HS Football: Marian’s Gelatko signs with Buffalo

Marian's Michael Gelatko, front center, signs an NCAA Division I national letter of intent to play football at the University of Buffalo during a ceremony Wednesday afternoon at the Hometown school. Participating in the ceremony are, front row, from left: grandparents Rich and Karen Gould, Michael's father MIckey Gelatko, Michael, Michael's mother Kristen Gelatko and younger sister Lexi Gelatko; back row, Marian athletic director Pete Sanfilippo, Marian head coach Billy O'Gurek and Marian head of school Mike Brennan (Photo by Marian Athletics).

HOMETOWN — Michael Gelatko battled through the adversity and tough times to help restore pride and competitiveness in the Marian football program.

His hard work and dedication were rewarded Wednesday.

Gelatko signed an NCAA Division I letter of intent to play football at the University of Buffalo during an afternoon ceremony at the Hometown school. The early signing period for NCAA Division I and II football athletes is Wednesday through Friday.

A 6-foot-4, 235-pound tight end/defensive end, Gelatko is projected to play tight end for the Bulls, who went 8-4 this year, 6-2 in the MAC, and are awaiting a bowl bid.

“Starting off four years ago, when he came to us as a freshman, we knew he was pretty special,” Marian head coach Billy O’Gurek said. “His hard work and dedication over the years … he turned himself into a Division I prospect. He was recruited at some of the highest levels.

“He’s going to a pretty good school that just won eight games and is going to a bowl game in their new coach’s first season. We’re excited for him.”

Gelatko’s recruitment with Buffalo began when Pete Lembo was hired as the Bulls’ head coach in January 2024. Lembo, who compiled a 112-65 career record as head coach over 15 seasons at Lehigh, Elon and Ball State, had recruited Gelatko last fall when he was the associate head coach and special teams coordinator at South Carolina.

When Lembo went to Buffalo, that pursuit continued. Gelatko verbally committed to Buffalo last spring.

“When Coach Lembo was at South Carolina, he was actually going to come up to (Marian) and visit,” Gelatko said. “In January he got the head coaching job at Buffalo and got the other coaches there in contact with me and got me on the board there.

“I came up for a visit in early March and that’s when they offered me. From the first time I was on campus, I loved it, I loved the school, I loved the coaching staff, I loved the City of Buffalo. It was a no-brainer decision from there.”

The son of Mickey and Kristen Gelatko of Andreas, Michael came to Marian during one of its darkest times. The Colts had gone 10-30 over the previous four seasons, including a 1-9 mark in 2019 and a 1-7 record in 2020, bringing legendary coach Stan Dakosty out of retirement.

Marian then lost the first seven games in 2021 before winning its final four. Gelatko said despite the tough times, he and his teammates never lost their faith and continued to work hard to restore pride in the program.

“When I decided to go to Marian, I knew it was a work in progress,” Gelatko said. “Coach Dakosty and the coaching staff made that clear. That was the motto from Day 1, continue to build up every single day until we get to where we are now.

“My class, the class above me and the class above them, we kind of bared down and we knew it was going to be a grind. We knew if we came in with the right mindset every single day we eventually were going to get there and be a great football team.”

That hard work and perseverance paid off the past two seasons, as Marian went 7-5 and reached the District 11 Class A championship game in 2023 and compiled a 6-5 mark and a trip to the District 2/11 Class A subregional semifinals this fall.

“When he came to us as a freshman four years ago, he was a guy we wanted to build our program around,” O’Gurek said. “We got to the district playoffs back-to-back years the last two years largely because of players like him and his leadership.”

Gelatko was the Colts’ main receiving weapon the past two seasons in Marian’s run-heavy offense. He had 23 receptions for 381 yards and a touchdown last season, then hauled in 27 passes for 295 yards and four TDs this season. He’s also shined defensively from his defensive end spot, compiling 163 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and nine sacks over the past two campaigns, and excelled as the Colts’ punter.

He’s excited to play tight end at a Division I program like Buffalo.

“Marian, we’re a run-heavy team that likes to get in your face and pound the rock,” Gelatko said. “Buffalo is recruiting me as a tight end. They see me as a guy that can do everything, from run blocking to catching passes and scoring touchdowns.

“It was a crazy turnaround (at Buffalo). They had three wins last year and eight this year and now they’re looking to play in a big-time bowl game here in December. It’s great to be going to a program that’s already on its feet, heading in the right direction fast.”

Gelatko plans to major in Physical Therapy, saying his experience with arm injuries while playing baseball growing up and going through physical therapy was intriguing and a way to stay involved with athletes and sports.

He gave a lot of credit for his success to his parents and the staff at Marian for pushing him to get to this point.

“My parents, they sacrificed everything for me, to give me the best opportunity possible, whether that would be baseball, football or just in life in general,” Gelatko said. “If if I wanted to do something, they were totally on board and did anything possible to let me achieve those dreams.

“All my coaches at Marian, Coach Dakosty, Coach O’Gurek and the rest of the staff, they allowed me to come into the program as a freshman, brought me under their wing and allowed me to be part of something bigger than me.”