Ziolkowski, Wauconda gridders make college plans

An old sure-handed wide receiver who played for Brigham Young University later coached high school football at Wauconda.

Now, a sure-handed wide receiver from Wauconda will get the chance to play football for BYU.

Wauconda head football coach Dave Mills has announced that senior Jake Ziolkowski has accepted an offer from Brigham Young to be a preferred walk-on.

Mills also announced the college plans of three other players of his.

Linebacker Jake Sherman was offered and accepted a scholarship to Robert Morris University, quarterback Branden Rowe accepted an offer from Monmouth College, and defensive lineman Shawn Sundquist was offered and accepted from the University of Mount Union.

“They are going to let him keep playing football and baseball,” Mills said of Sundquist.

Mills, a former college tight end, played football for BYU, where he and wide receiver Glen Kozlowski roomed together. When Kozlowski was Wauconda’s head coach in 2008, he promoted to the varsity Ziolkowski, who was just a freshman. When Kozlowski left to North Chicago, former assistant Mills took over, and Ziolkowski continued to flourish, progressing each year.

Ziolkowski was having the best season of his varsity career when he suffered a season-ending wrist injury in Week 5 against Antioch last fall. He still wound up with 32 receptions, including 8 for touchdowns.

Ziolkowski finished his career as Wauconda’s school record holder for receptions (86), receiving yards (1,806) and TDs (18).

“He has already enrolled in summer school,” Mills said. “Jake is the first kid I have coached (since leaving Utah) to go back to my alma mater. Jake will be able to use his National Football Foundation scholarship at BYU.”