RELATED LINKS:
-- R. Jean Francois' 'Skins Style'
-- Every Team In The DMV Is Ready To #FightForOldDC
It took 9-year old Kadyn Camper a few years, several rounds of competition and several different cities, but on Jan. 2, she finally won a Punt, Pass & Kick championship.
Representing the Washington Redskins, and competing with three other girls in the 8-9 age group, she and her family flew out to Indianapolis, Ind., for the final, national leg of the tournament and won with a final score of 214 feet and 7 inches.
That winning number was calculated by the combined length of one throw, one punt and one kick, which took place inside the Colts' indoor training facility. Her winning efforts were then acknowledged on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium the next day.
Her mother, Tania Camper, has been there along the way, and while she was a little too nervous to watch her daughter compete, she was very excited to see Kadyn take home a trophy.
"She goes, 'Mom, I wanted to win for the Redskins because that Dallas girl beat me last year and I'm not going to have this Dallas girl beat me again,'" Tania said.
Kadyn made it through the local round in her family's hometown of Christiansburg, Va., and advanced through the sectional round in Covington, Va. That earned her a trip to FedExField for the team round, which encompasses the entire DMV area before moving onto Indianapolis.
Tania played basketball in college and it seems as though Kadyn has taken on her athletic genes. She's participated in the PP&K program since turning six – she's travelled to Denver, Colo., where she made the national final – and Tania said she plans to keep competing each season until she turns 15, her last year of eligibility.
"The USA Football and Play 60 put on a great program," Tania said. "It's a great experience. We've met a lot of cool people."
Kadyn was chosen as a Redskins representative based on the proximity of where she lives – the Camper family lives not far from Virginia Tech and has enjoyed seeing both Kyshoen Jarrett and DeAngelo Hall rep their favorite team.
If Kadyn continues her dominance in the years to come, Tania is ready to go along for the ride.
"Wherever she goes, we've experienced great people and great places," she said. "We're just really excited for her and the community has done a lot for her."
.
.
.
