Lake Zurich senior Ashton Gondeck has taken the long and winding road to the top of the North Suburban Conference.
Gondeck started at his hometown school, transferred to Carmel and returned to Lake Zurich two years later. Regardless of position, he has thrived at each stop.
“The biggest thing that helped me was getting into the playbook,” he said. “Switching teams, you have to know the playbook. I think just being able to adapt was a big part.”
Gondeck began his high school career as the starting quarterback on Lake Zurich’s freshman team. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and other reasons, he said, he transferred to Carmel for his sophomore and junior years. He was the Corsairs’ starting quarterback during the abbreviated season in spring 2021 and then shifted to receiver last season, when he was named all-conference.
Citing family reasons, Gondeck transferred back to Lake Zurich for his senior year. Coach Ron Planz told him he would have to compete if he wanted to be the starting quarterback, and if he didn’t get the job, he would play receiver.
But Gondeck earned the job, and the 6-foot, 185-pounder has excelled for the Bears (7-1, 6-0). After a 42-7 win against Mundelein on Friday, when Lake Zurich clinched a share of its first North Suburban Conference title since 2017, Gondeck has completed 58 of 119 passes for 857 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. He also has rushed 79 times for 351 yards and three touchdowns.
Gondeck wants to lead the Bears, who defeated Warren 23-14 on Sept. 23, to the outright title with a win against Waukegan on Friday.
“He’s played really well,” Planz said. “He’s got quarterback moxie, and that’s a great benefit to our team. He has a command of the huddle, the ability to call plays and make reads, and interact. He picked up the playbook quickly.”
Carmel coach Jason McKie said he has kept track of Gondeck’s success and is impressed.
“The first year he came in, he was a dual-threat quarterback and was a great leader on the field and in school,” McKie said. “I try to keep up with him. I see what they are doing as a team, and I know he’s playing well. I’m not surprised.”
Returning to Lake Zurich, Gondeck was able to reunite with former teammates, some he had known since kindergarten.
“It was a big thing with the family bond,” he said. “My parents were coaches with their parents. It was a family atmosphere in Lake Zurich, which is why I wanted to come back. … Come back to LZ for one last ride.”
Senior receiver Tyler Erkman, a North Dakota commit who had a punt return for a touchdown, a rushing touchdown and a pair of pass breakups against Mundelein, said Gondeck’s leadership has made all the difference.
“We were always on the same team, so I’ve played with him a long time,” Erkman said. “He’s a very vocal guy. After being at Carmel for two years, he could have done his own thing. He’s very vocal helping guys out.”
Gondeck has offers from Drake and Wisconsin-Platteville, and he has game-day visits planned for Wisconsin-La Crosse and Wisconsin-Whitewater in the coming weeks. He said he’ll make his decision after the season, which he hopes will continue well into November.
“We think we have a chance to win state,” Gondeck said. “That’s another goal.”
Gregg Voss is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.