Education
In 1996, Winkel graduated from Richfield High School where he was a 1995 and 1996 All State High School soccer player.
In 1996, Winkel graduated from Richfield High School where he was a 1995 and 1996 All State High School soccer player.
He began his college career at the University of Maine in 1996 and 1997. He transferred to Marquette University for the 1998 and 1999 seasons. During the 1999 off-season, Winkel played for the Twin Cities Tornado of the USL Premier Development League.
In February 2000, the Minnesota Thunder selected Winkel in the first round of the USL A-League draft.
In 2002, he moved to the Carolina Dynamo. He had spells in Sweden with Höllvikens GIF and Högaborgs BK. In 2004, he played for the Virginia Beach Mariners.
In 2006, he rejoined the Thunder and played 13 matches for the team in the 2006 season. In 2010, Winkel played one game for Western Suburbs Football Club in New Zealand, but retired because of injuries.
He is the executive director of the Ole Soccer Academy in Wellington.