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Not one to typically applaud and demand an offer from the University of Southern California, but offensive line, track and field state record holder Matthew Katnik, who also boasts a 4.4 GPA, is one of those kids that wholeheartedly earned his track and field scholarship offer in shot put.
The esteemed St. John Bosco Brave can now add USC to his growing list of Pac-12 schools, which includes UCLA and Stanford vying for his services. The senior offensive lineman, who was just recently awarded the Jim Staunton Champions for Character Award, currently anchors the line for the 2013 Max Preps National Champions.
Very blessed to have received a scholarship from USC for track and field!!! #fighton THrojan pic.twitter.com/qpL2ZTyPPU
— Matthew Katnik (@theshowman55) October 9, 2014
The son of two Trojans, and the brother of two current students, the scholarship offer was received with open and loving arms in the Katnik household.
Already fielding heavy offers from Stanford, where he just got back from an official visit, Matthew will certainly weigh the Cardinal's, Trojans' and Bruins' shot put offers. Just watch Katnik sling the shot put 64'4" at a regional competition in Arcadia, California and you'll see why he is so strongly sought after between the circle.
Just to put his family's athletic prowess into perspective, his father, John Katnik, started at center for USC in 1986 and 1987, while his cousin, Norm Katnik, lettered four years (2000-03) as a center and another cousin, Kurt Katnik, lettered in 2003 as a tight end. His cousin, Brad Walker, lettered four years (2004-07) as a wide receiver on the 2004 national championship team, this being the 10-year anniversary campaign.
More: Good LA Times Piece on the Katnik Family
I had the chance to speak with Matt's brother, John Jr. (a senior at USC) on Wednesday and he was extremely ecstatic about the possibility of having another sibling join the Trojan Family. Obviously things will play themselves out as time takes its course in the high school recruitment process, but Katnik loves what USC has to offer.
Another aspect of the Katnik lineage worth noting is that John helped construct the men's and women's tennis locker room that rests under Marks Tennis Stadium. The Katniks have season tickets for men's basketball, which hasn't always been the greatest treat in recent years, but they are notorious for tailgating before every USC and St. John Bosco Football game. Needless to say, the Katnik family profusely bleeds Cardinal and Gold.