Monthly Recognition
FRED MITCHELL AWARD RECOGNIZES PLACE-KICKERS FOR EXCELLENCE ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD AND IN THE COMMUNITY IN OCTOBER
Contact:
Chris Kearney – ckearney@fredmitchellaward.com
Fred Mitchell – fmitchell@fredmitchellaward.com
PDF version of October 2009 Recognition press release
PDF version of September 2009 Recognition press release
November 4, 2009 – The Fred Mitchell Award recognizes 13 Division II and Division III place-kickers for their excellence on the football field and in the community during the month of October. “October was a record-setting month for place-kickers throughout college football as evidenced by the fine young men that we are delighted to honor for their achievements during the month,” said Fred Mitchell. The Award’s Selection Committee Chairman Chris Kearney added, “We are delighted to recognize these place-kickers for their achievements on the football field and in their communities. These student-athletes play for schools in 11 different states and there is even a freshman recognized this month.”The recipient of the inaugural Fred Mitchell Award will be announced in mid-December based on performance on the field and in the community.
Details are provided at www.fredmitchellaward.com.
In alphabetical order, the Fred Mitchell Award honorees for October 2009 are listed below.
JAY CARPENTER
Mount Union College (Ohio)
Senior from Fairmont, WV….ranks second on the #1 nationally ranked Purple Raiders with 59 points from 44 of 46 PAT’s and 5 of 6 FG’s….team outscored opponents 214-42 during the month of October….co-organizer of Fall 2009 Soles for Souls effort to collect shoes from the local community for an international relief project….Fellowship for Christian Athletes co-leader….plays on Mount Union’s basketball team
GORDON CRAIG
Dickinson College (Pennsylvania)
Junior from Grove City, PA….second on the Red Devils with 52 points from 28 of 30 PAT’s and 8 of 9 FG’s….made a 41-yard FG with 7 seconds remaining to beat Muhlenberg 17-16 on October 31….named Centennial Conference Special Teams Player of the Week on November 2 thanks to the game winning FG, two punts inside the 20 yard line and for making a touchdown-saving tackle during Muhlenberg’s punt return…two-time Conference Special Teams Player of the Week….Boiling Springs Bengals youth football camp volunteer….Step into Africa Program mission trip volunteer to assist disaster recovery efforts and to work with underprivileged children
JACKSON DAMRON
California-Lutheran University
Sophomore from Ventura, CA….second on the Kingsmen in scoring with 48 points on 33 PAT’s and 5 FG’s….scored 12 points in October 10 win over Pomona-Pitzer….averaging 61 yards on 45 kickoffs….two-year volunteer in high school baseball and basketball camps….multiple year volunteer in Santa Barbara youth sports camps
RUSSELL GLIADON
Saint John’s University (Minnesota)
Senior from Fridley, MN….MIAC Special Teams Player of the Week twice in October….made a school record 49-yard FG with 3 seconds remaining to give then #6 Saint John’s University a 16-14 win over Bethel on October 3….broke his own record with a 52-yard FG in the Johnnies’ 10-3 win over St. Olaf on October 24 and the team is now ranked #4 and 8-0 for the season….leads the team in scoring with 37 points…averaging 63 yards on 40 kickoffs….Big Brothers/Big Sisters volunteer in St. Cloud….Habitat for Humanity volunteer in St. Joseph….football camp volunteer at three sessions in past year including Fridley, Minnetonka and River Falls, WI
ZACK HARRIS
Wittenberg University (Ohio)
Senior from Plain City, OH….ranks second on the team with 54 points from 33 of 35 PAT’s and 7 of 10 FG’s….perfect 25 of 25 PAT’s in October….kicked the game-winning 31-yard FG at #10 Wabash on October 17….kicked a career-best 45-yard FG against Denison on October 31….55 yard average on 40 kickoffs….Springfield YMCA volunteer including helping children learn kicking and punting techniques….Plain City Fire Department volunteer….involved with the Young Entrepreneurs Across America to help college students start businesses
TYLER McNAMARA
Bentley University (Massachusetts)
Senior from Medway, MA....scored 27 points in October thanks to 9 of 9 PAT’s and 6 of 8 FG’s with one miss from 50 yards....highest-scoring place-kicker in Bentley and Northeast-10 history with 214 career points...one of five players in school history to score at least 200 points....tied Conference record and set school record on October 3 with 4 FG's in game against Merrimack....kicked game-winning FG on October 9 in 17-14 win over defending Conference Champion Southern Connecticut....made game-winning PAT with 8.6 seconds left to beat Pace 28-27 on October 17....scored the last 4 points in a 24-20 win over Assumption on October 24....ranked 1st in Conference in 2009 FG's, 11th in Division II in FG’s per game and 5th overall in Conference scoring with 61 points....averaging 57 yards on 19 kickoffs....volunteers to help the Waltham Pop Warner A team place-kicker, holder and snapper with technique....Nantucket Beau Almondobar sports camp volunteer
THOMAS PARROTT
Northern State University (South Dakota)
Junior from Tampa, FL….second on team with 40 points from 19 of 20 PAT’s and 7 of 11 FG’s….made 5 of last 6 FG’s in October including 10 points in the October 10 game against the University of Mary….averaging 59 yards in 39 kickoffs….Fellowship of Christian Athletes….volunteer Chemistry tutor to Northern State students….participated in the United Way and Northern State University Day of Champions event to assist with various community service projects in the Aberdeen area
GARRETT ROLSMA
Central Washington University
