CHICAGO, Ill. – Slippery Rock University senior #C.J. Bahr# was one of 13 NCAA Division II placekickers spotlighted by the Fred Mitchell Award committee for excellence on the football field and in the community during the month of October.
A total of 42 college-division (Football Championship Series, Division II, Division III and NAIA) kickers were spotlighted in October.
The recipient of the second annual Fred Mitchell Award, whose selection is based on performance on the field and in the community, will be announced in mid-December.
Bahr earned his place in the spotlight by scoring 17 points in two October games. He did not play in two other Rock games due to injury. Bahr was 3-for-3 in field goal attempts and 8-for-8 in extra point tries during the month.
A native of Boalsburg and graduate of State College High School, Bahr is The Rock's second leading scorer this season with 41 points (7-9 FGs, 20-22 PATs).
Bahr was one of 10 finalists for the inaugural Mitchell Award in 2009.
Away from football, Bahr tutors underprivileged youth at the I Care House in New Castle and assists with YMCA youth soccer and football clinics in the State College area. He has also served as a volunteer at State Cup youth soccer competitions held in State College and developed a marketing plan for the State College Spikes minor-league baseball team.
C.J. is the son of former Penn State and NFL kicker Chris Bahr, the nephew of former PSU/NFL kicker Matt Bahr and former U. S. Olympic soccer player Casey Bahr and the grandson of former Temple and Penn State men's soccer coach and two-time soccer Hall of Fame inductee Walter Bahr.
About the Fred Mitchell Award
The annual Fred Mitchell Outstanding Place-Kicker Award (also known as the Fred Mitchell Award, www.fredmitchellaward.com) is presented to the nation's top collegiate place-kicker among more than 600 FCS, Division II, III and NAIA football teams. The Award is named for Fred Mitchell, the record-setting place-kicker, Wittenberg University Athletic Hall of Famer, author, philanthropist and Chicago Tribune sports columnist. The recipient of the Fred Mitchell Award will be chosen based on excellence on the football field and in the community. The Award's Watch List is released in August, top performers are recognized monthly during the college football season, and the winner (who is not required to be on the Watch List) is announced in mid-December. The school of the Award winner receives scholarship funds. The Fred Mitchell Award trophy will be presented in February at the National Football Foundation Chicago Metro Chapter Awards Ceremony at Halas Hall in Chicago.
A blue-ribbon Selection Committee evaluates place-kickers nominated by their schools. Members of the Selection Committee include Kevin Butler, Lou Holtz, Paul Hornung, Marv Levy, Steve McMichael and Gale Sayers.
Former Wisconsin-Whitewater kicker Jeff Schebler, the highest-scoring place-kicker in NCAA history at any level, was the first-ever recipient of the Fred Mitchell Award in 2009.
