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A 17-year-old student at Moeller High School started playoff games for the Crusaders football team when he was 14 and had already been offered by Missouri in baseball at 13 before ever entering the doors of the Montgomery Road institution.
Known in some circles as Mr. Ohio Football, Moeller's Matt Ponatoski was also voted the Gatorade Ohio Player of the Year, the MaxPreps Ohio Player of the Year and the Greater Catholic South Player of the Year. All Ponatoski did as a junior was throw for 4,217 yards and 57 touchdowns, both school records in Moeller's 14-2 season where the Crusaders finished as Division I state runners-up. As a sophomore, he threw for 3,344 yards and 29 touchdowns as Moeller went 10-5 and made the Division I state semifinals. As a freshman in Moeller's 13-2 campaign in 2022, he started in playoff wins over Mason and Lakota West.
The Cincinnati Bearcats have offered the 6-foot-2, 190-pound quarterback, but so has Kentucky, Arkansas, Duke, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan, Oregon, Purdue, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest. Other Power Four schools are circling and awaiting his senior year.
In the meantime, Ponatoski is currently flashing leather at shortstop and leads the GCL-South in hitting at .460 as of May 6. He's among the league leaders in homers (two) and RBI (21) behind slugging teammate Conner Cuozzo. Baseball America rates him as the No. 16 draft prospect and many schools Ponatoski has spoken with are open to him playing both sports.
"I'm going to play two sports in college," Ponatoski said. "I'm right in the thick of narrowing it down. I've got a few schools that I like. But, the recruitment's still open. I'm still going to take my time so I can make sure I make the right decision."
He'd love to add an Ohio Division I Player of the Year honor in baseball, but more importantly, would like to bring a state championship to Moeller. In his mind, he has three tries, two in baseball if Moeller can get to Akron the next two springs and one more shot in football at Canton. The Crusaders came home minus the trophy in DI football last December.
"The spot I'm going to pick is going to let me do both or attempt to do both." Ponatoski said. "I have a few opportunities and when I make my decision, it's going to be for both.
At UC, though not specifically about Ponatoski, baseball coach Jordan Bischel is open to the possibility of such an athlete. Ponatoski has been in weekly contact with UC quarterback coach Pete Thomas, but his phone is also full of other suitors.
Said UC's Bischel, "I've coached two-sport guys and they can be successful. I've got books at home and every other day I've got one of my little guys reading to me about Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders. If you can do it in the NFL and big-league baseball, certainly it can be done at the college level. It's work. It's hard. But, great athletes can do a lot of things. We are always open to the idea of two-way prospects."
As for the next Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders or even Charlie Ward (Heisman quarterback at Florida State who played in the NBA), UC football coach Scott Satterfield likes the idea of multiple-sport guys in high school. They'll have plenty of competition for Ponatoski, but they are one of the schools open to satisfying his wishes.
"We're looking for leaders," Satterfield said. "The type of guys that are captains that play multiple sports because they love to compete."
At UC, there have been several two-sport athletes over the years, but not many of late. This list is not intended to be all-encompassing, but here are some noteworthy Cincinnati Bearcats who pulled double duty.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound lefty originally came to UC to play basketball which he did in 1953 for the freshman team known as the "Bearkittens." George Smith was the varsity coach, so Ed Jucker was the freshman coach who also happened to coach baseball.
The rest is history. A 1954 scouting report lists the Koufax fastball as an "A", with his change, curve and control graded "A-". In his one season, he had a 3-1 record and a 2.81 ERA. He led the staff with 51 strikeouts in 32 innings.
Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972, Koufax threw four career no-hitters from 1962-1965.
Before he coached Koufax in baseball and led the Cincinnati Bearcats basketball squad to back-to-back NCAA championships in 1961 and 1962, Jucker was a UC athlete. He played basketball between 1937-1940 and was captain of the team his senior season. He also played baseball and coached the Bearcats between 1954-1960.
[IMG alt="UC basketball co-captains Carl Bouldin, Bob Wiesenhahn, seniors whose last game was their greatest. Bouldin was also on the UC baseball team.
