BOZEMAN — Former Montana State kicker Luke Pawlak introduced his dedication to Toledo on Wednesday.
Pawlak, who spent two years at MSU and held a preseason beginning job, shall be a most well-liked walk-on for the Rockets, he informed 406mtsports.com. The switch to the Soccer Bowl Subdivision program shall be a homecoming; Pawlak grew up in Sylvania, Ohio, a suburb of Toledo.
“Once I left MSU, it type of grew to become my purpose to make it someplace nearer to dwelling, and this was essentially the most preferrred spot,” Pawlak mentioned. “I actually respect the chance that was given to me at Montana State. … Can’t say something however good issues in regards to the metropolis of Bozeman, the college, this system and the fan base.”
Extraordinarily excited to return again dwelling to hitch the U of Toledo soccer program! An enormous thanks to Coach Watson and Coach Candle for giving me a shot. One other big thanks to @_Mike_McCabe and @BFentress of @OneOnOneKicking for taking me in and serving to me on and off the sphere! pic.twitter.com/B51im0HuXi
— Luke Pawlak (@LukePawlak) May 18, 2022
Pawlak started his faculty profession at Kent State and redshirted there in 2019. He transferred to MSU a yr later and once more didn’t play as a result of the Bobcats’ season was canceled on account of COVID-19.
Pawlak left 2021 spring camp because the first-string kicker on MSU’s depth chart and remained there till he suffered an harm in fall camp. Blake Glessner took his spot, stayed wholesome and kicked nicely. Looking for a chance for extra taking part in time, Pawlak determined to switch.
He didn’t initially know gamers might stick with their present group after getting into the portal. MSU coach Brent Vigen introduced the choice as much as Pawlak, and Pawlak determined getting into the portal in December was the very best course. That allowed him to get on faculty radars whereas being a part of the Cats’ playoff run, which resulted in January within the Soccer Championship Subdivision title sport (common season beginning quarterback Matthew McKay, now at Elon, left MSU after getting into the portal shortly earlier than the primary playoff sport).
“It meant lots to me to proceed to be on that group via the wonderful season that we had,” Pawlak mentioned. “I’m very grateful that coach Vigen gave me the chance to proceed to remain and produce any worth I might to the group.”
Leaving MSU was not a simple choice for Pawlak. The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder praised his former coaches and teammates, particularly Glessner, punter Bryce Leighton and lengthy snapper Tommy Sullivan.
“I’m nonetheless in touch with them continuously,” Pawlak mentioned. “These are a few of my closest associates, and I’m tremendous pleased with what they’ve achieved already in such a brief period of time. They’re going to be specialist legends there.”
Then-Montana State kicker Luke Pawlak stands subsequent to punter Bryce Leighton (37) and lengthy snapper Tommy Sullivan throughout fall camp on Aug. 19, 2021 at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman.
Pawlak additionally is aware of how troublesome it may be to get taking part in time along with his new group, which performs within the Mid-American Convention. However he’s excited merely to get a chance to play near dwelling.
“Because the season resulted in January until now, I actually didn’t attempt to rush something with this course of,” he mentioned. “I simply actually wished to make it possible for wherever I went subsequent could be that dwelling for the remainder of my faculty profession, and I discovered that with Toledo.”