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Electric Frontier senior enjoys staying active

By Douglass Huxley 5 min read

NEW MATAMORAS -- Lucas Cox, 18, is a senior at Frontier High School who spends his days in the Electricity program at the Washington County Career Center.

"It's kind of like a puzzle to me and I just enjoy figuring everything out about it," Cox said. "I came on a sophomore visit and electricity and welding were my two options. And I just really liked Mr. Canterbury (Jeff Canterbury, electricity instructor) and electricity really caught my interest."

Cox said his interest in electricity actually began because his father is an HVAC technician but he said he's grown to like electricity even more since being in the program. He said he looks forward to the projects they get to do in the program.

"It's been fun," Cox said. "We do a lot in the lab and we are doing an office building for the Warren High School out back. And we've wired that all up and whenever they get the drywall done, we're going to go and put all the devices in."

Cox said he's really enjoyed his time at the Career Center and he would definitely recommend it to other students.

"I like meeting the new people with all the different schools that come here. Just getting to know different people in your class," Cox said. "I do like how I got done with my academics with a semester to do. They really helped me with that."

At Frontier High School Cox is a member of the Cougars football team, basketball team and baseball team where he has lettered in each sport for each year, except for baseball his freshman year that was canceled due to COVID. He's a member of the National Honor Society and has been a member of the FFA for all four years. He said it could be challenging at times to manage everything.

"It's difficult," Cox said. "Definitely when I had academic classes it was trying to get all my homework done, and all that was definitely a challenge, but I've been doing it since third grade."

Cox said his parents have always been there to help him get all these things done.

"They have always been really supportive of me and getting me where I needed to be before I got my license," Cox said.

Cox said baseball is his favorite sport, with football being a close second, and he's been playing since he was 5 years old. He said he started playing on his older brother's team and has continued playing since. He plays shortstop, and some center field, and would prefer to be in the field than at the plate.

"I like hitting but, I think I'd rather play in the in-field," Cox said. "Hitting is more stressful."

Cox said he has enjoyed his time as a member of all three sports at the school. He said he plays defensive back for the football team, point guard for the basketball team and shortstop for the baseball team. He said he's been a part of some memorable teams over the years.

"My freshman year of football we won the OVAC championship. In basketball my freshman year, we also won the OVAC," Cox said. "My last three years, so sophomore, junior and senior year, we made it to the Ohio playoffs in football, and my sophomore year, we won the school's first ever playoff game."

Cox said he prefers to stay busy and active in his free time and that he enjoys hunting and fishing when he can.

"I have a neighbor, he's really nice, and lets us go up there and fish whenever we want," Cox said. "He lets us hunt whenever we want. I have a couple ponds around my house I like to go to. Just something to do to keep me busy."

He said bass fishing is his favorite and deer hunting and turkey hunting are up there as well. He said although he's not a very good hunter, he continues to come back to it to get better and learn from his experiences.

"I definitely don't have the best luck with it," Cox said. "I think that's what kind of makes me keep going back to it. I'm still trying to get that trophy."

He said hunting is a test of patience and just being in the right place at the right time.

"One time you'll think the turkey is doing this thing and you'll do the opposite, and you get frustrated really easily," Cox said. "(But I come back) wanting to just be better, do something different, and not get fooled by a bird."

Cox said he hasn't decided what he wants to do after high school yet but coming back to the Career Center is something he's considering.

"I think I might come back here for an extra class, like an adult tech class. I think that's what I'm leaning towards," Cox said. "I&E, instrumentation and electricity, is definitely one of my top ones. And even like the chemical operators program, just learn something new."

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