There are, as we know, many talented people who attend Lake Forest High School. Often, however, it is the upperclassmen–the student-athletes on the Varsity teams or the intellectuals in the classes with the most academic rigor–who get the majority of the accolades. In this 4 part series, 16 under 16, highlights 16 freshman with exceptional talent in sports, school, clubs, or other activities. Here are the first 4 freshman to be featured. The Forest Scout will release four new students each week for the next four weeks.

Lilly Trkla:

As a three sport athlete, honor student, and club leader, Lilly Trkla has certainly made a splash on her first year at Lake Forest High School. The bubbly, charismatic freshman started her athletic career as a hitter for the girls volleyball team in the fall. During the winter months, she starred on the varsity basketball team, tallying multiple 20 point games. Now, in the spring, Trkla is a captain for the freshman girls lacrosse team. When she’s not on the field or the court, Trkla is just as much of a star in the classroom. Within the school, she is an honor student and takes challenging classes, such as chemistry honors and PSGH. Furthermore, Trkla is an avid participant of the women’s club and a leader for the freshman student council. When new students come into the high school, they are told to make the most of the ‘high school experience’ and Lilly Trkla has done that in more than one phase in her first impressive year of many to come.

Peter Elliott:

As the Northwestern football team defeats Iowa in thrilling fashion, Peter Elliott takes in the action from his perch in the press box high above Ryan Field. Some may think he’s there just to watch the game, but instead he’s there to do his job. Elliott is a prodigy in the sports journalism field. Though he may be young, Elliott has already found a niche in the journalism field. Last fall, Elliott wrote for the site College Football News, and received full credentials to cover Northwestern football as a 14-year-old. Among his other achievements, Elliott has covered MLB, NFL, and Lake Forest College football. Elliott possess the maturity and the intelligence necessary to be an effective sports journalist, as coaches and players have been impressed with his skills despite his age. While many of Elliott’s peers remain unsure of their future plans, Elliott is out living his dream and his career everyday.

Pierce Grieve:

At Willow Glen Golf Club, a young, lanky freshman walks onto the first tee ready to begin his round in the North Suburban Conference finals. The lefty takes his driver past his head and turns to blast his tee shot into the middle of the fairway en route to a round of 73, which helped to deliver the third straight conference title for Lake Forest. That freshman is Pierce Grieve, who made his mark with the varsity golf team last fall. Despite his young age, Grieve was a consistent piece of the Scouts’ lineup that went on to place second in state. Over the winter, Grieve continued to hone in his game, which relies on sharp short game and keeping the ball in play. Grieve played in a number of off season tournaments in Arizona and California. With a season of varsity golf under his belt, Grieve is more than ready to be a solid piece of coach Jim Matheson’s lineup next year.

Lacrosse Freshmen Trio (Connor Armstrong, Matt Nicholson, Mac Uihlein):

The lacrosse tryouts were grueling and competitive this year, as a plethora of players vied for those elusive spots on the varsity team. In search of a spot on the team were three freshman players, who hoped to showcase that their skills were ready for the highest level of play. Despite the fierce competition among the players, the freshman showed that they belong with the big boys. Connor Armstrong, Matt Nicholson, and Mac Uihlein are the three youngsters who made the cut. Even though the season is young, these three have already made great impacts on the field for the Scouts. Armstrong and Uihlein are currently in starting position at attack and defense for the Scouts, while Nicholson is the first defensive midfielder off the bench. “They don’t even seem like freshman anymore,” mentioned junior midfielder Bobby Winebrenner, “we can count on them to come up with a big play in any situation.” Armstrong, Nicholson, and Uihlein are raw, young players, but they possess the skills and the athleticism to make contributions now and in the future for the lacrosse program.