OHIO ATHLETIC CONFERENCE Matt Kanetsky leads ONU in the classroom

The Hubbard High graduate has the highest GPA on the football team.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
ADA -- Matt Kanetsky probably will not be the starting quarterback as a senior for the Ohio Northern University football team this coming season.
In fact, Kanetsky, a two-year letterman and a 1999 graduate of Hubbard High, probably won't be even the No. 2 quarterback for the Polar Bears, who open the season Sept. 13 at Dayton at 7 p.m.
But the 6-foot-4 signal-caller, who played in eight games last year, including the first three as a starter, has the consolation of knowing that he was the academic star of the team.
Kanetsky, who expects to play behind senior Jeff Soliday and sophomore Adam Quirk, respectively, this season, had the highest grade-point average on the ONU team last year with a 3.84 as a major in biology and pre-medicine. He made the Academic All-OAC Football First Team.
Kanetsky plans to graduate in February and then begin dental school next fall, hopefully at Ohio State.
But first he is hoping for an opportunity to play his final year of collegiate football.
Faces a challenge
That will be a challenge for Kanetsky because Soliday, who missed the entire 2002 season with a torn Achilles tendon suffered in preseason, threw for 2,211 yards and 20 TDs as a sophomore in 2001.
Quirk, who replaced Kanetsky after the first three games, did better with 60-for-128 for 1,038 yards and 10 TDs, with five interceptions and a 132.96 efficiency rating.
Kanetsky completed 57 of 130 passes for 779 yards and five TDs, but also threw 11 interceptions and had 89.95 efficiency rating.
The Polar Bears wound up with a 5-5 record, including 5-4 in the OAC, under coach Tom Kaczkowski, who is entering his 18th year at the helm.
Valedictorian at Hubbard
Kanetsky was valedictorian of his Hubbard High graduation class in 1999 with a 4.0 average.
"My parents have always preached that academics are No. 1 ahead of athletics because you need academics to play athletics," said Kanetsky, the son of Mary Ann and Marty Kanetsky. Marty is the Hubbard chief of Police.
Matt has two brothers, including Marty, who is a junior strong safety for the Malone College football team with a 3.87 GPA. The other brother is Mark, 13.
Another area standout on the ONU team is Derek Garrod, a sophomore running back from of Columbiana High. Garrod wound up as the team's second-leading rusher as a freshman with 563 net yards in 81 attempts, for a 7.0-yard average and six TDs.
Tied NCAA record
Kanetsky said Garrod had a "a really good season" last year. "He had a 99-yard YD run against Wilmington that tied the NCAA all-divisions record."
Also returning to the ONU team are Pete Iudiciani, sophomore offensive lineman from Lowellville High; and Craig Bates, sophomore defensive lineman from West Branch.
Incoming area freshman are Chase Axelson, wide receiver from Canfield; Anthony Fuller, wide receiver from Poland; Brandon Hardin, running back also from Poland, and Cory Wonner, wide receiver from West Branch.
kovach@vindy.com