April 30, 1961: Article from Cincinnati Pictorial Enquirer.
University of Cincinnati Bearcats
Enquirer file
Scanned 3/22/2021"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/cincinnati-com-the-enquirer/4b0d9d012c234e1eb04947fb99c0f76b[/IMG]
Not only did Norwood's Bouldin help the UC Bearcats win their first NCAA basketball championship, months later he was pitching in the big leagues for the Washington Senators. Bouldin did double-duty for Jucker in hoops and baseball. His brother Dick also played both sports for the Bearcats.
Between 1999-2002 Vann was a productive wide receiver for Rick Minter with 204 receptions and 14 touchdowns. In his final two years, he was a favorite target of Gino Guidugli, catching 73 passes in 2001 and 71 in 2002. Vann was also an outfielder in 2001 for Brian Cleary's baseball Bearcats.
Still active as a quarterback in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Collaros was a UC signal caller between 2008-2011, starting the final two seasons for Butch Jones. He also was key player for UC in the undefeated 2009 regular season when Tony Pike was injured. In 2009, Collaros was an infielder for the baseball Bearcats playing in 36 games.
Recruited by Mark Dantonio who first saw him play basketball, Barwin was at first a tight end, then a pass rusher under Brian Kelly. He was good enough to be a second-round pick of the Houston Texans in 2009 and also played for the Eagles, Giants and Rams. When Andy Kennedy's basketball team was depleted due to injury, he plucked Barwin and another defensive lineman, Angelo Craig, from the football team. In two seasons as a 6-foot-4, 240-pound power forward Barwin played 40 games for Kennedy and Mick Cronin (2006-07).
Another multi-sport guy from Woodward High School, Peek became a pass rusher and holds the school record for sacks at 27.5. He was a third-round pick of the Houston Texans in 2003 and also played for the Cleveland Browns. In the 2000-2001 season, the 6-foot-3 Peek appeared in six games for Bob Huggins and the Bearcats.
Another UC linebacker for Rick Minter who made the pros, Jackson was a third-round pick by the Dolphins after helping UC to its first bowl (Humanitarian) in 47 years in 1997. He also played for Tennessee, Baltimore and Carolina. Generously listed at 6-foot-2 (6-foot for football) Jackson played in 11 basketball games for Bob Huggins where he once told his opponent, "It's bump-and-run coverage from here on out."
Petrus played with Brad Jackson and was initially a quarterback for his first three seasons with four career touchdown passes before switching to receiver. In 1997 he caught 10 passes for 254 yards and a score. He also found duty with Jackson and Huggins on the basketball court playing 31 games his senior year and actually starting four of those. One was the 1997 Rock and Roll Shootout in Cleveland where UC had D'Juan Baker, Kenyon Martin and Ruben Patterson suspended for misuse of office phones (imagine that today?). Petrus would score six points and grab five rebounds and Jackson played 13 minutes after both flew from Boise, Idaho where they were undergoing Humanitarian Bowl practice. With Bobby Brannen scoring 32 points, UC beat UMass 74-66 in overtime. (Note: Bobby Brannen briefly put shoulder pads on for spring football practice, but stayed with roundball.)
Monroe was also part of UC's 1997 Humanitarian Bowl football team after exhausting his eligibility on the basketball court. A long-armed 6-foot-4 forward, Monroe played 66 games for Huggins and 11 games with two catches and a touchdown for Minter's football team. He was a good enough blocker to get picked in the seventh-round by the Dallas Cowboys He would only play nine NFL games but was on the 1999 Atlanta Falcons that made the Super Bowl and the 2001 Cleveland Browns.
Trabert may be the most unique of the multi-sport Bearcats as he averaged seven points per game for the 1950-51 Mid-American Conference champion basketball team coached by John Wiethe. But, he succeeded most on the tennis court where he won the 1951 NCAA championship and went on to win 10 Grand Slam titles as a professional. He is a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: A look at 2-sport UC Bearcats. Could they sway Moeller's Ponatoski?
Continue reading...
