OHIO CITY, OH - On Tuesday, May 13, Saint Ignatius High School celebrated 22 student athletes who will continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level. Our signees will be representing the Blue and Gold at the Division I, II, III and NJCAA levels across 14 different colleges and universities. The baseball program has the most commitments with five, and soccer follows suit with four. These 22 student athletes have made their mark on the campus of Saint Ignatius and will look to become integral pieces at the next level.
Bryce Allen - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Lacrosse)
Bryce Allen will be continuing his academic and lacrosse career at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).
The senior midfielder has been a four-year member of the varsity lacrosse squad and was a part of the 2023 Regional Champion team.
In his junior season, Allen excelled offensively for the Wildcats, collecting 23 points (11 goals and 12 assists). Allen would earn All-Region honors at the end of his junior year.
From 2022-2024, Allen would be named to the Nike Midwest National All-Star Team.
Coming into the 2025 season, the senior would be named a Team Captain for the Wildcats. All season long, Allen has been a part of the big-three on the offensive end, including Michael McManamon and Henry Ferguson.
In a rivalry match against Hudson, Allen would score a season-high four goals, helping lead the Cats to a 15-10 victory.
Next fall, Allen will take his talents to RPI, a Division III program located in Troy, New York. RPI features one of the best lacrosse programs in the country and is currently ranked second.
Jac Anderson - St. Thomas University (Baseball)
Jac Anderson transferred to Saint Ignatius after his sophomore year, after spending two years at Gilmour Academy. The senior will now continue his academic and baseball career at St. Thomas University.
Anderson was a three-year varsity letter award winner for the Lancers and Wildcats. Throughout his high school baseball career, he played corner infield.
At the dish, Anderson has a career batting average of .396 and an OBP of .443.
Anderson has been a member of a District and Regional Championship, but will look to add one more in his high school career in 2025.
Anderson is one of the leaders for the Blue and Gold with aspirations of a State Championship run.
He will be playing baseball for the Bobcats in Miami Gardens, Florida, an NAIA program. Anderson hit two RBI singles on senior day in the 15-3 win over Louisville.
Connor Bender - Naval Academy (Rugby)
One of the most decorated members of the Saint Ignatius Rugby Cats will be taking his talents to the Naval Academy.
Connor Bender is a four-year varsity letter award winner, playing for Dan Arbeznik's 00 squad. In his freshman season, Bender was a member of the National Championship team that defeated Gonzaga (DC).
In his junior year, Bender was awarded a scholarship to study abroad in New Zealand while playing rugby for Nelson City College.
A unique feat for this senior is that he has played rugby in five different countries (United States, Japan, France, Argentina, and New Zealand).
Bender has been an iron man for the Wildcats, starting in over 30 varsity games in his career.
In 2025, Bender was named a Chief of a Tribe, also known as a captain for the Rugby program.
Bender will join former teammate Ed Soeder '23 at the Naval Academy. The Midshipmen are the third-ranked team in the country for Division I Collegiate Rugby. Before heading to Annapolis, Bender will look to secure one more National and State Title for the Wildcats.
Rafa de la Barrera - John Carroll University (Soccer)
A three-time State Champion will be taking his talents to University Heights and play for the John Carroll Blue Streaks.
Rafa De La Barrera was a three-year letter award winner for Mike McLaughlin's 85 Soccer Cats. In his decorated three-year tenure on varsity, De La Barrera would total 42 starts, and make 53 appearances, and amass 3,104 minutes on the pitch.
The midfielder would score six goals (two game winners) and 11 assists throughout his career.
In 2024, his senior season, De La Barrera earned Team Captain honors for the Wildcats and helped lead the Blue and Gold to an unprecedented sixth consecutive State Championship.
He was named first-team Greater Cleveland and was named Most Valuable Midfielder by the program in his senior season.
De La Barrera is one of four standouts continuing his academic and soccer career at John Carroll University, a division III program that recently joined the North Coast Athletic Conference.
Jackson Boyer - Amherst College (Baseball)
Since stepping foot on a baseball diamond for the Wildcats, Jackson Boyer has been consistent as they come.
