Tom Kolzelcko, Basketball (1971-73)
4/16/2010 6:11:00 PM | Athletics
Tom Kozelko came to Toledo out of Traverse City, Michigan, he scored 1,561 points as a Rocket. "Tom Terrific," as he was known in his playing days, lettered in 1971, 1972, and 1973. He played on the 1971-72 Mid-American Conference Championship team. Twice he was first-team All-MAC. In 1972 and 1973 he was named MAC "Player of the Year." He recorded an average of 20.8 points per game. His highest single season average was 24.3 points per game. He set a record at the time for most points in one season at 608. His highest field goal percentage in a single season was .532 percent. Tom was named most valuable player and all-tournament in the Sugar Bowl Classic as a sophomore. As a junior he was the MVP and all-tournament in the Michigan invitational, an honor he repeated as a senior. Following the 1972 season he was one of 66 players chosen to compete for the U.S. Olympic Team and was finally chosen as an alternate for the team that went to Munich, Germany. Drafted in the third round by the NBA, Tom played professionally from 1973 to 1976 for the Washington Bullets. In 1977, he played professionally in Italy until a back injury forced his retirement from the game.
