By Ken Hansard

Caney Valley High School senior football player Ace Koester comes from a competitive family that likes to rodeo. At some point in time, Koester was forced to prioritize his efforts and shift his primary focus to the gridiron, but his love for the sport is still there, and there is a somewhat obvious parallel between the two, “Football has taken a lot of time away from rodeo, but the competition is about equal in difficulty.”

Koester has made the transition nicely. Only now, as a right tackle and defensive lineman for the Bullpups, he wrangles opponents on the football field, “I led our team in sacks last year and recorded the third most tackles on the team. I’m proud of that because those aren’t things that I had ever envisioned myself accomplishing.”

Though his past accomplishments have been impressive, Ace has even loftier ambitions for his final season with Caney, “My main goal for this season is to go one step further than last year and improve on records I accomplished, and hopefully achieve All-State as a defensive lineman. I worked on my footwork a lot in the offseason – from ladder drills, to running bleachers, to running 40’s.”

Koester’s main goals, however, entailed a team concept and a very practical approach to the season, “I’m looking forward to playing my senior season with all my friends in my class one last time. I see myself as a leader for all the lineman but also a helper for anyone that needs it, whether that be help with a drill, carrying things, or even getting past mental blocks.”
Caney Valley finished last season with a record of 5-4, which included a second-place finish in the competitive Tri-Valley League. Their season ended with a first-round playoff loss. Koester would definitely like to see the Bullpups extend their season a little farther this year, “A specific challenge I would like for us to complete would be making it farther in the playoffs than any Caney team has ever gone.”

Along with competing in football and rodeo, Koester is also a member of Caney’s FFA (Future Farmers of America), and in the spring, he plays baseball for the Bullpups.
Koester stars in the classroom, as well, sporting a strong 3.7 G.P.A.

Koester is in the process of earning his welding certifications and after graduation plans to find work on the road.