NFL Hall of Famer Jan Stenerud
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.
Camp alumni and NFL standouts Nate Kaeding and Alex Henery
Instructor Scott Hale at 2009 camp with future NFL kicker Greg Zuerlein
Chief Instructor Emeritus Jan Stenerud with camp staffer Nick Matsen
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.
“Practice with a purpose.”
Collin McKie of Solon (IA) High School
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, experience and skill level, and the instruction and drills are tailored accordingly.
Long snappers and holders work to refine the operation at 2024 camp
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.”
Nate Kaeding observes Sully Bright, City High School, Iowa City (IA) with instructor Nate Murphy holding
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–33 points (maximum of 35)…. Callahan Kowal, senior, Creighton Prep High School, Omaha, NE, 2024
Jack Lester, Cedar Rapids Prairie High School
Kickers with Nate Kaeding at Iowa City West camp
Longest Field Goal …… Collin McKie, sophomore, Solon High School, Solon, IA (45 yards)
Kickoff Distance …… Junior Boxa, sophomore, Prairie High School, Cedar Rapids, IA (56 yards)
Kickoff Hang Time …… Rico Alvarenga-Servellon, freshman, University of Northern Iowa, West Des Moines, IA (3.56 seconds)
Punt Distance …… Cale Berry, senior, Clear Creek Amana High School, Tiffin, IA (42 yards)
Punt Hang Time …… Evan Anderson, senior, West High School, Iowa City, IA (4.33 seconds)
Center/Long-Snapper Competition …… Logan Menken, senior, Carroll High School, Carroll, IA
Cale Berry, Clear Creek Amana (IA) High School
Longest Field Goal …… Dom Witt, junior, PCM High School, Monroe, IA (52 yards)
Kickoff Distance …… Dom Witt, junior PCM High School, Monroe, IA (69 yards)
Kickoff Hang Time …… Rico Alvarenga-Servellon, freshman, University of Northern Iowa, West Des Moines, IA (3.74 seconds)
Punt Distance …… Luke Borges, senior, North Platte High School, North Platte, NE (42 yards)
Punt Hang Time …… Brayden Peitz, sophomore, Southeast Polk High School, Pleasant Hill, IA (3.23 seconds)
Center/Long-Snapper Competition …… Logan Menken, senior, Carroll High School, Carroll, IA
Dom Witt, PCM (IA) High School
Logan Menken, Carroll (IA) High School
Joel Hallgren, Ottumwa (IA) High School
Cal Meisner, Waukee (IA) High School
Dylan Kayhanfar of Conestoga (NE) High School with Alex Henery
Longest Field Goal …… Dave Fajardo, junior, Millard South High School, Omaha, NE (52 yards)
Longest Field Goal (youth division) …… Jacob Eagen, Conestoga Junior High School, Plattsmouth, NE (38 yards)
Kickoff Distance …… Dave Fajardo, junior, Millard South High School, Omaha, NE (66 yards); runner-up……. Andrew Gotch, senior, Creighton Prep High School, Omaha, NE (64 yards)
Kickoff Hang Time …… Dave Fajardo, junior, Millard South High School, Omaha, NE (3.75 seconds); runner-up…… Barron Schmidt, freshman, Skutt Catholic High School, Omaha, NE (3.62 seconds)
Punt Distance …… Dave Fajardo, junior, Millard South High School, Omaha, NE (49 yards); runner-up ……. Carter Chapp, junior, Millard West High School, Omaha, NE (45 yards)
Punt Hang Time …… Dave Fajardo, junior, Millard South High School, Omaha, NE (4.33 seconds); runner-up ….. Luke Borges, senior, North Platte High School, North Platte, NE (4.12 seconds)
Center/Long-Snapper Competition …… Callahan Kowal, senior, Creighton Prep High School, Omaha, NE (33 points); runner-up ….. Kayden Ver Maas, Douglas County West High School, Valley, NE
Dave Fajardo of Millard South High School (NE)
Jacob Eagen of Conestoga Junior High School (NE)
Colt Jensen of Creighton Prep High School (NE)
Skills Challenge winner…..,Conley Harne, sophomore, Valley High School, West Des Moines, IA (39 points) Skills Challenge runner-up……Dom Witt, junior, PCM High School, Monroe, IA (32 points)
Above, Conley Harne with Alex Henery and, below, Dom Witt with Alex Henery
Below, Domenic Bayliff of Logan View (NE) High School and Bennett Deprez of Omaha Westview High School (NE) competing in the 2024 “Skills Challenge.”
Below, Joel Hallgren of Ottumwa (IA) High School and Patrick Connealy of Logan-Magnolia (IA) High School competing in the 2024 “Skills Challenge.”
Camp alumnus Greg Zuerlein logged 13 NFL seasons and made 338 of 411 career field goal attempts, including three from 60 yards or more
Numerous Midwest Kicking Camp alumni had productive seasons at the collegiate level in 2024:
Logan Sunvold, senior kicker, Central College
Scoring – 39 of 39 on PATs and 5 for 5 on FGs in 2024
Kickoffs – 50 with 19 touchbacks
Logan Sunvold, Central College
Kelen Meyer, juniorkicker/punter, Doane University
Punts – 69 for a 44.3-yard average
Scoring – 38 total points
Associated Press NAIA first-team all-american punter selection
Kelen Meyer, Doane University
Jaxson Hoppes, junior, kicker/punter, Wartburg College
Punts – 37 for 38.4-yard average
Kickoffs – 4 with 2 touchbacks
Jaxson Hoppes, Wartburg College
Boston Hensley, junior kicker, Wayne State College
Scoring – 6 of 6 on FGs; 31 of 33 on PATs67 total points
Kickoffs – 37 for a 59.3-yard average
Boston Hensley, Wayne State College
Gus Bashore, freshman kicker, Peru State College
Field goals – 5 of 7
PATs – 21 of 23
Scoring – 36 total points
Gus Bashore, Peru State College
Trevor Paulsen, junior kicker/punter, Morningside University
Kicking – 4 for 6 on FGs and 2 for 2 on PATs
Trevor Paulsen, Morningside University
