West De Pere’s Karchinski commits to Iowa

Jake Karchinski knows what he wants.

The West De Pere junior made that clear Friday when he announced his verbal commitment to the University of Iowa’s football team.

After receiving an offer from the Hawkeyes on May 7, the 6-foot-5, 245-pounder saw no reason to wait any longer on making his college choice.

“Iowa has really been standing out because they’ve been putting in the most time with me,” Karchinski said May 12 at the Bay Conference track and field meet.

“It has been a dream come true. It feels like all the hard work is finally paying off. It has been busy, but it’s been a fun time.”

The West De Pere defensive end/linebacker received 14 scholarship offers, including ones from Syracuse, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan and New Mexico.

A two-time unanimous all-Bay Conference choice, Karchinski totaled 61 tackles and 10 tackles for loss over 12 games during his junior season while playing with a high-ankle sprain and a separated shoulder.

Karchinski is the third Green Bay area player to commit to Iowa in the past year, joining Bay Port’s Jack Plumb and Green Bay Preble’s Henry Geil.

Plumb (offensive line) and Geil (running back) will join the Hawkeyes this fall on offense, while Karchinski said the Big Ten program projects him as a defensive end.

Karchinski went out for three sports as a junior at West De Pere. In addition to football and basketball, he came out for track and field for the first time to compete in the throws.

West De Pere’s throws coach Chad Federman is also the defensive line coach for the football team.

“The reason why I’m doing it this year is a bunch of football guys are doing it,” Karchinski said.

“It has been busy. Last week there was a NDSU coach there and then there was Central Michigan, just around the track area coaches come to see you.”

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