Kresimir Ivkovic One of Ten Finalists For 2013 Fred Mitchell Award
-By Kevin Smith, John Carroll Graduate Assistant
CHICAGO - John Carroll University junior
football place-kicker Kresimir Ivkovic was announced as
one of the 10 finalists for the 2013 Fred Mitchell Award.
The Fred Mitchell Award is provided to the nation's top collegiate
place-kicker among the more than 750 FCS, Division II, III, NAIA
and NJCAA 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 school
of the winner receives scholarship funds and the Fred Mitchell
Award trophy will be presented in February at the National Football
Foundation Chicago Metro Chapter Awards Ceremony at Halas Hall.
"I can not think of a more deserving finalist for the Fred Mitchell
Award, not just because of his exception talent, but because of the
passion and drive that he has to be the best at his craft," said
head coach Tom Arth. "I am very proud of Krash, he is an
outstanding example of a Man of Carroll."
The finalist honors add to an already impressive award list for
Ivkovic. On Monday, he earned D3football.com All-North Region first
team honors. The junior was a first team All-OAC selection, a
D3football.com Team of the Week Presented by Scoutware honoree for
his performance against then-No. 23 Baldwin Wallace and a two-time
OAC Special Teams Player of the Week this season.
This season Ivkovic re-wrote the John Carroll football kicking
record book. He nailed a school-record 20 field goals on a
school-record 24 attempts. Additionally, the 20 made field goals
tied the 23-year old Ohio Athletic Conference record. The junior
currently sits first individually in Division III for most field
goals made per game.
The junior, he was a perfect 57-of-57 on extra point conversions
with both numbers setting single-season John Carroll football
records.
In the community, Ivkovic was the point person behind Kick-It, a
campaign to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer on JCU's
campus. The football community gathered together and raised $1,100
towards Kick-It against Heidelberg on Nov. 9, well beyond the
goal.
Additionally, Ivkovic volunteers for Cultivating the Community, an
initiative where the football team nourishes surrounding
communities by cultivating an environment suitable for positive
growth. Through this partnership he helped clean, paint and perform
yard work at St. Thomas Aquinas Elementary.
He also tutors elementary students in reading and mathematics once
a week through Champs Roxboro, a grant-funded enriched program
designed to serve the needs of at-risk youth in the Cleveland
Heights-University Heights School District.
Ivkovic coaches youth soccer as part of the Croatian Community of
Cleveland where he instills development of techniques, team work,
friendship, respect, and playing as a team.
Said Ivkovic, "I am honored to be selected as one of the 10
finalists for the 2013 Fred Mitchell Award. I am proud to have the
chance to represent my team, John Carroll University and my
family."
A blue-ribbon Selection Committee evaluates place-kickers that are
nominated by their schools. Members of the Pro and/or College
Football Hall of Fame on the Selection Committee include Tom Beck,
Kevin Butler, Paul Hornung, Marv Levy, Steve McMichael, Don Pierson
and Gale Sayers. Former football players and others that are active
in their communities are also on the Selection Committee including
Carl Allegretti, Sean Gothier, Teddy Greenstein, Michael Husted,
Dan Jiggetts, Rick Kolaczewski, Connie Kowal, Greg Loberg, Tom
Lynch, Carol Monroe, Jeff Michalczyk, Mark Murphy, Rob Perry, Jeff
Schebler, Caroline Schrenker, Jay Sebben, Bob Thomas, Wolfe Tone,
Todd Wilkins, Gary Zauner and Rob Zvonar. There are 10 former
college or NFL place-kickers on the Selection Committee, including
Schebler (the inaugural Fred Mitchell Award recipient in 2009 and
the highest-scoring place-kicker in NCAA history at any level) and
Lynch (two-time Award recipient and the kicker on the 2011 NAIA
National Champion Saint Xavier University Cougars).
The winner of the 2013 Fred Mitchell Award will be announced on
Wednesday, Dec. 18.
2013 Fred Mitchell Award Finalists
Beau Baker – Cumberland University (NAIA)
Sam Brockshus – Minnesota State University (Division II)
Sergio Castillo – West Texas A&M University (Division
II)
Sam Cote – Wheaton College (Division III)
Dan Fisher – Bloomsburg University (Division II)
Kresimir Ivkovic – John Carroll University
(Division III)
Dylan Lynch – Jacksonville University (FCS)
Andrew Muzljakovich – Olivet Nazarene University (NAIA)
Tyler Sievertsen – University of Northern Iowa (FCS)
Griffin Thomas – Jacksonville State University (FCS)