“Honestly I don’t like to keep track of my stats,” said Quinn Krook of his record as goalkeeper as part of Mascenic Regional High School’s varsity soccer team on a recent afternoon in his school library.

Krook is a senior who recently capped his fourth season in goal for the Vikings. At a September game against regional rival Conant, assistant coach Kevin Thompson shared that Krook was near the top of a list for most saves by a high school goalie in the state. 

Barring the door in net is one reason Krook’s Vikings took a 13-1-3 record into the D-IV postseason this past fall. 

“I feel like other seasons I haven’t worked this hard. This year, I had to dig a little deeper,” he said, but he was quick to note how the team’s chemistry helped. “We had a big group of seniors this year, and I could see their drive from the net. They played until they were exhausted. There seemed to be more passion at work this year.”

An overtime win against Hinsdale in early November punched their playoff ticket again, but a few days later they fell to Gorham. That said, the greetings that teammates offered him as they passed a conversation he was having in the library spoke to his bond with the squad. 

“Most of us have been playing together for five or six years,” Krook said.

How did he end up in goal? Krook said that he didn’t have good foot skills, so an early coach put him in goal. He credits Rich Hurdle, a coach from those days, with nudging him toward the position and building his confidence there. 

“I found out I could punt the ball, and didn’t mind shots being fired on me,” he said with a shrug.

Krook started paying with the New Ipswich Recreation Department, then at Boynton Middle School, and also with Chaos Soccer, a network of clubs that focuses on player development. In both of these organizations, Krook’s netminding led the squads to state championships.

By high school, he was studying game films and telling teammates what he’d noticed about opponents.

“I’d notice another goalie’s weak spots and say ‘Shoot lower left, or lower right,’ ” he said.

A three-season athlete, Krook has hung up his cleats in favor of sneakers for basketball season. Come spring, he’ll be on the baseball diamond, where his ability to judge where a ball is headed has landed him in right field in the past. Ideally soccer, however, will be a big part of life after high school. 

Krook has been talking with BTF, a soccer development organization in Germany. The connection came about after a tournament in Florida last year.

“We held our own down there against some clubs that play year-round,” Krook said, and there were scouts from the German organization there. He’s mulling over the idea of playing for BTF in Germany after high school. 

“I’m still thinking about it. It offers a slim chance to go pro,” he said, emphasizing that he understands such odds. “It would be a cool experience either way. It might lead to offers from other clubs.”

So how did he reach this level of his sport with the other demands of school? 

“Seniors, when I was younger, would tell us to stay on top of our classes,” he said.

Krook added that playing on a team forces athletes to take other aspects of school seriously.

“We’re held to a higher standard,” he said. “We have to be passing all our classes, and can’t be late for them. It keeps me motivated.” 

More than his prowess in goal and the team’s strong season, Krook is proud of a Silver Key Scholastic Art Award that he earned through his digital photography work at ConVal. The prizes are awarded to students whose work is judged to be in the top 15% of their region.

Krook is quick to cite others who’ve contributed to his success in soccer, specifically Mascenic coaches Joe Hileman and Kevin Thompson. Mascenic alumni have been part of this mix, for he said alumni games have been important and great fun, and this year’s seniors have made it a great ride.

He’s also grateful to his family.

“They’ve let me take up a lot of family time with sports over the years. I’m also thankful to God for what I’ve been able to do,” he said.

Asked what advice he’d offer to young players, Krook thought for a minute.

“Find a mentor. Reach out to others on the team when you need to,” he said.