Concordia High School’s Ayden Krier is easy to spot on Friday nights, lining up in the slot or dropping back at safety, but the work that defines him often happens far from the stadium lights. A rising junior, Krier said his biggest inspiration comes from home. “Who inspires me is my dad because he works hard every day to provide for the family and takes no days off and has taught me the value of hard work.”
That value shows up in the classroom and weight room. Krier said his favorite subject is social studies, and his favorite teacher is Coach Peroo, who teaches leadership and weights. “Athletics has taught me the value of being a great not only teammate but also person,” he said. On the field, he embraces the demanding role of a two-way player. “I am a slot wide receiver and safety and I’d say the most difficult thing about being a slot is the responsibility of blocking and creating holes for running backs or qb.”
Krier said the thing he enjoys most about being on the team is “getting to learn under some great coaches that know how to treat a player.” He’s seen the intensity of the game firsthand. “Craziest thing I’ve seen on the football field is a coach throwing another kids helmet after he made a mistake,” he said. His favorite memory so far is a clutch moment: “My favorite memory from a game would have to be the Beloit game when I caught the go ahead touchdown to ultimately lead to us winning the game.”
Pre-game, Krier keeps things simple with “some light stretching and listening to music and just talking with friends.” He said he loves most how “everyone is acquainted and supportive how we’re all friends and able to mesh together.” One teammate in particular
still drives him. “The teammate who has left the biggest impression on me without a doubt would be Brody Knox, although he is no longer with us he was someone who didn’t complain much and had a joy about the game. He had ultra confidence in me and was just very supportive overall.”
Off the field, Krier stays busy with golf, friends and a mowing business. “Other ways I’m active in the community is I have my own little mowing business where I mow for many people in town and I’ve helped with people moving and other things like that,” he said. His favorite place in town is Hood Park, where, he said, childhood memories with friends will “forever have a place in my heart even when I’m on to bigger things.”
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