Dreaming dreams pays off for Lasek

RIVERSIDE -- Children are often taught to dream big, to follow their dreams, to always dream of bigger things.

The dream is in the process of coming true for Highland High School's Zack Lasek.

'Ever since I was little, I have dreamt of playing football for the University of Iowa and I am ecstatic to have received and accepted a PWO to make that dream come true,” Lasek posted on Twitter last week.

Lasek explained the PWO status the Hawkeyes offered.

'I received a Preferred Walk-On from Iowa, and nothing is set in stone, but I have been told there is a good chance it will be on the defensive line,” he said.

Playing in the line, Lasek was second on Highland last year in tackles with 32 solo and 44 assisted for a total of 54. He was first on the team in tackles for loss with nine solo and three assisted. He was first with four solo sacks and had one sack assist.

As a junior, Lasek had had 27 solo tackles, 47 assists and 50.5 total. He had five tackles for loss and three assisted with three solo sacks.

'I think Zack has a tremendous upside to play at the Division I level,” Highland football co-head coach Joe Donovan said. 'We have been contacted and visited by several D1 schools since his junior year and they all see the potential in Zack.”

Lasek has the frame for DI play. He was listed at 6 foot, 7 inches and 230 pounds as a junior, then 6-8 and 240 as a senior.

'I think when Zack gets involved with Iowa's strength program, we will see vast development in his body,” Donovan said. 'When Zack gets to concentrate on playing one position, I think anything is possible because of his athletic ability and determination.”

Playing at a small school meant playing both sides of the ball as well as most every sport.

He has spent a lot of time in the offseasons playing basketball due to his height and talent, but it is not where his dream was. 'Ultimately the decision to go to Iowa came down to me being a lifelong Hawkeye fan and always wanting to play football there,” Lasek said. 'The decision to play football at the next level came down to having the opportunity presenting itself and my love for football emerging even more in the last couple of years.”

Lasek has been a force in numerous sports in his time with the Huskies, setting school records in basketball as well as playing baseball and track.

His Twitter post also said, 'Through the entirety of my sports career, I have been blessed with great coaching. I wouldn't be near where I am without any of them and could not appreciate their guidance any more. Most importantly, I would like to thank Coach Morel and Coach Donovan for their endless support throughout my football career at Highland. It has not only changed me as a player but as a person. I have also been blessed with amazing parents who drove me around the country to compete in whatever tournament or camp I was a part of. Without their dedication, I would not be half the athlete I have become.”

He was an All-District player in football and was a part of the team that recorded the first playoff win in school history in 2018. Scott Morel and Donovan were co-head coaches on the 8-3 team that lost to eventual state champions Hudson. The Huskies were 5-4 this year.

'I would say Zack Lasek at either offensive or defensive line was pretty dominant all season,” Donovan said.

Lasek visited numerous DI schools for football. He never followed up on basketball offers.Over the last year or so I have taken football visits to the University of Northen Iowa, Iowa State, Nebraska, and Minnesota as well as Iowa. I received interest in basketball early on, but never took any visits.”

Lasek's older brother Trey attends UNI. The 6-1, 175 redshirt freshman is listed as a defensive back. His bio on the UNI Panther football website about his senior season for the Huskies says, 'Lasek is a ballhawking DB from Highland with the ability and the athleticism to do a little of everything. He tallied six interceptions, including a 100-yard interception returned for a touchdown. He also picked up two fumble recoveries. He racked up 45.5 total tackles, including 29 solo stops. Offensively, he threw for 1,019 yards and 10 touchdowns on 61 completions while rushing for 1,323 yards and 18 touchdowns. He even recorded a 38-yard punt on the season.”

Zack Lasek will use his education to pursue a career in some form of accounting.

'I am planning on studying Business Finance and look at becoming an accountant of some sort after college,” Zack Lasek said of his career path.

The University of Iowa sports information department said the college would not be able to issue any official comment at this juncture.

'We do not (have a comment) at this time,” said Assistant Athletics Director Steve Roe, who also has the title of Athletic Communications. 'We can't say anything in regards to confirmation until some paperwork and fees are taken care of. Our football office let's us know when we can discuss a recruit.”