IT’S BIG BEN’S TIME
Lowell senior lineman starts on both sides of the ball after sitting out last season following transfer from Boone Grove
Lowell’s Ben Rueda has turned a seeming setback into an unequivocal bounce-back.
Deemed ineligible for varsity competition last season after transferring from Boone Grove, Rueda is “making a huge impact” in his first and only season with the Red Devils, according to coach Keith Kilmer.
“At the start, I was really sad about not playing last year,” Rueda said. “But at the end, I feel like it helped me a lot. It really did.”
The 5-foot-11, 235-pound senior is starting on both lines and also handles the long-snapping duties. Rueda has nine tackles for the Red Devils (1-1), with two for a loss and one sack. He had two forced fumbles in a win against LaPorte last week.
Rueda concentrated on defense in practices last season and has been fine-tuning his offensive responsibilities at right guard.
“I’ve made a couple of good blocks, but I haven’t been doing the best,” he said. “I need to focus more. I have to get the plays 100 percent down and keep my eyes on the prize. I’ve been a defensive player, but I need to have both parts equal.”
Rueda has been nearing that point. “We’re a little thin up front on both sides of the ball, so we’re asking him to play both offense and defense,” Kilmer said. “We’re giving him spells when we can.
“Obviously I think his heart is on the defensive side of the ball, like most kids. It’s a little bit more fun than being an offensive lineman, but he’s a kid we’re going to count on, and he’s accepted that challenge.”
Rueda started on both lines in his two seasons at Boone Grove. He also played on all of the special teams units, including as the long snapper.
“I never came off the field,” he said.
The reps added up, Rueda noted. “Playing varsity football freshman and sophomore year kind of killed me,” he said. “I needed a little bit for my body to recover.
“I wasn’t able to get in last year, and I feel like it was a good thing. I was just focused on making myself as good as I can for this year. That definitely helped me a lot. It helped me focus.”
Rueda, who mentioned the quality of the welding and construction programs at Lowell, was solid for the Red Devils even though he wasn’t playing.
“He didn’t pout about it,” Kilmer said. “He worked his butt off for us as a scout teamer all year. He was a great leader in the weight room and at our speed workouts throughout the offseason.
“He’s gained the respect of his teammates, his coaches, and is one of our top leaders and one of our top players.”
Senior lineman Seth Rindfuss is one of those teammates whose respect Rueda has earned.
“I love the guy,” Rindfuss said. “He’s like my best friend on the team. He’s an excellent teammate. He leads by example. He tries to do so much.
“If anybody gives it his all on this team, it’s him. I love the guy as a friend and as a teammate, really as a brother.”
Rueda and Rindfuss typically go head-tohead in drills and in sprints during practice and in the offseason.
“Those two guys just compete,” Kilmer said. “They’re competitors. You can see it.
“If you’re around them, you can’t help but compete either because they don’t care who you are, they’re going to make you look bad.”
Rueda and Rindfuss push each other in the service of a common goal.
“We’re just making each other better,” Rindfuss said.
Rueda’s addition to the Red Devils’ active roster has made them better.
“He’s a big part of what we’re doing,” Rindfuss said.