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EDUCATION
DONN RODENROTH
Stratford’s Custis Donner can’t quite put the ball past
the Holy Spirit Prep goal keeper Luke Whelan.
Student Profile:
► Luke Whelan, Junior
► Holy Spirit Preparatory
School
When Luke Whelan was in fifth
grade, he decided to join the soccer
team, simply because all of his friends at
school played it and loved it.
“Honestly, I wasn’t any good at field
positions, so they stuck me in goal
ie,” said Luke. “I ended up being pret
ty good at it, so the coaches encouraged
me to sign up to play at NASA [North
Atlanta Soccer Association]
Now a junior, Luke was recently hon
ored with US Youth Soccer’s Save of the
Year Award for 2012 by the largest gov
erning body of elite soccer teams in the
nation, US Youth Soccer. He didn’t get
to this point without a lot of hard work.
After being placed on the “C team”
at NASA in sixth grade, Luke through
out middle school worked his way up
and eventually was able to make it to the
elite “A team.” As part of that team, he
went to the State Cup.
Meanwhile, Luke continued to play
for his school team at Holy Spirit Prep,
starting for the varsity soccer team in
eighth grade.
Currently, Luke is at the United
Football Association (UFA), where his
team is undefeated. “I’ve gotten 33
clean sheets [when the opponent doesn’t
score] out of 35 total games,” said Luke.
“It’s been incredible.”
While Luke could easily focus all of
his time on his goalkeeping skills, he rec
ognizes the importance of being a team
player.
“I try to be with my team as much
as I can to build that chemistry,” Luke
said.
Accordingly, Luke’s life is extremely
busy. Soccer is on the schedule every day
except for Friday, with practices in Su-
wanee three days a week, and games and
tournaments each weekend.
Whenever he isn’t with his team, Luke
is training one-on-one with his goal
keeping coach Dan Pietro, the coach he
first started working with at NASA sev
eral years ago. “He has not only natural
athleticism and speed but also fast men
tal processing, which is really important
in goal,” said Pietro.
Pietro has worked with many talent
ed athletes and says Luke’s drive is what
sets him apart. “Luke has a fantastic
work ethic and always shows up ready to
go,” Pietro said.
Luke credits his training with Pietro
to his winning of the Save of the Year.
“He’s really helped me work on explo
sive speed and explosive power, build
ing up the power to push across the goal
that fast,” said Luke.
Clearly, Luke’s determination has
aided in his success, evident in his mind
set about the game.
“I love competition, and that’s pret
ty much what it’s been about since sev
enth grade,” Luke said. “I’m out there to
prove myself to everyone that doesn’t be
lieve in me.”
In addition to soccer, Luke serves as
a kicker for Holy Spirit Prep’s football
team. He makes time to practice at local
football fields.
While Luke primarily considers him
self an athlete, he is still a student, and
takes that just as seriously. Although his
busy sports schedule could easily hinder
his success in the classroom, Luke still
manages to do well.
“I don’t start homework until I get
home, which is around 10 p.m., and I
average five hours of sleep per night,”
Luke said. “I think it’s going to be worth
it, though. I’ve built up a good work
ethic, and I hope to carry that off to col
lege.”
that’s Next:
Luke is visiting colleges and talking
with coaches about signing as an ath
lete. His top choices include the Naval
Academy, Furman University, the Col
lege of William and Mary, the Universi
ty of Kentucky, St. Louis University and
Belmont Abbey College.
This article was reported and written
by Reporter Newspapers intern Elizabeth
Wilkes, who is a junior at North Springs
Charter High School.
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