Competition heats up for Hawaii football specialists

When Matthew Shipley entered the NCAA transfer portal after an indelible 51-yard field goal to beat Colorado State, the University of Hawaii football team suddenly needed a new kicker and a new punter.

Competition for the kicker position has carried from the spring into the fall, where an tight battle between junior Kansei Matsuzawa and redshirt freshman Kai Kluth is currently too close to call, according to UH special teams coordinator Thomas Sheffield.

Because of time and space constraints due to the team no longer having the