LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Inspiration comes in many forms.
For the Faith Lutheran High School football team, their will to win comes from the player who’s not able to play.
“He loves everything about the game,” Chris Hollermeier Faith Luthern High School assistant football coach said. “The players are his world.”
At 10-0 and in the middle of an undefeated season, there are many who get credit for the Crusaders’ success.
Maybe none more than a member of the team with Down syndrome, senior and team inspiration, Luke Silvestri.
“Luke is actually our hype guy,” Hollermeier added. “Luke comes into the locker room before game time and gets the boys going.”
Every practice, every game – you see #87 as an integral part of the pregame ritual.
“It means so much because we include him and he tries to be like us and we do everything we can to make him part of our brotherhood,” Nick Duffy Faith Luthern High School football linebacker told 8 News Now.
The team never allows him to feel left out.
As one of the team captains, he makes the trip to midfield for the coin toss every game.
As much as it means to him, his impact on the team means even more.
“Having him and having a rough day when things aren’t going good, you see him, and no matter what he’s always in a good mood,” Duffy expressed. “It makes me grateful that I get to do the things that he loves and he comes out and supports us so it makes me put it into a different perspective that I’m living some other people’s dreams so I should be grateful.”
