Honors Pile Up for Newest All-American

Green Knight football’s Kendall Karcz ’22 picked up his second first-team All- America honor in December when he was named to the first team of the Associated Press Division III All-America Team. The senior was one of five defensive backs selected for the honor.

Karcz is only the fourth SNC gridder to be named first-team All-America by the Associated Press, joining running back Norm Jarock ’58, defensive end Dave Jauquet ’65 and linebacker Jerimiah Janssen ’01. The Associated Press honor came just a few days after Karcz (left) was named to the American Football Coaches Association Division III All-America Team for the 2021 season.

During his final season as a Green Knight, Karcz, who wears #23 on the field, totaled seven interceptions with 170 return yards. He also finished with 51 tackles, 21/2 tackles-for-loss, one quarterback sack and two passes defended.

Karcz had four interceptions in St. Norbert’s 68-0 win game over Wisconsin Lutheran on Oct. 9 at Schneider Stadium, with three in the first quarter and two returned for touchdowns, matching the Green Knight record for interceptions returned for touchdowns in one game. Karcz’s four interceptions were the most for an SNC Knight since Bill Van Lanen ’58 set his 1957 school-record five interceptions against Loras College. The four-interception game also ties a NACC record, and Karcz’s two “pick sixes” set an outright NACC single-game record.

Karcz ended his last season by scoring three touchdowns and also scoring on a blocked punt return for a touchdown at home against Rockford, Oct. 30.

As one of the few SNC players honored at such heights, Karcz says he is proud to be in such great company: “There have been a lot of good ball players to not only come through [the Schneider Stadium] locker room but the locker rooms that [SNC] used in the past … to be among those names is a huge honor.”

He says leaving Green Knight football behind after such a momentous final season, with all the fun and hard work he has put in, is going to be a challenge. He is continuing to train in hopes of having the opportunity to play football again at the NFL or CFL level.

Karcz is among 10 Green Knights named to the All-Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference team. Five players were named first-team All-NACC: linebacker Jake Berken ’22, defensive lineman Mitch McCabe ’22, offensive lineman Donovan Salewski ’22, punter Brady Wodack ’22 and Karcz. Linebacker Maccabee Barrett ’22 was named second-team All-NACC. Offensive lineman EJ Mastrocola ’22, tight end David Lox ’22, wide receiver/return specialist Parker Lawrence ’25 and linebacker Kevin Pedersen ’22 earned honorable mention honors.

March 17, 2022