Mark Szlachcic, a native of Toledo, Ohio, came to BGSU from Whitmer High School in 1988. He had nine receptions, including
one touchdown, as a redshirt freshman in 1989. Over his last three seasons, however, he caught at least 46 balls each year and had
two or more receptions in every game.
Szlachcic caught a pass in 37 consecutive games (including bowl games) to equal the school record. As a sophomore in 1990, he
had 46 catches to lead the team and rank second in the MAC.
In his junior year of 1991, he had 65 receptions, catching at least four passes in every game, and a total of 943 receiving yards.
Szlachcic led the MAC in both categories, and also scored eight touchdowns en route to the first of two consecutive unanimous
All-MAC First-Team selections. Additionally, he was an honorable mention All-American by UPI, and finished ninth in the nation
in receptions and 12th in the country in receiving yards per game.
In addition to his 65 grabs during the regular season, Szlachcic had 11 more catches for a then school-record 189 yards and two
scores in the Falcons' 28-21 California Bowl win over Fresno State. He was named BGSU's MVP of that game.
A second-team All-American in one preseason publication prior to his senior year, Szlachcic again led the MAC in receiving, as
the Falcons won the league title for a second consecutive year. He caught 62 balls for a total of 834 yards in the regular season,
earning unanimous All-MAC First-Team and UPI honorable mention All-American accolades for a second-straight season. He caught five
more passes for 51 yards as the Falcons posted a 35-34 win over Nevada in the inaugural Las Vegas Bowl.
For his career, Szlachcic set a MAC record with a total of 182 receptions, and left school ranked second in receiving yardage (2,506)
on both the BGSU and MAC lists. His career total of 18 touchdown catches tied him for second in school annals.
Heading into the 2003 season, Szlachcic ranks second in school history in career receptions, and is third in receiving yards and
tied for fourth in TD catches. Szlachcic, who also currently ranks 10th on the BGSU list with 2,821 career all-purpose yards.
Szlachcic caught at least four passes in 22 of his last 24 career games (including bowls), and scored a touchdown in 12 of his
final 18 games. He played in the Blue-Gray senior all-star game following his senior year, and had four catches for 59 yards and
a score. He also participated in the National Football League Combines following his senior year.
(Information on this page courtesy bgsufalcons.com press release, August 8, 2003.)