By Gary Van Cleave 

BUCKLIN - The Red Ace Monster was unleashed last fall and Kolson Cook didn’t disappoint.

 

The 6-foot-1, 170-pound linebacker set Bucklin High single-season records with an uncanny 145 tackles and even uncannier 30 tackles for loss in their 9-1 season last fall. The TFL was the most in any class in Kansas.

 

“Might be the best numbers I’ve ever seen, but I’m not surprised by them because it’s Kolson Cook we’re talking about,” teammate Preston Yancey said.

 

“Insane numbers, he impacts the game so much for us,” Aiden Haskell said.

 

Numbers also deserving of being the March Athlete of the Month for KGNO Radio.

 

“Yeah it’s pretty crazy. Just shows how important he was on the defensive side of the ball,” former Red Ace standout Scott Price said.

 

“He did put up some big numbers,” coach Trever Powell said. “He found a way to get involved in almost every play.”

 

Cook also generated seven sacks last fall. In his dubious career, Cook finished with 326 tackles and 16 sacks.

 

“It was nuts,” former star Nathan Bowman said. “I’m still really close with him and Lucas (Kirk) and coach Powell and I have a great relationship. So I talked to them a lot about their season and such, but I know coach Powell mentioned his instincts as a linebacker. He has a special talent of just reading what the offense is trying to do and beating them to the spot. Also he put on a lot of weight and got stronger and that helped him tremendously.”

 

Bowman and Price have become Cook’s biggest inspiration.

 

“They were seniors when I was a freshman. They showed me how hard you have to work on the field, in the weight room and off the field,” Cook said. “They also taught me how to be a good leader and how to get your team to rally behind you because you can’t win games by yourself.”

 

“That means a lot,” Price said. “He was only a freshman when I played with him and being able to see him grow not only as an athlete but a leader has been pretty fun to watch.”

 

Bowman said Cook wasn’t scared or timid.

 

“A lot of freshmen seem to shrink back, are just a body out there, but in football he had an impact but especially basketball,” Bowman said. “He was a guy I could count on coming off the bench and provide an impact whether that be on defense or his shooting ability.”

 

“Pretty great leader. He’s got the drive to do whatever is needed and he plays with a lot of intensity,” Grayson Alvarado, who termed Cook’s potential as unlimited, said.

 

Bowman, now attending Kansas State, said he loves having an impact on athletes he played with.

 

“Especially those younger than me and it means a lot that while I only had one year with Kolson he thinks of me like that,” Bowman said.

 

Cook, according to Powell, was a game changer for the Red Aces with his play at linebacker. 

 

“He always plays hard and is a physical player, and did a good job of wearing down the opposing team as the game went on,” Cook said. “He played a lot of defensive end in previous years but was a natural when we put him at middle linebacker this year. He has really good instincts and did a great job of disguising and mixing up blitzes. I trusted him a lot of the time to make adjustments on his own and a lot of the time he would make the right call. We are definitely going to miss his toughness and his leadership.”

 

“Getting a TFL gives your team all the momentum,” Cook said. “It gets your team hyped while also showing the other team that they are gonna have to change something if they want to have a chance to win.”

 

Cook’s college plans are to see if any colleges offer him anything. If they don’t he will probably try to walk on somewhere.

 

“It would be a dream come true. Every kid dreams of playing at the next level. So playing college ball would be an extremely exciting experience,” Cook said.

 

“He’s the best linebacker that’s ever come out of this program,” Yancey said. “He showed up to practice everyday ready to work. His excellence and aura made everyone around him better. If I had to describe Kolson with one word it would be ‘Him’ because he is just that good.”

 

Price, now attending technical college in Hays, said Cook’s potential is as far as he wants to take it. 

 

“When Kolson sets his mind to something and really goes after it, he can do whatever he wants,” Price said.

 

“I would say Kolson is a very aggressive player and is also quick to the line. He penetrates the offensive line like better than anybody I’ve ever seen,” Yancey said. “He is allusive and alert and is not afraid to go after the ball, he is a big game changer for us and is an even better guy off the field.”

 

Cook wants people to remember how hard he worked and that he gave effort every play.

 

“Football has taught me that you can’t set a goal and just hope it happens. You have to put in work and time to make sure that you reach your goals,” Cook said.

 

“Success happens,” he concluded, “when you put yourself into a task that may make you nervous or uncomfortable. You see the project through, whether it has the outcome you wanted or not. It’s pushing through and finding a will to survive and become the best version of yourself.”