Former Santa Barbara City punter Mitch Wishnowsky makes the Super Bowl in first NFL season

Mitch Wishnowsky, an all-state punter at SBCC in 2014, is averaging
nearly 45 yards a kick in his NFL rookie season. (Photo by Chico Enterprise-Record) — Mitch Wishnowsky, an all-state punter at SBCC in 2014, is averaging nearly 45 yards a kick in his NFL rookie season. (Photo by Chico Enterprise-Record)

January 21, 2020

SANTA BARBARA - Former SBCC punter Mitch Wishnowsky, an All-APL and All-State choice in 2014, is going to the Super Bowl in his first season with the San Francisco 49ers.

The top-seeded 49ers knocked off Green Bay 37-20 on Sunday to advance to Super Bowl LIV for the first time since 2013. The 49ers have won five Super Bowls, the second-most in NFL history.

Wishnowsky, who does the kickoffs and punts for the 49ers, punted twice for a 38.5 average on Sunday. For the season, he's punted 52 times for a 44.9-yard average with 23 staying inside the 20.

The ex-Australian Rules football player was a fourth-round pick last year, becoming the third SBCC player to be drafted in the NFL and the highest pick ever. The first two NFL draftees were offensive lineman Booker Brown (1974, 6th round) and running back Larry Moriarty (1983, 5th round) who were both picked by the Houston Oilers.

Here's a superb feature on Mitch by Anna Katherine Clemmons of ESPN. Wishnowsky's fiancee is former Vaquero and CSUN volleyball star Maddie Leiphardt.

(Dave Loveton, Santa Barbara City College Athletics)