By James Gibowski
Contributing Writer
Cameron Van Winkle’s last game at Husky Stadium Saturday went perfectly, even putting his name in the Husky record book.
The 2013 Mount Si graduate’s leg was kept busy all night as he successfully kicked three of three field goals (30, 22 and 24 yards) and converted all five PATs. His 14 total points helped the University of Washington (the No. 7 team in the country) crush Arizona State, 44-18, in a nationally-televised game.
The 5-10, 186-pound senior said it’s hard to believe how fast the four years have gone.
“It’s the last time at home with the Husky nation,” said Van Winkle.
His days at Husky Stadium are done, but his season is far from over. The 10-1 Huskies still have to battle host Washington State Friday in the Apple Cup, with the winning team advancing to the Pac-12 championship. If the Cougars win, Van Winkle will still kick one more time in a bowl game. If the Huskies win, in addition to the Pac-12 championship, he and his teammates still have a shot at making the final four in the college football playoffs.
For now, Van Winkle’s thoughts are only on Pullman.
“The next game is always the biggest game,” he said.
Van Winkle’s efforts against the Sun Devils put him in the record books. He is the first Husky to kick 60 extra points in one season (63 of 64 attempts) and the first Husky to total 100 points in two different seasons (102 this season and 107 in 2014).
His 304 career total points places him third in all-time Husky scoring, trailing only Jeff Jaeger (380) and John Anderson (363).
Washington’s high-powered offense this season, usually scoring 40 or more points, has given Van Winkle plenty of opportunities for PATs, but it has lessened his other way of scoring.
“Because of the success of the team this year, maybe there have been less field goal opportunities,” said Van Winkle, who has made 13 of 17 field goals this season (49 of 61, 80.3 percent for his career).
Van Winkle’s approach has always been the same, whether playing before 1,000 fans at Mount Si, 70,000 Husky fans or millions in nationally-televised games. Before each kick, he relaxes, concentrates and blocks out the crowd noise.
He gives credit to his coaches who have stressed for him to “stay calm,” and also to his holder (Jeff Lindquist from Mercer Island High School) and long snapper (Carnation native Luke Hutchison from O’Dea High School).
Most credit is owed to his two biggest fans, his parents, Shannon and Roger Van Winkle.
“They haven’t ever missed one game, home or away,” said their thankful son.
Van Winkle said his three proudest accomplishments so far have been the friendships with his teammates, his career-best 51-yard field goal against Illinois, and being able to help the team with his kicking abilities.
He will be graduating this year, possibly early, majoring in sociology.
His future plans include continuing his education in graduate school, studying corporate real estate, while still hoping to get a crack at kicking for an NFL team. He will attend camps for kickers attended by some pro scouts.
But first, his focus is on Friday. He hopes he and his teammates have another perfect day, this time against the Cougars.
After he kicks a field goal against Arizona State on Saturday, Cameron Van Winkle (right) is congratulated by teammate and friend Psalm Wooching. The two, who were introduced together as seniors at the start of Saturday’s game, have shared a lot of big moments in their senior year, including Van Winkle’s assist when Wooching asked his girlfriend, former UW softball player Courtney Gano, to marry him, via the Husky Stadium scoreboard. James Gibowski Photo
Cameron Van Winkle (left), Harry the Husky and Psalm Wooching meet at midfield before Saturday’s game at Husky Stadium during Senior Day festivities. James Gibowski Photo
