West Boca High School’s Kicker, Matt Danko, Continues Football Career at John Carroll University

By: Stephanie Cornwell

Former West Boca Raton Community High School Kicker and Punter, Matthew Danko, will be attending John Carroll University this fall to continue his football career.

Officially on the 2015 roster as a Kicker/Punter, Danko will be entering his freshman year.

John Carroll University is a private, Jesuit Catholic university in University Heights, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland.

Like many kickers, Danko started off as a committed soccer player since the young age of five.

It wasn’t until his Sophomore year of high school that he decided to focus on football, and stop playing other sports.

Due to the different techniques used in soccer and football, it became harder for Danko to fully excel in kicking.

“There are different styles of kicking in football and soccer, you strike the ball differently,” explained Danko.

Despite the differences in the sport’s kicking styles, Danko decided to pursue football saying there were more opportunities in the sport.

He knew that he had to put in a lot of work if he wanted to continue his football career in the collegiate level.

Danko participated in four Kornblue kicking competitions from the winter of 2011 to the spring of 2013, in which he was ranked in the Top 40.

Those who perform the best at the Kicking Challenge are recognized in the Fab 50 National Rankings.

According to the Kornblue Kicking website, Kornblue Kicking has become one of the most nationally recognized companies in the kicking, punting, and long snapping industry.

Although he will have to compete for a starting position at JCU, he is confident and ready to earn his spot.

“I enjoy the pressure of standing out, it can be a good thing or bad thing, but it motivates me,” Danko said.

Danko further explains that when on a football team, you become part of a family. He states that the bond gets stronger in college.

Along with playing football, Danko plans to major in sports studies to become an Athletic Director or football coach.

“Football taught me to lead and work hard if you want to achieve something,” added Danko.