Taking the field: Greystone student competes in national NFL contest

Two Hoover students recently placed near top of the national rankings in the 2013 NFL’s Punt, Pass and Kick Competition.

During halftime of Sunday's NFC Playoff between the Atlanta Falcons and the Seattle Seahawks, more than 40 children who had won in both local and regional competitions competed against others in their age groups. After their total punt, pass and kick distances were combined, Greystone Elementary School student Nick Dunlap was awarded third place in his age group, and Brocks Gap Intermediate student Will Reichard was awarded first place.

Will, a sixth grader, set a new PPK National Record with 339.9 yards. Nick had his best score from any of the competitions, but his total of 243.5 feet missed second place by little more than two feet.

Nick’s journey to Atlanta began at the Local Competition held at Greystone Elementary in September, where he competed against 70 other boys in his 8-9 year old age group. After he won, he moved on to the Sectional Competition in Chattanooga in November where he competed against winners from other states. Nick cruised to another victory at the Sectional, beating his opponents by 30 total feet – a huge margin in a competition when, as he would come to learn, the difference between first and fourth could be decided in inches.

Nick won again at the Team Championships in Nashville on Dec. 2, where he competed against three other Sectional Competition winners from Tennessee.

“I’m really not surprised that Nick made it this far. He is a great athlete and excels at any sport that he tries.

“What has impressed me most about the whole competition process is how Nick has been so consistent at every level of competition and how he has handled the pressure at all the events. I am extremely proud of not only his success, but also how hard he has worked to get to this point,” stated Rand Payton, PE teacher at Greystone Elementary and Local Host of Nick’s first competition at Greystone Elementary.

– Submitted by Greystone Elementary