Matthew Obermeier had never put on football pads or a helmet until his freshman year of high school. He was a soccer player. But when Obermeier was cut from the soccer team at Carmel High School as a freshman, he was forced to reassess.
Obermeier did not pout. He went to work at becoming a kicker. His father, Scott Obermeier, was able to steer him in the right direction. Scott was a kicker at Northern Iowa in the mid-1990s, playing alongside quarterback Kurt Warner.
Kicking did not come easy for Matthew. Not at first.
“I could barely make a 30-yarder,” he said of his field-goal range. “It took a lot of practice. I went to the field three times a week and just continued to work. I definitely saw improvement.”
Obermeier turned himself into one of the state’s top kickers, punctuated with his commitment to Kentucky on Monday as a preferred walk-on. As a senior, he drilled 7-for-8 on field goals for Carmel, connecting on three attempts beyond 40 yards (47, 44 and 43). He was 56-for-57 on extra-point attempts.
That soccer background ended up paying off for Obermeier after all.
“It’s definitely a similar enough motion,” he said. “I always had a strong leg.”
Kentucky is bringing back starting kicker Jacob Kauwe from last year’s team and South Florida transfer Adam Zouagui committed for new coach Will Stein.
“I’m not expected to start the first year but hopefully develop and learn from those guys and then be the next guy,” Obermeier said.
Obermeier visited Kentucky about a month ago. He will move to Lexington after high school graduation at the end of May.
Obermeier could not have imagined this journey leading him to become a college kicker four years ago. He did not even play football. But sometimes when one door closes, another opens.
“It definitely took a little bit to get comfortable with an entirely new group of people,” Obermeier said. “But all I ever wanted was an opportunity.”
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649. Get IndyStar's high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter. And be sure to subscribe to our new IndyStarTV: Preps YouTube channel.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA football: Carmel kicker Matthew Obermeier commits to Kentucky preferred walk-on spot