Croitoru Honored Nationally

Andover High senior Alex Croitoru has been selected as the 2008 Hammer Strength High School Football Player of the Year, according to Alex's dad, Mike Croitoru, and Andover coach Mike Lee. Coach Lee notified Alex and his family last Thursday of his selection for the award. Hammer Strength, a product line of weightlifting machines and equipment from Life Fitness, sponsors the first annual award along with American Football Monthly magazine. Croitoru will be profiled in the March edition of American Football Monthly, a popular magazine among football coaches of all levels for exchanging information about the game. The national award given to one player includes among its criteria for selection: strong work ethic, outstanding leadership, consistency of effort and high academic standing. Nominations for the award were due on Nov. 7, 2008. Mike Croitoru said today that Alex plans on signing with Hutchinson Community College for football on Wednesday, though they will have a meeting with coach Lee on Tuesday before making final decisions. "He's not huge (Alex is 5'10", 150 pounds), but he's got that drive and he's a fantastic kid," Mike said. Croitoru, also a strong baseball player, still may decide to try to play baseball in college, according to Mike, at Hutch or another college.