*This article was originally published in the Spokesman-Review on August 18.
Many athletes work the majority of their childhood to prepare themselves for success in high school football. Some need years of training and experience to compete in high school, but Lakeland High School’s starting placekicker, Owen Forsman, did not step on a gridiron until the summer before his freshman year.
Forsman began playing football because of his close relationship with prior Lakeland coaches Tim Kiefer and Brian Etchison.
“They were always supportive and encouraged me to try out football,” Forsman said. “They helped me realize my kicking capabilities.”
In his freshman year, Forsman faced a difficult decision. After dedicating the previous nine years to soccer training, Forsman elected to quit soccer and focus solely on football. He chose football over soccer because he felt there were more opportunities in football.
Forsman was fortunate enough to have parents who would drive him to Spokane Valley multiple times a week for training. It was at these training sessions that he made vast improvements to his abilities through the help of his mentor and coach, Seth Harrison. Forsman says Harrison “has taught me everything I know about kicking.”
He says the best advice Harrison has given him is an engraved message that says, “All we can control is what we do next.”
Kicking is an under-appreciated aspect of football that can quickly adjust the momentum of any game. Lakeland’s head coach, Mike Schroeder, doesn’t take the value Forsman brings to the team for granted.
“It’s awesome. I knew immediately that he was probably the best kicker I’ve inherited as a head coach over the past 21 or 22 years,” he said. “I haven’t had anything like it in my career. I’ve never had a kicker be that dominant or that type of leader on the team.”
Schroeder mentions how Forsman’s talent has changed his offensive game plan.
“I knew what I had, and he was quite the weapon last year on the kickoff, field goal and PAT. I’m not into kicking a bunch of field goals, but I know if we’re inside 53-54 yards, I’ll probably kick it instead of punting.”
Along with his ability to put three points on the board from practically anywhere inside midfield, Forsman starts at outside linebacker for the Hawk’s young defense.
“I think playing outside linebacker is a blast,” Forsman said. “It’s the tackling and violence that makes it fun. I want to be an athlete, not just a kicker.”
He will play a significant leadership role on this Hawks team that lacks seniors. Schroeder says one thing that stands out is he leads by example.
“He coaches the long snapper and the holder,” he said. “We’re a younger team than we were last year, but I think our culture is a little better, and I think that Owen has added to that with his leadership. He’s a cool-headed guy. He’s a very pragmatic and organized person, so I think he takes his job seriously, and he’s worked on his mental competitiveness. He’s got the type of composure to succeed at a very high level.”
After improving freakishly fast over the past three seasons, Forsman now enters his senior season committed to the University of Idaho and ranks as Idaho’s top high school kicker.
Forsman enjoyed attending college camps throughout the northwest.
“Idaho ended up being the best all-around fit for a few reasons. The campus is relatively local, they have an immediate need for a kicker, and an incredible program has been built under Coach Eck,” he said. “I am looking forward to playing at the next level and the opportunity to represent an incredible football program.”
Though he now has just three years of experience on the gridiron, Forsman has nailed a 65-yard field goal during practice and kicked multiple 75+-yard kickoffs through the uprights. For reference, the NFL in-game record is a 66-yard field goal, set in September of 2021 by Justin Tucker. The previous record was 64.
Forsman has set an explicit goal to kick a 60-yard field goal this season to break the high school state record. Schroeder is confident in Forsman’s ability to kick from this distance.
“Well, if I have to kick a game-winner, he’s good from 60. If we’re in the middle of the game and want to just get three on the board on 4th and three or four, I’m probably going to opt to take the three, where in the past 20 years we’re going for it.”
Aside from potentially breaking records, Forsman’s ultimate goal is to play professional football. He noted that the constant mental battles are the most challenging things about kicking at a high level.
Forsman’s mental maturity is the reason he is so successful. He has taken many college courses throughout high school and heavily emphasized education. He will graduate one semester early and head to U of I after the upcoming fall semester.
Forsman’s longest field goal of his junior season was 47 yards against Coeur d’Alene. He quickly surpassed his record with a 49-yard field goal against Lake City.
However, he will almost certainly surpass this distance in his senior season, especially given his 49-yarder cleared the uprights by 10 yards.
After starting 3-0, Lakeland’s next game will be on Friday against the West Valley Eagles at 7 p.m.
