‘You keep a focused mindset’: How Andrew Kamienski fought adversity and found success with North Central College Football
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (BVM) — There’s 1:58 left to go in the 2019 NCAA Division III Football Championship. Then-senior quarterback Broc Rutter connects with wide receiver Andrew Kamienski on a 28-yard passing touchdown — the 46th all-time between both players — capping off the Cardinals’ final scoring drive of the season.
That drive was essentially the icing on the cake for one of the greatest seasons in North Central College Football history. The Cardinals defeated No. 7 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 41-14, claiming their first national title.
But what if you were to ask Kamienski just three years prior whether he’d achieve that moment while attending Winona State University as a freshman?
“You’re out of your mind,” he’d tell you.
After spending the fall 2016 semester at Winona State, Kamienski came to North Central in fall 2017 where he quickly found success with the Cardinals.
Growing up in the western suburbs of Chicago, Kamienski began playing football as a first-grader and quickly fell in love with the game. It was his sophomore year while attending South Elgin High School when he knew he could potentially play in college.
Kamienski knew North Central offensive coordinator and former wide receivers coach Brad Spencer, and the Cardinals initially recruited him. But Kamienski took a different route and elected to continue his football career at Winona State, rather than make the relatively quick transition to North Central — just a 50-minute drive from his hometown of Pingree Grove, Ill.
While making the move to Winona, Minn., Kamienski prepared himself for the culture shock many college freshmen face. During the recruiting process, Winona State coaches told Kamienski they often redshirt first-year players, but if they prove they can make an immediate impact during practices, they give them a chance to play.
That didn’t happen for Kamienski.
“The first day I get there, the first 10 minutes I was on campus, I was given a redshirt packet,” Kamienski said. “I got thrown on scout team before we even started practice, so it was just an eye-opener. I’m like, ‘OK, well, how do you even know?’ It was just a whole bunch of miscues: either miscommunication or they’re just feeding me a whole bunch of stuff just to get me to go up there.”
As the season continued, Kamienski simply didn’t feel comfortable with the program. He said he didn’t believe he earned a fair chance to compete and showcase his skills compared to other freshmen.
“At Winona, seniors talk to just strictly seniors,” Kamienski said. “[For] freshmen, they’re like, ‘We don’t know who you are. We don’t care who you are. Come talk to me when you’re a sophomore.’
“I’m like, ‘What? I’m on the team. What does this mean? I’m here every day, practicing against your starters and you know who I am.’”
Kamienski didn’t play that season and began considering a transfer about a couple of months into his time as a Warrior. He knew about the success Rutter, who had just transferred from Indiana State University, was having in his first season as a Cardinal. As a freshman, Rutter led North Central to a 10-0 regular season record and a first-round playoff win over the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Kamienski also knew Rutter personally, as the two played against and with each other during their high school years.
Right before Christmas, Kamienski decided to transfer to North Central.
“It was just North Central,” Kamienski said. “I didn’t even really open up about recruiting again. I knew the coaches, I felt comfortable, it was close to home and it was a no-brainer … I called Coach Spencer and said, ‘Hey, I transferred. I want to play for you guys.’ And then, I was committed within the next couple [of] days.”
After attending Elgin Community College for the spring semester so he wouldn’t fall behind academically, Kamienski was ready to revive his football career with the Cardinals that fall. Because of the relationships he had built with Rutter and Spencer, as well as the program’s overall culture, Kamienski said he felt welcomed by his new teammates and coaches.
However, shortly into his first practice as a Cardinal, Kamienski suffered a quadriceps injury.
“At first,” Kamienski said, “I was super nervous because I’m like, ‘OK, I know I can come in here and play right away but now somebody else is gonna come and take an opportunity from me,’ which has nothing to do with me. I got hurt, and I can’t do anything about it.”
Kamienski missed all of camp that preseason but recovered in time for the Cardinals’ season opener, a 33-31 win against Robert Morris University, where he collected five receptions for 61 receiving yards. It wasn’t until the Cardinals’ fourth game of the season, though, when Kamienski got his first big break.
The previous game, then-senior wide receiver Ryan Kuhl suffered a season-ending injury. Kamienski was shocked to see one of his team’s top offensive weapons go down, but it gave him an opportunity to solidify himself as a starter.
“When he went down, it was a shock to the whole team,” Kamienski said. “He’s, at the time, getting looked at by NFL scouts. He’s a preseason All-American, he’s coming off a 14-touchdown year, so it’s like, ‘Oh no, what are we gonna do now?’”
“From there, it was, ‘All right, Andrew. You’re going in that spot, and here we go — we’re good. We can’t skip a beat — we’ve got to keep playing.’ So it was a blessing in disguise, but I feel absolutely horrible for him because he would’ve got a nice opportunity if that knee injury never happened.”
Just like Kamienski, North Central head coach Jeff Thorne was heartbroken to see Kuhl end his senior season early. However, he trusted Kamienski to carry his workload and man, was he ready. Kamienski ended his freshman season with 56 receptions for 741 yards, leading the Cardinals and earning first team All-CCIW honors.
“I think those opportunities that Andrew gained through that difficult circumstance with Ryan helped him and then also helped the chemistry that Broc and Andrew had,” Thorne said. “They had some experience throwing each other on the seven-on-seven circuit in high school, but that just really cemented the chemistry those two had.”
Kamienski started all 12 and 15 games for the Cardinals in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Along with leading the Cardinals to their first-ever national title his junior season, he set new North Central single-season records in receptions (133) and receiving yards (2,016) while setting a new Division III national record with 33 touchdown receptions.
Thorne said Kamienski hasn’t always been the most vocal leader because he can lead by example. But he’s begun developing a voice because his team needs it, and he’s willing to do whatever he can to successfully lead his teammates. Kamienski’s never missed a practice, which Thorne believes embodies his dedication and commitment.
“He cares about his teammates,” Thorne said. “They care about him, and they watch what he does. That’s been his way of leading in the past, and, this year, he’s taken that next step. And now, he’s using his voice a little bit more. When he did open his mouth the last few years, people wanted to know what he had to say because of how he plays, so he’s been a leader all along.”
Kamienski is entering his senior campaign and is one of 16 returning starters from 2019 after the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) canceled its 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns. He said he’ll miss Rutter, who recently left for Montreal to play for the Canadian Football League’s Montreal Alouettes, but his mentality hasn’t changed.
“You get on campus, and you’re a freshman,” Kamienski said. “Everything you do until you’re a senior is for your senior leaders and your senior captains. It’s cool to finally be in that position … it’s not like we’re a brand new team. I can’t wait to go out there.”
From struggling to find his place at Winona State to becoming a household name at North Central, Kamienski believes his journey can set an example for those who may be unsure about what their future holds.
“I’ve been through adversity,” Kamienski said. “I’ve been through a lot of stuff, but you just keep your head on. You keep a focused mindset — look what can happen. I didn’t think, three years ago, I’d have this position I’m in right now where I can go and have a chance to play at the next level. Just a little bit of hard work, a little bit of dedication can get you a long way.”
