Boston next stop for traveling man Sinkovec

As a freshman and sophomore, Wisconsin resident Jake Sinkovec hopped on a train in Antioch every school-day morning and got off in Mundelein.

He then walked more than half a mile to Carmel Catholic High School.

Since last year, the senior has been driving to school. It's a commute that takes "only" 45 minutes one way, an hour if the traffic is bad.

So, being used to travel, maybe Boston College won't seem so far away.

A two-year starting safety who helped Carmel's football team go deep into the state playoffs the last two seasons, Sinkovec has made a verbal commitment to Boston College, which has recruited the area well in recent years.

"I was interested in academics first, really, and then football," said Sinkovec, who scored a 28 on his ACT and is considering studying business marketing or management, while also interested in engineering.

"Boston College offers a combination of both of those - (strong academics and strong football)."

Air Force, Navy, Akron and Miami (Ohio) also made official scholarship offers to the 6-foot-4, 210-pounder, who's regarded as a hard hitter with good speed.

"I feel very fortunate and lucky to have the opportunities I did," Sinkovec said.

Boston College didn't enter the picture until after the high school season. Once the Eagles expressed interest, Sinkovec visited the campus and came away impressed.

"I liked all the guys on the team, and the coaching staff is real nice," Sinkovec said. "Just a lot of good people. And the campus itself is real nice and it's obviously right by Boston (six miles west of downtown). I like it out there."

Boston College (9-4) will seek its ninth straight bowl victory when the Eagles take on Vanderbilt (6-5) in the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl on Dec. 31 in Nashville. BC's roster includes starting left tackle Anthony Castonzo (Lake Zurich), fellow offensive lineman Emmett Cleary (St. Viator), and linebackers Mike Morrissey (Stevenson), Nick Clancy (Joliet Catholic) and Garrett Seeger (Barrington).

"I'll be going as an outside linebacker," said Sinkovec, who played strong safety as a junior and free safety as a senior. He led Carmel in tackles (92) and interceptions (4) this season.

Sinkovec is one of four children of Jim and Marjorie, who reside in Bristol, Wis., in Kenosha County. His two older brothers attended high school at Westosha Central in Kenosha.

Sinkovec, who also has an 8-year-old sister, has no regrets about all those long trips he's made, via train or car, and is still making to Carmel.

"In the long run," he said, "things have paid off for me."