GROVE CITY— A little competition isn't so bad, even if it's unexpected. Just ask Chris Haley.

The Butler graduate ventured to Grove City College figuring to be the Wolverines' kicker for four years — just like he was for the Golden Tornado.

Grove City didn't make one field goal last season. Haley made six field goals for Butler.

"I have to admit, I thought the job was mine,"Haley said. "My thoughts were to report to camp and get ready for the season."

When he got there, he was not alone in the kicking department. Steve Stombaugh, a freshman from Mt. Lebanon and the brother of the Wolverines' kicker last year, joined Haley in competing for kicking and punting duties.

Tyler Parafinik, a junior and one of the Wolverines' kickers last year, and senior Brandon McCall, who missed last year with a knee injury, were in the running as well.

"It was surprising,"Haley said of the competition. "Going to a smaller school, I figured there'd be less people going out for that position.

"But it was all good. We all got our fair shots in practice. The competition made me work harder."

Haley opened the season as Grove City's punter and handled the kickoffs. Parafinik was kicking the PATs.

"Chris won the punting job early in camp,"said Grove City special teams coach Jim Chinn. "Our all-conference punter from last year, Henry Johnston, had graduated and we figured Chris would take his place."

Haley had two punts blocked earlier this year, but he's averaging 37 yards per punt and has placed four punts inside the 20-yard line.

"My goal was to average at least 40 yards per punt,"Haley said. "I'm not quite there yet. The rush gets in on you a lot quicker than in high school. I had to adjust to that."

Because of a big game against Waynesburg last week, he has arrived as the Wolverines' kicker.

Haley was named Presidents' Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week after averaging 65 yards on six kickoffs and hitting three field goals — from 27, 26 and 49 yards — in GCC's 27-23 loss.

The 49-yarder was the longest in Haley's career. It also gave Grove City (1-3) a 23-20 fourth-quarter lead at the time.

Haley's longest field goal in high school was 40 yards.

"It sounds like thunder when the ball goes off his foot — especially on that kick,"Chinn said of the 49-yarder. "It would have been good from much farther out.

"Tyler missed two PATs this year, so we decided to give Chris a shot. He's done more than take the bull by the horns. He wrestled it to the ground and wound up on top."

Haley is 4-for-4 on field goal attempts and 2-for-2 on PATs for a team that's been searching for a consistent kicker.

"His whole approach to kicking, his motion, his confidence — Chris doesn't go out there looking like a freshman,"Chinn said.

Chinn said Haley earned his shot at being the team's field goal kicker through his performance in practice.

Haley isn't convinced the job is his just yet.

"These other guys are talented,"Haley said. "I'm gonna have to stay consistent to hold on to this job.

"But that's the way I want it."

A biochemistry major, Haley plans to attend graduate school once he graduates from Grove City.

"I'm going to pursue my education," he said. "And I'm going to enjoy football while I'm doing it."