Perhaps the most valuable boot in the OUA, second-year kicker Evan Astolfo (Burlington/) is coming off a whirlwind of a rookie campaign, with no signs of stopping.
"I try to keep my head down and just do what I do," Astolfo says. "It's all about performing in the moment on the field, and a big thing for me this year is just being consistent with the short kicks and supporting the team around me," he adds.
It's a good thing consistency comes to mind when number 36 graces the field. His record-setting 57-yard game winning field goal against the Toronto Varsity Blues – gave the Warriors their first victory in 10 months nearly 365 days ago. That distance has been extended a whole two yards further back.
On day one of training camp this year, Astolfo hit a 59-yarder on Warrior Field. Four days later, he hit a 58-yarder during a crossover practice with the Western Mustangs.
The offseason was "nothing like I'd ever experienced," Astolfo mentioned.
Going straight into the grind of stacking days and stacking reps, Astolfo was gifted six OUA footballs and an OUA football bag to hold them in, by his former Corpus Christi Longhorns coach Dino Borchetta, and he went straight to work.
"He gave me the footballs and the bag, so something that's worth a stupid amount of money just to give away to one of your guys, right? That was huge for me. It showed how much the program means to him, and what I meant to him as a player."
"I was able to actually get out on the field by myself and just focus on my kicks."
Having shifted the focus from soccer to football during his Grade 12 year at Corpus Christi Catholic Secondary School, Astolfo was spotted initially during a training session by former Warriors kicker Cole Crossett (Metcalfe, ON/), who had recommended Astolfo to special teams coach Jerome Erdman. The rest is history. Astolfo could not be welcomed any more warmly by his current football family.
"I pretty much got welcomed onto the team before I had even done anything to earn myself a spot yet."
"I had guys at training camp last year talking to me like we'd been friends forever. This team is huge on that, and it's something that's rare to experience on any squad."
"It's the most welcoming culture I've ever been in."
As monumental of a moment that kick at Varsity Stadium in Toronto was for Astolfo and Warriors Football, his mindset, like the rest of his teammates', is on week one and the Ottawa Gee Gees.
"I still hear stuff about my rookie season today. I try to stay humble about it and take it day by day. We're getting at it, and ready for Ottawa this week."
Astolfo's welcome was one fit for a Warrior. Only time will tell how he welcomes the provincial spotlight back to the space between the uprights.
The Warriors open their season at home on August 29 against the Ottawa Gee-Gees. Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM, tickets are available at gowarriorsgo.ca/tickets.
Admission is free for current UW students with a valid WatCard. This Saturday is also Employee Day, and there is a limited number of free tickets available for UW Staff and Faculty, sponsored by Homewood Suites. Contact warriorstickets@uwaterloo.ca for coupon codes.
