by Avon Lake vs Avon, the Battle for the Silver Rail Trophy. It is one of the oldest and best rivalries in Ohio High School Sports. But when it comes to talent, working together and motivating each other to improve, Nathanial Vakos and Owen Wiley have kicked all that rivalry talk out the window. Well, for a day here atleast.
What are we talking about? It’s no secret that both Nathanial Vakos of Avon, and Owen Wiley of Avon Lake are widely regarded as the two best placekickers not only in the SWC, but all of Ohio. In fact, with recruiters all over the country fighting for their tape, it is more than safe to say they are regarded as two of the best kickers in the country.
Both Vakos and Wiley made one clutch kick after another last year. Wiley rebounded from a miss in their opener in 2020, to make two clutch field goals in the overtimes of that same game. Later on in the year, it was Avon kicker Nathanial Vakos shining as he booted a game winner in the Playoffs to send Avon to the States Final Four in Division Two. That game just happened to be against their rivals as well.
While we all enjoy the rivalry, at the end of the day, we have to remember these are just “kids”. Well, student athletes whom I consider to be young men. But, again, they are in High School, a time that should be care free and fun.
It is in that spirit that I found it to be no shock at all that they worked out together in the offseason quite a bit. As both attended camps all over the country during the summer, there was no question a bond would eventually develop.
In Week one of the season, it was clear that the offseason work paid off for both players. Vakos nailed a 45 yarder at Brunswick with ease, while Owen Wiley bombed away from 50 against Strongsville. Both teams would go on to win.
I spoke with them about the friendship, their drive to succeed and the offseason work they put in.
Vakos had this to say, “Owen and I went to most of the same camps this year working with Adam Tanalski. Owen and I have also kicked together a couple times just working with each other, improving ourselves together by giving each other shared knowledge.
Especially in June when we went on a lot of school visits. The main goal of this whole offseason was recovery. Recovery is more important then anything else in kicking because if your body isn’t 100%, you’re not gonna perform your best.
So staying healthy and maintaining strength was the whole goal this summer. I think we have both been successful and that and we can see it paying off in these first couple of games we’ve played.”
Owen Wiley of Avon Lake had this to add, “We’ve gotten together a few times this off-season and it’s really nice training with someone of his skill level because it makes us both want to get better.
We both know where we stand and what our potential is, it’s going to be a very exciting season for both of us. I’ve been to a few camps this year. I’ve been doing a lot of training with Adam Tanalski over at Hammer Kicking Academy. I heard about him from Nathaniel and iIve loved working with him ever since.
He’s a great guy and knows a lot. I attended his top 40 camp this summer and other than that it’s just been college visits and camps. Overall I’m excited for this year it’s going to be exciting to see how we both do with an actual full season this year.”
Yes, it is a rivalry, and yes, it’s fun to watch and even argue about. But thank you to Owen and Nathanial for reminding us all, it’s just a game. In the end, it is a extra ticket in your pocket to get to college as well. I see bright things for both men.
If you don’t want to wait until they play against each other Week Four September 10th in Avon, to see them kick and compete. You can check them out this Wednesday Night at 7pm in Avon as they collide in varsity soccer as well.
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