EMLENTON, Pa. (EYT/D9) — Aidan Fox hates to lose.
How much?
The A-C Valley sophomore loathes it.
But he also uses it to try to make sure it doesn’t happen again, whether it be on the football field, basketball court, track or even when he is performing for the competitive spirit team.
(Pictured above, Aidan Fox/submitted photo)
“When I do lose, it makes me want to work harder,” Fox said. “It makes me want to do better so I can be better and win the next time.”
Fox lost a lot growing up when squaring off against his older sister, Emma.
That’s when his distaste for it grew.
But it served an important purpose for Fox, who used the experience to appreciate winning more.
Redbank Valley, Keystone, and Union/A-C Valley sports coverage on Explore and D9Sports.com is brought to you by Heeter Lumber.
“She always taught me to be pretty tough,” Fox said of his sister, who was a senior sprinter/hurdler at Slippery Rock University in the spring and was a seven-time PSAC Championships qualifier. “She never took it easy on me. I always remember I’d run the 100 hurdles against her and she never let me win or anything. She always taught me that it’s not easy to win.”
Fox has clear goals for himself in track and field, where he does the triple jump and the long jump among other events.
“I want to be Pa. No. 1 eventually,” he said. “In my jumps and in all my other sports, I just want to help my team the best I can.”
This fall for the Union/A-C Valley football team, Fox is hoping to make a big impact.
The Falcon Knights lost two top receiving threats in Skyler Roxbury and Ryan Cooper.
Fox is hoping to take advantage of any opportunity he gets to fill one of those vacancies.
“I’m looking to get on the field more now that some of my bigger role models like Skyler and Ryan Cooper are gone,” Fox said. “I’m excited. Hopefully I’ll get some time at receiver and show the coaches what I can do.”
THE FOX FILE
NAME: Aidan Fox
SCHOOL: A-C Valley
YEAR: Sophomore
SPORTS: Football, basketball, track and field, competitive spirit
Q: You were on the competitive spirit team last year at A-C Valley, which won the District 9 championship in the co-ed division. You kind of had to be on the team since your mom (Stacey Fox) coaches it, right?
A: (Chuckling) Yeah. I didn’t really have a choice for that. It was pretty fun.
Q: Are you doing it this year?
A: I’m not doing it unless they need me.
Q: How eager are you to start the football season this year?
A: I’m really excited for football season. It’s one of my favorite sports. I just love it.
Q: You mentioned if you could be any athlete for a week, it would be former teammate Skyler Roxbury. Why him?
A: I look up to Skyler. He helped me during the football season. He helped me the whole way through it. And then in track, we was my teammate on the 4×1. I look up to him because he leads the team. He’s always there for anyone if they need him. He’s just a great leader and a great person to look up to.
Q: I’m sure you look up to your parents, too. Your mom also coaches you in track and your dad (Ray) is an assistant coach for the football team. What kind of influence have they had on you in sports?
A: They influence me a lot. They always want me to strive to be the best and just work as hard as I can in everything I do. I know they’re always there to support me.
Q: What’s your pre-game routine?
A: I like to listen to music before I compete and just think about having fun. But once it’s time to go, I like to be alone and have my own thoughts and just think about winning.
Q: Was your older sister, Emma, a big mentor of yours in addition to teaching you how to compete?
A: I could always remember going to the state track meet with her to watch her run the hurdles and she’s taught me you’re not going to win every time, but to focus on bettering yourself and not worrying about others.
Q: What are your goals in sports?
A: To make a name for myself and be known.
Q: Favorite movie and why?
A: Hustle. I like it because it has a good story and you can’t go wrong with Adam Sandler.
Q: That’s one of his more serious roles. How about comedic Adam Sadler? What’s your favorite Sandler movie other than Hustle?
A: That’s a good question. I’d probably have to say Happy Gilmore. I love all Adam Sandler movies. They are all just so good.
Redbank Valley, Keystone, and Union/A-C Valley sports coverage on Explore and D9Sports.com is brought to you by Heeter Lumber.
