Lockport’s football season is finally here and so is the culture and leadership. Mr. Daniel Starkey, varsity football coach, says ,“The team wants to go to the IHSA Class 8A playoffs and go further than last year.”

LTHS football players Mike Palumbo and Alek Trafton commented on the culture and the team. The overall culture of Lockport is everyone fighting and competing and giving their 100%.  

Alek said, “We are a very athletic team that can stretch the field both horizontally and vertically, which is what we want to do.”

When asked about the weakness of the team Alek says, “A lack of experience on offense: a lot of juniors and sophomores are key members of the offense, and it’ll take a bit longer for them to figure everything out, but the talent is there.”

Alek thinks that the team is very fast and can outrun anybody. Mike said that Coach Starkey has changed the culture very much: “Starkey gets us into the mindset that we’re tough, physical players who play smash mouth football. He stresses going out and defending the man in front of you. We all embrace this culture.”

When asked to comment about the future of LTHS’ football team, Coach Starkey says, “Our coaches and players spend a lot of time recruiting and working with youth players and coaches with the Homer Stallions and Lockport Jr. Porters. We have a very talented and hard working freshman and sophomore team. Both of our freshman teams are currently undefeated and playing really well together.”

The players and coaches have bought into the culture that Coach Starkey has brought to the teams, and the the future is bright because of this culture.