River Falls native and current football player for the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Alex Klecker was given high preseason praise, making Lindy’s Sports 2023 Preseason All-DIII First Team.

Klecker was part of the River Falls offensive line that led the team to a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference-best 477.9 yards per game and 39.9 points per game. He was one of the core pieces that lifted the team to a 7-4 record on the season.

Klecker has been a part of UWRF football since 2019 and joined teammate Michael Brown as the two Falcons to make the team.

While appreciative of the honor, Klecker has eyes set on earning the achievement based on in-season play.

“It’s a good honor, but at the same time it’s just a preseason ranking,” Klecker said. “I just kind of want the real deal, I want to be an actual All-American at the end of the season.”

The media are not the only people who have sung their praises for Klecker, as both college and high school coaches have spoken highly of him. Because Klecker has become such a staple at the tackle position for UWRF, the team has a saying for his consistency.

“Death, taxes and Alex Klecker kicking ass at left tackle for us,” UWRF football head coach Matt Walker said. “It’s going to be wild thinking about life without him out there.”

Current RFHS football head coach Ryan Scherz knows what players staying in River Falls for college can mean, citing both the continuous community support and the UWRF coaching staff as reasons to stick around.

Walker said he understands why players do not want to stick around sometimes, but the ones who do often do not regret it.

“That’s not always the cool thing to do, to play for the hometown college, but those guys that do find out in a hurry that there’s something really special about it,” he said.

Scherz spoke highly of Klecker, saying he was one of the people who helped change the high school’s team culture.

Making the change from RFHS to UWRF, Klecker said spending eight years of a football career on one field in one community has been special.

“It’s really cool that I’ve gotten to stay home and keep playing in front of my hometown for basically the last eight years,” Klecker said. “Eight years I’ve played on Ramer Field, so a big honor to be able to do that.”

Klecker is now listed at six-foot-seven, 270 pounds, but Scherz said his technique is what has gotten him where he is.

“He was kind of a late bloomer, he didn’t start till his senior year, but you could tell he was going to be really good,” Scherz said.

Walker characterized Klecker as a “lead by example” player, and one of the best of that leadership style he has coached.

For Klecker, goals of winning the conference, making the playoffs and becoming a First Team All-American at the end of the season are the top priorities.