After taking off the 2024 football season, senior wide receiver Noah Kuester found his groove this year, amassing a current team-leading 231 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in five games.
Kuester was a member of the Titan football team during his freshman and sophomore years. However, he left the sport in his junior year due to some personal reasons. Gibson Southern football head coach Nick Hart reached out to Kuester at the beginning of the summer prior to the 2025 season and asked if he wanted to play again. After thinking it over, Kuester decided to return.
“I missed my teammates and the Friday night lights,” Kuester said. “I wanted to get back and compete.”
While it may appear to be challenging to sit out the whole previous year, Kuester quickly became a significant factor on the team. His 6-foot-3-inch frame and athletic ability are utilized to contribute to the offense through his receiving, blocking and screening. He is leading the team with eight touchdowns and 46.5 yards per game.
“I didn’t expect with the year off that he would have been so good so fast,” Hart said. “I thought maybe it would take a little time. But, no, he came right out of the gate this summer playing at a high level.”
To continue getting better, Kuester follows two principles.
“I just listen to Coach Hart and run my routes,” Kuester said. “I want to keep it simple and easy. I want the team to succeed and help out my teammates.”
Kuester’s contribution to the team has led the Titans to a 4-1 record. In the 35-28 win over Danville, he recorded three receptions with two touchdowns and proceeded to record three more touchdowns on five receptions against Mt. Vernon.
“I think our season has gone pretty well,” Kuester said. “We do have that one loss against a good program, Rochester, but we rebounded the week after beating Mt. Vernon. I am excited to see how we do come time for playoffs, but for now, we are going to keep getting better and working as a team.”
Kuester has not only succeeded in games but also stands out in practice. Even with his whole year off, he quickly regained his knowledge of the plays from his route running to screen plays; he still knew them. According to the coaching staff, Kuester is a role model for the younger individuals on the team.
“When the younger guys see him out there practicing, he is going full out every single play and every single day,” Hart said. “He has a great attitude, and if he drops a ball, he is going to go back up and catch the next ball. He doesn’t get down on himself.”
“He comes out to practice and works hard and never complains,” said Gibson Southern senior quarterback Zack Foster. “He is quiet, but when he scores or does something good, he’ll be hyped up.”
Beyond being a substantial contributor to the Titans’ football team, Kuester enjoys making use of his athletic ability to compete in track and basketball at Gibson Southern. As a shooting guard for Gibson Southern, he had a total of 30 rebounds, nine steals, and 11 blocks in the 2024-2025 season.
In his free time, Kuester hangs out with friends and family and loves watching college football. He goes to Indiana University’s games, having season tickets.