Senior from University Place, WA….17 of 17 PAT’s and 12 of 13 FG’s during October for the #2 ranked Wildcats, the school’s highest ranking since joining Division II in 1999....scored 8 or more points and made FG’s of 40+ yards in all October games….kicked game-winning 44-yard FG with 32 seconds remaining to beat Western Oregon 23-21 in the October 17 Battle in Seattle matchup at Qwest Field….has made 99 straight PAT’s dating to November 2007….school’s all-time scoring leader with 317 points….set school and Great Northwest Athletic Conference record with 18 FG’s in a season….“Paint Tacoma” volunteer to paint houses for underprivileged families in his hometown with his father….participates in regular blood drives including via the football team’s annual Blood Drive….assisted with the Yakima River Cleanup Project….Exercise Science Club 5K Fun Run volunteer
GARETH ROWLANDS
Tusculum College (Tennessee)
Junior from Wales, Great Britain….25 of 26 PAT’s and 12 of 13 FG’s including 8 of 8 from 40+ yards including a 52-yard FG….scored 34 points in October from 13 PAT’s and 7 FG’s….made game-winning 34-yard FG against Newberry where Rowlands scored 10 points….named South Atlantic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week….61 points this season leads Conference place-kickers….set Pioneers records during October for career PAT’s (82) and points by a place-kicker (154)….Adopt-a-Highway Program roadside clean-up….meets with local elementary school students weekly to help mentor the students in the Lunch Buddies Program….Bible School volunteer….Upward Bound Leader….Tusculum College Sports Information Office volunteer
TAYLOR RUSSOLINO
Millsaps College (Mississippi)
Junior from Metairie, LA….leads the Majors in scoring with 68 points from 38 of 39 PAT’s and 10 FG’s….made all FG’s in October except 47 and 48 yard attempts….holds school records for career PAT’s made (118) and attempted (127)….broke the school record for most career FG’s….averaging 58 yards in 56 kickoffs….volunteers weekly for the Mississippi School for the Blind and Deaf….assists the New Summit Middle School students that have special needs….Stewpot Community Services volunteer helping to serve 120 meals daily to needy in the Community Kitchen and delivering 50 meals daily to shut-ins in the Jackson, MS area
JEFF SCHEBLER
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Senior from Davenport, IA….ranks second on the #2 nationally ranked Warhawks with 75 points from 48 of 49 PAT’s and 9 of 10 FG’s….scored 40 points in October from 25 of 25 PAT’s and 5 of 6 FG’s including a 45-yard FG against UW-Stout on October 17 when Schebler broke the Division III scoring record for place-kickers with his 384th point and he has now scored 409 points breaking the FCS record of 407 points….averaging 61 yards on 58 kickoffs….holds the school career records for PAT’s made (205), PAT’s attempted (215), FG’s made (68) and FG’s attempted (85)….Fellowship of Christian Athletes leadership team…visits the Hadley School for the Blind in Janesville….Kohl’s Kicking Camp counselor and mentor
DAVID VAN VORIS
Adams State College (Colorado)
Freshman from Elizabeth, CO….19 of 19 PAT’s during the season and made all 14 attempts during October….made 13 of 16 FG’s during October and 17 or 21 for the season….received the Conference’s Special Teams Player of the Week honor following the Grizzlies games on October 10 and 31 games….leads Division II place-kickers with 2.125 FG’s per game which is the second highest in Division II records dating back to 1970….set school records for points and FG’s in a season….scored 53 points in October including 15 points in October 3 Homecoming win over Western New Mexico followed by 13 points (with career-high 4 FG’s and 1 PAT) in October 10 win over Fort Lewis….averaging 67 yards on 39 kickoffs during the season….Student-Athlete Work Day volunteer….Work-A-Thon participant in October 2009 including by raking leaves for senior citizens
RYAN ZIPF
Allegheny College (Pennsylvania)
About the Fred Mitchell Award
Starting with the 2009 college football season, the annual Fred Mitchell Outstanding Place-Kicker Award (also known as the Fred Mitchell Award, www.fredmitchellaward.com) will be provided to the nation’s top collegiate place-kicker among the approximately 150 Division II and 240 Division III football teams. The Award is named for Fred Mitchell, the record-setting place-kicker, Wittenberg University Athletic Hall of Famer, author, philanthropist and Chicago Tribune sports columnist. The recipient of the Fred Mitchell Award will be chosen based on excellence on the football field and in the community. The Award’s Watch List is released in August, top performers will be recognized monthly during the college football season, and the winner (who is not required to be on the Watch List) will be announced in mid-December. The school of the Award winner will receive scholarship funds and the Fred Mitchell Award trophy will be presented on February 22, 2010 at the National Football Foundation Chicago Metro Chapter Awards Ceremony at Halas Hall. Further details about the Awards Ceremony are at www.nffchicagoawards.eventbrite.com.
A blue-ribbon Selection Committee (listed at www.fredmitchellaward.com) will evaluate place-kickers that are nominated by Division II and III schools. There are nine members of the Pro and/or College Football Hall of Fame on the Selection Committee including Tom Beck, George Blanda, Kevin Butler, Lou Holtz, Paul Hornung, Marv Levy, Steve McMichael, Don Pierson and Gale Sayers. Several former football players that are active in their communities are also on the Selection Committee including Carl Allegretti, Sean Gothier, Dan Jiggetts, Jeff Michalczyk, Mark Murphy, Rob Perry, Bob Thomas, Todd Wilkins, Gary Zauner and Rob Zvonar. There are eight former college or NFL place-kickers on the Selection Committee.