In his freshman season in 2022, Boyer would attain a batting average of .409, knocking in 19 RBIs and adding 19 runs in a 24-2-1 season.
On JV, Boyer also collected 19 RBIs, a batting average of .333, and 22 walks, leading the team in walks.
In his junior season in 2024, Boyer became a starter for the varsity squad. He led the team in stolen bases with 16, had a batting average of .289, and an OBP of .450.
Boyer was second on the team with 16 singles and knocked in 11 RBIs in his junior season.
Heading into his senior season, Boyer was named a Team Captain for the Wildcats.
With a couple of weeks remaining in the regular season, Boyer has averaged .319 from the dish and has 10 RBIs.
He will continue his academic and baseball career at Amherst College, a Division III program in the New England Small College Athletic Conference. Before heading to Amherst, Boyer will look to help lead the Wildcats on a postseason run.
Joe Deinhart - St. Bonaventure University (Rugby)
One of the three Wildcats heading to St. Bonaventure is Joe Deinhart. Deinhart is a hard-nosed player for Dan Arbeznik's '00 rugby squad.
Deinhart has been a member of the National Championship squad and has won two Rugby Ohio State Championships.
Internationally, Deinhart has played in Argentina, playing matches in Buenos Aires and Mar del Plata. In 2025, he would play in Spain, scoring a pair of tries against Granada.
Deinhart is also a member of the USA Eagles Pathway Program.
In the fall, Deinhart will continue his academic and rugby career at one of the country's best rugby programs.
Before heading to New York, Deinhart will look to be an integral piece in the National Tournament run and State Championship run. The Wildcats are seeking the program's second National Title in Elkhart, Indiana.
Joey Frey - Bryant and Stratton College (Baseball)
Senior catcher Joey Frey will continue his academic and baseball career at Bryant and Stratton College.
Frey earned the Jim Skerl '74 #34 jersey for the 2025 season Brad Ganor's baseball squad.
In his freshman season, Frey made 30 plate appearances, had an OPS of .628, and scored six RBIs.
In Frey's JV season, he would knock in four RBIs, drawing seven walks in 13 games played.
Frey would come back strong in his senior season, making the varsity squad.
While being a member of the baseball program, Frey would maintain an impressive 3.9 GPA.
Before heading to college in the fall, Frey will look to help guide the Wildcats to make a postseason run.
Frey will continue playing baseball for the Bobcats of Bryant and Stratton College in Solon, Ohio, a program that plays in the National Junior College Athletic Association. The Ohio campus plays in Division II of the NJCAA in the NACIA.
In his non-starts, Frey is the catcher who warms up the pitchers between innings, putting them in a great position to set up an inning.
Sean Gerba - John Carroll University (Soccer)
A two-year letter award winner and two-time OHSAA State Champion will continue his academic and soccer career at John Carroll University.
Sean Gerba was a four-year goalie for the Soccer program, playing on freshman, JV, and Varsity.
In his senior season in 2024, Gerba made seven starts and ten appearances. Gerba totaled 552 minutes on the pitch, making 12 saves when in net. Gerba earned two shutouts in his varsity career.
Gerba was awarded the Jim Skerl '74 #34 jersey recipient for the Wildcats his senior year.
Outside of soccer, Gerba was a member of the SIBN, and was named President of the club for his senior season.
The two-time State Champ will continue playing soccer for the Blue Streaks in University Heights.
Chris Haney - St. Bonaventure University (Rugby)
Rugby runs in the blood of the Haney family, as their youngest, Chris, will continue his academic and rugby career at St. Bonaventure University. He is one of three Wildcats becoming Bonnies.
Haney is as reliable as they come when it comes to kicking. He has established himself as an integral part of the Varsity Gold squad for Head Rugby Coach Dan Arbeznik '00.
Haney chose to focus on rugby after kicking for the Wildcat football team for three seasons, and became automatic when it came to penalty kicks and conversions.
In his years with the Wildcat Rugby squad, he has been named to the National team twice and has won two Rugby Ohio State Championships.
