2018 Kicking World National Showcase Recap
The 2018 Kicking World Invite-Only National Showcase brought 61 of the country’s best prep kickers & punters from over 20 states to Austin, Texas on December 8-9. Kicking World’s top specialists were hand-picked by Coach Brent and the staff throughout the 2018 camp season. Of those over 1,200 camp attendees, only 73 were invited to this prestigious event. National Showcase participants competed throughout the weekend to showcase their talent and gain the attention of college football coaches from around the nation.
2018 National Showcase Team Photo
Several college football coaches streamed the Event live on YouTube, as did hundreds of other families, friends & Kicking World fans. Over the previous 4 years of our invite-only National Showcase, over 25 offers were received within 2 weeks following this event! We expect no different in this 5th installment as already over a dozen schools have shown new interest in 6 of the weekend’s participants.
With an average temperature throughout the weekend of just 47 degrees, and overcast/drizzly conditions on Day 1 and a cold breeze on Day 2, the elements certainly came into play at this year’s National Showcase. Both day’s punt portions were most affected – between damp balls, frozen hands, and a crosswind affecting the drop – it proved difficult for even the best punters. Charted Punt numbers do not reflect the true capability of the punt event participants. Campers did however fair exceptionally well on both kickoffs and field goals. We used brand new out of the wrapper Under Armour 695XT footballs throughout the entirety of Day 2, with each ball precisely inflated to 11.5 PSI. On Day 1 because of the low 40 degree temps, wet field, and light rain, we cycled through an assortment of used leather balls, with none being overly worn.
Custom Award Footballs for Overall Champions
On Day 1 we charted each student on kickoffs, punts, and field goals. The top charter per Class was recognized and awarded Kicking World apparel prizes at the end of the Showcase. The leaders of Day 1 charting were as follows:
KICKOFF CHARTING
#1 Overall: Jared Zirkel (2020 – Tivy HS, TX) (75.20 / 3.90 avg)
#2 Overall: Cayden Camper (2020) Pueblo County HS, CO
#3 Overall: Christian Roig (2020) Midview HS, OH
#4 Overall: Everett Ornstein (2020) Langham Creek HS, TX
#5 Overall: Carson Mohr (2019) The Woodlands College Park HS, TX
CLASS OF 2019: Cayden Camper (2019) Pueblo County HS, CO
CLASS OF 2020: Jared Zirkel (2020) Livy, HS, TX
CLASS OF 2021: Jorge Figueroa (2021) Las Cruces HS, NM
PUNT CHARTING
#1 Overall: Cayden Camper (2020) Pueblo County HS, CO (47 / 3.95 avg)
#2 Overall: Arlind Bengu (2021) Avon HS, OH
#3 Overall: Mark Applegate (2019) Oakton HS, VA
#4 Overall: Lukas Enloe (2019) Gilmer HS, TX
#5 Overall: Houston Heck (2020) Panhandle HS, TX
CLASS OF 2019: Cayden Camper (2019) Pueblo County HS, CO
CLASS OF 2020: Houston Heck (2020) Panhandle HS, TX
CLASS OF 2021: Arlind Bengu (2021) Avon HS, OH
FIELD GOAL CHARTING
#1 Overall: Christian Roig (2020) Midview HS, CO (perfect 8/8 through 55 yards)
Overall Runner-Up: (9-way tie, perfect 7/7 through 50 yards)
Landon Reeves (2019) Idalou HS, TX
Lukas Enloe (2019) Gilmer HS, TX
Anthony Ortiz (2020) Royse City HS, TX
Ethan Reece (2020) Galt HS, CA
Hamilton Williams (2020) Grace Community School, TX
Justin Burkert (2020) Jackson Memorial HS, NJ
Wilson Yee (2020) Mullen HS, CO
Matthew Wilderson (2021) Depaul Catholic HS
Robert Gunn III (Osceola HS, FL)
CLASS OF 2019 (TIE):
Landon Reeves (2019) Idalou HS, TX & Lukas Enloe (2019) Gilmer HS, TX
CLASS OF 2020: Christian Roig (2020) Midview HS, OH
CLASS OF 2021: Matthew Wilderson (2021) Depaul Catholic HS, NJ
View Day 1 Charting Results (Kickoffs, Punts & Field Goals)
Classroom presentations included tips on creating and following a kicking blueprint, college recruiting strategy, and mental training from a certified Sports Psychologist.
