How did the football season go for your team?
"This football season couldn’t have gone better, as we won the 3A State Championship. We had all been dreaming of this team since we were little and we knew what we were capable of. There were only a couple starters that returned from last season so there were lots of people who doubted our football team. We took this and used it to push us to work hard and get better every day. This team was special. We were a group of misfits and brothers for life. The team chemistry was outstanding, and this was a major key to all of our success."
What are your workout plans now going forward?
"During the off-season, I am going to continue to kick every week. After school our punter, Mitch Wiley, and I will head up to the field to do our drill work and get our kicks in. This past weekend, I attended the Kohl’s Midwest showcase in Chicago. Based on my performance, I was invited to their Future Stars Showcase in Florida on January 13-14. Over the summer, I will attend many kicking camps to improve my skills. Every morning before school, I go into the weight room to become faster and stronger to help my performance on the field."
What are you trying to improve on the most this off-season?
"This off-season, I am going to focus on becoming even more consistent. In the 2018 season, my goal is to make all of my extra points and field goals and to have at least 80% of my kickoffs be touchbacks. To achieve this goal and my goal of kicking in college, I will put in countless hours of kicking in the off-season. My holder, Bryson Bastian, and my snapper, Mitch Wiley, will do workouts with me so we can be as fast and as consistent as a unit as possible. This past season, we had no kicks blocked and we want to achieve that again in the 2018 season."
How do you believe your team will be next season?
"I believe that our team will be very good again next season. We are returning many starters and have people who will fill the shoes of the players who are leaving very well. We all know what it takes to become a championship caliber team, so everyone is going to do what needs to be done to get us there. We know what important games feel like, so we are able to play calm and relaxed and not make the moment bigger than it is. Expect Xavier to be one of the best teams in 3A next season and competing for another state championship as that is what all of our goals are."
What are the keys to your team making a playoff run?
"To make the playoffs next season, we need everyone to buy into our program, which they will. We will all be in the weight room with Coach Ekland becoming bigger, faster, and stronger every day. When we can start to practice again over the summer, everyone will need to give it their all and go 110%. Once the season starts, we need to be able to win the turnover ratio, just like we did this season. I believe we only had three turnovers this season and had many takeaways. Once again, we will be a group of brothers who have each other’s backs on and off the field. Overall, we just need to just play our best game like we know how to and not make the moment bigger than it is."
Do you want to play sports in college? If so, which one?
"It is my dream to kick in college and I am doing everything in my power to achieve that goal."
What colleges have been recruiting you?
"William Penn invited me to one of their games this season but no other colleges have talked to me yet. I recently attended the KOHL’S Midwest Showcase, so I hope to gain awareness after their rankings are published. I am also going to start reaching out to coaches and telling them about my kicking career and that I am highly interested in kicking in college."
Have you made any college trips yet?
"I have not made any college visits yet, but I plan on visiting the local Iowa colleges in the upcoming months."
What camps are you going to this summer?
"This summer. I am going to attend many kicking camps. For example, KOHL’s Showcase, KOHL’s Training Camp, Midwest Kicking with Nate Kaeding, The Kicking Coach in Oskaloosa, as well as many college specialties camps such as, Iowa, Iowa State, Wisconsin, Northwestern, and Illinois. I am still looking into camps and trying to find even more to attend to increase my kicking skills."
Did you have a favorite college growing up?
"I have grown up a fan of Iowa State and have always loved going to their games. It would be a dream come true to be able to kick for them someday."
"This football season couldn’t have gone better, as we won the 3A State Championship. We had all been dreaming of this team since we were little and we knew what we were capable of. There were only a couple starters that returned from last season so there were lots of people who doubted our football team. We took this and used it to push us to work hard and get better every day. This team was special. We were a group of misfits and brothers for life. The team chemistry was outstanding, and this was a major key to all of our success."
What are your workout plans now going forward?
"During the off-season, I am going to continue to kick every week. After school our punter, Mitch Wiley, and I will head up to the field to do our drill work and get our kicks in. This past weekend, I attended the Kohl’s Midwest showcase in Chicago. Based on my performance, I was invited to their Future Stars Showcase in Florida on January 13-14. Over the summer, I will attend many kicking camps to improve my skills. Every morning before school, I go into the weight room to become faster and stronger to help my performance on the field."
What are you trying to improve on the most this off-season?
"This off-season, I am going to focus on becoming even more consistent. In the 2018 season, my goal is to make all of my extra points and field goals and to have at least 80% of my kickoffs be touchbacks. To achieve this goal and my goal of kicking in college, I will put in countless hours of kicking in the off-season. My holder, Bryson Bastian, and my snapper, Mitch Wiley, will do workouts with me so we can be as fast and as consistent as a unit as possible. This past season, we had no kicks blocked and we want to achieve that again in the 2018 season."
How do you believe your team will be next season?
"I believe that our team will be very good again next season. We are returning many starters and have people who will fill the shoes of the players who are leaving very well. We all know what it takes to become a championship caliber team, so everyone is going to do what needs to be done to get us there. We know what important games feel like, so we are able to play calm and relaxed and not make the moment bigger than it is. Expect Xavier to be one of the best teams in 3A next season and competing for another state championship as that is what all of our goals are."
What are the keys to your team making a playoff run?
"To make the playoffs next season, we need everyone to buy into our program, which they will. We will all be in the weight room with Coach Ekland becoming bigger, faster, and stronger every day. When we can start to practice again over the summer, everyone will need to give it their all and go 110%. Once the season starts, we need to be able to win the turnover ratio, just like we did this season. I believe we only had three turnovers this season and had many takeaways. Once again, we will be a group of brothers who have each other’s backs on and off the field. Overall, we just need to just play our best game like we know how to and not make the moment bigger than it is."
Do you want to play sports in college? If so, which one?
"It is my dream to kick in college and I am doing everything in my power to achieve that goal."
What colleges have been recruiting you?
"William Penn invited me to one of their games this season but no other colleges have talked to me yet. I recently attended the KOHL’S Midwest Showcase, so I hope to gain awareness after their rankings are published. I am also going to start reaching out to coaches and telling them about my kicking career and that I am highly interested in kicking in college."
Have you made any college trips yet?
"I have not made any college visits yet, but I plan on visiting the local Iowa colleges in the upcoming months."
What camps are you going to this summer?
"This summer. I am going to attend many kicking camps. For example, KOHL’s Showcase, KOHL’s Training Camp, Midwest Kicking with Nate Kaeding, The Kicking Coach in Oskaloosa, as well as many college specialties camps such as, Iowa, Iowa State, Wisconsin, Northwestern, and Illinois. I am still looking into camps and trying to find even more to attend to increase my kicking skills."
Did you have a favorite college growing up?
"I have grown up a fan of Iowa State and have always loved going to their games. It would be a dream come true to be able to kick for them someday."
