Matt Riecker gets to watch TV every day in class at York, but he isn’t tuned into episodes of Judge Judy or Dr. Phil.
Riecker’s business teacher, Jim Borel, has CNBC as a permanent fixture in his class while his students keep an eye on the stock ticker and wait for market reports. It has been exciting times recently in Borel’s class given the volatile market on Wall Street.
Riecker, the Dukes’ 6-foot-4, 181-pound senior receiver, enjoys every minute in what has become his favorite class this semester. Riecker is taking Borel’s honors business management class for college credits toward an associate’s degree at College of DuPage. Riecker is enrolled in another class this semester, Composition 101, for credits at Indiana.
He has left his college options wide open, from Michigan to possibly Division III to play football or baseball. Riecker is a first baseman and pitcher for York in the spring.
He’s staying busy this fall trying to balance football with a heavy academic load. Riecker owns the highest grade-point average (4.4) on the football team among senior starters, according to coach Matt Monken. His 31 SAT score ranks third on the team among starters.
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Riecker is one of five York starters with GPAs higher than 4.0. The academic standouts among senior starters include middle linebacker Robert Hanrahan (4.2/ 31 SAT), linebacker Sam Rasnic (4.2/ 28 SAT), running back Lucas Alexander (4.1/ 27 SAT) and linebacker Quinn Gaughan (4.1 /34 SAT). Monken said Hanrahan will make a visit to the University of Chicago over the weekend.
Monken, who is in his second season since leaving Bolingbrook as an assistant coach, has noticed the difference when Riecker and some of his teammates are in meeting rooms.
“Matt is a bright kid. When you talk about (football) concepts, they get things. Our kids do a great job of applying and learning on the field,” Monken said.
Riecker is taking three Advanced Placement classes this semester in micro economics, macro economics and calculus. He said he has enjoyed his business management class the most this year while watching Borel correctly predict what direction the market is headed week to week.
“One Friday he said the Dow was too high and was probably going to drop,” Riecker said. “On Monday, it did drop. That was pretty cool how he knew.”
Comeback victory
On Sept. 4, Riecker caught two passes for 19 yards in York’s 21-14 come-from-behind win over Leyden in the home opener for the Dukes (1-1).
Riecker ran a route on the left side of the field when quarterback Johnny DiCanio (17-for-25, 236 yards) hit Matt Wozny (seven catches, 90 yards) on the right side for a game-winning, 23-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone. Wozny also had a 34-yard TD catch to cap the opening possession.
“I looked over and saw him (Wozny), and thought, ‘Oh, no. He overthrew him. He dove and caught it,'” Riecker said. “I was so excited when I ran over.”
Twitter @geomwilcox