Football: St Rita sends three to Ivy League

Updated: February 1, 2012 8:45PM

St. Rita football coach Todd Kuska has helped develop dozens of players for various levels of college football.

Never during his 14 years, however, has he had three members of a senior class commit to Ivy League schools.

That was the case early Wednesday morning on National Signing Day at St. Rita.

Max Kurucar (Pennsylvania), Mike Zunica (Columbia) and Will McNamara (Dartmouth) all committed to play football in the Ivy League.

St. Rita basketball player Tony Hicks also will attend Penn.

“Every year I take our best prospects who are top students and get their names out to the top academic colleges,” Kuska said. “Academically, the kids have to hit the marks the schools are requesting. You have to have the grades first and foremost. That gets them accepted to the school.

“Then you have to be able to play football. These three guys all fit the bill.”

Kurucar, a defensive back, has a 4.34 grade-point average and scored 30 on the ACT. He was among the area leaders in interceptions.

Zunica, a fullback, also scored 30 on the ACT and has a 3.98 GPA. He developed into one of the Mustangs’ go-to guys in the backfield. He also plays baseball, and is the son of St. Rita athletic director/baseball coach Mike Zunica.

McNamara, a linebacker, boasts a 3.70 GPA (out of 4.0) and scored 26 on the ACT. He’s a two-time SouthtownStar All-Area selection and was the Catholic League Blue’s Defensive Player of the Year.

“I always tell the kids, ‘It’s great to play football and be involved in things, but let football open up doors to further your education and to be able to experience the world,’ ” Kuska said. “These guys are attending elite schools. It says a lot about the academics at St. Rita. These kids should be set for life.”

While Wednesday marked the beginning of the signing period for scholarship athletes in football and several other sports, Ivy League schools do not offer athletic scholarships. However, there are ways those schools help recruits offset roughly $60,000 in annual tuition costs. McNamara, Zunica and Kurucar received generous academic and financial aid packages included in what the Ivy League refers to as “Likely Letters.”

These letters are one tool the Ivy League schools use to encourage recruits to put other collegiate options on the back burner. Receiving a Likely Letter means they’ve likely been accepted to the school.

“I know none of these guys are paying as much to go college as they’re paying to go here,” Kuska said of St. Rita’s annual tuition of $9,250. “The Ivy League schools try to make it as affordable as possible. I’m as proud, if not more proud, of these guys than I am of the Division I signees. These guys had the academic and athletic means to get accepted to elite schools. They’re going to play football and receive an unbelievable education.”

Kurucar twice visited Penn. He’s excited about the challenges an Ivy League education and playing college football present.

“The coaches are a lot fun,” said Kurucar, who plans to major in business. “It’s a nice campus. You can see the Philadelphia skyline from campus. It’s everything I was looking for. I’m excited for the challenges. It felt like the place for me.”

As if the academic and athletic challenges are not enough, Zunica will have to resist the temptations that go along with living in New York City as a student-athlete at Columbia.

Is he worried about living in the Big Apple?

“I don’t think I’ll be too overwhelmed,” said Zunica, who also plans to major in business. “I have the discipline to stay home and not run around New York City. This is a great opportunity. The Ivy League and it’s history and reputation. I’m excited.”

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