Andrew Backenstoes

Andrew Backenstoes is a senior at Kingston High School. He has attended Kingston since pre-kindergarten. Backenstoes currently runs on the cross country and track and field teams at KHS. He was also a runner on the 2021 public state track and field championship team for Kingston.

Participating in sports isn’t the only thing Backenstoes does, he also works hard in academics. He has been the president of the student council since he began high school and is a member of the academic team.

Backenstoes was a 2020 state qualifier for cross country. However, he did not compete in the 2021 season due to injury. Backenstoes said he is confident that he and his team will have an amazing 2023 season.

“We’re pretty stacked and the other two main competing schools will not be in the 3A division this season,” he said.

The 2023 track season is of utmost importance to Backenstoes. His main goal is to contribute and bring a state championship to Kingston in his last track season.

In 2021, he placed fourth place at the regional track meet in pole vault. If he had placed third or higher, he would have qualified for the state track meet.

The next season was monumental for him as he was crowned the regional champion after placing first in pole vault. He wasn’t so lucky at the state track meet, he tied for a tenth place finish.

Backenstoes said he is more than ready to compete in the upcoming track season. His ambition is to win regionals again and win the gold medal for pole vault at the state track meet.

“After being the regional champ once, it’s just not satisfying enough and I need to go and win it all,” said Backenstoes.

Backenstoes said the Academic team and student council are two clubs he enjoys being a part of. He likes that he will get to use these clubs for his college resume when he finishes high school. He started his student council journey in middle school and he’s been with it since then. Building football floats and setting up prom are two jobs he said he is proud to be in charge of.

The academic team has always been an exciting challenge for him, he said with a smile. While they haven’t had the best success in recent memory, it’s still memorable for Backenstoes.

After he finishes his senior year, Backenstoes said he wants to go to college. He is planning to major in computer science. He said computer science brings intrigue to Backenstoes since it is diverse in the job opportunities it presents.

“I like the salaries that are seen with this major because like a baker boy I’m after the dough,” Backenstoes said.

He wants to also be a part of the student council in the college he chooses to attend. Backenstoes said he’s particularly interested in Oklahoma State University, Louisiana State University, and the University of Oklahoma.

OSU is at the top of his list because his favorite coach, Chris McGowan, graduated from there. McGowan is also the cross country and track and field coach for Kingston.

LSU would hit home for Backenstoes because of his roots.

“LSU is the dream school for me,” Backenstoes said. “I was born there and I still have family there, but the only downside is the out of state tuition which can be outrageous.”

It seems as if OU will be his choice since he has already discussed going there with three of his friends. He said he found it important to put some Kingston graduates on the map for the Sooners.

Backenstoes said he’s always been a hard worker because he had to be.

“I’ve never been naturally gifted at anything I have tried,” he said. “In sports, I never was the fastest kid, I never was the strongest kid, but I gained the skills I have now from working as hard as I can.”