By Kyle LoJacono
In his 30 years of coaching football, Sunlake’s Bill Browning has never had a kicker/punter receiver a scholarship to play college ball — that is before Adrian Krupka.
The 6-foot-3, 180-pound Krupka signed his letter of intent April 1 to play with the Northern State University Wolves, a Division II program in South Dakota. His is the third Seahawk football player to sign with a school and the first to sign with a program higher than Division III.
“It’s exciting,” Krupka said. “I never thought I’d do it. I always thought I’d be playing college soccer, but it turns out football is the way to go.”
Krupka has played soccer since he was 8 years old and first found the football field two years ago.
“I plucked him off the soccer team,” Browning said with a laugh. “I’m glad I did.”
Krupka admits many football terms are still unclear to him.
“I never knew anything about football growing up,” Krupka said. “I still don’t know all the positions. When I talked with my coach on the visit I said ‘I don’t know what a left guard is.’”
Krupka was the Seahawks punter as a junior, but took over the kicking role as well this year. Of his 63 kickoffs, 32 were touchbacks. Krupka also averaged 39.3 yards a punt, including dropping 10 of 23 inside the 20 yard line. His kicking helped Sunlake post a program best 8-2 record.
“What he did for us in field position is huge,” Krupka said. “We had four shutouts this year and if they have to march 80-90 yards instead of 20 or 30, it’s a big difference. He did a great job for us.”
Krupka’s efforts earned him All-Sunshine Athletic Conference first team honors as a punter and to the second team as a kicker his senior year. He was the All-Laker/All-Lutz News Kicker of the Year.
Krupka also managed to make three special teams tackles.
“Lucky little hits,” Krupka said.
Krupka will study political science while in school. He said he has a chance to start right away as the punter and will be the backup kicker.
“Most kickers and punters don’t get scholarships, so this is really exciting” Krupka said. “I get a chance to have my schooling paid for, and I get to play football. If you’d told me I’d get that opportunity three years ago, I’d say you were lying to me. It’s amazing.”
