Athlete of the Week: 10 questions with Lucas Gordon, Highland Park football

Lucas Gordon is a senior wide receiver and safety for the Giants. He posted more than 1,000 yards receiving for the second straight seasons and scored 15 touchdowns as a senior. Gordon will compete at Washington University starting next year.

1. Do you have any pregame rituals or superstitions?

Obviously I like to roll out and massage my body, but nothing too specific. My pregame meal is usually a PB&J and a banana. I wouldn’t say I’m superstitious. Pregame is just take care of the body, listen to music, eat some food.

2. Why Washington University?

I definitely wanted to go to a place that could give me a good education. It’s a great school so that was probably the main attraction. I really liked the coaches. I went on a visit over the summer and really liked the campus, school, the vibe. They obviously had interest in me, so it was like the perfect situation, and it’s also not too far away (St. Louis).

3. What would be your dream job?

I’ve always wanted to be a pilot. I think that would be cool, like an international airline pilot, and fly around the world. Or fly a private jet.

4. If you were to try another sport, what would it be?

I’ve always liked golf. So I guess that would be my answer. I played basketball for a little, but I think golf. It’s really calming for me.

5. Do you have a favorite athlete?

Kyrie Irving (G-Dallas Mavericks). He just lets the game come to him and is smooth about everything he does. I’ve always really liked Kyrie Irving. He’s very detail oriented, technical in his skill and I think that’s pretty cool.

6. What’s your top sports moment so far?

I’d say our first offensive play against Niles West. We scored a 65-yard touchdown. It was a play we game planned for. We were like, ‘We’re going to start the game and do this.’ And then it happened. It was a deep ball to me. Gustav (Crane) made an unbelievable throw. It was electric. It was very cool, because we game planned to do that and we did it. And from there on out, it felt like the game was in our hands.

7. When did you know football was your thing?

I’ve been playing football since fourth grade and it’s always been my main sport. I’d say around fifth grade, sixth grade I really found a love for football and it was the sport I had been playing the most. It was always kind of my plan to try to play college football. I don’t think there was one moment. I think I grew into it.

8. If you’re in Walgreens with a couple bucks, what are you buying?

I really like Airheads Xtremes. Those are really, really good. If it’s not that, I’d do the Hershey’s Cookie and Cream bar.

9. What is something people don’t know about you?

I’ll give you two answers. In general, I really like listening to music, but not like normal music. I kinda just listen to random music I’ve never heard before, really niche stuff, and I’ll just play it. I listen to jazz sometimes or like symphony music. That’s something unique about me.

Something more deep would be that I don’t really enjoy the things that come with being a good football player. I don’t really like the pressure of it and expectations and people knowing my name. Something I’ll look forward to in college is not really being known and just being out on the football field and playing football — you’re just a nobody and trying to prove yourself. That’s something I really enjoy: trying to prove myself.

10. What’s Highland Park football been about for you?

Highland Park football has been amazing. It’s had its ups and downs. My sophomore year I missed summer because I had stress fractures in my knees; that kind of derailed my sophomore season. That was a rough time for me as a player … but I really found a love for the program. We were really good. Being around that team, I kind of learned a lot about what a team could be. And junior year, I learned that having success on field is more about culture and chemistry than I thought it was. And this year has been great. The thing about Highland Park football that I think is unique is the people. Everybody here is friends and everybody treats each other well. There’s no ego on the team. Everyone are friends and we’re just out there having fun.

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