Intent.
set up for the future.”
Spagnoli said Colgate is
getting an asset as an athlete
and a person.
“We have been blessed
to have him on varsity
for three years,” Spagnoli
said. “He is as good of a
player as we could have
ever expected. We are sad
to see him go, but we are
incredibly proud and happy
to see him move onto
the next level.”
Listen Up
“If he continues to play like that, we’re going to be
really good.”
Phil LaScala — Lake Forst High School boys basketball coach about
Jake Fisher after the team’s loss to Benet Academy.
tune in
Wrestling
Lake Forest hosts Loyola Academy, Glenbrook
North, Kelly
• 10 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 27, East campus
Index
28 - High School Highlights
25 - Athlete of the Week
Fastbreak is compiled by Editor Alyssa Groh. Send
any questions or comments to alyssa@lakeforestleader.com