Ian Juica is a champion ATV rider on the national circuit and is ranked eighth in the country. He began competing at the age of six, and the Catasauqua senior had worked his way up the ranks.

This fall, Juica will pursue a football championship that has eluded him since his youth. Juica still has the thoughts of a 30-29, last-second loss to Executive Education in the district Class 2A championship game on his mind.

“Over all the years I played football, I never was on a championship team,” said the receiver. “In seventh grade, we went 10-0. We all know what happened last year, and it was no one person’s fault. We should have won the game.

“Our main goal is to bring home a championship.”

Football and ATV riding has been intertwined in Juica’s life.

Juica began both his football and ATV career basically at the same time. He sustained a head injury as a result of an ATV accident, and he missed his eighth-grade season of football.

His stepdad, Robert Boeher, bought him a dirt bike when he was five, and Juica was soon riding ATVs. In his first race, he finished second, and a new career was launched.

Since then, Juica has been in competitions primarily along the East Coast, but he has ventured to a handful of other states on the national series.

“My stepdad used to race when he was younger,” said Juica. “After I got the dirt bike, I started working with ATVs. It was a lot of fun, and I decided to stay with it. It is competitive like football, and I really love it.”

Juica caught 25 passes for 451 yards last season with seven touchdowns. He was happy his touchdown production rose from three to seven since his sophomore season. Juica has set a goal of 1,000 receiving yards this season, and he is confident about achieving the mark.

“I know the other receivers who did it, and I really feel I can get there,” he said. “We have a good quarterback with a strong arm, and I’ll work to get it. Last year, we had Wyatt who was a big target, but I know I can take over that role. We should be in a good situation if I can reach the goal.”

Head coach Travis Brett anticipates a banner season for Juica.

“He is a good wide receiver who runs good routes,” said Brett. “We expect a big year out of him, and he will move around a little more than previous years. By the end of the season, he should be in the top-five in school history in receptions and receiving yards.”

Since last year, Juica has been working with the Lehigh Valley-based Blue Chip Receiver Training to improve his game, and he has noticed a difference. Juica also credits assistant coach Mason Stewart, who has worked with him since middle school.

“He helped me a lot this year,” said Juica about Stewart. “He has helped put me in a good position this year. He and Blue Chip were very helpful to my game.”

Juica has been looking into colleges and has been contacted by St. Francis and Holy Cross about continuing his high school career. He doesn’t see ATV riding as a full-time career, but he can continue it as a hobby.

Until then, it is about chasing a championship.

“We have had good workouts, and now we have our seven-on-sevens,” said Juica. “I think there will be some pressures, but we all have the same mindset to win a district title.”