Suttons Bay High School celebrated two athletes last week as Lucas Gordon and Finn Mankowski committed to play baseball and soccer at the next level.
Suttons Bay senior Lucas Gordon committed to play baseball at Delta College in University Center.
“It’s been a dream since the longest I can think of. It’s always been. I come here every Sunday, get my extra work in … I’m super excited to be able to play farther than high school and just keep my career going,” he said.
Gordon says Delta College felt right for him as soon as he stepped on campus.
“They were telling me about their style of play, and it’s everything I love to do. It’s small ball. It’s not meant for the home run-hitter. I’m not a home run hitter,” he said.
Gordon has shined over the past four years for the Norsemen as he plays pitcher, catcher, and everything in between. In a game earlier this month against Frankfort, Gordon threw 15 strikeouts in a 7-5 victory. Gordon holds the Norsemen’s leading batting average every year since he was a freshman. Gordon will lead defensively from the shortstop position while being an ace on the mound and batting anywhere in the lineup. Gordon is a three-year starter for Suttons Bay. He went 4-3 with 40 innings pitched and a 2.0 ERA in 2023.
Delta College baseball coach Billy Cork made the trip up north to watch the commitment. Cork says Gordon can come in and compete right away for the Ducks.
“He can come in and compete right away for us. Sometimes you get a freshman that is going to take a little bit. He’s still got to learn what college ball is all about,” Cork said. “I’m hoping that he’ll be able to get through that in an easy manner. It’s going to take some time ... He’s athletic enough to step in and play right away.”
Cork says the biggest difference between high school and college is experience because of the learning curve.
Delta College went 11-23 overall and 6-2 in the Michigan Community College Athletic Association in 2023. Delta College is a young team with several starters that were freshmen in 2023.
Lucas, a coach’s son to assistant coach Mike Gordon, is unbelievably proud to see his son move on to the next level.
“I can’t tell you how proud of him I am. It’s been his dream to play college baseball ... I got a whole house of athletes. We are very proud of him and how much work he puts in,” Mike said.
Lucas and Mike love the sport of baseball and the memories that have been created will always be with them. No matter the time of year, Lucas and Mike are hitting at the school, even on Christmas.
“Christmas day we’re up here hitting. We’re just opening presents, and we can do anything, then we’re up (at the school) for three hours,” Mike said. “They take full advantage of the opportunity.”
Gordon signed his letter of intent alongside senior Finn Mankowski who committed to St. Cloud State University in Minnesota.
“Having the support from the community and all the peers that I’ve played with and everyone around me in the school brightens up my day every day and means a lot to me. They’ve helped propel me forward,” Mankowski said.
Mankowski got introduced to St. Cloud soccer coach Sean Holmes after he coached Mankowski during an Olympic developmental camp in Florida last year.
The regular Enterprise Dream Team MVP will have a chance to make an immediate impact for St. Cloud Huskies.
St. Cloud, an NCAA Div. II, went 3-6-6 overall and 3-3-4 in the Northern Sun intercollegiate Conference.
Mankowski has been playing travel soccer ever since he can remember with his dad, and coach, Len Mankowski on the sidelines. Mankowski scored 31 goals during the 2023 fall season along with nine assists In March, Mankowski represented the US National Soccer Team in Costa Rica during an international spring break tournament.
Mankowski made the U.S. National Soccer Team earlier this month and was invited to play in a tournament throughout Costa Rica against professional teams from the Central American country.
“It was a blast and such an amazing experience. Just getting to experience their culture and how they live life and how they play,” Mankowski said. “The game of soccer was awesome. It’s a completely different style, completely different down there rather than in America … Seeing how they played and how they worked together and moved the ball up and down the field and their decision making. We were playing against grown men. That was a challenge.”
The team finished 1-1-1 in three games during the Central American tournament.
Mankowski has been trying out for the national team for the past couple of seasons, but failed to make the cut each time.
At the end of January, Mankowski attended his last tryout for the national team, and this time proved he could compete amongst the best American soccer players. Mankowski shined during the “combine-like” tryouts that featured its own tournament. He was selected to the Midwest team and battled the South, East, and West teams during the tryout.
“I played pretty well. The first game was a little rough. It was a little scary, honestly, because of representing the country,” he said.
Mankowski earned Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the second game in which they won.
“That was pretty awesome. That was a great feeling to kind of have that honor among such great other players to just be recognized like that,” he said.
