For Rose Hill’s Luke Nottingham, few things compare to the atmosphere of Friday night football in his hometown.
“I look forward to just playing under the lights Friday nights with the same guys I’ve grown up with,” Nottingham said. “To me, there’s nothing better than playing in front of your hometown Friday nights.”
As Rose Hill prepares for the upcoming season, Nottingham has spent the offseason working to ensure he’s ready for the challenge. His preparation has centered on building strength and conditioning through consistent work.
“I have been in the weight room daily getting stronger,” he said. “I have also been running to get in game shape and get tougher.”
While Nottingham earned postseason recognition last season as a first-team All-League Division 4 offensive lineman and honorable mention All-State selection, his focus this year extends beyond individual honors. He wants to become a stronger leader for the Rockets.
“I need to be more of a leader for the team,” Nottingham said. “That’s doing the little things like doing the extra rep in the weight room and just being someone the younger guys look up to and try to be like when they have to step up.”
That leadership mindset also reflects Rose Hill’s team goals after last season ended in disappointment. The Rockets reached the second round of the playoffs before suffering a heartbreaking loss.
“As a team I want to win another playoff game from last year,” Nottingham said. “We lost in the second round last year and it wasn’t a good feeling to go into the offseason losing a heartbreaker.”
On a personal level, Nottingham hopes to make an impact on both sides of the ball.
“Individually I want to be able to play both sides of the ball at a high level,” he said.
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