About Us

About Us

NFL Hall of Famer Jan Stenerud

Our History

Founded in 1971 by NFL Hall of Famer Benny Friedman, Midwest Kicking is the longest-running instructional program for special teams players in the country. Midwest Kicking has been recognized for its innovative approach during more than five decades. It was the first camp to create a program for long snappers, the first to utilize videotaping and the first to combine both the physical and mental elements in the teaching of special teams skills. Over the years techniques and strategies in the kicking game have evolved and Midwest Kicking has stayed at the forefront through its quality staff. From Jan Stenerud, the most decorated kicker in NFL history, to Nate Kaeding and Alex Henery, the staff is unmatched in its experience and expertise.

Nate and Alex                                       

Former NFL standouts Nate Kaeding and Alex Henery

Camp Philosophy

The goal of Midwest Kicking is to help you reach your fullest potential. There is no rigid, single-minded way to approach these skills. Every athlete is different, and we want to cultivate and refine your style, so you can get the maximum from it. We want to help you eliminate bad habits that hamper your proficiency. Anybody can see whether a kick, punt or snap was good or not. The key is to know why and how you produced the result you did. If an athlete understands the fundamentals and biomechanics of a physical action, it is then possible to analyze what went wrong. Armed with this knowledge, you can correct the problem.

Achieving success depends upon natural ability to a degree, but ability can be greatly augmented by hard work. Mastering special teams skills requires dedicated practice to develop “muscle memory” that will result in your performance becoming automatic in a game.


“Practic
e with a purpose.”

Logan Rethwisch, Williamsburg (IA) High School

Who Is Eligible To Attend?

Athletes of all skill levels and ability may participate in the camps.  The camps are open to college, high school and middle school kickers, punters and centers.  The range is typically from 12 to 19 years of age.

At each camp, participants are placed in instructional groups by grade and experience, and the instruction and drills are tailored accordingly.

Coach Ryan Dixon with centers Ryan Kuennen of Valley High School, West Des Moines, IA and Max Green of Indianola (IA) High School

Why Attend?

The camps provide a productive learning environment with a 6:1 coach-to-athlete ratio.  A key portion of the practice time is devoted to overall execution with kickers teaming up with centers and holders to develop timing and consistency.  Punters work with long snappers to get accustomed to fielding the deep snap, handling the ball and getting the punt off quickly and in rhythm.

We provide you with drills to utilize when practicing on your own in the off-season and with your team during the season.  Also, we want to assist you in setting reasonable and clearly defined goals that you can measure.  Setting goals can inspire, motivate and improve performance.

“Excellence is never an accident.”

Luke Linde, Winterset (IA) High School

Camp Records

Longest Field Goal–60 yards….Caleb Shudak, junior, Lewis Central High School, Council Bluffs, IA, 2014; and Caleb Nielsen, senior, Waverly High School, Waverly, NE, 2016

Longest Field Goal (youth division)–45 yards…Sam Smith, freshman, McCook High School, McCook, NE, 2013

Kickoff Distance (college division)–82 yards…Alden Haffar, sophomore, Iowa Central Community College, 2012

Kickoff Distance (high school division)–79 yards…Kelen Meyer, senior, Ord High School, Ord, NE, 2020

Kickoff Distance (youth division)–61 yards…Zach Shudak, freshman, Lewis Central High School, Council Bluffs, IA, 2016

Kickoff Hang Time (college division)–4.26 seconds…Alden Haffar, Iowa Central Community College, 2012

Kickoff Hang Time (high school division)–4.10 seconds…Cruiser Nichols, senior, Smithville High School, Smithville, MO, 2007

Kickoff Hang Time (youth division)–3.71 seconds…Wyatt Ford, freshman, Montague High School, Montague, MI, 2010

Punt Distance–65 yards…Ethan Renner, senior, Crete High School, Crete, NE, 2011

Punt Distance (youth division)–49 yards…Bryan McLaughlin, freshman, Elkhorn High School, Elkhorn, NE, 2010

Punt Hang Time–4.73 seconds…Kirby Van Der Kamp, senior, Valley High School, West Des Moines, IA, 2009

Punt Hang Time (youth division)–3.96 seconds…Spencer Gaddis, freshman, Prairie High School, Cedar Rapids, IA, 2010

Long-Snapping Competition–31 points (maximum of 35)…Koen Thomsen, junior, Elkhorn South High School, Elkhorn, NE, 2021

Hayden Thoms, Linn-Mar (IA) High School

Drew Twohill, Fairfield (IA) High School

2022 Camp Awards

Clear Creek-Amana High School (Tiffin, IA) – June 23, 2022

Kickoff Distance …… Mitchell Frahm, senior, Linn-Mar High School, Marion, IA (58 yards)
Kickoff Hang Time …… Michell Frahm, senior, Linn-Mar High School, Marion IA (3.64 seconds)

Kickoff Accuracy/Location …… Jacob Collett, senior, Prairie High School, Cedar Rapids, IA
Longest Field Goal …… Sam Satisky, junior, Galesburg High School, Galesburg, IL (43 yards)
Punt Distance …… Josef Lemker, senior, Xavier High School, Cedar Rapids, IA (39 yards)
Punt Hang Time …… Evan Anderson, sophomore, West High School, Iowa City, IA (4.00 seconds)

