One of the best football programs in all of the United States – Northwest Missouri State University — added a pair of signees from the county last month.
One will be on the field and the other will be filming all the stuff on the field.
The Bearcats added Park Hill South kicker Michael Verhoeven and Platte County video guru Parker Schmitz.
Verhoeven was a first-team all-district and all-conference kicker this past year for the Panthers. He proved to be a weapon in special teams as he also handled punting duties.
He made six of eight field goals — with a long of 40 — and hit 27 of 33 extra point attempts. He also punted 30 times and had three of them inside the 20-yard line.
He looked at Southern Illinois, Kansas State, Southern Nazarene and Benedictine before picking Northwest, a powerhouse at the Division II level.
“I picked Northwest because not only the great family football atmosphere, but their traditions with their brotherhood, community service and instilling great values,” said Verhoeven, who kicked a 60-yard field goal in practice. “Right now I am going to only be a kicker, but I’ll play whatever position they need me to (including punting). When Northwest asked me if I wanted to compete there, it took a huge load off of my shoulders — both mine and my parents (J.F. and Kim Verhoeven). I can’t wait to be a part of the winningest college football team in America.”
Contributed photo
Park Hill South’s Michael Verhoeven, center, signed a letter of intent to play football at Northwest Missouri State University. He is joined by his parents J.F. and Kim Verhoeven.
Verhoeven plans to major in business at Northwest. He was the only kicker signed this year by coach Rich Wright and there are three kickers on the 2019 roster. Next year, Northwest will have Parker Sampson, a Park Hill product, in his senior year. That could set up a battle between Verhoeven and sophomores-to-be James Hayden and Jackson Likens as the heir apparent to the All-American in 2021.
Schmitz was listed as ‘creative video’ on his position in the school’s press release.
The senior is most well known for creative hype videos and highlight films of the Pirates football team. He will be the student creative video coordinator for the Bearcats.
A baseball player and three-time academic letterwinner at Platte County High School, Schmitz chose Northwest over Missouri.
“I loved it there, but Mizzou felt like just another school,” Schmitz said. “Northwest was recruiting me and actually making me feel wanted. The coaches are welcoming, the atmosphere is everything, and the brotherhood there has already been formed. Whenever I get up in Maryville, my job is to pump out content for all things Bearcat football. From game day content, all the way to recruiting content come winter. I am already itching at the opportunity.”
Schmitz has also shot photos for the Platte County Citizen during his senior year of high school.