No matter the season, Roman Sosnovyy ‘26 always has a football in his hand. His drive and motivating personality earned him one of the four captain positions this year and a starting spot on Varsity for the past three years. 

“Roman is a complete animal,” Head Varsity football coach Jon Beutjer said. “He is one of the hardest working players that I’ve ever coached. He is extremely consistent.” 

He plays football and runs track and field in the spring; however, he doesn’t have the same fire as he does for football, Sosnovyy said. 

“I started playing football in eighth grade, and I just fell in love with the sport,” Sosnovyy said. “I think the culture was the biggest thing. Playing with guys I went to school with and my friends is what really got me into football.” 

Football is a sport that requires hard work and determination, Sosnovyy said. He practices Monday through Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the weight room and on Bennett Field. Working in the weight room frequently builds his strength on the field. Sosnovyy is different in his leadership capabilities and desire to dominate on the field.

“Everything I do, I try to do the best I can,” Sosnovyy said. “My first priority is trying to be the best possible player, leader, and captain I can be, and I try to make everyone better around me.” 

Sosnovyy plays the field, doing work as both an offensive and defensive lineman, which is exceptionally challenging to do, Beutjer said. In order to play these roles, he pushes himself harder than everyone else on the team.

“He demands excellence from himself and his teammates,” Beutjer said. “[Sosnovyy] raises everyone else’s level of play because of how hard he works and how he approaches each workout, practice, and game. Approaching each one the same with intensity, focus, and a competitive spirit that’s contagious. He loves football and prepares like a champion all year long.” 

Sosnovyy also spends time coaching the younger athletes. Focusing on the offensive line by training with them in the weight room to improve their strength. 

“I truly believe that we will be great,” Sosnovyy said, “We are bringing up a lot of new [sophomores and juniors], but I truly think our team is going to be better or as good as last year just because of the coaching staff and how much we have been coached over the summer.”

 Sosnovyy and his teammates have high hopes for this football season, which is already starting with a successful winning against Joliet Catholic 24-14, a win of 31-28 against Wheaton Warrenville South, and a victory of 55-0 against Morton. Coaches and teammates also believe in Sosnovyys’ success outside of high school. Sosnovyy recently committed to Dartmouth College for an even more competitive atmosphere. 

“[College football] is pretty much what started it all,” Sosnovyy said. “I have always admired it, and it’s always been my goal.” 

Sosnovyy said that the crowd is the team’s biggest motivator, so support means a lot to him and the LT football team during these upcoming game days.