Highland’s Lasek signs football letter of intent to join Iowa

Posted 2/17/20

When it all came down to it, it was about playing for the hometown team.

In front of his parents, teammates, and coaches, Highland senior Zack Lasek signed his letter of intent to play football …

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Highland’s Lasek signs football letter of intent to join Iowa

Posted

When it all came down to it, it was about playing for the hometown team.

In front of his parents, teammates, and coaches, Highland senior Zack Lasek signed his letter of intent to play football next season at the University of Iowa.

“Growing up about 15 minutes away and being a lifelong Iowa fan, it was a goal I set out to achieve around my junior year and knew I was going to play at the next level,” said Lasek.

The 6-8, 245-pound defensive lineman had offers from NCAA Division II schools like Minnesota State and Wayne State and NCAA Football Championship Subdivision schools like Illinois State and Northern Iowa where his older brother Trey is a defensive back, but it all came down to the black and gold school down the road.

“Once I got the opportunity, there really wasn’t a second thought; I knew I wanted to take it,” said Lasek. “It was just a matter of calling up the coaches at Iowa and letting them know my decision.”

Lasek was given a “preferred walk-on” opportunity from the Hawkeyes meaning he receives everything that scholarship student-athletes receive, he will pay his own tuition, room, and board, but he can earn a full scholarship throughout his time at the university.

“I’m going to have the opportunity to work my way into (a scholarship) spot,” said Lasek. “It’s happened before at Iowa as they have a pretty good tradition of walk-ons contributing on the field. If I work hard and follow the coaches, I’m going to get myself in the position to possibly earn playing time.”

Working hard is something Lasek has always done on the field and in the classroom. This fall, Lasek collected 76 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks for the Huskies. In the classroom, he holds a 6.0 grade-point average.

“Anytime you see one of your students, one of your players, see a dream come true, how can you not be excited for him,” said Highland head football coach Joe Donovan. “He’s such a great kid, you want to root for him.”

With this important decision now behind him, Lasek can now lead the Huskies basketball team into postseason. He is averaging more than 17 points a game for a Highland squad in the hunt for a Southeast Iowa Super Conference North Division title.

Head basketball coach Bill Zywiec knows the type of student the University of Iowa will be getting in the fall.

“They’re getting a great kid. You couldn’t ask for a better student. He’s going to work his butt off. He’s going to show up early; he’s going to be one of the last ones leaving. He’s going to do everything they’re going to ask him to do.”