Eight Providence Catholic Celtics Commit to College Sports

Caption:

Sitting left to right: Justin Gardner, Tess Barrett, Cory Griffith and Justin Hunniford.
Standing left to right: Joseph Zemen, Nate Vejvoda, Miles Boykin and Emmet Trost

Celtic fans, be proud. Eight of your senior student-athletes have committed to take their skills to the collegiate level.

Tess Barrett, Miles Boykin, Justin Gardner, Cory Griffith, Justin Hunniford, Emmet Trost, Nate Vejvoda and Joseph Zemen will continue on in their respective sports.

“We are extremely proud of these young men and women for their leadership and hard work and wish them success in college and in the future,” said Harper.

Tess Barrett, daughter of Edward and Cheri Barrett of Tinley Park, signed her National Letter of Intent to attend Valparaiso University where she will continue her soccer career. Barrett received an athletic scholarship and plans to major in Nursing. She is a graduate of Central Middle School and is a parishioner at St. Elizabeth Seton. The honor roll student is a National Honor Society officer and member of the Student Council and Celtic Nation. She is also a Student Ambassador, Celtic Time Leader, Sacristan, Eucharistic Minister and a member of the Augustinian Youth Ministry. Furthermore, Barrett was a member of the Celtic girls’ volleyball team for three years.

Miles Boykin, son of George and Felicia Boykin of Tinley Park, signed his National Letter of Intent to attend the University of Notre Dame where he will continue his football career on an athletic scholarship. He is a graduate of Central Middle School. Boykin has been a member of the Celtic football and basketball teams for his entire high school career. He was a co-captain of the 2014 State Champion football team, the recipient of the Tom Lemming All-Area award for the past four years, a member of the Semper Fidelis All-American Team and named Player of the Year by the Champaign News Gazette. Boykin was also named CCL Blue All-Conference, CCL Blue Offensive MVP, Core 6 MVP and Team 22 All-Area for football. In basketball, Boykin was named All-Conference and Team 22 All-Area.

Justin Gardner, son of Bob and Candace Gardner of New Lenox, committed to continue his football career at Monmouth College where he plans to major in Exercise Science. He is a graduate of Martino Junior High School and a parishioner at Parkview Christian Church. Gardner has been a member of the Celtic football team for his entire high school career, including the 2014 State Champion football team. He is also a recipient of the Semper Fidelis Leadership Award. Furthermore, Gardner was a member of the Celtic wrestling team for three years.

Cory Griffith, daughter of Bill and Bobbie Griffith of Lemont, signed her National Letter of Intent to attend Valparaiso University where she will continue her soccer career. Griffith received an athletic scholarship and plans to major in Business. She is a graduate and parishioner of SS. Cyril and Methodius. The honor roll student is an Illinois State Scholar, a member of the National Honor Society and Parliamentarian of the Student Council, a Celtic Time Leader and member of the International Club. Furthermore, she has been a member of the girls’ volleyball team for her entire high school career and was named Captain, All-Area 2nd Team, All-Conference and team MVP.

Justin Hunniford, son of Matt and Carol Hunniford of Frankfort, committed to continue his football career at North Central College where he received an academic scholarship and plans to double major in secondary education and math. He is a graduate of Hickory Creek Middle School and a parishioner at St. Anthony Church. The honor roll student is a member of the National Honor Society, a Celtic Time Leader, Sacristan and a Eucharistic Minister. Hunniford has been a member of the Celtic football and baseball teams for his entire high school career. He was a member of the 2014 State Champion football and baseball teams. In football, Hunniford was a co-captain and named 1st team CCL Blue All-Conference, 1st team All-Area by the Chicago Sun Times and Team 22 Media, and 1st team All-State by the Chicago Tribune, Champaign News Gazette, and the Illinois High School Coaches Association. In addition, he was named to the All-State Academic Team, was a recipient of the CCL Blue Lawless Award as the conference MVP and was named Illinois Player of the Year by the Chicago Tribune, the Joliet Herald News, the Southtown Star and by WJOL radio / Edgy Tim. As a two-year starting quarterback, Hunniford now holds numerous single game, season, and career passing records at Providence Catholic.

Emmet Trost, son of Bill and Erin Trost of Elwood, committed to continue his football career at Carthage College. He is a graduate and parishioner of St. Joseph (Manhattan). The honor roll student has been a member of the Celtic football team for his entire high school career, including the 2014 State Champion football team, and a member of the wrestling team for three years. He was also named CCL Blue All-Conference, All-Area 2ndteam by the Joliet Herald News and the team’s Most Improved Defensive Player.

Nate Vejvoda, son of Gregory and Nancy Vejvoda of Homer Glen, signed his National Letter of Intent to attend the University of Iowa where he will continue his football career. Vejvoda received an athletic scholarship and plans to major in Engineering. He is a graduate of Homer Junior High School and a parishioner at St. Francis of Assisi. The honor roll student is a member of the National Honor Society and was named to the All-State Academic Team. Vejvoda has been a member of the Celtic football and basketball teams for his entire high school career. He was co-captain of the 2014 State Champion football team and named All-Area, CCL Blue All-Conference, All-Area Honorable Mention by the Chicago Sun Times and Southtown Star and 2nd Team Wide-Receiver by 22nd Century Media.

Joseph Zemen, son of Joseph and Lori Zemen of Manhattan, committed to continue his football career at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. He is a graduate of Manhattan Junior High School and a parishioner of St. Joseph Church (Manhattan). The honor roll student is a member of the National Honor Society. Zemen has been a member of the Celtic football team for his entire high school career, including the 2014 State Champion team, and was named All-Area 2nd Team by the Joliet Herald News. Furthermore, Zemen is an Eagle Scout.