In 2024, Haney won MVP honors in the State Championship for the Varsity Blue squad.
Haney will rejoin fellow classmates Joe Deinhart and Jacob Papesh in St. Bonaventure, New York. The Bonnies feature a top-ranked rugby program in Division I, and they are receiving quite an athlete in Haney. Haney and company will look to add another State and National Championship to the trophy case for the Rugby Cats.
Nolan Ignacio - Cuyahoga Community College (Baseball)
Nolan Ignacio was a four-year dual-sport athlete at Saint Ignatius High School, playing on the Hockey and Baseball teams.
On the ice, Ignacio was a team captain and a significant part of the Wildcats' 2024 State Championship. In his senior year, he also hit the game-winning goal against St. Francis in the State Semifinal.
On the diamond, Ignacio has excelled for the 2025 season. The senior has earned his spot in the everyday lineup for the Wildcats. Through 20 games, Ignacio is averaging .351 at the dish. Ignacio has showcased his speed, snagging a starting role in the outfield and stealing eight bases as a necessity on the bases.
Ignacio will look to be a key piece in the Wildcats' tournament run that begins in late May. In May, Ignacio was named a finalist for the Wirtz Athlete of the Year.
He will continue his academic and baseball career at Cuyahoga Community College in Parma Heights, Ohio. Tri-C plays in the National Junior College Athletic Association, and the Triceratops play in Division II of the NJCAA in the OCCAC.
Brett Krugman - John Carroll University (Baseball)
Manning the hot corner for the Diamond Cats in the previous two seasons has been Brett Krugman.
Krugman will continue his academic and baseball career at John Carroll University.
On top of baseball, Krugman was a member of the Golf Cats, where he made the JV roster his freshman year at Saint Ignatius.
In his freshman year on the diamond, Krugman would have a batting average of .238 and collect five RBIs.
In 2023, Krugman's JV season, he would excel. At the dish, he would average .333, tying teammate Brandon Rose with a team-high 17 hits. He would also hit his first career home run against Massillon Jackson.
Krugman earned the starting third base job in his junior year, where he averaged .271, knocked in seven RBIs, and scored 15 runs.
Now, in his senior season, Krugman is hitting .300 and is second on the team in hits with 18.
Krugman will play baseball for the Blue Streaks, a Division III program in University Heights, Ohio. John Carroll recently joined the North Coast Athletic Conference.
Cael Luecke - University of Findlay (Cross Country and Track)
A standout runner for the Cross Country and Track Cats is Cael Luecke. Luecke is a four-year letter-winner for both the Cat Pack and Track Cats.
In 2023, Luecke was named Most Valuable Junior, and did it again in 2024, being named Most Valuable Senior.
Luecke was one of two Saint Ignatius individual State Qualifiers during the 2024 Cross Country season.
For his senior season on the track team, Luecke was named a mid-distance Team Captain for Bob Wolf's '08 Wildcats.
The Wildcats are heading into OHSAA Tournament meets soon, and Luecke will look to be a key part in the Wildcats march for a State Championship.
He will continue his academic and running career at the University of Findlay, a Division II program in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference in Findlay, Ohio.
On Senior Night, Luecke ran an incredible sub-10-minute 3200 meter. Luecke and company are heading to the postseason with momentum.
Kyle Niehaus - Otterbein University (Basketball)
Kyle Niehaus was a four-year member of the basketball program at Saint Ignatius High School. Niehaus would be a two-year letter award winner.
Niehaus was a member of the 2024 OHSAA State Championship team, the first program State Title since the 2001 season.
At the Cookie Garcia Tournament, Niehaus made his varsity debut against Canisius (NY) in Tampa, Florida.
In his senior year, Niehaus would become a staple of Cam Joyce's varsity squad, coming off the bench as a spark plug sixth man. Niehaus was money from beyond the arc, and was a key piece in the Wildcats 79-75 win over Richmond Heights, nailing three triples.
Niehaus will continue his academic and basketball career at Otterbein University in Columbus. A Division III program that plays in the Ohio Athletic Conference.
