FB's Fritz Waldvogel gets MIAC weekly honor

November 02, 2009

St. Thomas kick returner/wide receiver Fritz Waldvogel (SO-Mendota Heights/St. Thomas Academy) Monday was named co-recipient of MIAC Special Teams Player of the Week Award. He shared the award with Hamline punter John Broback.

Waldvogel received the award for the third time in the last 12 games dating back to October 2008.

Waldvogel returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown for the second game in a row to start the Toms en route to their 42-3 win over Augsburg. After last week's 74-yard TD against Carleton, the sophomore dashed 87 yards to the end zone on Saturday's first play. The MIAC had gone 171 games without an opening kickoff returned for a TD before Waldvogel's Oct. 24 TD.

Waldvogel now has seven kickoff or punt returns of 55 yards or longer in his last 12 games, including five for touchdowns. He also returned three kicks for touchdowns in his senior season at St. Thomas Academy.

He finished Saturday's game with two TDs and 188 all-purpose yards, including six receptions for 71 yards. 

He ranks among the Division III elite as he's averaging 32.9 yards on kickoff returns and 14.9 yards on punt returns. His four return touchdowns rank first nationally in Division III.

His play has helped the 10th-ranked Tommies move to 7-1 overall, 6-1 in the MIAC, with a showdown game Saturday against 6-2 Bethel.