Football is a very Americanized sport. Other sports such as soccer, basketball, and even volleyball to an extent, are much more globalized. For Rossville, the game of football has given one player a very unique experience in his first months in the United States.
Paul Steinke is a foreign exchange student from Hamburg, Germany, who arrived in the small town of Rossville this last August. Steinke’s 4,800 mile journey began before that, as the process to becoming a foreign exchange student is fairly thorough.
Steinke had to submit an application, write an essay explaining what it would mean to become a foreign exchange student, and proving proficiency in the English language on an English exam. Steinke’s host family selected him last spring to come to Rossville, a town dwarfed in comparison to the nearly 2 million people that live in Hamburg.
After arriving in Rossville, Steinke wanted to have as American of an experience that was possible. What a better way than to join the football team.
But what did Steinke even know about football?
“I knew what a touchdown was,” Steinke laughed. “And I knew that the kicker needed to kick it through the uprights.”
That basic understanding would foreshadow one of the most surprising stories for the Rossville football team this season.
“For somebody who doesn’t really understand the game, you don’t have a whole lot of expectations at all,” said Rossville Head Coach Derick Hammes. “But we could tell real early that he could really kick it and kick it very accurately.”
Steinke has been more than accurate, he has been lights out for the Bulldogs. Stenkie has had a record breaking season, setting the state record for the most consecutive extra-point kicks (101), the most total extra-points in one game (13) and the most extra-points in one season (101). All are accolades that don’t seem like such a big deal to the humble boy from Hamburg.
“When I did it, I was like, ‘What, I did that?’”  Steinke said.
Without realizing his own ability, Steinke said he did not know he was doing anything special until his teammates asked him how he never missed any kicks at practice.
Steinke’s foot has added an often over looked commodity that many smaller schools do not have. Consistency and reliability in the kicking game is an asset that contributes to any successful football team.
He was so successful in earning confidence and trust from his coaches as Rossville was ready to look to Steinke to win the 3A state championship game.
As Rossville was setting up a Steinke field goal inside the opponent’s 20 yard line with one minute remaining in a tie ball game, a Scott City penalty gave Rossville a first down.
“He was incredibly accurate all year, he didn’t miss an extra-point all year,” said Hammes. “We were more than prepared to have Paul kick the winning field goal if that’s what we needed to win.”
With such a potent offense, Steinke had only had two field goal attempts all season, but of course he made them both.
Two of Steinke’s biggest fans have been watching his unorthodox rise to football success via the internet. Steinke’s parents have been fortunate enough be able to watch Paul kick for Rossville thanks to the school streaming the games on the internet, even if that meant the games normally start at 2 a.m. in Hamburg.
“They know that football is a big deal here, they will be celebrating this,” Steinke said of the state title victory.
Steinke has a history of playing soccer, also known as the other football, and is a very talented golfer. Coach Hammes believes both of these sports have attributed to Paul’s incredible season.
“His soccer background helps of course, but the golfing helps as well. I think the pre-shot routine and mechanics of the golf swing helped,” Hammes said.
One thing his previous athletic experience did not prepare him for was how to make a tackle. Steinke recorded one tackle on the season, but admitted that it definitely is not the best thing he can do but he got the job done.
At the start of the school year, Steinke wanted to join a team to get an American experience all while meeting new people. He got that and so much more.
“The team is awesome, we celebrate and support each other and help each other out. It really has been a great season,” Steinke said.
Written by Ryan Tarletsky, CatchItKansas Web Producer