Punt Accuracy/Location …… Evan Anderson, sophomore, West High School, Iowa City, IA
Center/Long-Snapper Competition …… Hayden Thoms, senior, Linn-Mar High School, Marion, IA (27 points)   

Sam Satisky, Galesburg (IL) High School

 

2022 Camp Awards

P-C-M High School (Monroe, IA) – June 28, 2022

Kickoff Distance …… Preston Kipnusu, junior, Valley High School, West Des Moines, IA (70 yards)
Kickoff Hang Time …… Preston Kipnusu, junior, Valley High School, West Des Moines, IA (3.81 seconds)
Longest Field Goal …… Preston Kipnusu, junior, Valley High School, West Des Moines, IA (45 yards)
Center/ Long Snapper Competition …… Max Green, junior, Indianola High School, Indianola, IA (24 points)

Preston Kipnusu, Valley High School, West Des Moines, IA

Katie Lindsay, Van Meter (IA) High School

Connor Fisher, Albia (IA) High School with center Max Green, Indianola (IA) High School and holder

2022 Camp Awards

Skutt Catholic High School (Omaha, NE) – July 8-9, 2022

Kickoff Distance …… Patrick Gross, junior, McCook High School, McCook, NE (66 yards) and runner-up Parker Aughenbaugh, junior, Plattsmouth High School, Plattsmouth, NE (65 yards)

Kickoff Hang Time …… Patrick Gross, junior, McCook High School, McCook, NE (3.72 seconds) and runner-up Alex Kosse, senior, Gross Catholic High School, Omaha, NE (3.68 seconds)

Kickoff Distance (youth division) …… Mark Noameshie, 8th grade, Elkhorn Valley View Middle School, Elkhorn, NE (49 yards) and runner-up Ticen Johnson, 8th grade, Hastings Middle School, Hastings, NE (43 yards)

Kickoff Hang Time (youth division) …… Mark Noameshie, 8th grade, Elkhorn Valley View Middle School, Elkhorn, NE (3.12 seconds) and runner-up Ticen Johnson, 8th grade, Hastings Middle School, Hastings, NE (2.70 seconds)

Longest Field Goal …… Alex Kosse, senior, Gross Catholic High School, Omaha, NE (51 yards) and runner-up Trever Paulsen, senior, Yankton High School, Yankton, SD (48 yards)

Longest Field Goal (youth division) …… Mark Noameshie, 8th grade, Elkhorn Valley View Middle School, Elkhorn, NE (37 yards) and runner-up Braiden McClanathan, 8th grade, Anderson Middle School, Omaha, NE (35 yards)

Punt Distance …… Bryson Ebeler, junior, Southeast High School, Lincoln, NE (49 yards) and runner-up Kase Coleman, freshman, Bedford High School, Bedford, IA (35 yards)

Punt Hang Time …… Bryson Ebeler, junior, Southeast High School, Lincoln, NE (4.74 seconds) and runner-up Ben Rorabaugh, junior, North Star High School, Lincoln, NE (4.09 seconds)

Most Improved …… Christian Ferron, junior, Central High School, Omaha, NE

Scout Sneller of Sergeant Bluff-Luton (IA) High School with Alex Henery observing

2022 Camp Awards

Pre-season Primer (West Des Moines, IA) – August 7, 2022

Skills Challenge winner….. Carson Hanson, senior, Johnston High School, Johnson, IA. (53 points) 

Alex Henery (left) with Skills Challenge winner Carson Hanson

Runner-up….. Nathan Behne, junior, Greene County High School, Jefferson, IA. (47 points)

Alex Henery (left) with Skills Challenge runner-up Nathan Behne

Sean Murphy of Millard West (NE) High School competing in the skills challenge at the 2022 Pre-season Primer.

News about Camp Participants and Staff

Camp alumnus Brett Maher was 29 of 32 on field goal attempts for the Dallas Cowboys in 2022.

Numerous Midwest Kicking Camp alumni had productive seasons at the collegiate level in 2022:

Logan Sunvold, junior kicker, Central College

Scoring – 9 for 13 on FGs and totaled 81 points 

Kickoffs – 72 with 28 touchbacks

 

Logan Sunvold, Central College

Kelen Meyer, freshman kicker/punter, Doane University 

Punts – 64 for a 42.3-yard average 

Field goals – 16 of 31

Total points scored – 58

Kelen Meyer, Doane University

Luke Williams, senior kicker/punter, Drake University

Punts – 13 for 39.6-yard average

Field goals – 9 of 16

PATs – 21 of 21

Luke Williams, Drake University

Sam Wilber, sophomore kicker, Iowa Western Community College

Field goals – 12 of 20

PATs – 36 of 38

Sam Wilber, Iowa Western Community College

Mack Boekhout, freshman kicker, Peru State College

Field goals – 10 of 12

PATs – 15 of 16

Mack Boekhout, Peru State College

Ben Jaeger, sophomore kicker/punter, Clarke University

Punts – 37 for 35.0-yard average

Ben Jaeger, Clarke University

Liam Wahe, sophomore kicker, Iowa Central Community College

Field goals – 4 of 4

PATs – 17 of 20

Liam Wahe, Iowa Central Community College