Four Shamrocks Sign Scholarships
February 6, 2008

The morning of February 6, 2008 was a special one for Saint Patrick High School as four athletes signed National Letters of Intent to accept athletic scholarships at NCAA Division I institutions: track athlete, Vince Johnson, and three football players: Justin Pagan, David Giese and Nick Madsen.


(l-to-r) Vince Johnson, Nick Madsen,
David Giese and Justin Pagan.

Johnson signed to become a member of the Track & Field Team at Southern Illinois University. Johnson, an Illinois High School Association State Qualifier in the triple jump, who graduated from Saint Hilary Grammar School, will join head coach Connie Price-Smith and her Salukis in Carbondale. Johnson is a two-time IHSA State Qualifier and a 2007 IHSA Sectional Champion in the triple jump. The versatile Johnson also captured the East Suburban Catholic Conference Championship in both the long jump and the triple jump last year.

Pagan, an All-E.S.C.C. selection at offensive tackle, who graduated from Audubon Grammar School, is headed to Indiana University. Pagan will join head coach Bill Lynch and the Hoosiers in Bloomington, Indiana after an outstanding career for the Shamrocks. Pagan helped control the left side of the offensive line for the Shamrocks. Standing six-feet five-inches tall, and weighing 295 pounds, Pagan is an intimidating physical specimen. Even more impressive than Pagan’s size is his speed. Pagan’s incredible physical talent was best displayed on a reverse against Nazareth Academy. Shamrock receiver Eddie Ortiz took the ball around right end on a reverse, and he broke into the clear up the right sideline. The amazing part of the play was that Pagan, who started the play at left tackle, was leading the play up the right sideline, running stride for stride with Ortiz on a 39-yard gain.

Giese, an All-E.S.C.C. selection at defensive end, who graduated from Saint Pascal Grammar School, is headed to the University of South Dakota. Giese will join a fellow Shamrock in head coach Ed Meierkort, a 1977 graduate of Saint Patrick and a 2008 inductee to the Shamrock Hall of Fame, and his Coyotes in Vermillion, South Dakota. Giese was a disruptive force for the Shamrocks, who spent much of his time in the opposition’s backfield, leading the team with 3.5 sacks, and 13 tackles for loss. Giese, a six-foot four inch, 240 pound linebacker, recorded 23 solo hits and 26 assists for a total of 49 tackles, which was good for second on the team. Giese also tallied six quarterback hurries, four passes defended, one forced fumble and one interception. Giese’s best game of the year came against Carmel, when he recorded 11 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks.

Madsen, a defensive tackle, who graduated from Immaculate Conception Grammar School, will attend Western Illinois University, where he will join head coach Don Patterson and his Leathernecks in Macomb, Illinois. Madsen was the anchor of the Shamrocks’ defensive line, recording 41 tackles, 12 quarterback hurries, six tackles for loss, a sack, and a fumble recovery from his defensive tackle position in 2007. Madsen posted a season-high nine tackles, two tackles for loss and recovered a fumble in the season opener against Notre Dame.