Lakeland’s Chase Rosenkrans is a busy athlete.
In the fall, he is a wide receiver and defensive back for the football team. In the winter, he is a high-scoring guard on the basketball team. In the spring, he is a sprinter on the track team. This summer, he pulled double duty, hitting the golf course in the mornings and the football field in the afternoons.
Now with school starting, he’s trying to master his time-management skills. It is difficult as school and football practice become more demanding. It’s a challenge to play both sports. Golf matches are in the afternoon and conflict with football workouts. Still, he’s trying to balance it all.
He’s helped Lakeland to a 6-2 start in the Lackawanna Golf League, earning medalist honors at several matches. Last week, Rosenkrans had six catches for 59 yards and a touchdown to help the Chiefs open the football season with a 40-18 win over Carbondale Area.
On Saturday, Rosenkrans and the Chiefs (1-0) play Holy Cross (1-0) at Monsignor Crotti Field at St. Anthony’s Playground Stadium at 1 p.m.
“It’s been hard,” Rosenkrans, 15, said. “I look at both sports as team sports, and you never want to let your teammates down because they are counting on you. Most of the time in the summer, golf was in the morning and football was in the afternoon. It wasn’t too bad. There are long days, but it’s great to show up and support the teams and show your teammates that you care about both teams.
“I coped with it well. I played in a lot of the early league matches for golf. We got a couple of wins. It’s going to be harder with school starting and football practice. When team districts and pre-districts come, hopefully I can play and help the golf team.”
• • •
Sports are a family tradition for Rosenkrans.
Growing up a mile from the school with his father, David, an administrator, former athletic director, and golf coach, and his mother, Leah, a former all-star athlete, Rosenkrans gravitated to athletics at an early age.
Most recently, he remembers supporting his cousins, Tony and Madison Harding, two multi-sport athletes who are inductees into the Lakeland Sports Hall of Fame. Their accomplishments and legacies inspired him to participate in basketball and track. Rosenkrans also played junior football, flag football and lacrosse.
“Tony and Maddy were really good athletes, and I kind of have strived to be better than them,” Rosenkrans said. “Looking up to my dad and mom, they were very athletic, too. My motivation is just trying to be as good or better than they were because that’s what they want for you.”
Rosenkrans took up golf with his father. He belongs to Elkview Country Club, and the more he played, the more his swing developed. This summer, his drive and putting game improved, and Rosenkrans played in the Golf Association of Philadelphia/AGA Junior Tournament of Champions at Huntsville Golf Club. The GAP is the oldest regional or state golf association in the United States. Rosenkrans finished fourth with a 73-80—153.
“Golf was new to me, and I used to get very frustrated,” Rosenkrans said. “I never hit the ball very far, so I thought golf was a hard game to play. A lot of my family members play golf, and they would see things and help correct my swing. As you get better, you realize how fun the sport is and how fun playing it is with your friends.
“As long as I don’t have anything going on, I get out and golf.”
While playing golf four to five times a week, Rosenkrans still remained committed to football. He lifted weights, attended 7-on-7 practices, and put in the time needed to improve and build off a freshman season where he led the varsity team with 38 receptions for 456 yards and five touchdowns.
Golf season opened while the football team had heat acclimatization practices. Rosenkrans carried the momentum from a successful summer on the links and got off to a fast start, earning several medalist honors and carding a 32 in a win over Holy Cross, a 34 in a victory over Elk Lake at Scott Greens, and a 34 at Golden Oak in a win over Blue Ridge.
He’s played the required number of events to earn a spot in the District 2 qualifying tournament Sept. 16 at Elmhurst Country Club.
“This year has been my best year of golf,” Rosenkrans said. “I watch a lot of videos. I played in GAP matches and ended up making the Tournament of Champions. That showed me that I can compete with good golfers. Last year, I was down on myself, but by having success, I realized I could compete with the best golfers.”
This football season, Rosenkrans knew how hard he had to work. He played at varsity in both football and basketball as a 14-year-old freshman and learned the toll that takes on the body.
In addition to excelling in football, he finished second in scoring for the basketball team and earned an honorable mention on the coaches’ Lackawanna Division III all-star team.
Rosenkrans hit the track in the spring to improve his speed. He helped lead the Lakeland junior high program to several team championships and won silver medals in the 200- and 400-meter races at the Phil Tochelli Junior High Championship meet.
He’s put on 10 pounds of muscle and is more relaxed and confident in his second season.
“In my eighth-grade year wasn’t too bad playing on the seventh and eighth-grade team, because I was one of the bigger guys,” Rosenkrans said. “Last year as a freshman on the varsity was different. My teammates showed a lot of confidence in me.
“Being a multi-sport athlete, you get to make friends and play on a team with older guys. You have to work to get better every year. I have a lot more confidence, and I am more physically strong. I am trying to be a role model, and the younger guys look up to you. I went through that last year. We worked all offseason to get better.”
Rosenkrans mentors a large group of freshmen on this year’s Lakeland roster. One of the newcomers is his cousin, Luke McFarland, who had two receptions for 37 yards and a touchdown in his debut against Carbondale Area.
“I think it is awesome having him here,” McFarland said. “We are related, and we have a close relationship. We talk and communicate. If I don’t know a route or what to do, he is always there to help me. We push each other, and it’s cool to play as teammates.”
• • •
As the school year starts, Rosenkrans has a lot on his plate.
The honor-roll student is determined to do all he can, work hard and have fun every day.
His reward is living his life to the fullest and taking advantage of every opportunity.
“The win over Carbondale Area showed our growth and that all of the hard work is worth it,” Rosenkrans said. “My body hurts a little bit more, and I am more tired. You still have to swing the club and hit the ball well.
“I’m enjoying it all.”
