Poland trio commit to colleges

May 11, 2017 at 12:08a.m.

Dan Klase, Jessica Miller and Colt McFadden ink letters of intent

POLAND

You can now add Dan Klase, Colt McFadden and Jessica Miller to the growing list of Poland student-athletes to ink national letters of intent this academic year.

On Wednesday, Klase announced that he will be attending Mercyhurst-North East College on a baseball scholarship while McFadden accepted a football offer to Kent State University, and Miller a soccer scholarship to Clarion University.

Klase earned three letters under head coach Rich Murray, helping the team to two consecutive state appearances including a runner-up finish his sophomore campaign.

“As a sophomore, coach Murray gave me an opportunity to play second base when Jared Burkert pitched and that meant the world to me,” he said. “We’ve gone to state in back-to-back seasons, so it would sure be nice to get back there again this year. My teammates, Pad O’Shaughnessy and Nick Petrolla, are going to Mercyhurst-North East and had a lot of good things to say about school. When I visited the campus, I knew immediately that it was the right fit for me.”

Klase, a pitcher-third baseman, is coming off a two-hit, five-inning shutout of Ursuline in the sectional finals. He’s 5-3 this season with a 2.12 earned run average and hitting at a .320 clip.

He went 8-2 with a 2.10 ERA. and batted .354 (he was 2-0 on the hill) last year and is 15-5 overall during his varsity career.

“Dan is a great kid who comes ready to compete every night,” Murray said. “He has a strong arm, can hit and is excellent defensively. He’s fundamentally sound, fun to watch and I can assure you that Mercyhurst-North East is getting a good one in Dan Klase.”

McFadden, whose father, Paul, was a standout placekicker with the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons and currently serves as president of the YSU Foundation, chose the Golden Flashes over Ohio University, Michigan State and the University of Pittsburgh.

“In talking with head coach Paul Haynes and his coaching staff, they stood out to me and really made me feel wanted,” he said. “I’ve had an unbelievable experience playing for coach [Mark] Brungard and coach [Ryan] Williams. They’ve made me the man that I am today and I cannot thank them enough. Not many high schools kick field goals, but both of my coaches emphasize special teams and gave me quite an opportunity of which I am most thankful. They helped prepare me to kick at the next level.”

Last season, McFadden connected on 11 of 14 field goal attempts, converted all 32 placements and of his 52 kickoffs, 38 went through for touchbacks.

For his career, McFadden generated 82 touchbacks, earned first-team all-state honors, first-team all-Northeastern Ohio laurels and was a two-time All-American Conference first-team pick.

He was the first kicker ever to be voted to Northeast Ohio BIG 22, was recipient of the Bulldogs’ ”Top Dog” award as a senior. His 55-yard field goal last fall was tied for second-longest in the country and it’s also the fifth-longest all-time in Ohio high school football history.

Kent State hasn’t attempted a field goal of 50 yards or better dating to the 2012 campaign.

“As confident as I was in knowing that we would get a touchback, field goal or extra point, I’m even more confident that Kent State University is getting a quality player in Colten,” Williams said.

Miller is a four-year letterwinner, leading the Bulldogs with 18 goals last season en route to first-team all-district, all-AAC and all-Mahoning County laurels.

For her efforts she was voted her team’s Most Valuable Player.

“I learned from coach [John] Cavalier about the importance of preseason preparation and conditioning and having played all of the positions, except goalie, I feel like I am now prepared to take the next step in my academic and athletic careers,” Miller said. “My goal is to give it my very best and hopefully earn a starting position. I just want to be able to contribute immediately.”

Cavalier caller Miller a joy to coach.

“Jessica is a hard worker, both on the field and in the classroom,” he said. “She lives soccer every day and has done so for many years. Moving forward, there’s nothing but great things ahead for her.”

Klase plans to major in marketing and McFadden in business. Miller, while undecided, will be a part of the school’s ROTC program.