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Standing tall, lightly grasping the grip of a walking cane while wearing a black ankle brace, former Marcos de Niza kicker Krysten Muir wasn’t supposed to be here.
She wasn’t supposed to be walking, let alone standing on the very field she kicked on in high school, after she was paralyzed from the waist down in a January car crash.
Just eight months ago, Muir was told by doctors there was a 50/50 chance that she wouldn’t be able to walk again. Yet, at the beginning of Friday night’s game against Apache Junction at Marcos de Niza in Tempe, a game in which Muir was being honored, she walked proudly to the middle of the field.
“Once they told me (I had a 50-percent chance of walking), I really had no other option in my mind that I wasn’t going to walk, I already knew that I was, so it’s just the fact of getting there and putting in that hard work,” said Muir. “I just wanted to show everybody else that I could. Every one else has that confidence in me so I just wanted to prove to them that I can do it.”
After an outpouring of support from the Marcos de Niza community, Muir decided that she wanted to become a bigger part of their football program, so she decided to join her father on the coaching staff and become the kickers’ coach.
Muir drew attention several years ago when she became the team’s kicker. But her experience at the position was evident Friday night.
“The guys are really respectful, they listen to everything I say, they’re like sponges that soak everything in,” Muir said about her football players prior to the game.
The Padres started the game off hot, as the Padre’s quarterback Braesen Leon connected with Elijah Woods on a 40-yard touchdown to give them the early lead.
After a first half of back and forth scoring from both teams, the Padres went into their locker room leading the Prospectors 19-14.
However, once the second half started, the Prospectors proved to be too much for the home field Padres.
Apache Junction’s quarterback Gavin Limongello was all over both sides of the ball, breaking up sure-thing touchdown passes on defense, to throwing touchdowns of his own on the offensive side of the ball
Apache Junction running back Isaiah Savoie also pounded three touchdowns in the Prospectors 33-14 victory.
Although the result was not what the Muir wanted, she was still all smiles after the game, surrounded by her players, friends, and family.
“I just want to motivate others and inspire others, whether in motivational speaking, coaching, writing a book, any of that,” said Muir. “If I can help people out, that’s what I want to do with my life.”
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