Niehaus will look to be a spark right away for the Cardinals, who consistently play a highly competitive brand of basketball in the OAC.
Joshua Novak - Baldwin Wallace University (Wrestling)
Josh 'Pickle' Novak will continue his academic and wrestling career at Baldwin Wallace University.
A four-year varsity member of the Mat Cats, Novak was one of the top wrestlers for Sean Gill's '08 squad.
In his decorated wrestling career, Novak would collect an impressive 106 wins on the mat. He would be a State Alternative for his senior season.
Novak was also a two-time District placer for the Widcats. Moreover, Novak was a Team Captain for his junior and senior seasons.
Since his freshman year, Novak's potential was sky high, making the lineup for the Catholic Invitational Tournament at Cincinnati Elder.
From his freshman year to senior year, Novak has improved every season and it was only a matter of time before he would compete collegiately.
Novak will be a Yellow Jacket, a Division III program that competes in the Ohio Athletic Conference in Berea. The Yellow Jackets feature one of the top wrestling programs in Division III.
Zalan Onodi - John Carroll University (Soccer)
John Carroll University continues to build a Wildcat dynasty, and they will have Zalan Onodi in the fall.
Onodi is a three-year letter award winner and a three-time OHSAA State Champion.
Throughout his varsity career, Onodi made 22 starts and 49 appearances, playing 1,733 minutes. With the Blue and Gold, he scored five goals (one game-winner) and five assists.
Onodi earned 16 starts in his senior season, collecting seven points for the Cats in a State Championship season.
Onodi earned an Honorable Mention from Greater Cleveland.
His older brother, Zsombor, plays soccer at The Ohio State University, and soccer runs in the family.
Onodi will continue his academic and soccer career for the Blue Streaks in University Heights, Ohio. John Carroll University is building a great dynasty of Wildcat student athletes who know what it takes to win, with multiple State Champions.
Jacob Papesh - St. Bonaventure University (Rugby)
Jacob Papesh will continue his academic and rugby career at St. Bonaventure University in New York.
Papesh has been a staple of Dan Arbeznik's '00 Wildcats for three years, earning a starting role his sophomore season.
Papesh has won the Ohio State Rugby Championship in 2023 and 2024. He also competed in the National Championship in his junior season.
Papesh started internationally for the Wildcats in Japan, Argentina, and Spain. In his senior season, Papesh has become a valuable forward for the Wildcat team with aspirations of winning a National Championship.
The Bonnies will reload their roster with three Wildcats in the fall. Current alumnus Fielding Carlson '21 and Patrick Clink '22 are among them.
Papesh was a dual-sport athlete, and was a three-year letter award winner for the football program, playing on the defensive line. In May, Papesh was named a finalist for the Wirtz Athlete of the Year.
Before heading to St. Bonaventure, Papesh will look to be a key in the program's second National Championship.
Maurio Powell - John Carroll University (Soccer)
Hard work pays off, and for Maurio Powell, he put in the work to make the varsity roster for his senior season.
In 2024, Powell would collect 181 minutes played on the pitch as a defenseman.
Powell would be a member of the 2024 OHSAA State Championship Wildcats, a sixth straight in program history.
Soccer has always been part of Powell's life as he is a 13-year Cleveland Force member (ECNL) member. Outside of the soccer pitch, Powell was an SEP Counselor, earning his name on the honor roll, and was a Junior Mayors Association Member.
Powell is one of four Wildcats who will continue their academic and soccer careers with the John Carroll Blue Streaks.
A Division III program that will have its inaugural season in the North Coast Athletic Conference. Powell will look to be a part of the JCU squad during his freshman year at University Heights, Ohio.
Garrett Reilly - Rochester Institute of Technology (Lacrosse)
In his first year at Saint Ignatius High School. Garrett Reilly made the Varsity Blue Lacrosse Wildcats. After a great freshman year, Reilly would make the varsity as a defenseman.
During his varsity career, Reilly participated in a Regional Championship that came in the 2023 season, when the Wildcats beat Hudson on Wasmer Field.
