Stewart to play for Threshers at Bethel

Jo Ann Spieth-Saylor, Editor, [email protected]

Basketball has been a big part of Lucas Stewart’s life. The South Central senior recalls watching other kids play and viewing the sport on TV, which led to him making the team when he was in the fifth grade.

He liked playing so much he joined an AAU squad, Higher Level, when he was in the seventh grade. Dale Easley has been his AAU coach.

Easley said he has seen Stewart mature and grow in confidence and performance.

As a member of the South Central varsity team, Stewart’s role is mainly that of point guard and shooting guard.

His favorite memory from time on the high school team is from his freshman year during a game against Lanesville that had gone into overtime. Stewart hit the game-winning shot.

Stewart will take his love of hoops to the next level, now that he signed a letter of intent with the Bethel College Threshers in North Newton, Kan.

Affiliated with the Mennonite Church USA, Bethel is a private Christian liberal arts college due north of Wichita. It is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. As such, it competes in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Stewart said the coaches were “super nice” and he liked the feel of the campus when he visited.

He plans to major in business.

“He doesn’t need anyone to push him,” Easley said of Stewart. “He’s his own worse critic.

“The bigger the challenge, the better he’ll live,” he said.

Greg Robinson, coach of the South Central Rebels, echoed Easley’s comments.

“He’s the hardest-working kids I’ve coached,” he said.

Another trait of Stewart’s is his willingness to work with younger players. Robinson said there aren’t many kids like Stewart.

Stewart thanked the coaches he’s had through the years, especially Robinson and Easley, for getting him to this level.

Stewart’s parents are Pastor Mark and Deneen Stewart. He has an older brother, Logan.