Kansas State University Athletics
SE: K-State Football Mourns Loss of Adopted Wildcat, 12-year-old Kaiden Schroeder
Dec 03, 2017 | Football, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
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K-State football lost one of its own on Friday. Kaiden Schroeder, an adopted member of the Wildcats' football program, died after an eight-year battle with leukemia. The impact the 12-year-old had on many Wildcats will live on, however.
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"His passing meant a great deal to so many of the Kansas State people and our players in particular. You would never know that he was ill when we had him around the program. He handled himself so very well, but it's been a sad time," K-State head coach Bill Snyder said of Schroeder. "I've had calls from a number of players who have since graduated and gone on who want to try to build a group of people to go to the funeral and try to help his family out in some other ways. He was very meaningful to so many players in our program, and coaches as well."
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Schroeder, diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia in 2009, became connected to the football program in 2013 when former K-State defensive end Ryan Mueller visited him in the hospital after the Wildcats' Fiesta Bowl game against Oregon. Mueller brought Schroeder, a McPherson native, a game-worn jersey and some handwritten notes from his teammates, the beginning of a friendship that would become so much more.
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In K-State's 2014 spring game, Schroeder took the field and ran for a 30-yard touchdown. The heartfelt moment made it on SportsCenter and went viral on the Internet.
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For Schroeder, it was a dream come true, being suited up alongside players he looked up to and rooted for every Saturday. Truth is, they admired him even more.
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"My heart is in a million pieces. I'm crushed. My brother was a hero. Kaiden did more for me than I could ever do for him," Mueller wrote as a caption to a recent Instagram post of him and Schroeder. "The impact he had on people during his time on Earth was remarkable." Â Â
"Heaved gained an angel today. You fought a hard, courageous battle," K-State senior kicker Matthew McCrane posted on Twitter, with a photo of him, senior punter Nick Walsh and Schroeder. "We love you, Kaiden."
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K-State football lost one of its own on Friday. Kaiden Schroeder, an adopted member of the Wildcats' football program, died after an eight-year battle with leukemia. The impact the 12-year-old had on many Wildcats will live on, however.
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"His passing meant a great deal to so many of the Kansas State people and our players in particular. You would never know that he was ill when we had him around the program. He handled himself so very well, but it's been a sad time," K-State head coach Bill Snyder said of Schroeder. "I've had calls from a number of players who have since graduated and gone on who want to try to build a group of people to go to the funeral and try to help his family out in some other ways. He was very meaningful to so many players in our program, and coaches as well."
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Schroeder, diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia in 2009, became connected to the football program in 2013 when former K-State defensive end Ryan Mueller visited him in the hospital after the Wildcats' Fiesta Bowl game against Oregon. Mueller brought Schroeder, a McPherson native, a game-worn jersey and some handwritten notes from his teammates, the beginning of a friendship that would become so much more.
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In K-State's 2014 spring game, Schroeder took the field and ran for a 30-yard touchdown. The heartfelt moment made it on SportsCenter and went viral on the Internet.
Â
For Schroeder, it was a dream come true, being suited up alongside players he looked up to and rooted for every Saturday. Truth is, they admired him even more.
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"My heart is in a million pieces. I'm crushed. My brother was a hero. Kaiden did more for me than I could ever do for him," Mueller wrote as a caption to a recent Instagram post of him and Schroeder. "The impact he had on people during his time on Earth was remarkable." Â Â
"Heaved gained an angel today. You fought a hard, courageous battle," K-State senior kicker Matthew McCrane posted on Twitter, with a photo of him, senior punter Nick Walsh and Schroeder. "We love you, Kaiden."
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Walsh also posted on Twitter: "We love you, Kaiden. You'll forever be in our hearts. Thanks for letting me be your friend and for all the pregame texts this year. Rest easy, little buddy."Heaven gained an angel today.
— Matthew D. McCrane (@mmccrane16) December 1, 2017
You fought a hard, courageous battle.
I would appreciate your thoughts and prayers for the Schroeder family.
We love you, Kaiden. pic.twitter.com/zI02GMBEGW
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ÂWe love you Kaiden, you'll forever be in our hearts ?? thanks for letting me be your friend and for all the pregame texts this year ?? Rest easy little buddy pic.twitter.com/EIPtnK2KZj
— Nick Walsh (@nickolaskwalsh) December 1, 2017
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