by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
Kristoff Kowalkowski, a Sartell ninth-grader, has recently received a prestigious honor – an invitation to compete in Football University’s All-American Bowl Dec. 17-21 in Naples, Florida.
“I was really amazed,” Kowalkowski told the Newsleader. “I’ve worked with the (Football University) program, and I’m very happy, honored and excited.”
Kowalkowski is the son of Dr. Tom and Stacy Kowalkowski. He is a straight-A student who loves math and science especially and who is conversant in Chinese, thanks to a Chinese-immersion program. He is also a superb quarterback who plays for the Sartell Sabres’ team.
The FBU All-American Bowl is a developmental week showcasing the nation’s best ninth-grade football players. Two teams are selected from 60 student athletes nationwide, based on nominations submitted each September.
The event is considered the official launching of the next generation of high-school football stand-outs.
Notable alumni from the annual All-American Bowl are five-star high-school All-Americans Christian McCaffrey, Shea Patterson, Sony Michel, Carn Akers, Trenton Irwin, Tyler Byrd, Deangelo Gibbs, Harrison Bailey, JT Daniels and Dylan Moses.
This is not the first of honors and opportunities bestowed upon Kowalkowski. In this young life, he has achieved many recognitions, among them these:
- He was the starting quarterback as a freshman on the Sartell varsity Sabres’ team.
- Last spring break, he was able to train with Jared Goff, quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams and Matt Ryan, named the most valuable player for the National Football League last year.
- He was nominated to play at the Offense-Defense Bowl in New Orleans this year.
- Kowlkowski is rated one of the top pro-style quarterbacks for his age group in the nation.
- He will be a delegate next June at the University of Massachusetts near Boston to represent his school in the Congress of Future Medical Leaders.
To Kowalkowski, football is the “ultimate team sport,” and during his extensive trainings sessions, he strives to improve for the overall betterment of the team.
“It’s a long process,” said his father, Dr. Tom Kowalkowski. “I’m happy for him that he continues to be able to perform at these higher levels.”
Kristoff Kowalkowski throws the ball at a recent Sartell Sabres’ game.
Last spring during a trip to California for some football training, Kristoff Kowalkowski (right) had a chance to meet Matt Barkly, quarterback for the San Francisco 49’ers.
