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Eagan's chatty Kuehn not one to toot his own horn

By Star Tribune, 10/21/14, 6:58PM CDT

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Eagan senior left tackle Noah Kuehn helped quarterback Sam Zenner become a 1,000-yard rusher for the Wildcats football team in 2014.


Noah Kuehn, Eagan football

Eagan senior left tackle Noah Kuehn helped quarterback Sam Zenner become a 1,000-yard rusher for the Wildcats football team in 2014.

Eagan finished the regular season with a .500 mark (4-4). It opens Class 6A, Section 3 tournament play at home Friday against Lakeville South.

The 6-6, 300-pound Kuehn also throws the shot put and discus for the track team in the spring.

Here is a closer look at Kuehn:

 

Q: The best movie I’ve seen in the past year?

A: “Cloud Atlas.” I saw it on HBO and it kind of just blew my mind. It was super interesting and I thought it had a lot of good messages, too.

 

Q: Three words or phrases my friends or teammates might use to describe me?

A: Driven, funny and (to my disliking) genius.

 

Q: Three songs I never skip on my iPod are …

A: ... “Centuries” by Fall Out Boy; “One Week” by Weird Al Yankovic; and any song by Alt-J.

 

Q: What did you work on most prior to the season?

A: I really tried to improve my first-step quickness. I found out that when I was getting beat my junior year, it wasn’t because of bad form or missing my assignment. I simply couldn’t get to the right place fast enough. I can certainly see and feel the difference now. Another thing I still need to work on, as all linemen do, is flexibility and raw strength.

 

Q: At my first varsity practice, I was …

A: ... in a state of shock and awe. I was amazed how much faster the game was, and this wasn’t even a game. Our coaches intentionally don’t describe the schedule perfectly; firstly, to confuse the young kids, but also to get the older leaders to step up and help those who are lagging behind. I also had a reinvigorated sense of why I loved football. I love being physical and that practice in particular was very physical.

 

Q: What is your favorite meal prior to a game?

A: Day before: Olive Garden. Day of: Jimmy John’s.

 

Q: I know I have an edge on an opponent when …

A: ... he gets up and sighs after I pancake him. That and I tend to jaw a lot on the line, and if he falls into that and starts yakking back I can always use that to my advantage.

 

Q: What is your most memorable moment as a high school athlete?

A: Beating Wayzata 17-16 earlier this season. It was a game even our own fans said we could never win. Since the drive was so long, we had a pretty meager fan section. But once we got there, both the offense and defense fired on all cylinders. Also, being an offensive lineman I love that we were able to drive the ball up and down the field just pounding the ball inside.

 

Q: Name one sport that you wish you could play, and why?

A: I’ve always really wished I could play hockey just because of how physical of a sport it is. I can’t stand up on skates, nevertheless move.

 

– and if so, what is it?

A: I’m actually a really good trumpet player. Musical talent runs in our family because of my mother. In fact, my sister is a member of the University of Minnesota’s marching band.

 

Q: In 10 years, I hope I’m …

A: ... either still involved in football at either the collegiate or professional level. If that doesn’t pan out, at a bio-medical engineering firm.

 

Q: What is the best sports advice you ever received?

A: It’s not always about hitting the ball as hard as you can, it’s about being smart on the court.

RON HAGGSTROM

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