National Combine Series - Charlotte, NC Regional - June 26, 2010

The National Combine Series hosted a regional event in Charlotte on Saturday, June 26th. Typical June temperatures of about 96 degrees combined with humidity and the field turf pushed temperatures over 100 degrees for the 9am start. The Charlotte region continues to show a great pool of talent with athletes coming from NC, SC, NY, and the VA area. The event, held at the Charlotte Christian H.S stadium, was a large group of talented kickers and punters. Dan Orner Kicking and Punting, with the help of local college kickers Adam Yates (USC), Patrick Long (Harvard), and Drew Stewart (Marshall), ran the event.

The day was started off with perfect FG scores by 2013 kickers Wes Medeiros and Jefferson Lee, showing that they will make a push for the top kickers in the 2013 class. Robert Frame (2013) also posted a great FG score going 8 of 10.

The varsity division was loaded with talent, kickers Brandon Page (2011), Lassiter Tollison (2011), Patrick Rawlings (2012) , Lawson Furr (2011), Austin Holland (2011), Sam Sharpe (2011), Dirk Pieper (2011), Patrick Toole (2011), Bradley Pinion (2012), and Jake Smith (Syracuse Transfer) all going either 8 or 9 out of 10 on FGs. The biggest KOs of the day came from Bradley Pinion (2012), Jake Smith (Syracuse transfer), Lassiter Tollison (2011), and Lawson Furr (2011) each having multiple KO’s sail out of the back of the end zone.

Sam Sharpe (2011) showed the best command of the skill out of the punters turning over multiple punts of 45 yards with 4.5+ hang times. Punters Van Patterson (2011), Jake Smith (Syracuse Transfer), James Coleman (2012), Worth Gregory (2012), and Bradley Pinion (2012) each showed some towering 50 yd + punts. Micah Martin (2012), the only long snapper at the event, left kickers/punters in awe with very accurate field goal snaps in the .4’s and punt snaps in the .8’s showing he has the ability to be a college snapper in the next two years.

Thanks to all who participated and helped run the event

National Combine Series - Jacksonville, FL Regional - June 17, 2010

Sunny – 94 Degrees – Wind 5-10 mph, Surface – Field Turf

Once again, the National Combine Series has attracted new athletes to the Jacksonville area. ProForm KickinAcademy coaches Mike Hollis (retired 9 year NFL All-Pro Kicker), Jim Gaetano, and ProForm student (pro prospect and former AFL kicker) Massimo Scaccia, conducted this event and were very pleased with the performance of the new and returning athletes. Most of the athletes who participated in this event were from the Jacksonville area and are currently kicking and/or punting for their high school. The remaining athletes traveled from other parts of Florida including Lakeland, Ft. Myers, Ocala, Lady Lake, and Chuluota.

The young athletes started the competition and set the bar pretty high for the older athletes. Daniel Krysalka from Ocala, FL. started off the combine by hitting 9 of 10 fgs, with his only miss coming from 38 yards! Then local Creekside High School sophomore Tommy Openshaw followed with 8 of 10 fgs! Daniel continued to kick-off and punt very well…averaging 59.50 yards on his kick-offs and 37.70 yards per punt! Tommy also had an outstanding performance on kick-offs averaging 57.50 yards with an average of 3.55 seconds hang time!

Local kickers Kurt Krier, Kyle Federico, and Chuluota, FL. native Lucas Wainman rounded out the Varsity class for this event. Topping out this class was Junior kicker/punter Kyle Federico who pounded 8 of 10 fgs, averaged 66 yards and 3.48 seconds hang time on his kick-offs, and hit an average of 39.10 yards per punt with an average hang time of 4.02 seconds. Kurt and Lucas both did very well on kick-offs averaging 60.00 and 59.33 yards per kick-off respectively.

Finishing out the remaining athletes were 5 kickers/punters and one snapper from the class of 2011. Just 3 locals, Banner Clark of Trinity Christian Academy, David Burdetsky also of Trinity Christian, and Luke Arnold of Mandarin High School; and Christopher Crowe from Lakeland, FL., RJ Peppers from Lady Lake, FL., and Zachary Douglas of Ft. Myers rounded out these remaining Seniors. Topping the list for these athletes on fgs was Zachary Douglas who went 8 of 10 including a successful 52 yarder! Zachary also was the leader in kick-off distance with an average of 65.67 yards per kick! Other standouts for kick-offs were Banner Clark (62.50 yards / 3.52 hang) and Luke Arnold (59.50 yards / 3.70 hang). RJ Peppers blasted an average of 43.90 yards per punt with an average of 4.06 seconds of hang time per punt! Banner Clark was close behind with 41.40 yards per punt with an average hang time of 4.21! David Burdetsky was very accurate and quick on both fg and punt snaps! He averaged 0.42 seconds per fg snap and 0.81 seconds per punt snap, all with very good accuracy and laces!

Great job to all participants of this June 2010 Jacksonville Regional National Combine Series Event! ProForm Kicking Academy will host another NCS event on July 15^th in Jacksonville, with a 3-Day instructional camp to follow!

National Combine Series - Dallas Regional - June 5, 2010

Dallas Regional - June 5, 2010

Parish Episcopal High School

Well as luck would have it we received our first heat wave of the summer during our Dallas 1 Regional. It was 99 degrees outside and about 110 on the field. Got to love Texas. Winds were about 10 mph out of the south and it was a nice cool breezy, ha ha.

Several returning kickers and punters to the Dallas regional showing how they have developed since last year. Brett Rattan in the JV group showed his accuracy and consistency going 9/10 in field goals while Cody Wicker of the JV group blasted his punts hitting 4 over 42 and 2 over 50.

Joseph Pickett who competed in the Varsity group even though only being a sophmore showed that he is one of the top kickers in the country at his age level going 8/10 at the varsity marks and dropping his 52 yarder which would have been good from 60, not to mention hitting a 3.9 72 yard kickoffs.

We had some newcomers at the Regional here in Dallas that could turn lots of heads in the College division this year. Fabian Soldevilla of Skyline High School in Dallas, showed that he was not to be taken likely, a small frame with a big kicking package hitting his KICKOFFS deep in the endzone, while Dylan Culp from Henderson HS showed serious D1 potential on his field goals.

A new addition to KICKNATION is SNAPNATION and Coach Aaron King who made a guest appreance getting to work with the NCS regional long snappers at this event. Coach King made a couple of adjustments on one snapper Flowers and he was snapping the ball straight at his target showing the coaches and players great potential for years to come.

All in all the Dallas Regional was a success and we look forward to seeing you at the next NCS event.