Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the cancellation of the spring season, the Upper Iowa Athletics Department is spending the next few months spotlighting many of our Peacock student-athletes whose spring seasons came to a premature end. 

In today's virtual interview, Pete the Peacock gets to know UIU track star and football player Kaden Ludwig. Kaden is a freshman from Waterloo, Iowa who came to Fayette last year from Columbus Catholic High School. He is majoring in business administration.

PETE: How would you describe yourself in three words?    
KADEN: Hardworking, ambitious, and positive.

PETE: What made you want to be a collegiate student-athlete?    
KADEN: My brother (he ran at Wartburg) and my love for sports.

PETE: What have you learned about what it takes to be a student-athlete?    
KADEN: I have learned that it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to be a student-athlete.

PETE: What advice would you give to your 14-year old self?    
KADEN: To hit the weight room harder!

PETE: What is something most people don't know about you?    
KADEN: I am legally blind.

PETE: What is your favorite thing about your hometown?    
KADEN: It feels like it's right in between rural and urban. There is a lot of stuff like restaurants, but it's close enough to nature.

PETE: What is your favorite thing about Fayette?
KADEN: It keeps me focused.

PETE: How do you want to be remembered?    
KADEN: As the guy that outworked everyone.

PETE: What's the best thing that has happened to you in the last week?
KADEN: I got a new tattoo for a family member that passed away a couple of years ago.

PETE: What are the top three things on your bucket list?
KADEN: I want to run a sub-21-second 200m dash, build my own business, and skydive.

PETE: What is your dream job if money wasn't a factor? Why?    
KADEN: My dream job would be coaching. I love sports and I would do anything to stay connected with them.

PETE: Who are three people (dead or alive) you'd love to have dinner with? Why?    
KADEN: Usain Bolt, Randy Moss, and Adrian Peterson. Those guys inspired me to play sports and I always wanted to work as hard as I could to be like them.

PETE: What fictional character (movie, TV show, book, cartoon, etc.) would you want to be for a day? Why?    
KADEN: The flash, being able to go that fast whenever I want would be pretty crazy.

PETE: Do you have any collections? If so, what?    
KADEN: Hats, I started to get a hat on every vacation I go on to remember where I have been.

PETE: Do you believe in aliens or ghosts? If yes, why?    
KADEN: Yes, because the universe is too big for there not to be more than just us.

PETE: What is your dream vacation spot? Why? What would you want to do there?    
KADEN: Jamaica, I love going into forests and hiking. I would hike, explore nature and zip line in the forest.

PETE: If you were president for a day, what would you change?    
KADEN: I would have everyone go outside to play games and sports with each other.

PETE: What is your favorite restaurant in the world? What do you order?    
KADEN: Joe's Crab Shack. I would get the Triton's Trio (Sirloin Steak, BBQ snow crab, shrimp scampi, garlic bread, french fries, coleslaw, and hushpuppies).

PETE: What does your dream life after retirement look like?    
KADEN: Being in good enough shape to still be able to play sports with my grandkids.

PETE: What is your favorite non-sport hobby?    
KADEN: I like to go fishing and kayaking.

PETE: What are three things you cannot live without? Why?    
KADEN: My phone, sports, and Netflix. I use my phone nonstop. When I'm not on my phone, I'm probably doing one of the other two things.

PETE: Where or who do you get your inspiration from?    
KADEN: My dad. He is the hardest working person that I know.

PETE: What is one cause that you hold dear to your heart? Why?    
KADEN: Either the Pony Express Riders of Iowa or the Knights of Columbus. Those are two charity organizations that I have participated in since before I can remember.

PETE: Do you play any musical instruments?    
KADEN: I used to play the piano but I haven't in a long time.

PETE: What category would you own in a trivia competition?    
KADEN: My best category would probably be college basketball.

PETE: What is your most memorable sports moment?    
KADEN: My senior night for football in high school. I had a game-saving tackle on the goal line as time expired.

Special thanks to Kaden Ludwig for taking the time to chat with Pete! To view previous virtual interviews, please click here.