His heart was pumping, sweat droplets slowly dripped across his brow. The room was dark and dead silent until he heard his phone as it vibrated again, with another call. He had only one thing on his mind: the decision. On one side he had comfort, familiarity, and the years of relationships he built with many players and other coaches. He reminisced and looked at the ring on the mantle as it glistened from the light above. On the other side he saw a dream, an opportunity that seemed too good to pass up.

Former business teacher and pitching coach at Rocky Mountain High School, Lukas Cheever accepted the head coaching job at rival school, Poudre High School. Cheever had recently been disappointed by the announcement that Mr. Underwood, would take the open P.E. teaching job at Rocky that Cheever had hoped to get. Consequently, Cheever who has a passion for physical education, took Underwood’s old job as the P.E. teacher at Wellington Middle School, with plans of retaining his coaching position at Rocky.  However, his plans changed quickly when an opportunity arose, and he is now the head coach of Poudre.

The announcement was a surprise to almost everyone who was a part of the Rocky Baseball Family. Cheever was a beloved pitching coach who helped Rocky win the State Championship last season. Easton Radcliff, a senior pitcher at Rocky was understandably disappointed.

“I’m obviously happy for him, but it sucks,” Radcliff said.

 Radcliff described how Cheever not only helped him develop as a pitcher, but as a man.

“I don’t really know how Cheever leaving will affect me this season. It is going to be different, but hopefully everything will work out,” Radcliff explained.

Cheever’s absence will be felt at Rocky. He was an important figure to many people throughout the Rocky Baseball Family and community. Rocky wishes him the best of luck and expects him to have a similar impact at Poudre.