Forbath Still Is on Solid Footing

It makes perfect sense that one of the nation’s top high school kickers, Kai Forbath of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, is a surfer dude.

His summer days consisted mostly of one-hour kicking sessions followed by trips to Venice Beach, where he tested the waves and cleansed his mind.

“It’s my time to get away and not think about anything,” he said.

Kickers, of all people, need something to relieve the stress of their pressure-filled world, where one kick made or missed can lead to victory or defeat.

Forbath performed as well as any teenager in America as a junior, making 19 of 21 field-goal tries and sending 83 of 109 kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks.

He returns for his senior season prepared to deal with soaring expectations. Not even his mentor, former UCLA All-American kicker and Notre Dame alum Chris Sailer, enjoyed the kind of junior year Forbath pulled off.

“The larger the situation is, the better he performs, and that’s what makes him so valuable,” said Sailer, who is a private kicking coach. “He has shown he can perform in pressure situations again and again.”

Forbath came through in Notre Dame’s most difficult game last season, making a 31-yard field goal with 22 seconds left to give the Knights a 17-15 victory over Palmdale. Notre Dame finished 14-0 and won its third consecutive Southern Section Division III championship.

“I don’t try to let the whole game-winning-kick thing get in my head,” he said. “I think what I have to do and do it.”

Forbath, 6 feet and 190 pounds, is a player who can influence a game in many ways.

His kickoffs into the end zone force teams to start drives from their 20-yard line, giving Notre Dame’s defense a definite advantage. As a punter, his excellent hang time makes it difficult to get return yardage. And then there’s the threat of a field goal.

“Every time we cross the 40-yard line, we have a chance to score,” Coach Kevin Rooney said. “That’s a great weapon to have.”

Forbath’s longest field goal was 52 yards. He started the season making 15 consecutive attempts. Then he had to deal with his first miss.

“It’s the worst thing you can do, miss a field goal, in my mind,” he said. “It brings you down, and you have to do other things to bring yourself back up.”

Forbath didn’t try kicking until his freshman year. Soccer was his favorite sport. He played the game from age 4 until a couple of months ago, when he reluctantly dropped it.

“Soccer is definitely what made me the kicker I am now,” he said. “I was training every day. With soccer, it built up my leg strength and technique for kicking.”

Forbath is fortunate that Rooney has emphasized kicking and special teams at Notre Dame. It has produced a 25-year tradition of kicking excellence. The Knights have more kickers on their football rosters than some teams have quarterbacks.

There are three reserves on varsity, including juniors Erik Folk and Tyler Allen, the younger brothers of former Notre Dame kickers, and senior Mike Getzler, who made a 57-yard field goal in practice. And there are two sophomores and two freshmen hoping one day to follow in Forbath’s path.

“Our school is full of kickers,” Forbath said. “Coach Rooney thinks special teams is important.”

It’s clear that everyone is welcome to try out at Notre Dame, including surfer dudes.

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How they rate

A look at the top kickers in the Southland:

*--* CITY SECTION Rk Player, School Ht. Wt. Yr. Comment 1. Rene 6-1 180 Sr. Made four of five Renteria, San field-goal tries Fernando 2. Juan 5-10 170 Sr. Soccer player with Siquenza, accurate leg Venice 3. Jorge Gamez, 5-9 170 Jr. Showed potential Dorsey SOUTHERN SECTION Rk Player, School Ht. Wt. Yr. Comment 1. Kai Forbath, 6-0 190 Sr. Made 15 consecutive S.O. Notre field goals Dame 2. Kyle 6-4 190 Sr. Has become outstanding Petersen, punter South Hills 3. J.T. Wright, 6-0 185 Sr. Terrific athlete who is Agoura accurate kicker 4. Andrew 6-0 170 Sr. Made 16 field goals as Aguila, St. a junior John Bosco 5. Ryan Jackson, 6-0 170 Sr. Veteran who performs Chaminade under pressure 6. Joe Robles, 5-11 185 Sr. Soccer player with Tesoro improving skills 7. David Covey, 6-1 165 Sr. Returning All-League Millikan selection 8. Jeremy Licea, 5-9 180 Sr. Made three field goals St. in opener Bonaventure 9. Daniel 5-8 185 Sr. Good for booming Prause, kickoffs Laguna Hills 10. Garrett Carr, 5-10 170 Sr. Made 47-yard field goal Bishop in opener Compiled by Eric Sondheimer

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