For all the touchdowns hauled in by St. Francis High senior receiver Travis Talianko — 24 in two varsity seasons — it might very well have been a slam dunk that proved most vital to his days as a Golden Knights standout and Division I college prospect.
Teaching a physical education class, Golden Knights Coach Jim Bonds saw a middle-school version of Talianko on some adjacent basketball courts. A slam dunk followed and soon, too, did Bonds, inquiring with the young man as to what high school he would be attending. When Talianko replied St. Francis, Bonds asked him if his plans included football.
They did and they have.
Over the last two seasons, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Talianko has made a name for himself while leaving defenses scratching their heads and his fellow Golden Knights rejoicing in his success. Blessed with a pair of hands as giant as they are reliable, he has shown a knack for big catches and a nose for the end zone in collecting more than his share of All-Mission League, All-CIF and All-Area accolades.