Challenges are nothing new for Wauconda senior Lucas Swanson.
After all, Swanson has started at a different position for the Bulldogs in each of his three varsity seasons.
“He’s one of those kids who you can expect to do all the right things,” Wauconda coach Shawn Rudolph said.
So Swanson was ready when teammates elected him to be one of three captains this season.
“We can always tell if someone is down, and we make sure to try to pick them up,” Swanson said. “Sometimes it can be as easy as saying something funny to them to get them to laugh. Everyone’s heads have to be up because it’s everyone’s collective mindset that matters most.”
Swanson knows what he’s doing in that role in part because he was paying attention during the past two seasons, watching previous leaders, including his older brother, Blake, a Benedictine University Mesa freshman who was in the same shoes at Wauconda a year ago.
“I definitely picked up stuff from him last year,” Swanson said. “We would talk about these things all the time, and it’s been useful in my role this year.”
Swanson recalls one particular exchange during a conference game last season, when he was the Bulldogs’ second baseman and his brother was the shortstop. Swanson made an error that allowed a batter to reach base with two outs. He was noticeably aggravated about the play, and what ensued was a textbook example of Leadership 101.
“He said, ‘Don’t worry, we just need one more out, and the next hit will find you,” Swanson recalled his brother saying. “The next batter hit a grounder to me, I made the play and the inning was over.”
Swanson, who was Wauconda’s primary catcher in 2024, has also succeeded his brother as the starting shortstop, and he has moved from the bottom third of the order to the top two spots, where he rotates with junior outfielder Luke Sickmeir.
The 5-foot-9, 175-pound Swanson, a key cog in a lineup that is averaging more than eight runs per game, was batting .326 with a 1.039, two home runs, a triple, four doubles, 12 RBIs and 14 runs scored after the Bulldogs (7-6, 2-4) lost a Northern Lake County Conference game to Grayslake North on Tuesday. He hit a third homer, a game-tying three-run shot against Antioch, in a game that was suspended and still needs to be completed.
“He’s done everything we’ve asked of him and is now getting rewarded for it,” Rudolph said.
Of course, Swanson envisioned producing at a high level at the top of the order and didn’t shy away from that.
“I feel like it’s better up there and enjoy knowing that we have to get things started,” he said. “In the offseason, I really worked on the outside pitch. Last year, I would try to pull the ball too much, and I’d roll it over on the ground. Now I think of hitting it over the shortstop’s head every time, and there are more line drives.”
Swanson’s hitting has impressed Rudolph.
“He’s got tremendous bat skills,” Rudolph said. “He’s strong and has some good pop.”
Swanson has also proved to be well equipped to succeed at short.
“It’s definitely different because a lot more balls are coming that way, but I love baseball and love putting in the work and seeing the results on the field,” he said. “My range surprised me. I feel like I can get to anything.
“There was a play early in the season in the hole between short and third, and I slid backhand and I still had a lot of time. That told me I could handle it.”
Teammates have watched him handle it all with aplomb.
“He got to learn from his older brother and be able to help shape our culture,” Wauconda senior third baseman Jackson Rudolph said. “Him moving from second base to shortstop, it’s a huge game-changer, and his confidence has gone up a huge amount.
“It’s been awesome to see him grow, not only as a teammate but as a best friend.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.
