By MARK MOLINA | STAFF WRITER
LOS FRESNOS — If you ask Los Fresnos head coach Patrick Brown to build a player that best represents what his athletic program is all about, chances are he’d end up with his hard-working senior defensive tackle Lane Thomae.
Thomae keeps a full plate as he, in addition to football, is the vice president for the Los Fresnos Future Farmers of America program and has state and national titles in showing cattle and proficiency in fruit production working on his grandpa’s orchard.
The second-year varsity player also is in dual enrollment classes and even sells mesquite wood from his family’s farm to the Longhorn Cattle Company barbecue restaurant in San Benito.
It’s a busy life, but Thomae finds time to fit it all in and says the lessons of working hard off the field translates to success on it.
“The big thing with showing cattle is you’re going to get beat no matter what,” the senior defenseman said. “The judge won’t always agree with you, but you have to keep going to shows and keep working your butt off to try to get everything a certain way and try to win. It’s the same with football — you have to work hard in practice. If we don’t work hard in practice, you’re probably not going to be that good in the game.”
The day starts with 6:30 a.m. practice for Thomae before school and ends with homework and family time. He’ll also find time to help with the manual labor on his grandfather’s 15-acre orchard.
“The kid probably has a 12- to 14-hour day every day and it’s like rinse and repeat,” Brown said. “Then you put a Friday night where we’re not getting home until 11 p.m. or midnight. He’s still got to take care of some of his livestock and things on the weekend.”
Brown added that Thomae has excelled in every facet of his life and has gained the respect of many.
“His teammates voted him a captain,” the Los Fresnos coach said. “Not only is he a leader in the program, he’s probably one of our strongest kids. He’s a fantastic representation of what Los Fresnos is about.”
Thomae is a part of a senior-laden defense this season, which has presented him with another responsibility, which is that of a senior leader.
But it’s one thing he takes pride in.
“I have a couple of players that I’m kind of big brothering a little bit,” Thomae said. “I help with homework, but I’ve also stepped in as kind of a secondary coach for them. I’m just trying to teach certain things that maybe they don’t quite understand from our coach, so I try to explain it. I’m in dual classes and in AP, so I just try to do what I can.”
On the field, Thomae has posted 22 total tackles (17 assisted, five solo) and has recorded two sacks.
While the numbers don’t immediately standout, Brown says that Thomae is but a part of what makes the Los Fresnos defense go.
It is, however, a big part.
“I think (Thomae) and our other defensive tackle Lorenzo Villarreal are grown men in there,” Brown said. “They’re tough to block and they’re tough to move on the ball — everything starts with them. If those two can keep the lineman off the linebackers and the safeties, then we’re going to be successful. If they can’t, we’re not, but they’ve done a great job so far and I expect nothing less than that for the rest of the year.”
Thomae’s plate may be a full one, but in the end he feel’s it’s simply his part to do what is necessary for a team and a defense with a potentially high ceiling.
“This has been the best season I’ve ever seen,” Thomae said. “Our team chemistry is amazing. I haven’t seen chemistry this good, especially on defense, in years. I try to play for the team; I try not to do too many things (on the field) because stupid mistakes are what happen when you try to play for yourself. When that happens, you’ll lose the ballgame because you’re not working as one.”