Young Wyoming Placekicker Welcomes Pressure, Big Moments

LARAMIE -- What is Erik Sandvik's realistic field-goal range?

Well, that depends on who you ask.

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The sophomore placekicker said he feels comfortable from 50 yards out. His head coach, on the other hand, is in hopes he can confidently tack at least five more yards to that.

You know, just in case.

"We stretched him out to 55 because I want to say, 'OK, can you hit this if we need to run you out there for a 50-plus one?' And he did," said Jay Sawvel, who also serves as the kicking coach. "Is that still going to be first, foundationally in my mind, let's try 55-yard field goals? We'll see.

"Look, I've got a confidence level with Erik right now."

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Sandvik, who attempted just two field goals during his prep career at Steamboat High School in Colorado, is already 4-for-5 on the season. Admittedly, that first try -- a 25-yard chip shot in the opener at Akron -- got the heart racing a bit.

Nothing a few deep breaths and a personal pep talk couldn't take care of.

His very next opportunity brought a stark reminder -- It isn't that simple.

Lined up on the left hash and the yellow uprights 48 yards downfield, Sandvik swung and missed.

Well, sort of.

"That's a moment where I let the nerves get to me because it was my first home game," he admitted, a grin creasing his youthful face. "I just took my eye off the ball before I even hit it and I hit the ground."

The ball landed in the back of the south end zone, just feet away from the referee.

"Everybody was probably sitting there going, 'How do we have a kicker that misses short from 7,000 feet?'" Sawvel joked. "He actually hit more of the turf than he did the ball. He got under it too far. That's his only miss of the year -- and it was online. It wasn't like it was a horrible kick."

Sandvik called it a learning experience, a chance to reevaluate his mental approach.

It must've worked.

As time expired in the first half, he stroked a no-doubter from 40 yards out, giving the Cowboys a 17-7 lead over visiting Northern Iowa at the break. He followed that up with a 2-for-2 performance in Boulder. The first, a 28-yarder. He also drilled one from 38 in the third quarter.

The former walk-on is also a perfect 7-of-7 on extra points.

No matter who won this job coming out of camp -- Sandvik or Keelan Anderson -- inexperience would be a major factor. Neither had appeared in a college football game. Don't forget to add in the fact one of these youngsters would draw the task of replacing the school's all-time scoring leader, John Hoyland, and his 366-career points.

Anderson is known for booting through a state-record 61-yard field goal during his senior season at South High School in Cheyenne. The 4A First Team All-State selection also had makes from 57 and 53.

Sandvik, on the other hand, took a chance on himself, hopping in the car with his father and traveling around to local summer camps. He caught the eye of Wyoming's staff with a near perfect performance.

He nailed the audition.

Sandvik has passed the initial test, but no doubt more are coming. That's the mindset he is taking into conference play, he says, adding he is coming off maybe his best week of practice since arriving on campus back in 2023.

Sawvel said his confidence in the newbie is also growing more and more, too.

"I think he'll be pretty valuable for us going forward," he added.

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If he needs to be stretched out any further, Sandvik said with a grin, he did connect on a 67-yard attempt in practice. Admittedly, there wasn't a rush coming at him and that ever-present Wyoming wind likely gave him a boost.

Take away those two latter scenarios, his furthest is 61.

You know, just in case.

"I'm always prepared. I am always ready for that game-winning kick or game-tying kick," Sandvik said. "You always just got to be in a ready state of mind."