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Sports

Former Viking Ratay Waiting in the Wings at GVSU

Following Friday's Homecoming football victory, it's a good time to take a glance at what one prominent alum is doing. Geneva's Michael Ratay is learning patience, waiting for his chance at No. 1-ranked Grand Valley State University.

Former Geneva High School football standout Michael Ratay has had to learn a lot about patience during his college career at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, MI.

The 2009 graduate of Geneva High School redshirted his freshman year and has yet to play in the either of the Lakers' first two games in 2010.

His team, however, is doing quite well, going 2-0 overall, 1-0 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and boasting the No. 1 ranking in Division II.

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"Every week I go in thinking that you never know, I could get thrown in there," Ratay said. "Each week I think I am going to get in there. You have to think that way, to be ready.

"We have two running backs who play a lot as starters. Then there is another kid ahead of me."

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After being named all-state in Illinois Class 7A his junior and senior years, rushing for 2,859 yards and 44 touchdowns his senior year, Ratay headed to western Michigan and sat out 2009.

"Not playing last year was tough for me," Ratay said. "I broke my leg my sophomore year in high and sat out that season. But since then I played all the time. It was tough to sit and watch.

"But it was real good to go through a redshirt year. It helped me learn the speed of the game."

Ratay, who is majoring in physical education of business, said the lack of playing time has not soured him on GVSU or playing running back.

"I want to stay at running back," he said. "I was doing well there during the summer, but then injured my hamstring the last part of summer camp. That set me back a bit and has been hard to come back from.

"I like it here, just being on this team with a lot of good friends. I realize there are a lot of people watching us. In high school, it was the Geneva community watching us. Here, it is an entire region.

"I plan to play as long as I can, and I plan to do it here. I am not leaving. I like it here. It is a lot of fun. A like the campus. It is not too big. I can get to my classes easily."

Ratay lived at GVSU during the summer, but made it back to Geneva a couple of weekends. He will not be heading home during football season, but might be able to make it back during the winter semester.

Ratay is not the only Viking on the Lakers' roster. Brandon Beitzel, a 2010 Geneva High School graduate, is a quarterback who is redshirting this season.

"I see Brandon a lot," Ratay said. "He has been fine with redshirting. We hang out a bit."

 

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