By Jeff Vorva

Downers Grove’s Sean Ryniec put a lot of time into his baseball career in high school.

His game was at a high level, and at one time, the right-handed pitcher was on the Cangelosi Sparks Black travel team that featured standouts including Cole Van Assen (now at Purdue), TJ Schlageter (Louisville), and Cal Sefcik (Indiana).

Ryniec was on the rise in baseball but played football for Downers Grove North as well.

But a funny thing happened to Ryniec. Well, it wasn’t so amusing at the time. He suffered a labrum injury and is now one of the best football kickers in the country.

Ryniec opened 2025 on a great note, booting five extra points to help North Central College win the NCAA Division III football championship with a 41-25 victory over Mount Union on Jan. 5 at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston.

The Cardinals capped a perfect 15-0 season with the win, and it was NCC’s third championship in the past five seasons.

True, the sophomore missed an extra point attempt while the game was already in hand for the Cardinals, but in the season, he was 106 out of 107, which is a DIII single-season record.

During his high school career, this was not the path he envisioned.

“I wasn’t all that aware of the school; I was searching in other areas, and I was playing baseball and not super into football at the time,” Ryniec said. “Then I had a labrum tear in my shoulder, and I knew one of the donors here, and he got me in touch with coach (Brad) Spencer so I could come here and play.”

Spencer said he is pleased with Ryniec’s kicking but has a roster that features punter Chip Dose, kicker Andre Casas, and a few other strong-legged athletes.

But Ryniec has been trusted with the extra points.

“We have a few kickers, and that’s what we want,” Spencer said. “When they are young, it’s hard to do all three (kickoffs, punting, and extra points/field goals). Your leg just runs out. To have Chip, Sean, and Andre splitting those and having them be masters of their own domain has led to a lot of success this year.”

Ryniec said he has been kicking since sixth grade, but he started to take it seriously during his junior year at North.
He also booted four field goals this season and scored 118 points, which was No. 1 in the nation for points by a kicker and 15th  overall by a player in any position.

His freshman season was strong as well as he converted 81 or 90 attempts and was eighth in the nation in points by a kicker.
Also that season, the Cardinals were rolling for 14 games until they dropped a 38-37 setback to Cortland in the national championship game. Ryniec had a 24-yard field goal in that game to knot the score at 17-17 and converted on all four of his extra-point attempts.

“It was definitely an experience – it was sweet,” Ryniec said. “Being a freshman was a little nerve-wracking at first, not knowing what to expect. I was stepping into a huge role, but it was fun. I had a blast.”

He lists that field goal as the highlight of his kicking career.

But, as with all kickers, he suffered some low points as well.

“I was in high school my junior year against Oak Park River Forest, and there was a game-winning field goal that I unfortunately missed,” he said. “That’s one kick that I wish I could go back and try again. Everyone was giving me stuff for it. But everyone forgot about it. But I remembered it, and it’s a memory that stuck with me. I wish I could go back and make that kick.”

Despite his baseball dreams being dashed, Ryniec is happy with the way things have turned out.

“I love the special teams guys – it’s a family here, and that’s why I want to stay,” Ryniec said. “I love the guys surrounding me. It’s not necessarily kicking. It’s not necessarily football. It’s the guys who are surrounding me.”

Ryniec kicked an NCAA Division III-record 106 extra points in the 2024 season.
Photo by Steve Woltmann for North Central College

Ryniec of Downers Grove kicks an extra point in the NCAA Division III championship game against Mount Union. Photo by Steve Woltmann for North Central College