Lakeland’s Chase Rosencrans tees off on the first hole during the match against Mid Valley at Scott Green’s Golf Club in Scott Twp. Wednesday, September 16, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
CHASE ROSENKRANS, Lakeland
Lakeland’s Chase Rosenkrans picks up yards against Carbondale Area on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (JESSE CAREY / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Lakeland’s Chase Rosencrans tees off on the first hole during the match against Mid Valley at Scott Green’s Golf Club in Scott Twp. Wednesday, September 16, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
On the golf course, the senior helped the Chiefs reach the Lackawanna League Class 2A final. He shot 35 with one birdie in a 142-151 win over Mountain View in the quarterfinals and 1-under 32 with an eagle and a birdie in a 132-145 victory over Mid Valley in the semifinals. He also shot 5-over 77 at Elkview Country Clube to tie for third in Class 2A in Lackawanna League pre-district qualifying.
Then in a football matchup against Riverside, Rosenkrans took over as emergency quarterback after Jackson Pochas suffered a serious injury. He had 57 yards on six carries, five catches for 40 yards, threw a 27-yard touchdown pass and had an interception at the 1-yard line late in the first half to halt a scoring threat as Lakeland defeated the Vikings, 33-20, to improve to 6-0 overall.
Family: Father, Dave; mother, Leah
Coaches: Gary Yagelski, golf; Dave Piwowarczyk, football
What was it like having to take over as quarterback, especially in such an emotional situation?: It was terrible what happened to Jackson. I was just glad my team has faith in me, my coaches, all 11 guys on the field. I was super proud of the way I played, but I couldn’t do it without my coaches, my offensive linemen and my skill guys. After he went down, our motto was just “Do it for No. 1.” I almost felt like he was playing with me out there. I was just trying to be myself out there making plays and thankfully we got a win.
Had you ever played quarterback before?: B team (in youth football) one year and that was it.
Describe your interception that stopped a Riverside scoring threat late in the first half: (Riverside quarterback) Brayden Rose is a phenomenal athlete. He was rolling out all over the place. I was just trying to read his eyes. His eyes were going toward the middle and I just tried to make a play on the ball. Thankful enough I made the play, stopped the drive and kept them from scoring. It was huge momentum going into halftime and great for our team.
The team has overcome a lot of injuries to be 6-0. What has been the key?: We have a really resilient group. From the coaching staff to every guy on the roster. It’s dreadful to see guys go down with injuries, you wouldn’t want to wish that on anyone. It’s just our mentality. We’re down a guy or two, but the next guy steps up. We have faith in our guys, especially guys who have never played a varsity snap. They’re going out there making plays, you couldn’t be more proud, especially me as a senior. Our motto is “Be resilient and grab the rope.”
Earlier this season, you became the program’s career reception leader: That means a lot, not just to me but the entire community, my family and my teammates. I couldn’t do it without any of them. I have to thank coach P (Piwowarczyk), my entire coaching staff, my golf coaching staff for letting me do both (sports). Chris Washko was one of the best receivers ever to come out of Lakeland, I have so much respect for him. Breaking a record like that means so much to me. But I just want to dedicate it to my teammates, especially the guys I played with before and the guys I play with now.
Thoughts on your play on the golf course: I definitely have been hitting it better as the year went along. I’m not going to lie, I devote a lot of my skills to my teammates for having my back. I got a little down on myself at the beginning of the year and they just picked me up every match. I’m playing with guys I love; they’re some of my best friends out there. Enjoying what we’ve succeeded as a team and me individually. It’s awesome to see our team in the league final against Scranton Prep. We couldn’t ask for anything more being 16-0. Making pre-districts was super nice because we had six guys who made it. It’s a goal to make it to states and if our team could make it that would be awesome. But at the end of the day, it’s been a really fun season. I couldn’t ask for anything more. I’ve had a blast.
How do you handle playing two sports in one season?: It’s definitely not easy. But I thank both the football coaches and the golf coaches. A lot of it relies on communication. The nice thing is people respect my decision if I go to football or if I go to golf, knowing the situation. As best I can I try to make it to both, especially if it means staying late or talking to coaches during school. Everything happens because they allow me to do it and I couldn’t thank them enough.
Other sports I play: Basketball, track
Favorite teams: Chicago Bears, Duke basketball, Sacramento Kings, Philadelphia Phillies
Favorite food: BBQ wings
Cake or pie: Cake
Favorite school subject: Science. The thing that fascinates me is not everything in science has been discovered yet. There’s a lot more to be discovered. How everything works and why it works and how it’s made up, that’s what fascinates me.
Athletes I admire: Growing up, I’d definitely say my cousin Tony Harding. He played basketball in high school and worked super-hard. Just his work ethic. He would constantly be in the gym. I’ve just always looked up to him. His sister Madison, too. She worked her butt off in high school and ran track at Lehigh. Her work ethic to play a Division I sport was phenomenal. What she did in college was just awesome to look up to. Also Lebron James and Michael Jordan. Two of the GOATs in my opinion in basketball. How they present themselves and talk to the media and how they play. They just present themselves in a way I’ve tried to do my entire life. And I’d probably say Scottie Scheffler in golf. I love the way he presents himself, how good he is as a player and the way he worked as a junior golfer and the way he talks about his family all the time. I just love a guy like that.
Superstitions and rituals: I only have one and it’s for all sports. I’ve worn the same underwear since freshman year, every single game I’ve played. All my teammates know the pair of underwear I’m talking about.
If I could have any superpower it would be: Teleporting. I want to travel the entire world. I wish I could go there right now and be able to come right back.
One word to best describe me: Happy
App I use most on my phone: Instagram
Funniest teammate: Rocco Spataro. He’s always the guy that cheers us up, especially if we’re down. Even if it’s something stupid, he’s always making us laugh.
Three people I’d like to have dinner with: Lebron James, Kevin Durant, my grandma in heaven, Diane Adams.
Future plans: I think I’m going to attend Susquehanna University and play golf. I’m going to study three years of engineering there and do their 3-and-2 plan and attend Columbia University and get a degree in chemical engineering and hopefully become a nuclear engineer.
Will you miss playing football?: Big time. Not moreso the playing, but definitely being with the guys every day. That’s a bond we’ll have forever and forever be connected.
Did you try to find a school that would let you do both?: I kind of ruled out football. I love playing it, but I’ve always wanted to play golf in college since I was a freshman in high school. So I kind of looked for golf schools. But football will always be there. It was a great time in high school to play.