Known in some circles as Mr. Ohio Football, Moeller's Matt Ponatoski was also voted the Gatorade Ohio Player of the Year, the MaxPreps Ohio Player of the Year and the Greater Catholic South Player of the Year. All Ponatoski did as a junior was throw for 4,217 yards and 57 touchdowns, both school records in Moeller's 14-2 season where the Crusaders finished as Division I state runners-up. As a sophomore, he threw for 3,344 yards and 29 touchdowns as Moeller went 10-5 and made the Division I state semifinals. As a freshman in Moeller's 13-2 campaign in 2022, he started in playoff wins over Mason and Lakota West.
The Cincinnati Bearcats have offered the 6-foot-2, 190-pound quarterback, but so has Kentucky, Arkansas, Duke, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan, Oregon, Purdue, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest. Other Power Four schools are circling and awaiting his senior year.
You must be registered for see images attach
In the meantime, Ponatoski is currently flashing leather at shortstop and leads the GCL-South in hitting at .460 as of May 6. He's among the league leaders in homers (two) and RBI (21) behind slugging teammate Conner Cuozzo. Baseball America rates him as the No. 16 draft prospect and many schools Ponatoski has spoken with are open to him playing both sports.
"I'm going to play two sports in college," Ponatoski said. "I'm right in the thick of narrowing it down. I've got a few schools that I like. But, the recruitment's still open. I'm still going to take my time so I can make sure I make the right decision."
He'd love to add an Ohio Division I Player of the Year honor in baseball, but more importantly, would like to bring a state championship to Moeller. In his mind, he has three tries, two in baseball if Moeller can get to Akron the next two springs and one more shot in football at Canton. The Crusaders came home minus the trophy in DI football last December.
Moeller's Ponatoski wants double play
"The spot I'm going to pick is going to let me do both or attempt to do both." Ponatoski said. "I have a few opportunities and when I make my decision, it's going to be for both.
At UC, though not specifically about Ponatoski, baseball coach Jordan Bischel is open to the possibility of such an athlete. Ponatoski has been in weekly contact with UC quarterback coach Pete Thomas, but his phone is also full of other suitors.
Said UC's Bischel, "I've coached two-sport guys and they can be successful. I've got books at home and every other day I've got one of my little guys reading to me about Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders. If you can do it in the NFL and big-league baseball, certainly it can be done at the college level. It's work. It's hard. But, great athletes can do a lot of things. We are always open to the idea of two-way prospects."
As for the next Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders or even Charlie Ward (Heisman quarterback at Florida State who played in the NBA), UC football coach Scott Satterfield likes the idea of multiple-sport guys in high school. They'll have plenty of competition for Ponatoski, but they are one of the schools open to satisfying his wishes.
"We're looking for leaders," Satterfield said. "The type of guys that are captains that play multiple sports because they love to compete."
At UC, there have been several two-sport athletes over the years, but not many of late. This list is not intended to be all-encompassing, but here are some noteworthy Cincinnati Bearcats who pulled double duty.
You must be registered for see images attach
Sandy Koufax
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound lefty originally came to UC to play basketball which he did in 1953 for the freshman team known as the "Bearkittens." George Smith was the varsity coach, so Ed Jucker was the freshman coach who also happened to coach baseball.
The rest is history. A 1954 scouting report lists the Koufax fastball as an "A", with his change, curve and control graded "A-". In his one season, he had a 3-1 record and a 2.81 ERA. He led the staff with 51 strikeouts in 32 innings.
Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972, Koufax threw four career no-hitters from 1962-1965.
Ed Jucker
Before he coached Koufax in baseball and led the Cincinnati Bearcats basketball squad to back-to-back NCAA championships in 1961 and 1962, Jucker was a UC athlete. He played basketball between 1937-1940 and was captain of the team his senior season. He also played baseball and coached the Bearcats between 1954-1960.
[IMG alt="UC basketball co-captains Carl Bouldin, Bob Wiesenhahn, seniors whose last game was their greatest. Bouldin was also on the UC baseball team.
April 30, 1961: Article from Cincinnati Pictorial Enquirer.
