By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

RESERVE – Two East St. John Wildcats recently made their move to the next level official, signing with Pasadena City College to attend school and play football beginning later this year.

Offensive lineman Anthony Cook and defensive tackle Ivan Schnyder are seniors who will be making Pasadena, California their home after graduating from East St. John.

Each overcame obstacles to earn a scholarship to the junior college in their senior season.

For Cook, it was an injury that cost him his entire junior season. He tore both the ACL and MCL in his knee as well as the meniscus.

But after much hard work, he returned and had an excellent season for the Wildcats.

“It was constant work, just trying to make my legs stronger,” said Cook. “I just kept at it.”

Dauterive said that the coaches at Pasadena noticed Cook while scouting film of receiver D’haquille Williams.

“They saw him and started asking me about No. 75 (Cook),” said Dauterive. “They noticed him right off the bat.”

Cook says the ability to get playing time early factored into his decision.

“Starting, getting playing time off the bat appealed to me,” said Cook. “It’s a beautiful campus and surroundings, and I have the potential to shine there.”

For Schnyder, the obstacle was the fact that until his senior season, he had not played prep football.

But it didn’t take him long to make an impact for the Wildcats once breaking his way into the lineup. The 6-foot-4, 245 pound defensive tackle was a constant disruption to opposing offenses.

“He’s a tall, rangy kid that brings a lot of energy,” Dauterive said. “He’s a guy that can play the run and the pass effectively, and those guys are always so valuable to your defense.

“We made a highlight package for him and they offered on the spot. They were impressed.”

Schnyder says that he knows the leap in competition will test him as much as the last.

“It’s another jump,” said Schnyder. “You’ve got to work even harder every time. Now you’re facing better players. I’m looking forward to putting in the work and seeing where it goes.”

He says the new start excites him.

“It’s just a chance to see how it is in another place, a brand new environment,” he said. “A chance to go out and learn more.”

Dauterive’s contact with the coaches at Pasadena has created something of a talent pipeline from this region.

“It’s a mechanism in place for kids that fall through the cracks to have an opportunity,” he said. “They love the Louisiana kids and their passion for football.”