Senior looks to attend Masters University, pursue medical degree

As the baseball season heads into full swing, senior Aaron LaCroix gears up for his last sports season of his high school career. As a three-sports varsity athlete, LaCroix hopes to bring his athletic ability onto the baseball diamond for his final season of high school sports.

LaCroix has been playing sports at Fresno Christian for four years, beginning his sports season with football. Coaching him three out of his four years, Russ Counts explains what he admires about Aaron and why he will be missed on next year’s team.

“What I admire about Aaron is his work ethic,” Counts said. “Aaron has always worked hard and put forth his best, not just in games but in practices as well. A characteristic for Aaron would be dependable or reliable. There were so many times through his career that Aaron was called upon for something and he was always ready to excel. It is always hard losing seniors. Aaron was a player that would make football a priority in his life. He was committed to the team. He displayed a great attitude and was a pleasure to coach.”

I admired Aaron’s work ethic and his passion that he brought to the field every day. It did not matter if it was a practice or a game, he always provided the same intensity. My favorite memory with Aaron would have to be on senior night when we were all recognized together. It was a special moment that not a lot of people get to experience. — Senior Jacob Scully

This year’s coaches appointed four seniors as captains on the team. The captains consisted of LaCroix, Anthony Lonardo, Jonah Lozano and Darrin Williams. Fellow captain, Jonah Lozano, explains his favorite thing about playing football with Aaron and how Aaron helped the team with their season.

“My favorite thing about playing with Aaron was that we were both the same position,” Lozano said. “We were always right next to each other on the field and during practice we were both lockdown corners, even our numbers were five and six. Aaron’s overall athleticism helped the team. Because of his speed, we were able to play him at multiple different positions.”

LaCroix played wide receiver, running back, safety and corner on the football team. Playing running back alongside LaCroix, Blake Burdan, ’20, explains his favorite thing about playing football with Aaron

“My favorite thing about playing football with Aaron was when we would play running back together,” Burdan said. “My favorite memory was playing against Laton with him because we both played side by side through a tough game. I am going to miss him next season and the talent that he brings to the team”.

At the end of the season, LaCroix was given the “All Purpose Player” award at the Fall Sports Banquet. Counts continues to explain Aaron’s talents.

“I presented Aaron with the All Purpose Player due to his versatility,” Counts said. “Aaron could play any position he was asked to play. He played wide receiver, running back, returned punts and kickoffs, played safety, corner-back and linebacker. Aaron was asked to take on different roles quite a bit and he always had a great attitude about it as well as he performed each role fantastically.”

As soon as his football season came to a close, LaCroix remained on the field for his next upcoming season, soccer. Beginning his freshman year, LaCroix continued to play soccer at Fresno Christian all four years in high school.

First-year coach, Ramon Martin Del Campo III, trained LaCroix his senior season to be an aggressive striker and to chase greatness. Del Campo explains what he admires about LaCroix and why he will miss him next season.

“I admired how coachable Aaron is,” Del Campo said. “He is a soldier and will work from start to finish on and off the field. We are going to miss him but we know he has prepared the next striker in line. He has set a great standard for the next offensive player.”

LaCroix was one out of four seniors that played on the boys varsity soccer team, along with Reese Brown, Alexander Rurik, and Jacob Scully. Scully talks about his favorite thing about playing soccer with LaCroix and his favorite memory with him.

“I enjoyed playing soccer with Aaron because he was a talented striker and more importantly, a leader on the team,” Scully said. “I admired Aaron’s work ethic and his passion that he brought to the field every day. It did not matter if it was a practice or a game, he always provided the same intensity. My favorite memory with Aaron would have to be on senior night when we were all recognized together. It was a special moment that not a lot of people get to experience.”

At the Winter Sports Banquet, Del Campo presented LaCroix with the “Offensive Player” award. Del Campo continues to talk about Aaron’s offensive play on the field and why he decided to give him this award.

“He is a leader through his actions, he has a never quit or give up mentality,” Del Campo continued. “I gave him that award because he scored many goals and if he did not score, he created opportunities for other teammates to score.”

The following tweet features football coach Russ Counts commenting on senior Aaron Lacroix’s abilities.

“What I admire about Aaron is his work ethic. Aaron has always put forth his best, not just in games but in practices as well. – Football coach Russ Counts says about senior Aaron Lacroix. Read the full profile highlighting Lacroix’s success with sports. https://t.co/hvlciz1v1z

— The Feather Online (@thefeather) May 7, 2019

As the soccer season ended, LaCroix headed to the baseball diamond where he plays his final sports season. LaCroix talks about why he enjoys playing sports at Fresno Christian and his favorite memory from playing baseball.

“My favorite thing about playing sports at Fresno Christian is being able to play multiple sports that I enjoy,” Aaron said. “My favorite memory in baseball was sophomore year when we won the championship for our division (D-VI) and I hit the game winning run in extra innings. I am sad this is my last year playing baseball because I will never get to compete and play baseball like this ever again but I am also glad to move on to the next stage of life.”

LaCroix began playing baseball when he was around five, playing with the Clovis Babe Ruth program. LaCroix continued playing baseball for 13 years, playing his high school years at Fresno Christian.

The baseball team welcomed seven freshmen to the team this season, including Aaron’s brother, Casey LaCroix ’22. Casey talks about his favorite thing about playing baseball with his brother and his favorite memory from this season.

“My favorite thing about baseball with Aaron is that when he pitches, I get to catch for him,” Casey said. “My favorite memory between us was at Immanuel High School. Aaron was pitching and I was catching and the batter bunted the ball right to him. He threw the ball to me to get the out at home, it showed some real brother chemistry. I look up to my brother not only by being an athlete, but he makes me want to get better and is a real team leader.”

Coaching at Fresno Christian for nine years, Noah Heinz had the opportunity to train Aaron all of his fours years in high school.

In the following podcast, Noah Heinz explains what he admires about Aaron and why he will miss coaching him next year.

Some of Aaron’s supporters throughout his sporting events are his parents, Elise and Doug LaCroix. Elise talks about her favorite memories of Aaron playing baseball at Fresno Christian and why she will miss watching him play sports.

“I love watching him play all sports,” Elise said. “I have two favorite memories of Aaron playing baseball. His sophomore year the team made it to the championship game against Sierra high school. The game was tied in extra innings and Aaron hit a double for the go ahead run that gave Fresno Christian the lead to win the game. The second memory was against Caruthers. Aaron hit a grand slam which was his first home run ever. I am going to miss him play so much. I have been watching him play August through May for the last four years, it is just such a joy to watch our children play sports.”

Aaron’s father, Doug, shares his first memory of Aaron playing baseball and how he has seen Aaron grow in his athletic ability.

“My first baseball memory would be Aaron colliding with several other T-ballers,” Doug said. “They would all sprint for the same, slow-rolling, ground ball. Aaron has always been fast and coordinated, but I have watched him grow in strength and mental toughness during high school. I love that Aaron does not have to choose between the sports he loves at Fresno Christian, he can participate in all three successfully.”

After high school, Aaron plans on attending Masters University in Santa Clarita majoring in either pre-nursing or pre-medical. After receiving his major, he plans on continuing his education to become a physician’s assistant or a nurse practitioner.

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Megan LeBlanc can be reached via Twitter and via email.