In his senior year, Reilly established himself as one of the state's top defensemen. Reilly has won 26 ground balls through the regular season and is second on the team with 13 takeaways.
Reilly will be a key player in the Wildcats' 2025 postseason run, locking up an opposing team's offensive attack.
In the fall, Reilly will continue his academic and lacrosse career at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York. This Division III program is ranked third in the country and first in the region. Reilly will join fellow teammate Freddy Webster at RIT, where both will look to compete for a National Championship.
Leo Rick - Fordham University (Football)
It was only a matter of time before a collegiate program would come calling for Leo Rick.
Rick was a true team player for the football program, earning three varsity letters for the Wildcats while wearing the Blue and Gold.
Rick earned his first chances on the offensive line with varsity early in his sophomore year, having to step up when injuries arose.
In his junior season, Rick was the certified center for the offensive line.
In 2024, Rick would be named a team captain for the Wildcats.
Rick is the second offensive lineman to commit to play at the next level, as his fellow teammate, Charles Young, committed to Duquesne University.
Rick will continue his academic and football career at Fordham University, a Division I FCS program that plays out of the A10. He will be reunited with former teammate Peter Chalhoub '22.
Rick was as consistent as they come on the offensive front and was a stout center during his time with the Wildcats.
Bobby Rosol - University of Kentucky (Rugby)
Bobby Rosol was a three-time letter award winner for two programs at Saint Ignatius High School. Rosol was a member of the football and rugby program.
Rosol has been a part of the gold-side squad for Dan Arbeznik's '00 Wildcats for three seasons.
In those three years, Rosol was part of two National Championship runs: fourth in 2023 and second in 2024.
He will be a part of a third National Championship run in 2025 when the Wildcats compete in Elkhart, Indiana, in late May.
Rosol is a two-time Rugby Ohio State Champion and will look to put a bow on his high school career with a third straight State Title.
Rosol will continue his academic and rugby career at the University of Kentucky. Joining multiple Wildcats in Lexington, Kentucky.
The University of Kentucky is one of the top Division I Rugby programs in the nation, and Rosol will look to compete for a collegiate National Championship.
Aiden Walter - John Carroll University (Cross Country and Track)
After a phenomenal track and cross country career at Saint Ignatius High School, Aiden Walter will continue his academic and running career at John Carroll University.
Walter was a member of the Cross Country squad for four years and also a four-year member of the Track and Field team.
In his senior indoor track season, Walter placed fourth in the 1600-meter run with a time of 4:37.61, setting himself up for a strong outdoor season.
In 2025, Walter has had multiple top-ten finishes in the 3200 meter, looking to make noise for the Wildcats in the OHSAA District, Regional, and State Meets.
Walter would earn a spot in the Indoor Track All-Star meet for the 1600-meter run.
Walter will take his experience to University Heights, Ohio, to compete for the Blue Streaks in Cross Country and track.
John Carroll's track program is one of the top in the nation. Walter will look to be a key member and compete for a National Title.
Freddy Webster - Rochester Institute of Technology (Lacrosse)
Freddy Webster has been a staple of the Wildcat lacrosse program since his freshman year. A four-year varsity letter award winner, Webster is one of the perennial goaltenders in Ohio.
Since his sophomore year in 2023, Webster has been the starting goalie for the Wildcats and was a part of that 2023 Regional Championship squad.
In 2024, Webster was named Goalie of the Year for Division I Region II. He would also earn second team All-State.
Webster would compete in Florida for the Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Association before his junior season.
Webster will join fellow teammate Garrett Reilly at Rochester Institute of Technology.
As mentioned, RIT is one of the country's top Division III programs, regularly competing for a National Championship.
Before heading to Rochester to goaltend, Webster will look to bring the lacrosse program's first State Championship.
Congratulations to all of our signees committing to elevate their game to the next level. They have truly left their mark at Saint Ignatius High School and will forever be Ignatius Men Forever.
(more photos will be uploaded soon)
Gallery: (5-15-2025) 2025 Spring Signing Day
