Mihatsch Shines in the Pool and the Field for Leps

La Grange soccer player Gage Mihatsch has not only had success on the field, but also in the pool as he recently qualified for regionals. When it comes to soccer, Mihatsch netted a goal in the Leps’ first district win as team captain. “He’s an awesome kid,” said first-year La Grange head boy’s soccer coach Brodney Pool. “He’s fun to be around. He’s a great leader because he pushes those guys. He’s gonna go hard every time. He’s not gonna walk around. That sets the tone for the other guys. He’s constantly running, constantly doing things.”

Mihatsch’s heavy workload in both sports has made him our selection for this edition’s Athlete of the Week.

Question: How much do you like swimming compared to soccer?

Answer: “I like soccer a lot more. It’s the sport I played growing up. I’ve worked a lot more with soccer and I perform a lot better, but going to regional swim was a lot for me because I worked really hard at district. It’s very special to me. I got to also score my goal in soccer, which is really big because I don’t score a lot. This year I’m kind of scoring a lot, which is really nice. Overall, I’d probably say soccer’s my favorite.”

Question: Who’s a pro soccer player you look up to?

Answer: “Definitely Ronaldo ever since I was a little kid. Watched him individually before every game. Try to get my mind right and just work on everything he does because the way he plays just makes me want to keep playing and keep growing as a player.”

Question: What’s your dream job and why?

Answer: “My dream job would definitely be a professional soccer player. I’ve always dreamed of it since I was a kid. Worked really hard to try to get there and still working hard to this day. I played on a semi-pro team up in Round Rock and I try to make that dream come true every day.”

Question: Which sport would you say you have to be more in shape for, swimming or soccer?

Answer: “Definitely soccer. Especially for me because I wear this thing and it tracks me every game, how much I’m running. I’m running on average 7.8 miles a game, which is really big and it’s not for the weak. You got to prepare for that every single day, keep it up and you just got to keep running. It’s a lot on you. It’s really a lot on your legs, especially. I’d probably say soccer.”

Question: What’s your favorite meal at McDonalds?

Answer: “My favorite meal has got to be the 20 piece chicken nugget. It has a lot of protein for you. It’s like 64 grams of protein or something, which is really good.”

Question: Who’s a person you feel most comfortable having a conversation with?

Answer: “I’d probably have to say Jeffrey Cabrera because every time I talk to him, it’s so genuine. He’s so funny. Any time I see someone on the field and I see Jeffrey, I just want to have a conversation with him. He’s a fun person to talk to. A great person as well.”

Question: What’s a show you normally watch on TV?

Answer: “I’d probably say The Office. The Office is just a great show. It came out a while ago, but still an amazing show. Whenever I feel like it, just put on The Office and just enjoy it.”

Question: Who’s someone that inspires you and why do they inspire you?

Answer: “From my team, probably Owen (Westall). He works really hard and continues to work hard everyday. Man runs a lot, keeps it up, but out of soccer, probably still Ronaldo. Puts in the work and he just makes me never want to give up and keep trying.”

Question: Who do you have winning the Super Bowl?

Answer: “I got the Chiefs. They’re the underdog I feel like, but I definitely think they’ll come out on top. The 49ers, Brock Purdy, I don’t know. I feel like the Chiefs still got it.”

Question: What’s a memory you have that occurred in La Grange?

Answer: “When I was a sophomore, we went to play Giddings in soccer and I missed my PK. I was the reason we lost, which is really tough on me, but it made me a better player to where I am today. Continue practicing with PK’s, I just kept it up. That’s one of the memories I’ll never forget.”

Mihatsch is the ideal player a coach would want on his team with his knowledge on a variety of things, also bringing a passion for the game and will to win.