Fairbanks High School kicker Nate Russell displays his skills during the recent Kicking World national showcase.
(Photo submitted)
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Fairbanks High School football kicker Nate Russell recently competed in the Kicking World national event in Texas.
Russell was one of 74 high school kickers and punters who were invited to the showcase.
The FHS sophomore earned his invitation after winning a competitionduring a camp that was held in Cleveland last summer.
Of the attendees, 38 were seniors, 21 are in the junior class, 14 are sophomores and there was one freshman.
The first day of the camp was spent tracking performances of the campers.
Russell, a sophomore, finished with a 58-yard average on kickoffs and an average hang time of 3.28 seconds.
His field goal percentage was listed at 71 as he made both 30-yard kicks and both from 35 yards.
He sailed his first 40-yard attempt wide left and was short on a 45-yarder.
Russell then made his 50-yard field goal.
Punting was not his best performance as he finished with a 32.2-yard average with an average hang time of 3.3 seconds.
Russell placed 42nd in the field of 62 on kickoffs and 50-of-52 for punts.
The athletes attempted only seven field goals. As such, he was tied with approximately 30 kickers at 71% on field goals.
The second day featured athletes’ competition in another round of events.
Russell placed 24th out of 62 competitors on kickoffs and fourth specifically in the freshman/sophomore group.
He tallied 67% of his field goal attempts
“I did better on the second day,” said Russell.
Athletes had two attempts to meet specific criteria (distance and hang time) to move on in the punting competition.
Russell met the distance/hang time criteria at 50, 55 and 58 yards.
He achieved the distance criteria with both attempts at 62 yards, but just missed the needed hang time by 0.1 on a second.
Field goal competition was double-elimination.
Kickers started at 35 yards, instead of 30 yards on the first day.
Russell made both 35 and 40-yard kicks.
He missed from 45 yards out when his offering hit the goal post and bounced back. He then missed his 50-yard attempt.
Overall, Russell was disappointed in his punting performance.
“I know I can do better than what I showed,” he said.