Jack Lausch is ready to reflect on a college journey unlike most.
The 2022 Brother Rice graduate recently earn his degree in learning and organizational change from Northwestern, where he started in two different sports: football and baseball.
From the gridiron to the graduation stage to the diamond, Lausch has handled everything with ample amounts of gratitude and humility.
“I’ve started to think about coming here (to NU) to play football and having two different coaching staffs with football and having some great seasons and having some games you want back,” Lausch said. “And it’s all part of the journey and you reflect back on that.
“And then coming to baseball and learning how to play baseball again. Then I was doing both and then becoming a fulltime baseball player for the first time in my life. Reflecting back on all of it has been cool. Whenever I think about it, I’m just grateful for the people who I’ve met and for the experiences that I’ve had and knowing that this (Northwestern) is a really special place.
“When I look back on these last four years, the people and the gratitude are the first things that come to my mind.”
Playing quarterback and center field close to home made the experience even better.
“That’s been awesome to have my parents at pretty much all of my football and baseball games,” Lausch said. “To have people come watch and also have local fans, that’s pretty special being from Chicago and living only an hour away.
“It definitely makes it a little more special.”
Lausch wrapped up his collegiate playing career in fine fashion this spring. Lausch — who earned a place on the All-Big Ten third team — started all 52 games for the Wildcats, who finished 21-30-1 overall and 8-22 in the conference.
Lausch led NU in hits (63), batting average (.312), slugging percentage (.653), on-base percentage (.393), RBIs (41), triples (four), home runs (16) and total bases (132). He tied for second in doubles with 13. For good measure, he also swiped seven bases in nine attempts.
For Lausch, who played two seasons of baseball at NU, this was the first Big Ten honor of his career.
“Growing up in Chicago and always watching Big Ten sports, I know it’s not an easy thing to do and make a Big Ten team,” Lausch said. “I grew up always watching my favorite players do the same thing and to be able to do that myself, is pretty special and I’m grateful for it.
“I was hoping (to make the All-Big Ten team). I was hoping that was going to happen for sure. I’m thankful that I was able to accomplish it and that there were people who voted for me for it and believed that I was worthy of it.”