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No Misses: Kicker Erik Sandvik's Perfect Start for Wyoming
LARAMIE, Wyo. (Oct. 14, 2026) - Wyoming kicker Erik Sandvik entered the 2026 season determined to improve his consistency after spending the offseason refining his technique.
Six games in, and the proof is in the pudding for the junior from Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
On Monday, Sandvik was named the Old Trapper Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week after connecting on all three field-goal attempts in Wyoming's 16-13 overtime win over San Jose State last Friday.
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His biggest kick of the night came in overtime, when he connected from 21 yards to give the Cowboys their first road victory of the season. It was Wyoming's first walk-off victory since the 2023 Arizona Bowl, when former Cowboy kicker John Hoyland delivered the game-winner according to the UW Athletics release.
Sandvik has been perfect through six games,, converting all eight field goal attempts and all nine extra-point opportunities. His longest field goal this season came from 48 yards against Colorado State in the season opener.
Sandvik’s growth comes after a 2025 season that had plenty of growing pains, in which he made just six of 11 field-goal attempts, including a season-long 41-yarder.
Pokes News caught up with Sandvik last August to find out how his offseason went, and what the outlook was for the 2026 season. Head coach Jay Sawvel had talked about his progress throughout camp. Sandvik said he worked to improve his kicking during the offseason, including a trip to San Diego to train with longtime NFL kicker John Carney.
"Yeah, I definitely put in a lot of work in the offseason," Sandvik said. "I took pride in the details with everything."
Carney also helped Sandvik focus and refine his kicking motion.
"He helped me with a lot of things and just keeping a more natural swing that fits what I'm used to with playing soccer my whole life," Sandvik said.
Sandvik not only worked with Carney in San Diego, but also alongside Wyoming’s all-time leading scorer, John Hoyland. Hoyland spent time with the Houston Gamblers last season, and preceded Sandvik as Wyoming's starting kicker.
Sandvik tells Pokes News the two still remain close.
"We stay in touch. I stay in touch with what he's doing. He asks how I'm doing," Sandvik said. "He's a great person to have in your corner for sure."
The improvements showed up in camp.
"Not every day is 100%, but that happens. You miss one or two here and there, but almost every day has been really good for me, and I've been happy with what I've been able to produce," Sandvik said.
What he worked on during the off-season and into camp has translated into a perfect half-season.
At Colorado State, Sandvik made both field-goal attempts to open the season, including his career-long 48-yarder. He added a 37-yard field goal against Central Michigan and converted twice against Hawai'i before his three-field-goal performance at San Jose State.
In six games, Sandvik has accounted for 33 points and is tied nationally in field goal percentage with 15 other kickers, according to Wyoming Athletics' Oct. 12th release.
Sandvik and the Cowboys return to Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium on Saturday to face Northern Illinois with a slated 1:30 PM kickoff, and the game will air on the CW Network.
*Some very small portions of a UW media release were used in this article.
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