Athlete of the Week: Romeoville Boys Golfer David LePera

senior golfer David LePera was a baseball and basketball player.

That was, until an injury his sophomore year. It was then he made the switch to golf and has been the Spartans’ top player the last two years.

The 17-year-old earned a spot on the all-Southwest Prairie Conference team and ended his career by shooting a 90 at the Minooka regional Tuesday at Heritage Bluff Public Golf Club in Channahon.

He missed advancing to the state meet by just four strokes.

When did you first start playing the sport? Two years ago

Why not soccer or other "more popular" sports? I played baseball for 12 years and basketball for five years, but I snapped my tibia in half and bent and fractured my fibula. I had four screws and a rod inserted in my right leg sophomore year. It kept me out of baseball and basketball. I also do mixed martial arts.

What's the best thing about golf? I can just relax and play with some friends. I'm outgoing, so I like getting to know the other players.

Who are your favorite athletes? UFC fighter Jon "Bones" Jones. He’s new and inventive to the sport. He holds the light heavyweight belt. He is nasty good.

What has been your most glorious sports moment? Either a 150-yard chip in for eagle or in fifth grade, [when] I hit a walk-off, grand slam in baseball.

What was your most embarrassing sports moment? When I was 6 or 7, I thought, for some reason, no one could see me behind the plate catching. During the game, I started picking my nose though the mask and everybody started making fun of me. This year, when riding on a golf cart to a shotgun start, it was raining and my foot slipped off the back of the cart. I fell face first in the grass.

What are your goals for the 2011 season? Play well at the regional as a team and a personal goal of shooting an 85 or better.