Cameron Vanwinkle to play on Team USA
June 27, 2012
By Michele Mihalovich
Cameron Vanwinkle, kicker-punter for Mount Si High School’s football team, was selected to play on the 2012 U.S. Under-19 national team, which will face off against high school athletes from American Samoa, Austria, Canada, France, Japan, Panama and Sweden beginning June 30.
The eight-nation tournament is conducted by the International Federation of American Football, according to its website.
By Calder Productions
Mount Si football kicker Cameron Vanwinkle does what he does best.
Players and coaches live at the University of Texas in Olympic Village-style accommodations, and all the games will be played at the university’s Burger Stadium.
Mount Si football coach Charlie Kinnune said Bothell High School football coach Tom Bainter is the one who nominated Vanwinkle for a spot on the team.
He said Bainter served as a Team USA coach a few years ago.
“I guess the organizers called him and asked if there were any Washington players who should be considered and he told them about Cameron,” Kinnune said.
Vanwinkle’s banner junior year with the team is what made him an ideal candidate for the team, he said.
Vanwinkle set a Washington state record with 18 field goals for Mount Si last fall as a junior, including six from 42 yards or more.
“We’re so pleased that someone from our program gets to mix with international players,” Kinnune said. “Plus, he’s experiencing life on the University of Texas campus and getting to play in a first-class facility. This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”
Team USA’s first game is June 30 against the American Samoa team.
Playoff games will determine who will compete for the bronze and gold medals on July 7. Stay up to date on the games at www.usafootball.com.
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