Lucas Domonousky joins the Breeze-Courier Newsroom

TAYLORVILLE — Lucas Domonousky joins the Breeze- Courier Newsroom team as the new Sports Editor. Lucas will be covering Taylorville games and is excited to begin covering the Tornadoes this fall sports season.

Rachel LeBeane/Breeze-Courier Photo

Rachel LeBeane

Breeze-Courier Writer

TAYLORVILLE — The Breeze-Courier is excited and pleased to welcome Taylorville native Lucas Domonousky to the newsroom team as the new Sports Editor. He brings a positive attitude and a desire to challenge himself to the paper, both things he knows a great deal about. At 23 years old, Lucas has overcome many hurdles in life, but never been one to let a high jump keep him from leaping.

In 2016, the same year Lucas graduated from Taylorville high school, he had brain surgery to help him overcome the seizures that had prevented him from pursuing his football dreams further than his freshman year.

“I haven’t had a seizure since September 2, 2016,” Lucas reports proudly on his five years of improving health, “I did physical rehab and occupational rehab right after. So, just getting this work experience, it has really helped everything. Here, I’m going to be writing and words are going to be flowing through my head, and I will be able to piece them together a lot easier.”

Lucas certainly got a trial by fire when he began work on Monday, August 23. In his first week in the office, Lucas helped the newsroom team put together two fall sports preview sections as well as working on covering Taylorville sports games on his own. For some people, such a baptism by fire might have been overwhelming or a reason to back out of the job. Not Lucas.

“This is it for me. So far, my entire mood has changed. I’m happier. I am able to find my words a lot easier than I ever was. That brain surgery in 2016, it kinda of messed with my speech a little bit. This job is definitely going to help with that, especially,” Lucas shares, continuing to add that he loves a challenge most of all.

“That is what drew me to this job, a little. I knew it was going to challenge me, and I need that, a lot. I like being uncomfortable. I’m very uncomfortable right now.” He admits sheepishly.

Going out on a limb and seeking out challenges is how Lucas became the new Sports Editor. “I thought I was going to spend my whole time in management. I found out about the Sports Editor position, and it kinda caught my attention. My mom called me, because Kim got in touch with my mom, and she asked if I’d be interested. I said, yes, yeah, yes. It’s just a chance to try something new, a whole different experience to try out and see how it went. I love sports and I love writing, so why not try out sports writing?”

Though he has a passion for the written word, Lucas did not actually attend college to get a writing degree. He has two semesters at Lincoln Land under his belt, but had to halt his higher education dreams because of the COVID situations and concerns for his own health and safety. Despite that small set back, Lucas’ love and appreciation for the written word is real.

“I took a couple of creative courses. I took Composition. I took Film as Lit in high school, and I loved it. That made me fall in love with movies and now I dissect every movie I watch.” He explains.

Lucas knows that his biggest skills come from within. “I am able to look deeper into things, which isn’t always good, but I feel in sports world, it is good. You have to analyze and be able to bring back whatever you think is important in what you saw. I think I do that really well. I’m also looking forward to the posi- tivity I can spread around through the kids, the coaches, the Athletic Directors, everything. I want to share as much positivity as I can share. I just have to get into the groove of getting everything down and make the mistakes up front, which I have been doing. I’m pretty happy with that. I’m happy I’m making the mistakes now instead of later. Tom has been helping me a ton, and I appreciate it. I’m not used to that at all. At my last job, no one used to help me, ever. It was every man for himself. But this environment, it’s completely changed. For the better, obviously. ”

Lucas’ winning attitude towards life is a direct results of his parents, Jason and Erin Domonousky of Taylorville. “My parents are the reason why I think this way. They have always pushed me to be the best I can be. Without them, I really wouldn’t be in the position at all. They’ve kept me onmyfeetandIamvery thankful for them.” He states.

Despite his questionable choice in favorite baseball teams – this writer is a Cardinal fan and Lucas supports the Cubs – Lucas is ready to go. He cannot wait for the upcoming fall sports season. He is especially eager to dice into Friday Night football games.

“I remember from high school, what it was like, seeing my name in the paper for anything. Seeing it, remembering what it does to you, it brings so much confidence. I’m excited to get as many different names in the paper as I can. I’m going to focus on all positions, as many as I can.” Lucas excitedly shares.