Lucas Poloff

Although Lucas Poloff left the playing field at the last Saltsburg Trojans varsity football game with a broken fibula, he considered the season an overall success. With 127 total tackles and 5.4 yards per carry, his record speaks volumes about his incredible athletic abilities. "We had a good season this year, the program is defiantly turning around."

To help keep him in tiptop shape for the football season, as he holds the position of Line backer and Full back, Lucas lifts weights five days a week during the summer with his two friends and fellow football players, Mike Dunlap and Bryan Smith. Lucas also used to be on the wrestling team, but putting on weight for football and then trying to lose it for wrestling became a conflict for him. In the past, he has also been on the track team and is considering a position on the team this year. In part, that will depend on how well his leg has healed. He just now is able to begin lifting weights again although he is still restricted from lifting with his legs.

With graduation on the horizon, Lucas is concentrating on his senior project, which is entitled "Dimensions." Students at the Saltsburg School District begin working on this extensive project in ninth grade. During the course of each year they turn in seven of their best picks of research, technology, or other topics. This will be put into a portfolio for presentation on graduation day.

According to the Saltsburg Middle/High School website, http://www.bssd.k12.pa.us/smhs/, the graduation project's purpose is to provide evidence of the student's ability to apply, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information. The portfolio contains a section of six different areas or dimensions of high school experience; teamwork, communication skills, research skills, career exploration, use of technology, and analytical thinking. The contents will be reviewed by the advisors using checklists and entry slips and will include informal presentation by the student.

Lucas plans to take his love of sports right into college. Although he is yet to decide on the college he will attended, his career goals are set. Lucas plans on majoring in Sports Medicine. He is currently scouting colleges to see what school will offer the best education as well as afford him an opportunity to play college football. Once out of school, Lucas would like to become a physical therapist and one day own a gym of his own.