When it comes to sports here at Santa Rosa there are not many stories like that of Luke Hamilton. Growing up Luke Hamilton played Baseball as his primary sport. Growing up Luke always knew he loved baseball, having an innate passion for it which has since carried on for over a decade through travel, little league, highschool and hopefully college. Luke played baseball as his primary sport since he was a young kid until 8th grade when he joined the Santa Rosa Academy Football program. Since eighth grade Luke has been a multi-sport athlete as a Varsity Football and a Baseball player. Luke is currently a team captain on his baseball team, as well as serving as a weekly team captain on his football team. Since Luke has become a high-school baseball player, he has had a batting average of .371 in 55 games played throughout his high-school career. While as a football player Luke has had 3.5 sacks, and 20 solo tackles as a starter for his Sophomore and Junior year. Luke has been a multi-sport athlete with a 3.2 GPA, both an athlete and scholar.
Although the focus of today’s article is not so much Luke but the friendship he has cultivated with his former teammate, Anthony Sullivan, a former wrestler, football player, and current Track team captain. Anthony wrestled as a freshman on his varsity wrestling team, throughout his three years as a football player had 44 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, 12 hurries, and 7 solo tackles. Anthony has since committed himself fully to his track team, as he is the boy’s team captain. Anthony is the best player on the Santa Rosa track team when it comes to discus. He is a representative of his track team, not only at meets and events but on the daily as a student, averaging a 3.5 GPA and also having a bright future in engineering.
Both gentlemen want to go to college for their respective primary sports, Anthony wants to get a D2-D3 scholarship his senior year hoping to make waves in the track scene training everyday for his goal, dedicated and focused. While Luke is the same in that aspect, hoping to attend Grand Canyon University as his school of choice on a baseball scholarship. Although Luke communicated how he is open to change saying “GCU is a dream but wherever I go, or even no scholarship I have a dream and I know how to execute no matter what life throws at me i’m ready” Anthony are Luke both know what they want from life and for their future and how to get it Anthony was quoted as saying “I’m excited for the future, I know where I come from and who I am I just wish I could thank those who made an impact big or small” These athletes are so humble and focused in their specific fields and different goals for their future, but how do their stories intertwine?
Anthony and Luke met each other in seventh grade as their bond grew throughout the years, they met each-other through a mutual friend, the author of this article, Che’ Marroquin. Eventually starting out as acquaintances but their bond grew through having a mutual friend knowing each-other in passing. Until they found themselves on the same football team freshman year “until we found ourselves on the same team and eventually on the same field, through grinding out many football games in which we kinda have had to work together very closely and hold each other accountable, our bond has grown through the trust gained through these hard but fun times there’s we’re like brothers” a quote given by Luke Hamilton himself.
As these two friends head into their senior year, they go together knowing they have each other’s backs no matter what is thrown at them. That is something that not many can say, highschool and life in general people come in and out of your life so often. Their friendship formed by mutual connections, sports, and respect gained through battle. This respect blossomed into a relationship that proves success is not just about stats or accolades but the relationships and connections you make on your journey as an athlete and life. Now with highschool soon to be in the rearview mirror, paths separate people change but the memories made and the friendship, the love between these two guys certainly will not.