On Day 2 we had ‘Elimination competitions’ where students had to hit a certain tier (i.e. distance and hang-time on kickoffs and punts) in order to advance to the next round. Overall winners of each of the Day’s events won some awesome prizes including custom award footballs, Apple Watch, GoPro, New Footballs, Signed Memorabilia from NFL kickers, and multiple Kicking World apparel items. The overall champions for the Day 2 Elimination Competitions are as follows:
FIELD GOAL ELIMINATION
Overall Field Goal Champion: Christian Roig (2020) Midview HS, OH (60 – winning kick)
Overall Runner-Up: (2-way tie)
Jared Zirkel (2020) Tivy HS, TX &
Joshua Montanari (2020) Theodore Roosevelt HS, OH
KICKOFF ELIMINATION
Overall Kickoff Champion: Jared Zirkel (2020) Tivy HS, TX (74 / 4.0 best)
CLASS OF 2019: Cayden Camper (2019) Pueblo County HS, CO
CLASS OF 2020: Jared Zirkel (2020) Tivy HS, TX
CLASS OF 2021: Pasquale Camastro (2021) North Smithfield HS, RI
PUNT ELIMINATION
Due to weather during Day 2 of the punt competitions, we did not award an overall punt elimination winner. Drops became increasingly difficult with the wind pushing the ball inside and down, snaps were becoming wobbly, and punted balls would not turn over. We made a judgment call to end the Punting short on Day 2. We did however recognize the ‘last men standing’ for each of the main class years. They are:
CLASS OF 2019: (2-way tie)
Randy Hodges (2019) Pflugerville HS, TX
Lukas Enloe (2019) Gilmer HS, TX
CLASS OF 2020: (3-way tie)
Everett Ornstein (2020) Langham Creek HS, TX
Easton Gross (2020) Dublin Jerome HS, OH
Wilson Yee (2020) Mullen HS, CO
CLASS OF 2021: Michael O’Connor (2021) Middletown South HS, NJ
View Day 2 Elimination Results (Kickoffs & Field Goals only)
‘Overall’ Competition winners from the weekend – Jared Zirkel (KO), Christian Roig (FG), Cayden Camper (P).
CONGRATS TO OUR NEWEST HOT PROSPECTS!
New Hot Prospects
- Cayden Camper moved up from an OTC Hot Prospect to a full-fledged Kicking World Hot Prospect after an outstanding showing!
New OTC (on the cusp) Hot Prospects:
- Jared Zoulek (2019) Pueblo County HS, CO
- Everett Ornstein (2020) Langham Creek HS, TX
- Pasquale Camastro (2021) North Smithfield HS, RI
- Buck Buchanan (2022) Hallsville HS, TX
2018 National Showcase Compilation Video
2018 National Showcase LIVE Replay
The camp weekend as a whole showcased a high level of talent all weekend. We’ll expect much more on punts going into the 2019 season, but the kickoff numbers and field goals were impressive. It’s not too often you see high school kickers hitting 60 yard field goals or putting kickoffs through the uprights over 80 yards! Most importantly to us is the attitudes of our campers. We hear it during and after every event, there is something different about Kicking World students. We thank our loyal and committed students for continuing to uphold that X Factor and represent Kicking World to the fullest, from coast to coast. College coaches notice these little things and it helps our students stand out from the crowd when getting recruited. We’re fortunate to be a part of each of our students’ journies and look forward to seeing them become successful not only in football, but more importantly in all aspects of their lives!
HOW TO GET INVITED
Next year’s Kicking World Invite-Only National Showcase Event will take place on December 7-8 in Austin, TX again at Dragon Stadium. All Kicking World campers will have the opportunity to qualify for an invitation based on their performance at any 2019 Kicking World Camp.
**ATTENTION COLLEGE COACHES**
View the Kicking World Hot Prospect List for our top recruits and feel free to contact Coach Brent directly via phone, e-mail, text or Twitter @KickingWorld if you have a specialist need.
2018 NATIONAL SHOWCASE MEDIA
Compilation Video
Day 2 LIVE Replay
Competition Results
Photos
