HOWARD — Heroes come in all shapes, sizes, and ages. Anyone who could unite school districts from different counties for a common cause could certainly be called a hero.
That description fits Aidan Riggle, who passed away on Thursday.
Riggle was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma and treated at Columbus Children’s Hospital and The James at the Ohio State University. Before his illness was discovered, he was selected by his teammates to be a captain of the East Knox squad.
In an earlier interview, Aidan’s father, Jim, spoke about events leading up to the diagnosis:
“At the beginning of this year (2025), during conditioning, he showed up for all of the practices, even though he was in pain and could not do all of the lifting.” Jim Riggle said. “At this point, he did not know he had cancer; he just knew that he was in pain.”
It was impossible to attend a football game in Knox or the surrounding counties without seeing signs reading “Aidan Strong” and seeing his East Knox football jersey number 51.
Former East Knox football coach Andy Beatty battled his emotions while talking about his team captain.
“We didn’t know how sick Aidan was last year when he came to practice,” Beatty said.
The pain Riggle felt had yet to be diagnosed, and as a player, he was more concerned about the team than himself.
“It was probably the middle of the summer, he called me, and he was really upset. He felt like he was letting the team down, the program down by not being able to do the things he thought he needed to do,” Beatty remembered.
Another memory which is indelibly etched in the coach’s mind came at practice.
“We became aware that there was something going on, but he kept coming to practice and in fact, I think we were at camp in late July, and he was there helping with drills and helping coach some of the younger kids when his parents had gotten word from the doctors,” Beatty said.
Understanding that a private moment for the family might be needed, Beatty kept his distance.
“They (the parents) came to practice to get him and tell him that it was cancer. It shattered him, it was absolutely devastating news,” the coach said.
While the news wasn’t a total surprise, it was still impossible to prepare for.
“It was kind of on our radar so to speak,” Beatty said. “Then they showed up and told him. I wasn’t there for the initial part, but I could see them because they were just off the practice field, so I could see something pretty heavy was going on.”
It was then that Beatty transitioned from strictly a football coach to his full-time job as a pastor.
“I just went over there, and kind of made myself available, and they informed me what was going on,” he said. “We talked. I prayed with them, and we cried.
“Being a part of a small community, we go to church together, we go to football practices together. We cry and pray together; that is just what we do.”
As a pastor, the coach spoke a bit about Aidan’s faith.
“That’s what takes a little bit of the sting out of this. He was in a lot of pain the last couple of months and he became aware of what the end result was going to be. He took his last breath here and woke up in the full presence of the Lord,” Beatty said.
Even with such life-altering news, Beatty said that Aidan’s personality and life philosophy took over.
“His servant leadership. Weeks after he had been told this, he started treatments and surgeries, and he showed up at our scrimmage and was on the sidelines, filling water bottles and taking them to the kids who were playing,” the former coach said.
Beatty said that he made one correction to the way his team captain was thinking. “I said, ‘Aidan it’s OK, you can just relax,’ and he said, ‘This is the least I can do, I am letting them down.’
“I said, ‘No you are not, you are inspiring them far more than you’ll ever realize by just being you.”
Beatty said that the school is planning to have assistance for students.
‘I think so. I know today we had some chaplains out there and different resources from the sheriff’s office. I think they are planning to have that type of thing continuously available.”
The coach said it might be some time before the full impact of the loss is felt by the student body.
“Once they realize he’s not at graduation, grief is not linear. Sometimes it hits, and sometimes it moves more slowly, it just kind of creeps in,” Beatty said.
Gage Steinmetz took the helm of the football program two months ago, but he is very familiar with Aidan and his family.
“I coached Aidan in junior high basketball,” Steinmetz said.
The new coach echoed the feelings of others when it came to Aidan Riggle.
“He was one of the most special players I have ever gotten to coach. His selflessness, his attitude, his effort really separated him from the typical high school football player. He was just amazing to be around,” Steinmetz said.
“He was amazing, he brought out the best in others and made people excited to play football. He was a great teammate.”
The new mentor treasures the time he had with the special young man, and that his legacy will live on.
“I hope (his teammates) see how he handled himself, how he carried himself, and the attitude and energy he brought to everything that he did and that they will implement that into their own lives,” Steinmetz said.
East Knox Athletic Director Bailey Sprague echoed the feelings of the youngster’s coaches.
“Aidan’s toughness and perseverance will never be forgotten,” Sprague said. “As a community, we honor his legacy by the way we carry ourselves every day.
“As a school system, one of our goals is to leave a positive impact on our students. Aidan left a positive impact on our school system. He was truly an incredible young man.”
Danville head football coach Matt Blum joined in the tributes of the athletic community.
“As a coach, we’re all about guiding young people toward becoming better adults. We build connections with these kids, sometimes making them feel like family,” Blum said. “Even though I didn’t know Aidan personally, he was a fierce competitor on the field and always gave it his all. He carried that same determination into his battle with cancer.
“My heart goes out to his family and the EK community, and we’re sending our deepest prayers their way during this difficult time.”
One of the many fundraisers in support of Aidan and his family took place at Apple Valley. Jeff Harmer, general manager, had more than a passing recognition of the young man.
“It is so sad to see such a vibrant young man lose his life to such an awful disease,” Harmer said when he learned of Aidan’s passing. “This is a very sad time for anyone who had contact with him.”
Harmer spoke about the support for the Riggle family demonstrated, especially during football season.
“These were, for the most part, student driven. They were not top down, where the school superintendent planned it,” Harmer noted. “Any efforts such as this by the youth in the community are refreshing.”
On a more personal note, Harmer said he was impressed with the faith and courage displayed by the young football player.
“It is humbling to think that I could be even close to the man that Aidan was. Even in the face of such a devastating diagnosis, he gave hope to those around him,” Harmer said. “I truly believe he is in a much better place and his suffering is over.”