Archive: Sports

The Lansing Community Aquatic Swim Team (LCATS) is a relatively small club. Rides are shared, overnights happen, parents know parents, parents know kids, and the kids know parents.  My first introduction to Lucas Zelehowsky and his mom, Barb, came when my son commented on how 'cool' Mrs. Z was as he walked me over to her car where a group of teen agers were gathered.  I investigated and found Mrs. Z with an open cooler filled with bread, meats and cheeses, milk, water, Gatorade… I found that interesting and then I found out why.

Lucas and his younger brother, Adam, travel from Auburn to swim with LCATS, and have been doing so for three years...  They leave before dinner, and return home in time to do homework and go to bed, so  Mrs. Z packs a cooler for her kids (and for a while mine) and feeds them in fine fashion!

Swimmers are a unique breed, read on and learn about Lucas Zelehowsky, our senior in the spotlight. 

Lucas graduated from Auburn High school in June, and will be attending Western Kentucky University in the Fall.  Although undecided on a major, swimming will be a big part of his college experience as his short term and long term goals include swimming.  Lucas wants to go to the Olympics, not as a spectator, but as a swimmer in the finals! His swimming accomplishments and hard work may be the path to that goal.  He is a high school all-American swimmer.  He also swims for the Auburn Stingrays, his high school team.  He also is an All-American Scholastic (USA) junior national qualifier.  The later being one of his greatest swimming accomplishments to date.

I asked Lucas what it was like, joining the team at 15, knowing no one.   He said that he had some butterfly’s (his favorite stroke) the first time he walked on deck, but after a few minutes the coaches and the team members made him feel comfortable and welcome.  He knew then that swimming for LCATS was going to be a good fit.  Much of Lucas’s social life focus’s around swimming and the team.  He participates in team events both in and out of the water.  LCATS is like family.

Does Mrs. Z still bring food in the back of her mini-van?  I’m not sure as Lucas drives now, and picks up swimmers on the route from Auburn to Lansing.  My guess... there are sandwiches hidden someplace in the car, but only Lucas knows for sure. 

----
v6i28