If Travis Starks’ career goals are fulfilled someday, he’ll have the letters ESPN or ABC alongside his name on his business card.
For now, however, the aspiring sportscaster is more concerned with another acronym: MVFC.
Starks is one of six Indiana State football players who have been voted to the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s Preseason All-Conference Team.
Starks, a senior cornerback, is one of two Southland residents recognized. Joining him is teammate LeMonte Booker (Sandburg). Starks was named to the All-MVFC first team, while Booker, a junior running back/kick returner, was honorable mention.
“That’s a big honor,” Starks said. “But I have bigger goals than that. My ultimate goal is to take my team to the national championship.
“This is an honor, but I have higher goals. I’ve been working hard to reach those goals.”
Starks was chosen to the All-MVFC second team last season. The St. Rita graduate led the league in passes defended with 21 while tying for second in interceptions with four. Starks finished with 77 tackles (54 solos) while appearing in all 14 games.
“I love playing cornerback,” Starks said. “I love to compete and put my talents against another guy’s talents. I know I have to be consistent with my technique on every play.
“Playing cornerback is like a chess match. You have to make sure that you’re sound with your technique and make sure it’s right every time. You have to make sure you have sound feet and hands. You’re matched up with the guy in front of you and I love that about the position.”
A three-year starter for the Sycamores, the Chicago native believes the blend of experience and skill he brings enables him to be one of the team’s leaders.
“I feel like I can tackle, play man coverage and play zone coverage,” Starks said. “I want to sharpen my skills as a corner and do everything well so that separates me from the other guys.
“I want to make my game and myself all-around. I want to be an all-around corner.”
Starks will get the opportunity to display his all-around game on Sept. 5 as Indiana State begins its season by welcoming Butler. One week later, Starks and the Sycamores are on the road as they travel to Purdue.
“We’re very excited for the season,” Starks said. “We’ve put in a lot of hard work and we’re ready for everything to pay off. We’ve put a lot of extra work in during the offseason and we were here all summer.
“The guys have bought into all that the coaches have said and now we’re more of a tight family. It’s more fun to play with all the guys you care about.
“Our goals are to win the MVFC championship and to win the national championship. We want to make sure that all the guys buy in as one and as a family. We don’t want to let the guy next to you down.”
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Top Cats: Seven Southland residents were among the 98 student-athletes from Southern Illinois-Edwardsville to be chosen to the Ohio Valley Conference’s commissioner’s honor roll list. Students must have a 3.25 GPA or higher to qualify.
Among the Cougars recognized were baseball players Mike Miller (Lincoln-Way North) and Alex Padilla (De La Salle), cross country runner and track and field athlete Francesca Sikorski (Joliet Catholic), softball player Rebecca Gray (Marian Catholic), women’s tennis player Haley Ilcewicz (Lockport), track and field athlete Brittany Thomas (Bloom) and volleyball player Mallory Mangun (Joliet Catholic).
It’s Destini: Destini Artis (Hillcrest) was one of nine members of Northern Illinois’ women’s track team named academic all-conference by the MAC. The Country Club Hills resident maintained a GPA of 3.2 or better while also competing in at least half of the Huskies’ events during the outdoor season.
Mike Walsh is a freelance writer for the Daily Southtown.