MINOOKA, Ill. - In front of a well-attended signing day ceremony in recent history at Minooka Community High School, Ryan Lakota of Shorewood, Ill., pledged to be one of the building blocks of the Ashford University men's bowling program for the next four years.

A total of 12 student-athletes at Minooka announced their decisions to play collegiate sports at the next level which included schools like the University of Alabama, Western Illinois University, University of St. Francis and Olivet Nazarene University, among others.

Lakoda becomes the seventh signee snagged by Ashford first-year Head Coach Brian Swanson, who traveled to Minooka for his newest commitment. The Saints have had one other student-athlete with roots in Minooka, former softball senior center fielder Nichole Salazar.

"We are excited to be involved with a high school athletic program like Minooka," Swanson said. "Ryan really emerged throughout his prep career and we're looking forward to seeing what he can do at the next level here at Ashford."

Lakoda was a three-year varsity member for the highly competitive and successful Minooka program led by Indians' Head Coach Derrick Rapsky.

Under Rapsky, Lakoda was a two-time all-conference selection and reeled in junior varsity all-league status as a freshman. Lakoda helped Minooka to a fifth-place showing at the Illinois state tournament as a sophomore and most recently, a seventh-place turnout in his senior year.

Lakoda finished 17th individually at the Illinois state tournament in his sophomore campaign. Two of his high school teammates also committed to Midwest Collegiate Conference counterpart Clarke College.

The son of Lou and Kris Lakota, Ryan has aspirations of majoring in Criminal Justice when he enrolls at Ashford this fall. He picked Ashford over St. Ambrose University and Clarke.