Athlete Profile: Lane Whiting

The Lena/St. Thomas Aquinas Academy football team is off to a 3-0 start to the fall season. Lena senior Lane Whiting has helped the team to that perfect start and has been a threat all over the field on offense.

Whiting rushed nine times for 55 yards and scored a 17-yard rushing touchdown in the team’s season-opening win over Suring in week one. He also caught one pass for 17 yards.

In a week two win over Florence, Whiting scored a 2-yard rushing touchdown. He finished with 59 rushing yards and the score on 13 carries.

Whiting also scored in the team’s most recent game against Wausaukee, scoring on a 17-yard run. The senior totaled 14 carries and 110 yards. He also caught a 41-yard pass.

Q: When did your interest in football begin?

A: My interest in football started at a young age when I started playing flag football.

Q: What is your favorite part about the football season?

A: My favorite part is the first couple of weeks when we start bonding and playing together as a team.

Q: Your team is a co-op with St. Thomas Aquinas Academy for football. Talk about how you are able to gel with athletes from another school in order to put strong teams on the field and come together to earn wins.

A: We get along great with the group from St. Thomas, and it’s fun to see how we all work together to become a better team. Between the two schools, we have a lot of talent.

Q: What’s the key to picking up more wins as the season continues on?

A: We have to practice hard, learn from our mistakes and continue to get better every day.

Q: Do you have any individual goals you hope to accomplish this season?

A: I want to make all-conference again this year and become a better leader and teammate.

Q: As a senior, how are you helping lead the rest of the team?

A: I continue to send examples by working hard at practice, keeping a positive attitude and pushing my teammates to be better.

Q: Do you have any rituals you go through before a game starts?

A: I mentally prepare and eat a bag of gummy worms before every game.

Q: What’s your favorite memory of competing on the Lena/STAA team?

A: My favorite memory is playing Wausaukee in the snow and winning the COVID Cup and the Highway 141 sign (in 2020).

Q: Favorite movie, TV show and musical artist?

A: Movie – “Space Jam.” TV show — “SpongeBob SquarePants.” Musical artist – don’t have a favorite.

Q: Name one thing about yourself that not many people know.

A: I get to school at 5:30 every morning to lift weights.

Q: What’s the greatest piece of advice you have ever been told?

A: “There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.” — Derek Jeter

Q: What are some things you hope to accomplish after graduating high school?

A: My goal is to play baseball in college and earn a degree.

AT A GLANCE

Athlete: Lane Whiting

Sport: Football

Positions: Running back, linebacker

School: Lena High School

Year: Senior