A rarity in varsity high school athletics is competing in 2 sports during the same season. It takes a great attitude, dedication, time management, a strong commitment in the classroom, along with having solid skills and athleticism.
You can “check all the boxes” for Lincoln High School Junior, Gavin Stradal. Gavin is a sprinter on the Ships Track squad and an outfielder on the Lincoln baseball team. Stradal said, “A lot of my former teammates and teammates now, motivated me to do it. They knew I was pretty quick. So, choosing track was pretty easy and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without both coaches agreeing on me being able to do it. Without their support, it wouldn’t have been possible”
Baseball Coach Bruce Steinbecker says he honestly never thought he’d see this in his program, “I think it takes a special athlete and a special student to be able to do two Varsity sports in the spring. He’s managing his time the right way, and I believe he has a job and his grades are still up. He’s excelling in both sports and the reason I think he is excelling is because he is a high character kid.”
Stradal was asked how he divides his time between being a sprinter in track for Coach Ryan Schroeder, and a player for Coach Steinbecker? “A lot of times I’ll do early morning practices. 6:30 at the track then I come for baseball after school or I have to miss baseball if we have a track meet or I have to miss track practice if we have a baseball game. You gotta work it out. A lot of communication goes into it.”
Bruce tells us that Gavin is a key ingredient to the top part of his lineup, “He gets to first base on balls hit in the infield that most guys can’t get to first base on. I don’t know what the exact number is, but I think it’s in the teens for stolen bases already this season. He’s dangerous when he gets on the bases”
Stradal maintains a 3.5 GPA and also competes in the Fall as a wide receiver & safety for the Ships football team.
