2023 Player spotlight/in season interview with Austin Niederkohr from Carey High School

[LICKING COUNTY FAN]

Austin Niederkohr

Carey High School

Class
2024

Positions
Slot/WR/CB

What are your goals as far as the 2023 season goes?

My goals for my team and I are to get our third straight league title and make another deep playoff run.

Who is the best player you have ever faced in a game, along with the team he played for?

Beau Brungard from New Middletown Springfield. He now plays for Youngstown State University.

With this being your final high school football season, have you approached things differently than you have in the past?

Yes, I approached the season as a whole differently. I went from the last few years to when is this practice going to be over. This year I never want the practice to end because you never know when it is going to be your last. I know people say it all the time when you are younger to enjoy it because it goes by really fast. I never wanted to believe it until now because it truly does.

How hard is it to get over a loss?

It is a rough few days after a loss, you think about it and ask yourself what could you have done differently to prevent it. But once the little bit of time has passed you have to forget and start working on the next week so you can prevent yourself from having those same thoughts week after week.

Do you prefer to play on grass or turf?

I much rather prefer a nice grass field over a turf field any day of the week.

Which side of the ball do you enjoy playing the most? Explain:

I enjoy playing the offensive side of the ball way more. I love being a playmaker when the ball is in my hands and there's nothing more satisfying than laying a flat back block to open a hole for your teammates to go through. But don’t get me wrong I do also enjoy hitting people on the defensive side also.

What has been your favorite moment as an athlete?

My favorite moment was definitely winning the state championship in my sophomore year. There was just a surreal feeling the whole week before and after. Like did we really just do that, did we make it?

What has been your most embarrassing moment as an athlete?

By far my most embarrassing moment was in my sophomore year I got in a playoff game at corner against Ashland Crestview they threw the ball right over my head and I jumped way early and they scored a touchdown after holding for a shutout and then the next time they got the ball they threw it my way again then I got a pass interference and led to another score. This was all in a matter of two minutes. So that was probably what I considered my welcome to varsity football moment.

Where should the state finals be held?

I think the state finals should still be held at the Hall of Fame stadium. I thought it was a great experience there.

What is the worst type of weather to play in?

The worst type of weather to play in is rain. It makes the ball hard to hold onto and the grass field gets muddy and all torn up.

Coming off of a 36-19 setback to Hopewell-Loudon What did you learn about yourself and your team?

Even though we lost that game to a good Hopewell-Loudon team. I learned that there are areas that we need to work on but I did like some things that we did as a team, if we put the pieces together we could be a very good team.

This week, you guys have 1-0 Galion, who I watched last week. What must you guys improve on to be able to defeat them?

We have to work on stopping the run game. They are a running team with a good running back. Also, a quarterback who will scramble out of the pocket and run.

What scares you?

My biggest fear is needles, like shots.

What are your favorite and least favorite types of music?

My favorite type of music is country and hip-hop. But, I don’t have a least favorite. I will listen to anything.

What is one food you enjoy that most others do not?

Something that I will eat and others think is nasty is cottage cheese.