Stanford Senior Kicker Conrad Ukropina Has Strong Roots Within the San Marino Community
By Mitch Lehman
In the culture of college sports, there exists a tradition whereby coaches try to use creative methods to inform former walk-on athletes that they have been given a scholarship. Conrad Ukropina, a senior kicker at Stanford, was the recipient of one such gem.
At a team meeting on Sept. 15, Cardinal Coach David Shaw was announcing the players of the game from the previous Saturday night’s victory over the University of Central Florida.
“The special teams player of the game, who’s now on scholarship, is Conrad Ukropina.”
Silence. Then bedlam.
“It’s the way Conrad has worked and the way that he’s prepared, the mentality he’s put into it, the respect among the team. He definitely earned that,” said Shaw.
Aside from a solid legacy at Stanford, Conrad Ukropina has deep roots in San Marino. His great uncle Jim Ukropina graduated from South Pasadena-San Marino High School in 1956 – where he was a quarterback – and played tight end at Stanford from 1956-59.
Conrad’s uncle Mike Ukropina played for the Titans, graduating SMHS in 1985 and continued his football career at Colorado College. Conrad’s uncle Dave Ukropina played football at and graduated from Pasadena Poly in 1986. And Conrad’s uncle Mark Ukropina graduated from San Marino High School in 1990 and continued his football career at Yale and Claremont McKenna College.
Conrad is majoring in Science, Technology and Society. He is the son of Linan and Bill Ukropina and has two brothers, Nick and Grant.
Bill Ukropina graduated from San Marino High School in 1974 and his aunts Jan and Marsha also hold diplomas from SMHS.
Conrad was a star at Loyola High School (class of 2012), where he also played soccer and was three-time special teams MVP and a two-time captain, graduating cum laude and with highest honors.
