BOALSBURG — Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy student-athletes Spencer Gigante, Maddie Mattis, Timothy Peters and Luke Surovec signed their ceremonial letters of intent on Feb. 1 before a crowd of their fellow students, teammates, teachers and family members.
Gigante and Surovec are joining the soccer teams at Waynesburg University and Franciscan University of Steubenville, respectively. Peters will be playing golf with the team at Millersville University. Mattis will be joining the gymnastics team at State University of New York Brockport.
“Being a Saint Joe’s student allowed me to reach my goal of playing in college because it allowed me to build relationships with teammates, coaches and teachers that I could not get anywhere else,” Peters said.
Peters is a two-time PIAA District VI individual champion for boys golf.
“I had the opportunity to play three varsity sports at Saint Joseph’s,” Gigante said, “which actually gave me better looks because coaches liked the fact that I wasn’t specializing in just soccer.”
In addition to the soccer team, Gigante is a starter on the SJCA basketball and baseball teams. Peters is also in the starting lineup of the SJCA basketball team.
“The Saint Joe’s community has been very supportive and helped me with my work ethic in the classroom,” Mattis said.
SJCA head soccer coach Melvin Anaya was crucial to Surovec and Gigante’s development as a soccer athlete.
“My junior year, I remember (coach Melvin) specifically telling me before a Philipsburg game that I just needed to stay calm in the center when receiving the ball,” Surovec said. “Whenever I received the ball, I looked over to him and then I just started playing the best game of my life.”
After Gigante took a year off soccer during middle school, “Coach Melvin helped rejuvenate my love for the game,” Gigante said.
SJCA golf coaches Chad Walsh and Matthew Graham “are always trying to help me get better,” Peters said. “I remember one day both of them stayed with me at the course until sunset, allowing me to practice and hit range balls before one of our bigger tournaments. They talked with me and coached me the whole time. It was a really great moment between all three of us.”
In college, Gignante plans to study business entrepreneurship; Mattis plans to study criminal justice; Peters plans to study finance; and Surovec plans to study computer science.
“This is the ninth year in a row that Saint Joseph’s graduates have gone on to compete at the college level,” Justin Rodkey, SJCA athletic director, said. “Given the size of our school, it is a testament to the quality of our student-athletes and a school environment that promotes dedication and hard work in the classroom and on the field, the course and the floor.”
Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy is a college preparatory high school located in Boalsburg, offering strong academic, religious and co-curricular opportunities.
Saint Joseph’s offers varsity teams for cross country, volleyball, soccer, basketball, softball, baseball and track and field. Students may also represent Saint Joseph’s in high school competitions for other sports, such as gymnastics and wrestling. For more information, visit stjoeacad.org or contact Rodkey at JRodkey@sjcacademy.org.
