By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post
People in sports like to talk about how hard work gets a player where they want to go. Most are unwilling or unable to follow through with the commitment that is required. Gaven Haselhorst isn't most people. He is the shining example of where hard work can take a student-athlete.
On Wednesday, the 220-pound senior defensive end signed his National Letter of Intent to play football for Kansas State University. The Wildcats offered Haselhorst a scholarship after a superb showing at the Sharp Combine in Salina over the summer. It took the Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year little time to make his decision to commit. Haselhorst cites the family atmosphere as a big reason for his decision.
Gaven Haselhorst
Hays High coach Tony Crough believes that Haselhorst hasn't even began to reach his potentional. Haselhorst is really only about three years into his football career. Track was always the go-to and he never had a natural position on the football field — that was, until his sophomore season. The coaching staff had moved Haselhorst from linebacker to running back without much success. Defensive line coach Mitch Harris told Crough to let him have Haselhorst ... the rest is history.
Coach Tony Crough
Haselhorst plastered his name all over conference and state team honors. He most recently was named to the Kansas Football Coaches Association defensive first team in 5A and listed as one of the All Class Top 11. Sports In Kansas also named him as a finalist for 5A Defensive Player of the Year.
As much as the seniors stalky build stood out on signing day his play on the field impressed even more. Haselhorst's #22 jersey was in the backfield as much as some running backs. The numbers backed up his play. He finished second on the team in total tackles with 77. An eye-popping 32 of those were tackles for loss including six sacks, three forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries. Haselhorst finished his high school career with 211 tackles, 10 sacks, 54 tackles for loss, 6 forced fumbles, and 5 fumble recoveries.