Student spotlight: Novacinski plans to play basketball at SJU

by Cori Hilsgen

news@thenewsleaders.com

Apollo High School senior Ethan Novacinski has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at St. John’s University next year.

Even though he received invites and information from other colleges, he chose SJU because he knew he wanted to be closer to home.

“After visiting several schools this summer, I had a conversation with my parents saying I felt St. John’s was the best fit for me, so I talked to Pat McKenzie, the St. John’s coach and gave him a verbal commitment,” Novacinski said.

Dave Langerud, activity director at Apollo, organized a letter of intent signing Oct. 30 at Apollo. It was attended by Novacinski’s family, his high school basketball coach Dean Kesler, and some of the local media.

Novacinski said he is ready to play basketball at the next level of competition.

“Coach McKenzie has made me feel welcome already,” he said.

Novacinski plans to study biology at SJU and hopes to pursue a health career, either as a physical therapist or a physician’s assistant.

Novacinski started playing basketball in kindergarten through a youth program sponsored by the YMCA. He also participated in a lot of youth basketball throughout elementary school with the St. Cloud Area Youth Basketball Association program, beginning travel basketball in fifth grade. His father coached his SCAYBA travel team from fifth through eighth grade.

In high school, he has played on the varsity basketball team at Apollo from ninth through 12th grade. Novacinski has also played Amateur Athletic Union basketball with the Minnesota Comets team in the spring and summer. The AAU teams compete against each other in tournaments throughout Minnesota and the United States. Players for the Comets team are from central and northern Minnesota and the Twin Cities. Novacinski played in tournaments in Kansas, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota.

As a team captain at Apollo, during both his junior and senior years, he has scored more than 1,031 points from ninth through 11th grade. In his senior year, he is ninth on the list of all-time leading scorers at Apollo.

Novacinski is the son of Cheryl and Grant Novacinski. Cheryl teaches at Kennedy Community School in St. Joseph, having taught first grade for 29 years. Grant teaches at Mississippi Heights in Sauk Rapids, having taught third grade for 27 years.

Novacinski attended Kennedy school from kindergarten to eighth grade and then Apollo. He lives in St. Joseph with his family.

Novacinski has one older sister, Moriah, who is currently studying at St. Catherine’s University in the Twin Cities to become a physician’s assistant.

The family has a 10-year-old pet pug named Boris.

Fun facts about Novacinski :

Favorite subject:

Novacinski said he enjoys his health careers class, where students intern/shadow two different health professionals for 24 hours each.

Activities:

Basketball, football, National Honor Society, LINK crew, is a Junior Rotarian and plays the cello in the symphony orchestra.

Novacinski has lettered all four years in basketball, three years in football, one year in weightlifting and two years with the National Honor Society.

LINK crew is a leadership organization at Apollo in which juniors and seniors mentor the freshman class.

“We help orientate freshman to high school,” Novacinski said. “Four members are assigned to each homeroom and we answer questions, lead them in activities and help them study for exams.”

“The Rotary Club of St. Cloud sponsors high school seniors from the St. Cloud high schools plus St. John’s Prep (as Junior Rotarians),” he said. “There are eight from Apollo. We go to their meetings and listen to their presentations. At Apollo, the eight Junior Rotarians are planning a project on how to use grant money from the St. Cloud Rotary Club to improve Apollo.”

Favorite leisure activity:

“I love to fish,” Novacinski said.

Favorite movie:

“Tommy Boy makes me laugh,” he said.

Favorite music:

Country music

Favorite restaurant:

“Kay’s Kitchen because I can get anything I want to eat there,” Novacinski said. “(It) feels like home.”

Favorite food:

Hotdish

What is your favorite thing you like to help other people do?

“In LINK crew I am responsible for mentoring a homeroom of freshmen students,” he said. “I enjoy getting to know them and helping them get familiar with Apollo.”

What is one of the hardest obstacles you’ve had to overcome in the school environment?

Balancing a rigorous academic schedule of Advanced Placement classes with music and activities.

Favorite school organization:

“I like being a part of the orchestra because it’s completely different than sports and classes,” Novacinski said.

Who is a teacher or coach who’s most influenced you?

Dean Kesler, my basketball coach at Apollo.

“He has high standards he holds us accountable for,” Novacinski said. “He knows basketball very well and encourages me to be the best player I can be. He has a personal interest in who I am. He wants the best for all of his players and encourages us to be good examples in school and in the community.”

Favorite technology device:

His phone – a Samsung Galaxy S5

What do you like most about school?

“The teachers at Apollo are excellent,” he said. “They connect with the students and are interested in us. The atmosphere at my school is great. It’s a very diverse environment where we work together to get along. I also like the choice of classes and activities. There’s something for everyone at my school.”

What may people not know about you?

He said he has a good memory and can quote movie lines and songs.

Relate a St. Joseph experience you remember:

When he was in first grade in his mother’s class at the old Kennedy Elementary, he caught a small turtle at the lake in his neighborhood and brought it to school. Someone in the next classroom stole the turtle and put it in his backpack. Luckily, they heard it scratching and got it back.

What do you like best about St. Joseph?

“I can spend hours on the lake in Pleasant Acres – fishing, boating, swimming and relaxing,” he said.