Dominic Contini is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Chaparral High School for AZPreps365.com.

A kicker is a critical part to the game who is forgotten about a lot, especially on the high school level.

The stereotype for a kicker is someone typically smaller than the average football player. That is certainly not the case for Chaparral Firebirds junior Keegan Shank.

Shank is also part of the front seven on the defensive line. Shank is an all around athlete who gets it done on both sides of the ball as he has already picked up a fumble this season.

Shank stands at 6-foot-4, 240 pounds.

A big guy who has a boot of a leg.

This past week against Mountain View, Shank made a 45-yard field goal with ease and put the cherry on top of a great kicking night by hitting a 27-yard field goal like it was nothing.

Kicking has not always been something Shank has thought of on the football field.

That comes from having a love for soccer.

“I played soccer until I was about 14 years old,” Shank said. “I had then gone to a youth football practice and started kicking and haven’t looked back since, immediately quitting soccer.”

Kicking came with ease with Shank’s soccer history and his kicking abilities certainly instilled a great amount of trust that his teammates have in him.

“Knowing if we can get the ball inside the 30, 35-yard line it’s an almost automatic three points,"  Chaparral senior quarterback Miles VandenHeuvel said. "It’s a huge confidence booster for our offense.” 

Shank holds a lot of leadership qualities on and off the field.

“My mindset on the field is to always be the hardest working person out there,” Shank said. “There might be people more talented, but no one will work as hard.”

Chaparral’s coaching staff and tough schedule also motivates Shank a ton, too.

“When playing such a tough schedule with very good competitors, you have to have some dawg in you, a ‘hit or get hit’ mentality” said Shank with some fire.

Kickers have to be on the same page with the place holder.

Without seeing eye-to-eye, things can get very chaotic. 

Shank and his holder, junior Shea O’Brien, share a very special relationship on the football field.

“Being a very close friend with Keegan obviously just adds to our connection on the football field,”  O’Brien said. “He’s by far the easiest kicker I have ever worked with. Most kickers are so picky about how they want the ball. That is not Keegan.”

Shank and O’Brien are on the same page at all times whether that be as friends or being in sync to get the ball through the goalposts.

Superstitions are something athletes hold dearly to them.

O’Brien and Shank have a simple ritual.

“Our little ritual is just a simple hi-five once everyone gets set before he starts his drop," O'Brien said laughing. "However I’ve noticed without the hi-five, Shank doesn’t make nearly as many."