Knight Pride: 5 Unforgettable Athletes From Auburn High School

Sports run deep in Rockford, and Auburn High School has long been at the heart of it. It’s no surprise some standout talent once wore the Knights uniform. Today we're celebrating five unforgettable athletes from Auburn High School who made a name for themselves well beyond the hometown field.

Ursula Koch – Collegiate Distance Swimming

Rockford native Ursula Koch has continued to build a strong collegiate swimming career as a distance swimmer, competing during the 2024–25 season in the GLIAC Championships in the 200, 500, 1000 and 1650 freestyle events. A transfer from UMass Amherst, Koch set a personal best in the 200 freestyle and recorded season-best times in both the 1000 and 1650 free while swimming in nearly every regular-season meet. Before college, she was a four-time all-conference swimmer at Rockford Auburn High School, a two-time state qualifier and a team captain, also competing locally with the Rockford Rays. (Sources: Northern Michigan University Athletics; University of Massachusetts Amherst)

Kenneth “Kenny” Gould – Olympic Bronze Medalist & World Champion Boxer

Kenny Gould, of Rockford, represented the United States on the world stage at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, earning a bronze medal in the welterweight division. Before his Olympic appearance, Gould captured a world title at the 1986 World Amateur Boxing Championships and added a silver medal at the 1987 Pan American Games. He turned professional later in 1988, finishing his career with a 26–2 record and a minor world title with the International Boxing Organization before retiring in 1993 due to a shoulder injury. (Sources: International Olympic Committee; BoxRec)

Vederian Lowe – NFL Offensive Tackle (Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots)

Rockford’s Vederian Lowe followed his success at Auburn High School with a record-setting collegiate career at the University of Illinois before reaching the NFL. After committing to Illinois, Lowe became a fixture on the Illini offensive line, starting a school-record 52 games and earning honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition in multiple seasons. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft before being traded to the New England Patriots in 2023, where he has appeared in regular-season action and made his first NFL start at left tackle. (Sources: NFL; Pro Football Reference)

Belen Nevenhoven – Division I Tennis Competitor

Rockford native Belen Nevenhoven has built a remarkable Division I tennis career after emerging from Auburn High School as one of Illinois’ top players. As a high school captain, she earned First Team All-Conference and First Team All-State honors while helping Auburn win conference and sectional championships. Nevenhoven went on to join the University of Arizona, where she led the Wildcats in doubles wins during multiple seasons and competed throughout the lineup. A two-time ITA Scholar-Athlete, she has paired her on-court success with academic recognition while representing Rockford at the collegiate level. (Sources: University of Arizona; NCSA)

Fred VanVleet – NBA Champion & All-Star Guard (Toronto Raptors, Houston Rockets)

Fred VanVleet rose from Auburn High School to become one of the most accomplished basketball players to come out of the city. After a standout high school career in Rockford, he played collegiately at Wichita State, where he helped lead the Shockers to a Final Four appearance and an undefeated regular season while becoming the program’s all-time assists leader. Despite going undrafted in 2016, VanVleet built a successful NBA career with the Toronto Raptors, winning an NBA championship in 2019 and earning All-Star honors in 2022. He now continues his career with the Houston Rockets, representing Rockford on the league’s biggest stage. (Sources: ESPN; Basketball Reference)

This content is brought to our community in partnership with T-Mobile.