KICKER COUNTY: Standout kickers at five schools share upbringing, travel soccer

SHENANDOAH – If you’ve been to a Schuylkill League football game in the past few years, you may have seen one — or several — field goals pushing or exceeding 50 yards.

The placekicker position has seen a resurgence across the county. It wasn’t long ago that North Schuylkill’s Gavin Mentzer caught the attention of many with a 51-yard boot or Sage Smeltz’s game-winning field goal in overtime for Williams Valley.

That resurgence continues today, including a group of five seniors who stand among the top kickers in District XI and the state.

A group of five seniors who grew up on a different field, playing against each other.

Individually, it’s not a new story. Some of the best local kickers honed their skills on the soccer pitch for Shenandoah Youth Soccer or the North Schuylkill Youth Soccer Association. Such was the case for Nick Krusinsky (’13), one of the most notable kickers for Shenandoah Valley.

“When we played each other in youth, we knew who the good players were,” Shenandoah Valley’s Sam Mentusky said. “Eventually, we all slowly started joining travel team, West Schuylkill.”

“When I was playing youth soccer, when we would play each other, I didn’t know anybody but I could always pick out all of these guys every time,” Tri-Valley’s Nathan Hilliard said. “I was like, ‘Aw man, there’s always one on each team that was really good’ and it was always us.”

“By the time we were in 6th grade, we were all on the same team,” Mentusky said. “We started improving and making each other better.”

The group — Mentusky, Hilliard, North Schuylkill’s Wes Urban, Minersville’s Jordan Bowers, and Schuylkill Haven’s Grayson Fessler — played together for five years on West Schuylkill, a travel soccer team based in the Schuylkill Haven area. They recalled memories of not only the games but the trips, associated hotel stays, and fun moments.

“In Freshman and Sophomore year, we all started playing football and started kicking,” Mentusky said.

In District XI, Mentusky, Bowers, Hilliard, and Fessler are all in the top 10 for total kicking points, according to MaxPreps statistics, behind kickers for major Lehigh Valley powerhouse squads like Northwestern Lehigh, Notre Dame – Green Pond, and Parkland.

Mentusky stands in 4th with 33 points, Bowers in 6th with 26, Hilliard in 8th with 24, and Fessler in 10th with 21 points.

Urban isn’t far behind in 16th with 11 points.

Hilliard and Bowers also have the longest field goals reported in District XI this year with a 55-yarder and 52-yarder respectively.

They’ve also been standouts on the varsity soccer teams at their respective schools.

Earlier this month, Bowers became Minersville’s all-time career goals leader on the soccer team. He’s also been standing out in football as a wide receiver and on defense, too.

“Being able to communicate with your coaches and go to both practices is a big part of [being successful in both sports],” Bowers said.

Football, particularly as a kicker, comes with its own unique challenges, Hilliard and Mentusky both highlighted.

“Soccer, it’s just go-go-go, I didn’t ever have to feel like there was any pressure because I was always running,” Hilliard said. “When I stepped on a football field and I went to kick, it was just dead.”

“I think it’s also cool that we can all handle that change,” Hilliard added.

“You have to rely on ten other guys to do you job when, in soccer, it’s just you and a ball,” Mentusky said of the team aspect. “It’s definitely different in that aspect in that you have to trust all ten of your teammates to do their part for you to do yours.”

Urban joined football last year following what he described as “peer pressure” from friends, coaches, and more as the Spartans needed a new kicker.

“My first play for football was a kickoff. My first time ever, I kicked it, and the kick returner ran all the way through the field and I had to tackle him,” Urban said. “Touchdown saving tackle in my first play ever.”

The players also shared stories of high-pressure moments where the game was decided by a kick they made or may have missed.

Hilliard recalled a matchup against Marian Catholic that was decided 3-0 via a 50-yard field goal.

“Apparently, my coach thought it was a 40-yard kick and not 50 so that’s why he put me out there,” Hilliard said. “I wasn’t thinking it would come down to that. I think the wind helped me, too.”

Kim Mentusky, Sam’s mom, credited West Schuylkill FC and its president, Alan Roeder.

“These guys have learned a ton playing with that outfit and I think they all stick out in their high school teams,” Kim Mentusky said.

The article KICKER COUNTY: Standout kickers at five schools share upbringing, travel soccer first appeared on The Shenandoah Sentinel.