TCNJ’s ace punter Warcola also an avid fisherman
When Zach Warcola needs to take a few days away from the grind of studying Computer Engineering, football practice or just the everyday life of being a senior at The College of New Jersey, he can be found fishing.
“I have an obsession for the sport of fishing,” said Warcola. “I’ve grown up with a family of outdoorsmen and in that time I have fallen in love with fishing. I am the founder of the Fishing Team at TCNJ where I have been able to meet some new friends to fish with during my spare time.”
The All-America punter has very little spare time on the football field as the last three seasons he has been the top punter in the New Jersey Athletic Conference and through four games this season he’s still on top.
He has a punting average of 47.8 yards a punt, which is nearly five yards better than the No. 2 punter in the league.
Last week when the Lions (1-3, 1-0 NJAC) got their first win 17-14 at William Paterson, Warcola was selected as the Special Teams Player of the Week after averaging 50.7 yards a punt, including five that were downed inside the 20 yardline.
The Lions host Montclair State (1-3, 0-1 NJAC) this week on Homecoming Day and Warcola will be ready.
Like Computer Engineering and fishing, Warcola has become a student of the punting game.
“I usually find myself gauging a few things before the punt,” said Warcola, of his approach. “Knowing where you are on the field and what the wind is doing is really important in deciding how you’re going to kick the ball. With a shorter field you might find yourself attempting an end-over-end pooch-type punt, while a longer field you might be trying for a traditional spiraling punt aimed at the corner sideline.”
During the 2018 season, Warcola had 16 punts that pinned the opposition inside the 20 yardline.
“It is also important to maximize hang time to give your coverage team a chance to field the ball down in enemy territory,” Warcola added. “Keeping these tactics in mind will increase your chances of a good ball inside the 20.”
Understanding how prepared he is on the football field makes you feel sorry for the fish when he has a fishing pole in his hands.
Just as he has taken punting to the next level, his fishing trips are just as impressive.
“I’ve gone on fly fishing excursions as far west as Colorado and saltwater trips as far south as the Caribbean,” said Warcola. “When I’m not playing football or studying computer engineering, I am planning when my next trip will be.”
If he continues to achieve the success he has with his punting, the next trip could be to the NFL.
Besides being an AllAmerica performer, he has been a three-time All-NJAC first-team punter, an AllRegion punter and an academic All-District honoree.
“These honors are awesome as they are a tangible representation of some success,” Warcola stated. “I do, however, find my motivation coming from different sources. I know my time as a punter is finite. With this finite time I know I have to make the most of it before it’s gone. My coach Rusty Fricke and I always say, ‘No Regrets’ which, to me, means that when my time as a punter is done, I want to know that I did everything I possibly could to be the best version of myself.”