Nov. 11, 2009
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. - The All Sports Association, Inc. announced today (Wednesday, Nov. 11) that University of Michigan fifth-year senior punter Zoltan Mesko (Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg HS) is one of 12 finalists for the 2009 Wuerffel Trophy, the national award that honors the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with outstanding academic and athletic achievement.
Mesko, Michigan State wide receiver Blair White and Northwestern wide receiver Andrew Brewer are the only Big Ten Conference athletes on the 2009 finalist list. The other candidates are: Mike Nixon (Arizona State), Dan LeFevour (Central Michigan), Christian Ponder (Florida State), Andrew Sendejo (Rice), Dominique Harris (Temple), Jordan Shipley (Texas), Zan Beadles (Utah) and Tim Hiller (Western Michigan).
The Wuerffel Trophy national directors and selection committee members will vote on the finalists later this month. The 2009 winner will be formally announced on Dec. 8. The winner will be presented with the Wuerffel Trophy at the All Sports Association's 41st annual awards banquet on Feb. 19, 2010.
Mesko has already been named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and is a finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. He was a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, presented by the National Football Foundation, which honors the college senior who excels on the field, in the community and in the classroom. Mesko is a candidate for Academic All-America honors after being selected CoSIDA Academic All-District IV first team last week.
On the field, Mesko leads the Big Ten and is sixth nationally in punting with a U-M season record 45-yard average this season. He has helped the Wolverines lead the conference and rank second nationally in net punting (42.4 avg.). Mesko holds Michigan career punting records for punts (243) and yardage (10,325) and is second with a 42.5-yard average.
Contact: David Ablauf (734) 763-4423
