Athlete Spotlight: James Wood football player Luke Roy

Aug 15, 2018

James Wood High School 16-year-old senior

Sport: Football. Positions: Offensive left guard and defensive end

Parents: Frank and Trish Roy. Hometown: Gore

What do you love about football: The team is just one big family. It’s the most brothers you can have at one time.

Most memorable moment in football: Last year against Skyline, in the overtime game. We were in a very tight situation. We came up clutch and made the stop we had to make in the end. (Leading 28-22, James Wood held the Hawks to one yard on first down and then forced three incomplete passes to win the game.)

Most embarrassing moment in football: Probably in middle school. I came out with my pants on backwards in seventh grade. I had the pad in the front instead of the back. I wasn’t sure what I was doing, because it was my first time in full pads.

Three people you can have dinner with, dead or alive: Frank Beamer; he’s one of the greatest college football coaches. He sure knows his football, and it would be great to have dinner with him. George Washington; he started the country and worked hard. Not a whole lot of people believed in him. And my great-grandfather Warren Locke; everyone says I’m a lot like him. I joke around a lot, and my family says he was a really funny guy. I never got to meet him, so it would be fun to talk to him.

What’s the best sports advice you’ve ever received: Probably from my Little League wrestling coach, Coach Bill Hertfelder. He always told us to be a beast on the mat and a gentleman off it. I’ve just kind of lived by that. Just go on the field, make it happen. And when you’re off, do everything that you’ve been taught to do.

If you could go on a trip anywhere in the world, where would you go: Australia. I think it would be a really cool place to go. There’s a lot to do there. It’s just kind of a different place all-around.

Favorite teacher: My kindergarten teacher [at Middletown Elementary School], Ms. Foreman. She’s a really nice lady. I always kept in touch with her if I could, especially during [the] Apple Blossom [Festival].

Favorite athlete: T.J. Oshie

Favorite team: Boston Red Sox

Favorite movie: “The Maze Runner”

Favorite TV show: “Expedition Unknown”

Favorite song: “Get Along” by Kenny Chesney

Favorite food: Fish

Plans after high school: I plan to go to college and become a nurse in pediatrics. When my brother was in high school, he got flown off a football field, and I want to be a flight nurse and work with kids.

— Compiled by Robert Niedzwiecki