For his first three years at KHS, Andrew Wilson, senior, was a fan in the bleachers at the football games every fall. At the start of this school year, he decided it was time for a change. Wilson chose to give up hockey to try football. Although this is his first year playing football, Wilson is a starter on the varsity team.
“The best part is the crowd and the support of the fans,” Wilson said. “Football is a big sport at KHS and we get a lot of encouragement from the community.”
The varsity football players at KHS are constantly in the spotlight, which is something Wilson hasn’t experienced with hockey. Being a senior starter is a lot of pressure, but it is also rewarding.
“There’s a lot of people behind you and a lot of attention, but it’s not easy,” Wilson said. “It takes a lot of hard work from everyone, but especially the seniors.”
This season, KHS has made it to the playoffs and beyond with the help of Wilson. Kirkwood played Webster Nov. 5 for the district championship, winning and taking KHS further into the playoffs. Wilson paid his dues by catching an interception and taking the ball out of Webster possession.
“It was my first huge play,” Wilson said. “It was an amazing feeling being able to get the ball and stop them from getting a first down. Even better, we were able to come back and beat Webster which is always a great feeling.”
Winning against Webster made Kirkwood district champions and allowed the team to continue their quest to the dome. The next varsity game is Saturday, Nov. 10 at 1:30 p.m. at Rockwood Summit.
While Wilson does not plan to play a sport in college, the experience has been great with all of his teammates.
“The team is a family, but we are more than that,” Wilson said. “We are driven, we stick together, we always encourage each other and pick one another up when they’re down.”
