Since he was 10-years-old, glistening gold dangling from a royal blue ribbon was the number one goal of junior Lucas Fernandez-Geddes, Boys’ Varsity swimmer. From Big Blue guppy to state champion, Fernandez-Geddes has endured setbacks, but came out the other end thriving.

Fernandez-Geddes’ dreams began on a soccer field where he was given one participation trophy after another. His satisfaction from the flimsy plastic was short-lived, transforming into visions of standing on the Olympic podium as a swimmer for Team U.S.A., Fernandez-Geddes said. At 10-years-old Lucas had his first swim lesson: the rest was history.

Fernandez-Geddes had willpower and resilience from a young age, Pamela Geddes, mother of Fernandez-Geddes said. The moment she knew Lucas would strive for success was his first bicycle-sans-training wheels attempt: when a rock hit his wheel and threw him over the bike, Pamela saw a smile through tears, filled with eagerness to try again, she said.

“Every time [Lucas] wanted to do something he put his whole body and mind into it,” Pamela said. “We couldn’t stop him [once he started].”

Scratches from bicycle mishaps were just the beginning of a line of injuries Lucas continued to persevere through. In 2021, Lucas began to notice pain in his back, growing more concerned with each sharp pain and unanswered question. Lucas fractured his spine for the first time, then twice more later in his career, with the exact causes of the injuries remaining a nagging mystery, he said. Without much information, doctors had one solution: a back brace. The restrictions the brace forced were a physical reminder of what Lucas missed out on, specifically swimming, he said.

“It was a struggle mentally, because [swimming] is the thing that I love doing and knowing that I couldn’t do it was a pain,” Lucas said.

Although recovery was a difficult process, Lucas made it into a positive experience, Pamela said. Freshman year, sidelined and subdued, Lucas needed new hobbies to fill the excessive time on his hands, he explained. When an opportunity to coach the Junior Varsity swim team arose, Lucas took it without hesitation. The bonds he formed and the skills he adapted gave Lucas the purpose he was searching for during his recovery.

“I was just happy to be there for them [and] to be part of the team, even though I couldn’t really compete until I was fully healed,” Lucas said.

Lucas’ perseverance caught the eyes of all those around him, including Keith MacDonald, Boys’ Varsity Swim Head Coach. MacDonald witnessed the various stages of Lucas’ career, including his injuries as well as the light he shone upon his teammates.

“His hard work and dedication are matched by his upbeat personality,” MacDonald said.

After going through over a year of discipline and brace burdens as a freshman, Lucas was determined to show that he was far from done with swimming. Relentless training and tenacity consumed Lucas’ sophomore year schedule, resulting in his massive accomplishment on July 27; becoming an IHSA 50 meter freestyle state champion. Now with a title to uphold, Lucas continues to work hard and prioritize his body.

“I learned that life’s unpredictable, and you just have to deal with it,” Lucas said. “There’s nothing much that you can do regarding what happens to your body if you don’t know how it happens. Sometimes it’s better to take the time to fully recover.”