Lessons learned at football practice often translate off the field, even after graduation, as Kevin Kavalec '13 has proven.
Following a stellar Saint Ignatius football career, Kavalec chose to attend Boston College, another Jesuit institution, and has continued his success at BC.
Kavalec received Boston College's highest football honor, the Scanlan Award, on Sunday during the team's banquet.
As Boston College's athletics site describes the award:
The Scanlan Award ... [is] given to the senior who best embodies the ideals of Tom Scanlan, class of 1920 ... A courageous and inspiring fullback who played both offense and defense for the Eagle teams of 1916, 1917, and 1919, forgoing the 1918 season for military service in World War I, Thomas F. Scanlan was a popular student-athlete and beloved alumnus, who was elected Varsity Club President for five consecutive years (1942-1946). He was inducted into the Boston College Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame in 1972.
Kavalec enjoyed a special senior season, notching 50 tackles, including 13.5 tackles-for-loss, in 12 starts this year. The defensive end earned Academic All-America honors, becoming just the third Eagle in school history to do so.
The Middleburg Heights native left his mark at Saint Ignatius, too, helping the Football Cats claim the 2011 Division I State Championship. Kavalec also achieved All-Ohio status in Track & Field.
"While we are very proud of Kevin's accomplishments, we are not surprised," defensive coordinator Ryan Franzinger '02 said. "Kevin has always been an exemplary student-athlete and I am thrilled that he is staying close to the ideals of Saint Ignatius and impacting the Boston College football team and community."
Kavalec is the second Ignatian to win the Scanlan Award, as defensive end Jim Ramella garnered the honor in 2009. Other Wildcats of note to play football for the Eagles include Scott Mutryn '94, Chris Hovan '96, Kevin Sheridan '03.
Dennis Grosel '16 also plans to attend Boston College beginning in January, and play football for the Eagles.
Congratulations again to Kevin and his family on this special award.