Record-breaking kicker

By Rebecca Carney
Co-Sports Editor

Sebastian Garcia, from Greer, South Carolina, is now the record holder for longest field goal in Hutchinson Community College football history.

Garcia set the school record with a 48-yard field goal in the third quarter against Fort Scott, Saturday, September 15 at Gowans Stadium during a Blue Dragon win, 61-21.

Garcia’s kicking and football career was only started after a talk with his dad. Garcia’s first interest was soccer, until her talked with is dad, expressing his football interest. Garcia decided to try spring football his freshman year at Wade Hampton High School.

“I decided to try kicking and punting because I had a good leg in soccer and figured it could transfer over to football,” Garcia said.

Garcia developed into an outstanding kicker and punter throughout his high school career, thanks to the help of his high school kicking coach Jim Hendricks, a University of Florida alumnus. Not only did his high school coach greatly influence Garcia, but so did some of the camps he participated in, Ray Guy and Chrissallor Kicking being a few.

Garcia not only holds the the record for longest field goal in Blue Dragon history, but he also holds the record for longest field goal in Wade Hampton history. Garcia set a 52-yarder field goal while at Wade Hampton, to go with his 48-yard field goal at Hutchison Community College.

Garcia broke the record held by three Blue Dragon kickers. It was last tied in 2013 by Ryan Weese, when he made a 47-yarder at Butler.

Garcia remained cool and collected when attempting a record breaking field goal.

“I just went back to basics of kicking and struck the ball,” Garcia said.

Hutchinson coach Rion Rhoades recognizes what an outstanding individual and player Garcia is, on and off the field.

“Sebastian is not just a really good kicker, he’s a really good guy,” Rhoades said. “He is fun to be around. There is not a player on the field that cares more about their job than Sebastian, almost to a fault. Sometimes he works too hard.”

Garcia not has only set the field goal record in high school and now in college, but he was also named the NJCAA Special Teams Player of the Week.

Longest field goals in HutchCC history

Sebastian Garcia, 48 yards, 2018

Kevin Coleman, 47 yards, 2004

Michael Mesh, 47 yards, 2012

Ryan Weese, 47 yards, 2013

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