Central Michigan University Athletics
Mike Gruzwalski Profile
9/27/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 27, 2005
Reprinted from Gameday Program -- Eastern Michigan
By Morgan Curtis
Sports Information Student Assistant
Over the past four years, Central Michigan University placekicker Mike Gruzwalski has learned to prioritize the aspects of his life. While he loves playing the game of football, he also understands the importance of academics.
"You have to come here with the goal of having a good education. That is the most important thing because you will have that the rest of your life," said Gruzwalski, a 5-6, 194-pound senior from Shelby Township, Mich.
Gruzwalski started playing football in junior high school when his older brother Will (26), who also played, got him into kicking.
"I played a lot of soccer and he thought kicking would be good for me because I was a smaller guy," Gruzwalski said.
Gruzwalski comes from a football family; his younger brother, Tim, is a junior on the high school team.
The third of five children in the Gruzwalski household, Mike also has an older brother Ed (29) and a younger sister Marianne (14). His parents Ed and Marianne always have been at their children's sides when it comes to sports.
"When I wanted to get into sports, they were always really supportive," Gruzwalski said. "Once sports got more serious, my parents were even more so and took time out of their lives to watch me play and take me to camps."
Gruzwalski came to CMU from Eisenhower High because he was offered a scholarship, but he liked the campus as well.
At Eisenhower High High School, he earned three letters in football and was all-county, all-east, all-metro, and all-state.
In 2002, he twice tied a single-game CMU record by kicking four field goals against Wyoming and Eastern Michigan. He was 4-for-4 in both games, including a career-long 40-yard kick against Wyoming. After making 14-of-19 field goals and 27-of-31 extra points, The Sporting News named him first team Freshman All-America.
In 2003, he scored 4-of-6 field goals and was a perfect 35-of-35 on extra points, while in 2004 he made 6-of-13 field goals and 23-of-27 extra points.
His career totals entering 2005 were 24-of-38 field goals and 85-of-93 extra points.
Gruzwalski is busy during the school year with a set schedule: classes in the morning, practice in the afternoon, and studying at night.
In his spare time, Gruzwalski likes to play basketball and tennis, as well as card games like Texas Hold `Em and Gin. He also enjoys watching movies.
Gruzwalski also enjoys spending time with his girlfriend Julie.
"Julie has shown a great deal of support for me, especially with my academics and with football," Gruzwalski said. "She has been by my side through my ups and downs."
Gruzwalski is a fifth-year senior majoring in human resource management. This semester, his schedule consists of primarily management classes.
After graduation, Gruzwalski hopes to find a job connected with his major. However, he is not exactly sure what type of job he wants as of yet.
"Maybe in a year or two I will go back to school and get my master's degree," Gruzwalski said. "But I need a little break from school."
His goals in life are to have a job he loves and to be successful.
Gruzwalski said the thing he will miss the most following graduation will be his teammates.
"We get along well and there is a good team chemistry," Gruzwalski said.
Gruzwalski's advice to future Chippewas is to come in with a lot of confidence.
"Playing in college is different than high school," Gruzwalski said. "The competitive level in college is higher. You are playing with the best players from different schools."
