Joe Nizich

Photo by: Brendall O’Banon, NCAA Photos

Class:
Junior
Events:
Javelin
Hometown:
Oregon City, Ore.
Height:
5-10
High School:
Central Catholic
Squadron:
40 Warhawks

AIR FORCE HIGHLIGHTS

Three-Time NCAA Qualifier, Javelin Throw (2022, 2023, 2024)

Mountain West Champion, Javelin Throw (2024

Three-Time All-Mountain West

JUNIOR YEAR | 2023-24: Mountain West champion in the javelin throw…qualified to the NCAA Outdoor Championships for the third-straight year…all-conference honoree…matched career-best distance of 220’7” during winning performance at the MW Outdoor Championships…that is the fifth-best throw in Air Force history…also picked up a first-place finish at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays behind a throw of 214’8”…finished ninth out of 43 athletes at the Beach Invitational (220’3”)…recorded a throw of 219’8” to finish within the top 20 at the NCAA West Prelim.

SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2022-23: NCAA Qualifier in the javelin throw for the second-straight year…all-conference honoree…recorded a season-best throw of 213’6” at the NCAA West Preliminary (21st)…repeated as all-Mountain West after finishing second (213’2”) at the MW Outdoor Championships…won the elite section of the Stanford Invitational with a throw of 213’0”…opened the season with a fifth-place distance of 209’2” at the Aztec Invitational.

FRESHMAN YEAR | 2021-22: NCAA Qualifier in the javelin throw…all-conference honoree in that event…recorded a career-best distance of 220’7” to finish second at the Mountain West Outdoor Championships…that is the fifth-best mark in Academy history and a new Air Force Freshman Class Record…first broke the program’s Class Record after throwing a 216’3” to finish second at the Jim Click Shootout…named MW Field Athlete of the Week and MW Freshman of the Week following that meet…matched that distance at the NCAA West Preliminary (16th)…also named MW Freshman of the Week after a third-place throw of 208’4” in collegiate debut at the Aztec Invitational.

HIGH SCHOOL: Central Catholic High School…nation’s No. 1-ranked high school javelin thrower as a senior…listed among the nation’s top 10 in that event as a sophomore, junior and senior…finished fourth at the New Balance Nationals as a junior…named Mt Hood Conference Athlete of the Year…state champion…first-team all-state honoree…earned first-team all-conference honors every year…team captain…also played football…member of the team that won the Oregon 6A championship…named first-team all-state linebacker as a senior…earned honorable mention all-state honors as a junior…named Mt Hood Conference Defensive Player of the Year…two-time first-team all-conference selection…picked to play in Oregon’s Senior Shrine Les Schwab Bowl Game…team captain…made the honor roll every semester.

PERSONAL: Full name is Joseph Anton Nizich…goes by Joe…son of Jeff and Mary Nizich…has two older brothers that both threw the javelin in college (James at the University of Nebraska, John at the University of Oregon)…also has one older sister…majoring in management…future plans include becoming a contracting officer…currently serving in A3 Training…named to the Athletic Director’s List…attended the Academy’s Prep School…earned academic and athletic pins…validated both the PFT and AFT…hobbies include hunting, fishing, hiking, camping and anything outdoors…also loves cooking and enjoys photography…both grandfathers served in the Army – one served 25 years and made lieutenant colonel, the other was enlisted for five years and made corporal…great-grandfather spent 22 years in the Army and made master sergeant, which was the highest rank at that time…one brother is currently a sergeant in the Army National Guard…served as the support flight lead during Combat Survival Training over the summer…also worked as a counselor during Falcon Sports Camps…member of Cadet Squadron 40.