Arduous work, enjoyable led Kiski Area’s Crystal Heder Kosecki to corridor of fame

By:

Mark Nitowski


Friday, April 17, 2026 | 6:51 PM

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As a part of a soccer household, Crystal Heder Kosecki was launched to the game at an early age.

“I just wanted to have fun with my friends, especially when I was little,” the 40-year-old Kosecki mentioned. “I was a hard worker, and I wanted to score goals.”

Kosecki carried the identical primary method by way of highschool and school soccer. It resulted in her being inducted into the athletic corridor of fame at Kiski Area and IUP.

Three definitely can be a allure when Kosecki is honored once more. On May 16, she’ll be welcomed into the Alle-Kiski Valley Sports Hall of Fame throughout the fifty fifth induction banquet at Pittsburgh Shriners Center, Harmar.

“The only person I know who is in the (A-K) Hall is (former Kiski boys soccer star) Stefan Lundberg,” Kosecki mentioned. “I was thinking there’s no way I would ever get in, and now I am. I was completely shocked.”

Kosecki’s affinity for soccer ought to come as no shock. Her father, Adel Heder, was a profitable coach on the youth, cup, highschool and school ranges. He is a member of the PA West Soccer Youth Hall of Fame and retired because the winningest coach in IUP soccer historical past.

“My dad is the reason I became involved in soccer,” Kosecki mentioned. “He brought us into KASL (youth soccer). I started when I was 4. It’s been a part of my life.”

At Kiski Area, Kosecki battled by way of some accidents to develop into a four-time all-section honoree with the Cavaliers.

As a freshman, she set the ladies faculty file with 25 targets, then broke her personal mark with 29 targets throughout her junior season.

One of her most memorable highschool video games got here in opposition to rival Gateway. The Cavaliers rallied from a 3-0 deficit to tie the rating 3-3.

“I had a penalty kick and missed. I was so crushed,” she mentioned. “As the game went on, I luckily was able to redeem myself, scoring a goal in a 4-3 win.”

In 2001, Kosecki was named the Valley News Dispatch Player of the Year and have become the primary Kiski Area ladies soccer participant to obtain All-WPIAL honors.

After graduating from Kiski Area in 2003, Kosecki headed to IUP to play for her father.

“How many people have their dad as a college coach? It was a dream come true,” mentioned Kosecki, whose youthful sister, Viann, additionally performed at IUP. “My sister and I were very fortunate. He coached our cup teams too.”

In school, Kosecki performed a key function on a few of the most profitable groups in IUP historical past. With Kosecki in uniform, IUP posted a 60-21-1 file, one of the best four-year stretch ever for this system.

The 2004 squad set faculty information for victories (19) and profitable proportion (.821) and have become solely the second IUP crew to win a PSAC title and the primary chosen to play within the NCAA Division II event.

“Four or five players from our cup team went to IUP,” Kosecki mentioned. “We knew how to play with each other. We meshed well.”

As a ahead, Kosecki was a four-time all-conference choice. She is certainly one of solely 4 gamers in program historical past to attain greater than 100 profession factors. She ranks fourth all-time in targets (42), third in assists (28) and fourth in factors (112).

“I was successful because I was surrounded by people who knew how to play the game,” she mentioned. “I wouldn’t have been able to do anything without my teammates and coaching.”

After her enjoying days, Kosecki simply transitioned into the teaching ranks.

“I helped at IUP for a year while I was studying for my master’s degree,” she mentioned. “I coached high school (at Kittanning and Burrell) and also coached cup.”

Kosecki stepped away from instructing and highschool teaching jobs to develop into a stay-at-home mother. She stays linked to the game by teaching Kiski youth soccer.

“I love coaching the little kids,” the Washington Township resident mentioned. “It comes natural to me, and it’s very rewarding. I was meant to coach.”

With her husband, Joshua, the Koseckis have 5 kids, ranging in age from 3 to 9.

She expects to have the entire crew, amongst different household and associates, in attendance on the A-Okay Hall ceremony.

“They were good sports at the Kiski and IUP banquets. Hopefully, we’ll go three-for-three,” she mentioned with amusing.

Tickets for the banquet are $40 and may be bought by visiting akhof.com.

Tags: Kiski Area