The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Lake sophomore is a quick learner
The path to track and field varies for many athletes, but chances are slim anyone had an entry into it quite like Luke Frazier.
The Lake Catholic sophomore, known primarily for his prowess during the winter in basketball, was convinced to give track and field a try April 10.
Three days later, he won an invitational event title.
Surreal as it sounds, it really did happen that way.
On April 13, Frazier won high jump at the South Invitational, the lone competitor at the meet to clear 6-foot.
Generally speaking, a 6-0 high jump is not much to write home about — unless, that is, you’re only four days into your career. Making it more remarkable, track and field wasn’t on Frazier’s radar even as a fan for events such as the Olympics.
“Not really, until I started doing it,” Frazier said. “It’s really fun now that I’ve gotten into it.
“This is literally my first time. My mom was a cross country coach at West G. But it’s the first time I’ve tried it.”
Cougars coach Erik Schroeder had previously attempted to convince Frazier, the son of former longtime West Geauga and Perry boys basketball coach Chad Frazier, to come out for track and field, but to no avail. That changed April 10. Frazier, who averaged 15.8 points and was a Division II honorable mention All-Ohio guard and second-team News-Herald boys basketball all-star this past season, was about to become a track and field
athlete in addition.
“So I was just shooting around, and Coach, he saw me play basketball and dunk a lot,” Frazier said. “He was like, ‘You’ve got to give this a try.’ I blew it off for like a couple of months, and then I eventually tried it. Me and another player from our basketball team named Cyncere (Watkins) both went out.
“I guess we were just pretty decent at it.”
There is a technical side to high jump to be sure — rhythmic steps, explosion and body control at the bar. But suffice to say, three days at practice isn’t enough time to cram every bit of that into a crash course.
That wasn’t a deterrent for Frazier, though, as he took away something special from a whirlwind week.
“First off, we were working on our form, and my form is not perfect yet,” Frazier said. “But I’m still getting better, and then every practice, we’ve been working on my form, and we’re just trying to master that.”
In practice, Frazier said he had cleared 5-10 and 6-0, which yielded some optimism as he took on his
first invitational.
“I thought it was going to be a little harder in a meet,” Frazier said.
“(The 6-0) felt really good because everyone else had failed (to get 6-0) before me. And I knew if I got it, then I won. It felt really good just to win and knowing it right after I got over the height.”
So in review, a standout area boys basketball player who had never considered or done track and field before got in three days of practice and won an invitational title — unlikely, but commendable.
In Division I, boys high jumpers typically have to get in the 6-4 and above range to contemplate a state charge. With plenty of time to master his new craft, Frazier may get there one day — with a backstory daunting to match.
“Coach says once I get my form down, I can get three or four inches,” Frazier said. “So hopefully it’s going to happen.
“It’s really fun. (My teammates) have been supporting me and Cyncere. They’re showing a lot of love and welcoming us to the team like we’ve been there the whole time.”