Beganovic learning American football as he kicks

Red Bank High School kicker Sandi Beganovic, kicks off during practice on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015, in Red Bank, Tenn. He was born in the USA, but his parents moved to this country during the unrest in Bosnia. The Red Bank senior played soccer all his life, but had never played American football until he became the team's kicker this year. Red Bank High School kicker Sandi Beganovic, kicks off during practice on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015, in Red Bank, Tenn. He was born in the USA, but his parents moved to this country during the unrest in Bosnia. The Red Bank senior played soccer all his life, but had never played American football until he became the team's kicker this year.

By David Uchiyama September 25, 2015 5 min read

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Beganovic learning American football as he kicks

Red Bank High School kicker Sandi Beganovic, photographed on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015, in Red Bank, Tenn., was born in the USA, but his parents moved to this country during the unrest in Bosnia. The Red Bank senior played soccer all his life, but had never played American football until he became the team's kicker this year.

Red Bank High School kicker Sandi Beganovic (CQ), photographed on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015, in Red Bank, Tenn., was born in the USA, but his parents moved to this country during the unrest in Bosnia. The Red Bank senior played soccer all his life, but had never played American football until he became the team's kicker this year.

Red Bank High School kicker Sandi Beganovic, puts on his shoulder pads on the practice field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015, in Red Bank, Tenn. He was born in the USA, but his parents moved to this country during the unrest in Bosnia. The Red Bank senior played soccer all his life, but had never played American football until he became the team's kicker this year.

Red Bank High School kicker Sandi Beganovic, practices kicking from a tee on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015, in Red Bank, Tenn. He was born in the USA, but his parents moved to this country during the unrest in Bosnia. The Red Bank senior played soccer all his life, but had never played American football until he became the team's kicker this year.

Red Bank High School kicker Sandi Beganovic, walks to the practice field on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015, in Red Bank, Tenn. He was born in the USA, but his parents moved to this country during the unrest in Bosnia. The Red Bank senior played soccer all his life, but had never played American football until he became the team's kicker this year.

When Sandi Beganovic starts talking, it’s easy to assume a common Southern term: “You ain’t from ’round here, are ya?'”

But indeed he is.

Beganovic attended Rivermont Elementary School and Red Bank Middle School and is now a senior at Red Bank High School, where he has taken his soccer skills to the football field.

His parents – mother Antonija and father Suad – are the ones who suffered through the Bosnian War, became refugees and found a new life in the Chattanooga area.

“My first language was Bosnian,” Beganovic said. “I remember my mom used to teach me, in the weeks before I started school, how to say (in English), ‘Can I use the bathroom?’ and stuff.