Mitch Wishnowsky

Golden Nuggets

• Last name is pronounced wish-NOW-ski.
• Left school at the age of 17 to take an apprenticeship as a glass installation specialist.
• Accumulated 62 punts that traveled 50-or-more yards during his career at Utah, 2nd most in the school's history.

Golden Nuggets

• Last name is pronounced wish-NOW-ski.
• Left school at the age of 17 to take an apprenticeship as a glass installation specialist.
• He accumulated 62 punts that traveled 50 or more yards during his career at Utah, 2nd most in the school's history.

Goldmine

• During Week 13 of the 2020 season, 49ers players wore custom cleats as part of the NFL's annual My Cause, My Cleats campaign. Wishnowsky and his teammates highlighted their respective causes, with Wishnowsky representing the World Wildlife Fund.
• While working as a glazier, a glass installation specialist, in Australia, Wishnowsky's friends began showing him NFL games. After a couple of years, he decided to leave his job and move to Melbourne to join ProKick Australia, a training academy for aspiring punters. Founded by Nathan Chapman, an Australian who once had an opportunity with the Packers, the academy has had massive success, with about 50 punters on Division I scholarships. "While Americans grow up wanting to throw the ball, we grow up trying to kick 60-yard goals," he said. "Sure, the techniques are slightly different, but the swing of your leg is pretty much the same. We have that muscle memory drilled into us from a young age." Prior to Week 2's matchup in Cincinnati during the 2019 season, the 49ers spent time in Youngstown, OH, where they participated in the Community Blitz. Wishnowsky and some of his teammates joined the students at Williamson Elementary School to talk about inclusion and anti-bullying. The players spoke at an assembly before helping the kids write compliment cards and discuss how to be kind to one another.
• Participated in the 49ers Annual Community Day, helping pack more than 31,000 nutritious meals in collaboration with Feeding Children Anywhere. The meals, along with groceries and backpacks, were distributed to those most in need in East San Jose.
• Wishnowsky is a naturally talented athlete, whether it is something that requires pure strength or skill. While he participated in universally popular athletics, like soccer and rugby, he enjoyed any sort of competition. When he was 12 years old, he won a major West Australian Billiards tournament. Before shifting to football in the U.S., he was a member of a local semi-pro team in the West Australian Football League. While at Santa Barbara Community College, he found that his ideal conditioning was a mix of hitting the weight room and playing beach volleyball.

College

• Played three seasons (2016-18) at Utah after transferring from Santa Barbara (CA) City College in 2014. In three seasons at Utah, appeared in 40 games and registered 175 punts for 8,004 yds. (45.7 avg.), while pinning 74 of his punts inside the 20-yd. line. Also handled kickoff duties, kicking off 68 times for 45 toucbacks. As a senior in 2018, earned AP Second-Team All-America honors and was a finalist for the Ray Guy Award, presented to the nation's best collegiate punter, after appearing in 14 games and notch- ing 59 punts for 2,669 yds. (45.2 avg.), with 24 punts inside the 20-yd. line. He also forced 25 fair catches while registering 20 punts of 50-or-more yds. Was named a Ray Guy Award finalist as a junior after appearing in 13 games, recording 52 punts for 2,282 yds. (43.9 avg.). Earned consensus All-America honors, as well as the Ray Guy Award, in his first season with Utah as a sophomore in 2016 after registering 64 punts for 3,053 yds. (47.7 avg.) in 13 games. Ranked 2nd in the nation in punting avg. (47.7) and punts of 50-or-more yds. (30), while also leading the nation in punts within the 10-yd. line (17). In 2014 at Santa Barbara (CA) City Col- lege, played in 11 games and registered 63 punts for 2,509 yds. (39.8 avg.).

Awards & Honors

• 2019: NFC Special Teams Player of the Week (Week 9)