Ramapo High Grad Gets Rookie of the Year Nod at Syracuse

Ramapo High School grad Ross Krautman was awarded the 2010 Rookie Male Athlete of the Year by Syracuse University on Tuesday. A starting kicker for the Syracuse Orange, Krautman was selected from an athletic field that included all mens Division 1 sports including the university's nationally ranked basketball and lacrosse programs.

While at Ramapo, the Franklin Lakes native played on the school's 2009 state championship team and earned two state records: one for kicking 123 out 124 extra points and a second for his streak of 81 extra points in a row.

As a freshman at Syracuse, Krautman's .947 field goal percentage this season led the Big East, tied for 2nd nationally and tied the best single-season performance in Syracuse history. He also was named second team all-conference. He also tied the Syracuse single-season record for field goals made (18) and  tied the school record for consecutive field goals made (16).

Ross' father Jeff Krautman told Patch the family "was extremely proud of his achievement."

"To be Rookie of the Year at a school like Syracuse, going up against the level of competition he was across all those other sports, is quite an accomplishment," he said. "He's very focused and has a work ethic that’s relentless. He works very hard and his mindset is your only as good as your last kick."  

Curtis Zimmerman contributed to this report.