By Fred Jeter
Contributing Writer

Collin Christovich is a big man on campus, in more ways than one.

The imposing Powhatan High senior is just what you need whether the competition is the battle of the brawn, or the battle of the brains.

A 6-foot-3, 285-pound two-way guard, Christovich is president of the National Honor Society with a 4.6 gpa and 1,380 on his SATs (math, verbal combined).

He’s also a bona fide Division I college football prospect, with such suitors as Virginia, Richmond, James Madison, William & Mary and Pennsylvania.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone quite like him,” said veteran Indians coach Jim Woodson.

Christovich earned All-Southside District and Group AA, Christovich earned All-Southside District and Group AA All-Region 1 honors last fall, spurring Powhatan to the Region finals.

High hopes: With the ‘09 opener Sept. 11versus invading Midlothian, Christovich is aiming for bigger game this season.

“We expect to win the state championship,” he said. “We’ve got almost everyone back and I think it’s good to set high expectations.”

Christovich had five quarterback sacks among his 73 tackles in ’08. Offensively, he was a punishing blocker who escorted the likes of Shawn Minor to many end-zone visits.

“I’m probably better on offense,” says the crew-cut Christovich, “but defense is more fun … you get more hard hits – blindsides, stuff like that.”

     
Welcome mat: David and Regina Christovich brought their family from Ohio to Powhatan four years ago, due to a job transfer.

Derek Christovich, PHS Class of ’09, was another scholar-athlete who played along side Collin on both lines.

D. Christovich is now a freshman at Virginia Tech.

Andrew Christovich, already 6-1, 220, is a promising sophomore varsity candidate this season.

Collin wears No. 74, the same number his dad wore in high school.

“My dad’s a big guy, too,” said Collin. “We’ve always wrestled around together … I think that’s one of the things that got me ready for football.”

PHS coach Woodson can’t say enough about the Christovich boys’ work ethic and high character.

“They ought to write the book on parenting,” Woodson said of David and Regina.

Off-season: Christovich took a few weeks off following last season – then he made the weight-room his home away from home.

“Collin gives 100 percent every play, every game,’ said Woodson. “And with him, even every workout session is 100 percent … he’s unbelievable.”

Since last fall, Christovich has upgraded his bench press from 290 to 345, and his squat from 405 to 500. In the meantime, he’s polished his footwork with jumping rope and doing the “dot drill,” which is a zig-zagging, change-of-direction test.

Dow Jones: Christovich is one athlete who is as eager to read the financial page as the sports section.

His list of hobbies includes carpentry, volunteering at Ronald McDonald House and – surprise – “playing the stock market.”

“My grandparents gave me a custodial account,” he said.

“In the last six months, I’ve about doubled my money.”

 One stock he’s gone back and forth on is Genworth. He explains:

 “I bought it at a low of about 97 cents a share; now it’s over $10 … but I sold at about $2, thinking it would go back down … then I bought it back at $5.40, so I’m making money again.”

There aren’t many fellow students that Christovich can discus Wall Street with.

“But Coach (Jamie) Layman is big into it, too,” said Christovich, “and we talk about stocks almost every day.”  

You get the idea Christovich has a well-researched hunch about what direction this football season might go.

Judging from his optimism, if Powhatan football was a stock, he’d be buying as many shares in the “company” as possible.