CL South's Walovitch picks Winona State

Football could have opened doors for Crystal Lake South's Brad Walovitch, but the senior wanted to make sure his academic achievements opened such doors first.

That's why Walovitch, the honorary co-captain of the 2011 Daily Herald All-Area football team in the Fox Valley, waited until he was accepted at Winona State University on his academic merits independently before he gave his verbal commitment to the football program, which he did Saturday during an official visit to the Minnesota school.

"It was a big requirement for me to get into a school on my grades first," said Walovitch, who scored a 22 on the ACT and carries a 3.3 grade-point average. "Football is only a few weeks a year, but I'll be a student all year round. I wanted to be sure I could handle the academic side wherever I went."

Walovitch, who intends to study business, chose Winona State over St. Norbert and Augustana. He first came in contact with the coaching staff at Winona State's Chicago/Milwaukee camp in Vernon Hills last summer. An unofficial game-day visit to the campus followed in October, and he liked what he saw.

The Warriors are getting an all-around athlete. Walovitch was a jack of all trades for the Fox Valley Conference Valley Division co-champion Gators. He led the area in interceptions (7) as a cornerback, he was his team's leading wide receiver (32 receptions, 474 yards, 3 TD), he punted, kicked off and kicked field goals.

In fact, Walovitch's 51-yard field goal in the final seconds to beat Cary-Grove will be ingrained in Fox Valley Conference football lore for decades to come.

Walovitch will likely kick in college at some point, the Winona State staff told him, but he was recruited to play cornerback for the Warriors, who are quarterbacked by Prairie Ridge graduate Bryan Bradshaw.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so relieved," Walovitch said of making his college choice final. "Even my parents (Howard and Joanne) are really happy for me. It was a long process, but it was worth it. I'm excited."