University of Cincinnati Bearcats
Enquirer file
Scanned 3/22/2021"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/cincinnati-com-the-enquirer/4b0d9d012c234e1eb04947fb99c0f76b[/IMG]
Carl Bouldin
Not only did Norwood's Bouldin help the UC Bearcats win their first NCAA basketball championship, months later he was pitching in the big leagues for the Washington Senators. Bouldin did double-duty for Jucker in hoops and baseball. His brother Dick also played both sports for the Bearcats.
LaDaris Vann
Between 1999-2002 Vann was a productive wide receiver for Rick Minter with 204 receptions and 14 touchdowns. In his final two years, he was a favorite target of Gino Guidugli, catching 73 passes in 2001 and 71 in 2002. Vann was also an outfielder in 2001 for Brian Cleary's baseball Bearcats.
Zach Collaros
Still active as a quarterback in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Collaros was a UC signal caller between 2008-2011, starting the final two seasons for Butch Jones. He also was key player for UC in the undefeated 2009 regular season when Tony Pike was injured. In 2009, Collaros was an infielder for the baseball Bearcats playing in 36 games.
You must be registered for see images attach
Connor Barwin
Recruited by Mark Dantonio who first saw him play basketball, Barwin was at first a tight end, then a pass rusher under Brian Kelly. He was good enough to be a second-round pick of the Houston Texans in 2009 and also played for the Eagles, Giants and Rams. When Andy Kennedy's basketball team was depleted due to injury, he plucked Barwin and another defensive lineman, Angelo Craig, from the football team. In two seasons as a 6-foot-4, 240-pound power forward Barwin played 40 games for Kennedy and Mick Cronin (2006-07).
Antwan Peek
Another multi-sport guy from Woodward High School, Peek became a pass rusher and holds the school record for sacks at 27.5. He was a third-round pick of the Houston Texans in 2003 and also played for the Cleveland Browns. In the 2000-2001 season, the 6-foot-3 Peek appeared in six games for Bob Huggins and the Bearcats.
You must be registered for see images attach
Brad Jackson
Another UC linebacker for Rick Minter who made the pros, Jackson was a third-round pick by the Dolphins after helping UC to its first bowl (Humanitarian) in 47 years in 1997. He also played for Tennessee, Baltimore and Carolina. Generously listed at 6-foot-2 (6-foot for football) Jackson played in 11 basketball games for Bob Huggins where he once told his opponent, "It's bump-and-run coverage from here on out."
Brent Petrus
Petrus played with Brad Jackson and was initially a quarterback for his first three seasons with four career touchdown passes before switching to receiver. In 1997 he caught 10 passes for 254 yards and a score. He also found duty with Jackson and Huggins on the basketball court playing 31 games his senior year and actually starting four of those. One was the 1997 Rock and Roll Shootout in Cleveland where UC had D'Juan Baker, Kenyon Martin and Ruben Patterson suspended for misuse of office phones (imagine that today?). Petrus would score six points and grab five rebounds and Jackson played 13 minutes after both flew from Boise, Idaho where they were undergoing Humanitarian Bowl practice. With Bobby Brannen scoring 32 points, UC beat UMass 74-66 in overtime. (Note: Bobby Brannen briefly put shoulder pads on for spring football practice, but stayed with roundball.)
Rod Monroe
Monroe was also part of UC's 1997 Humanitarian Bowl football team after exhausting his eligibility on the basketball court. A long-armed 6-foot-4 forward, Monroe played 66 games for Huggins and 11 games with two catches and a touchdown for Minter's football team. He was a good enough blocker to get picked in the seventh-round by the Dallas Cowboys He would only play nine NFL games but was on the 1999 Atlanta Falcons that made the Super Bowl and the 2001 Cleveland Browns.
You must be registered for see images attach
Tony Trabert
Trabert may be the most unique of the multi-sport Bearcats as he averaged seven points per game for the 1950-51 Mid-American Conference champion basketball team coached by John Wiethe. But, he succeeded most on the tennis court where he won the 1951 NCAA championship and went on to win 10 Grand Slam titles as a professional. He is a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: A look at 2-sport UC Bearcats. Could they sway Moeller's Ponatoski?
Continue reading...
