Alumnus honors fallen teammate

Jonathan Krystiniak didn't get to play his senior year of football for the Braves.

After being beaten outside of a Grand Rapids, Mich. bar, Krystiniak died 12 days due to injuries sustained from the beating.

In tribute, Ottawa University alumnus Will Allison is making the effort to have someone play in Krystiniak's honor every year. Play Jono's Senior Year Scholarship would be offered to an upcoming senior each year to play in Krystiniak's honor.

"The scholarship is something I had been thinking of after I graduated," Allison, former football teammate of Krystiniak, said. "I knew it would be important to get things going because I was on a short time table. Soon the people who knew him would be gone."

Allison has contacted former players, Krystiniak's mother and churches to help raise the funds to support the scholarship.

"It may be small for the first few years, but I'm hoping it will continue to grow," Allison said.

"We still want to make an effort to have events at football games to raise money as well."

When choosing candidates, Allison said they will be looking for qualities that Krystiniak exuded in his short time here.

"We want someone to represent Jono's personality," Allison said. "Community involvements, passion for the game, someone who will go out and like to play the game are key qualities."

The importance of honoring Krystiniak is evident to all of his former teammates. Andy Otto, senior, Drexel, Mo. said that Krystiniak had the ability to change the atmosphere for the entire campus.

"A lot of incomers don't realize how much he did for OU," Otto said. "This scholarship is one way to have people see that he had a lasting impact."

James Rickner, senior, Humbolt agrees with Otto in that it is important for all to carry on their memories of Krystiniak.

"Even after those who knew him move on, he'll still go down in OU's history as a player, friend and mentor," Rickner said. "They'll always know him through this."

Allison hopes the legacy of ‘Jono' lives on through this scholarship.

"He effects people still today," Allison said. "There are better people and players out there because of him. We want people to carry on a sense of pride playing for him; it should be part of their motivation."

To know more or donate to the scholarship, Paul Bean can be contacted in the advancement office.