21
Q&A
DHS facilities a key asset
MASON LUCCA By STEVE NITZ snitz@shawmedia.com
G
enoa-Kingston senior Mason Lucca is about to finish up a long and successful career at G-K. Lucca was a Daily Chronicle All-Area boys golf selection in the fall and was an All-Area pick as a guard for the Cogs’ basketball team in the winter. Lucca is concluding his athletic career at G-K this spring with the Cogs’ baseball team. One of four brothers who attends or has attended G-K, Lucca talked with the Daily Chronicle about his experiences. The following is an edited transcript. DC: What was the first sport you really got into? LUCCA: Baseball’s always been pretty big in my life. That was the first sport (I played). Basketball kind of progressed, and then golf. DC: Do you remember how you got into each sport you now play at G-K? LUCCA: I’d say my older brothers (Bret and Adam) kind of paved the way for me. If it wasn’t for having two older brothers, I don’t think I’d be as interested in sports as I am now. DC: In basketball, you’ve gotten to play on the same team as your older brother Bret and younger brother Tommy. What’s that experience been like, being able to play on the same team as your older brother and younger brother? LUCCA: I would say it’s a best-case situation, I think. Bret, he showed me the ropes, me playing up with him. Kind of showed me how to be a leader and take kids under your wing, and kind of show the other kids the ropes. And then I kind of got to use that more when my little brother (G-K freshman Tommy) played up with me, and I kind of got to show him the ropes as I took him under my wing.
Mason Lucca
DC: What’s the competition at home been like for you guys, just playing around the house? LUCCA: It’s pretty cutthroat. We’re all really competitive. We get into it sometimes, but that’s kind of what brothers do, I guess. It’s all in good fun though. DC: What’s your favorite memory as a G-K athlete? LUCCA: I’d have to say my sophomore year, playing up with my older brother. Us advancing to the state Sweet 16 for basketball. DC: What are the challenges of being a three-sport athlete? LUCCA: It’s a lot to balance. You never have any downtime really. It’s from one sport on to the next, practices every day. It’s kind of tough because I’m also involved in student council and stuff like that. I’m in other clubs and also sports. It’s tough to manage with grades and stuff. I think it’s taught me a lot on how to manage my time. DC: Is there any advice you’d give to other three-sport athletes? LUCCA: I’m coming down to my last few weeks of baseball season, it’s starting to really hit me. Just cherish every game, not get too down on yourself. It goes on and you can always rebound back, especially if you play multiple sports. I’ve had some losing seasons at Genoa. It’s tough to handle at first, but it can really get you motivated for the next season and the next sport.
By ROSS JACOBSON rjacobson@shawmedia.com
D
uring Matt Weckler’s first years coaching football at Belvidere, he was content with the facilities the school
had. The grass fields never kept Weckler’s teams from having success as the Bucs went 31-29 and made the playoffs in four of six seasons during his tenure, but he saw other schools with more opportunities as the years went on. When the DeKalb head coaching job opened up late in 2012, the Barbs’ brandnew football stadium, weight room and turf field were part of an easy sell to Weckler, who was hired in February. Weckler envisions small advantages for the Barbs, including better practices as the season progresses and the ability to switch practices between grass and turf depending on the opponent. “Later in the year that you actually play, the harder the ground usually gets because of the frost,” Weckler said. “The more you’re on the grass and on the practice field, the grass wears off. It becomes dirt and almost a cement-like surface. The turf … it’s constant, it’s the same.” The 2-year-old athletic facilities at the new DeKalb High School have been well-re-
ceived by local athletes and coaches and the advantages have already been felt by teams besides football. “With the weather this year, baseball and softball weren’t always able to practice on their fields, but they were able to practice on the turf,” DeKalb athletic director Bryon Houy said. “Without that … you’d have all the teams inside.” The new facilities are part of the reason DeKalb has been able to host 38 additional events or tournaments this year outside of those annually put on by its sports teams. Houy has had requests from other high school teams and local club teams to use the gym or outdoor fields. The Illinois Chaos, a minor league football team, is making the high school its new site for home games this summer and Houy said there have been talks about getting the school involved when the state football finals come to town in November. Local athletes gain competitive advantages from daily use, and the district draws additional revenue from many of these events, but Houy sees a bigger positive as well. “It exposes our school and the community to the outside people,” Houy said. “They come here and see that we can put on a good tournament and they want to come back. I think that represents DeKalb well.”
Locally Owned, Locally Operated (815) 756-1691
(815) 895-5345
century21elsner.com
LEADERS | Daily Chronicle / Daily-Chronicle.com • Saturday, May 25, 2013
COMPETITORS