Zimmerman named KCSC Sportsman of the Year

- Northwest Missouri State University'shas been named the Downtown Marriott Sportsman of the Year by the Kansas City Sports Commission. He will be honored during the 44th Kansas City Sports Commission Awards Banquet on Wednesday, April 26, at the Kansas City Downtown Marriott Muehlebach Tower. The award is given to a local male athlete who is currently participating in amateur, high school, collegiate or professional sports. This athlete exemplifies all the positive aspects of sport and has made a positive impact on the Kansas City community.Zimmerman led the Bearcats to the program's sixth NCAA Division II national championship in 2016. He finished the year second in the Harlon Hill voting and was the 2016 CoSIDA Academic All-America® of the Year for Division II Football. An active member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Zimmerman is currently a graduate assistant in the business department at Northwest, finishing up his master's degree. A native of Overland Park, Kan., Zimmerman attended Blue Valley High School where he led the team to a state title his junior year. Blue Valley football coach Eric Driskell was named the Burns & McDonnel Coach of the Year which will be presented posthumously at the award ceremony as well.Former Northwest director of athletics and MIAA commissioner Dr. Bob Boerigter will also be honored at the event as the Waddell & Reed Executive of the Year. Dr. Boerigter retired earlier this year after serving as commissioner for the past five seasons. He was at Northwest for nine years.