JAKE MOONEY AND BLAKE THOMAS RECEIVE ALL-OHIO SPECIAL MENTION.

*JUST A REMINDER ON MATT FOLDESY AND COACH MIKE MCLAUGHLIN BEING SELECTED FOR THE FIRST ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL ALL-AMERICAN SOCCER GAME. SEE AFTER FOOTBALL STORY.

BY EDDIE DWYER

Saint Ignatius senior strong safety/rover Mike Svetina, a gifted, yet extremely humble student/athlete, followed up on his first-team All-Ohio season of 2010 by being selected as the co-Defensive Player of the Year on the Associated Press Division I All-Ohio Football Team for 2011. The team was released by the AP on Monday night.

The 6-2, 220-pound Svetina, a Miami of Ohio recruit, shared the honor with Toledo Whitmer senior defensive end and Michigan recruit Chris Wormley.

One of Coach Chuck Kyle's four captains, Svetina helped lead a defensive charge that paved the way for the Wildcats' 12th appearance in the big-school state championship game. Saint Ignatius (12-2) will be striving to add to its record 10 state championships when it takes on Pickerington Central (11-2) in Saturday night's Division I title game at Canton's legendary Fawcett Stadium. The kickoff is 7 P.M.

A three-year varsity mainstay, Svetina enters the championship game with 104 tackles, including 57 solos, 23 stops for losses and four sacks. He has two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, three interceptions and a defensive touchdown.

Mike, who also contributes as a fullback on offense, was chosen earlier this month as the Division I Defensive Player of the Year in the Northeast Lakes District, one of the most talent-rich districts in the state.

Kevin Kavalec, who is also part of Coach Kyle's passionate defense, and Tim Shenk, who has put together a record-setting season as the 'Cats' place kicker, joined Svetina on the All-Ohio first team.

A 6-3, 230-pound junior end, Kavalec has been a tough, athletic and quick-off-the-ball force all season. He has 66 tackles, including 36 tackles for losses and 15.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Kevin put together big-time efforts against St. Edward and Mentor.

Shenk, who is bound for the Air Force Academy, has 18 field goals this season, which is the top single-season mark in Saint Ignatius' rich football history. This fall, Tim kicked the two longest field goals in the history of the Wildcats' program - efforts of 55 and 51 yards.

And who among the 'Cats' faithful will ever forget Shenk's 32-yard field goal as time expired in the 20-17 regional-semifinal victory over 2010 state champion St. Edward, a kick that gave Saint Ignatius its second victory over the Eagles in a span of 15 days.

Rustom Khouri, the 6-0, 225-pound man in the middle for the Wildcats, garnered seond-team All-Ohio honors after taking part in 125 tackles, including 33 for losses. He has nine sacks, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Rustom is part of a special senior trio at linebacker for the Wildcats, a unit that also includes standouts Zack Ryan (126 tackles, 36 for losses) and James Sheehan (95 tackles, four fumble recoveries).

In what is probably one of the strongest third-team picks on any all-star team in Ohio, Tim McVey, a 5-10, 180-pound junior, has rushed for 1,197 yards and 13 touchdowns, has 26 receptions totaling 207 yards and has returned 12 kickoffs for 371 yards and two touchdowns. Tim, who also contributes as a safety/linebacker, wore down the defenses from Mentor and Whitmer down the stretch.

Senior wide receiver Jake Mooney, who has put together an outstanding season (49 receptions for 937 yards and 10 touchdowns), and senior tight end and Ohio State recruit Blake Thomas (19 receptions for 211 yards and five touchdowns), who has done a remarkable job of blocking against some of the state's premier defensive linemen, were among the AP's Special Mention selections.

COACH MCLAUGHLIN AND MATT FOLDESY TO COMPETE AMONG THE NATION'S BEST

As we reported at the end of the Wildcats' state-championship game story earlier this month, Coach Mike McLaughlin '85 and senior standout and University of Akron recruit Matt Foldesy will be among more than 40 of the nation's top players and coaches selected to compete in the 1st Annual High School All-American Soccer Game.

Featuring an East vs. West national format, the match will be played on Dec. 10 in Birmingham, Alabama. The action gets underway at 6 P.M. in the West Campus Field on the campus of UAB. The event is being held the same weekend and in the same city as the annual NCAA College Cup.

The players selected, All-Americans and All-State selections from throughout the country, were chosen by a committee of 20 of the nation's premier coaches.

For rosters and further information on the game, go to http://www.highschoolsoccerallamerican.com