The Best Under the Radar Kicker in Indiana: Nicolas Tovar

   Only a few kickers in the state of Indiana can say they have accomplished as much as Andrean’s star Nicolas Tovar has. PFR Special Teams Player of the Year, 1st Team All NCC Kicker, Post-Tribune 1st Team All-Area, NWI Times 1st team All-Region, 2A Team All-State, and best of all, 2021 State Champion line his overflowing resumé. Tovar is graduating from Andrean at the end of this season signifying a new chapter in his life where he will be entering the college football realm. 

   As a junior, Tovar was nearly automatic on PAT’s going 34/35. The future star continued to develop through the year playing part in the team’s Conference and Sectional Championships. His senior year is when he truly booted onto the scene for the 59ers kicking 61/62 on PAT’s and five +30 yard field goals. The most prominent kick of his career occurred during a matchup between conference rivals Hobart when Nico hit a 44-yard field goal to take down their longtime enemies. 

   A large part of his success is owed to NIU Alum and one of the best private kicking and punting instructors in the Midwest, Chris Nendick. “Chris Nendick has been my go-to guy for kicking as well as my mentor in life for the almost 3 years that I’ve known him,” Tovar told me when describing Nendick. “He has shaped me into a confident kicker. If something personal was on or I needed someone to talk to, he was there for me. The praise goes both ways; “he’s worked incredibly hard to get to where he is today. All these postseason accolades are a product of that work ethic!” Chris Nendick told me in an interview. Tovar’s mentoring by successful athletes hasn’t stopped there. UCLA kicker, Nick Barr-Mira, held a workout with Nico right before the Bruins “Holiday Bowl” game. 

   Nicolas Tovar has excelled just as much in the classroom as he has on the field. Living by the quote “push yourself in the classroom and training to achieve your goals” led him to earn Academic 1st all 4-years of high school, and National Honor Society in his junior and senior year. With a 3.86 GPA, he is the perfect prospect when it comes to kickers at the high school level. 

Nico has just recently received his first offer from Benedictine University but still has no commitment decision at this time. For what was a great ending to his high school career, it might just kick off a spectacular beginning to a collegiate career.