WARRICK CO., IN (WFIE) -
The Castle High community has lost one of its most enthusiastic supporters, Krista Hurt, who died on Tuesday after battling brain cancer for nine years.
She's the wife of the Castle football coach Doug Hurt, and the team says Krista was their 'biggest cheerleader.'
For most of the Castle High School football players, this is one of the first tragedies they are going through as young adults, and it's clear, Krista hurt left an impression on all of them.
A familiar image is 35-year-old Krista Hurt smiling from the stands. Students say Krista never missed a football game, even on her worst days.
"She's your biggest cheerleader. She's the first one to yell, to cheer for us. She was our biggest fan and we loved her for that," said Grant and Mitch Carter, who are senior football players.
"In the stands probably cheering the loudest or ringing one of those cow bells the loudest and just very passionately affecting and influencing their lives," said Leah Roop, the Castle High Athletic Director.
Just days before she passed away, Krista attended Castle's game against Reitz.
"If we play with even the slightest bit of heart that she had, we will be so successful," the Carters said.
Krista supported her husband Coach Doug Hurt and every member of the football team.
"At the end of the game, she's the first one out there to slap one of their hands. She's out there high-fiving every single boy that runs off into the locker room. Just had an incredible presence for the young men," Roop said.
This year, the football team kicked off the season wearing Krista's initials on their helmets. The team and school stood behind Krista as she battled cancer, having shirts made in her honor.
"What an example of a wife and a mother to these young men to find that in a woman someday, that would love like that," Roop said.
Senior players say Coach Hurt has set the biggest example of courage, staying strong for his two young children while his wife battled a terminal disease.
"It's alright to be scared, and it's just a matter of who has the will and the bravery to do something. I kind of got really teary and emotional about it because he was talking about himself, and he was just trying to lift everyone up saying no matter what the situation is that he can fight through and have courage throughout the rest of the season. I think we can really apply that to our season this year," said senior football player, Rayce Thornbury.
Krista's funeral is planned for Saturday.
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