“Anything less than your best and accepting defeat was unacceptable in his mind,” Boys Varsity Basketball Head Coach Joe Pettinger said.

That defines Dominic Mordini’s impact on the court and field at LFHS. He isn’t just defined by stats alone, but proves that while his performance is incredible, it’s his leadership and character on and off the court and field that make him deserving of TFS 2026 Male Athlete of the Year.  

Mordini has been a multi-sport athlete since the age of six. He played basketball, soccer, track, and baseball until 7th grade, when basketball became “a lot of fun” and a main focus in his athletic career. 

As the youngest of six siblings, Mordini had many role models growing up, but one stood out the most throughout his athletic journey— his older brother Anthony, a junior at Ohio Wesleyan University. 

“Growing up as the youngest in a big household, there was a kind of competitive nature. So my brothers and I would always be active, and I grew up playing with the older guys. But my brother, closest in age, Anthony, really was a true role model for me over the years,” Mordini said. “He set my standard in the love of playing basketball, and that’s where he and I really bonded.” 

Anthony plays basketball for the Battling Bishops at Ohio Wesleyan. Anthony saw Dominic’s development at an early age, especially during training during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reflecting on those moments, Anthony acknowledged Dominic’s mental toughness and constant grind that molded him into the player he is today. 

“I first knew Dominic was going to be a great player when COVID hit, and we were stuck at home. He was always determined to go to the local park with me to get shots up and play 1v1. At the time, I was a lot bigger than him, and we’d play for hours without ever calling fouls,” Anthony said. “No matter how many times he got knocked down or got his butt kicked, he always got back up and kept going. That work ethic and grit stayed with him throughout the  years and really shaped him into the player he is today.”

Former Boys Varsity Basketball Head Coach Phill Lascala saw firsthand the impact Anthony had on his younger brother. The two brothers share the same relentless hustle both on and off the court. Lascala reflects on how Anthony’s playing style rubbed off on Dominic and how he sees similar traits in both of their basketball careers. 

“Anthony was one of the hardest workers we’ve ever had, in my 20 years, and he obviously rubbed off on Dominic a lot. There was never a time Anthony wouldn’t dive for a loose ball, and Dominic followed in his footsteps. They both made the plays that aren’t always the “glory plays,’’ Lascala said. “Not a lot of kids are used to throwing their body around like that, and I think he learned that from his brother.” 

Mordini has been on the varsity team for three years, and he is a highly devoted player. As a two-time captain, all-conference player, and in his senior year, he accomplished All State 3rd Team, led his team to the Sectional Final, and had the second-most assists in program history. But behind all of his accomplishments was the hard work and dedication that helped him reach success. 

When Mordini initially joined the basketball team for LFHS, he quickly embraced the culture surrounding the program. Reflecting on his four years playing for LFHS, Mordini said he had an “unbelievable time playing for the high school team,” a feeling that was mutually shared between his coaches and teammates. 

“Joining varsity as a sophomore was quite intimidating, especially with a brand new coach, but Dominic helped make the transition much easier. He leads every day by example, whether it’s through his work ethic at practice, his focus during games, or his encouragement of everyone around him,” sophomore varsity player Alex Picek said. “He sets the standard for what it means to be a teammate, pushing everyone to be their best. Seeing how expertly and seriously he approaches every drill and every game helped me adapt and adjust to this new level. Dom is the kind of leader who not only leads with his voice, but also with his actions.”

Mordini’s selfless acts improve the group as a whole and, overall, strengthen the team. Mordini’s leadership and willingness to be direct behind the scenes are one of the main reasons the basketball team made it as far as they did and closed out their season with a hot streak of 9 out of 10 wins in a row. 

“He’s willing to give honest feedback to anybody. For example, we were losing a lot in the beginning of the year, and I asked him, “Hey, what can I do better?” and he gave me that feedback, me being the coach,” Pettinger said. “He’s not afraid to say what’s on his mind for the sake of the team. Again, not in a demeaning or critical way but just trying to help the team and make them as successful as possible.” 

Mordini explained his growth from the start of sophomore year to senior year. Crediting Hudson Scroggins and Tommie Aberle as major influences in aiding his competitiveness and growth throughout the years.  

“We had a lot of great senior leadership, and I feel like both those teams are very senior-heavy, and I learned from a lot of those guys. Specifically from Hudson Scroggins and Tommie Aberle, and they were both big competitors,” Mordini said. “They helped me develop into a [leadership] role because senior year we only had three seniors, and I know we had a young team, so I knew in order for us to be successful, I kind of had to be more of a selfless person.” 

Although basketball has been Mordini’s main focus in his athletic career, his success doesn’t stop there, as it carries into soccer. Mordini played soccer his freshman, junior, and senior years. No matter the sport, players and coaches emphasize his skill set and his team-first mentality. 

Senior soccer captain George Thomas said that Mordini helped defensively to stay in the games and keep the offense on their toes. 

“Dominic really stepped up for the team this year. His defense really helped us to stay in games and keep things close. But not only that, his competitive drive helped boost the team to be even better. He was an amazing player and helped us win a lot of games,” senior captain George Thomas said. 

Even though basketball was clearly Mordini’s sport, Boys Head Soccer Coach, Robert Parry, praised the way he fully committed himself to the team and his work ethic. 

“He knew his skill set, but he continued to work on his “weaknesses.” He was very right-footed but continued to work on his left foot…He would find ways to work around his deficiencies, so to speak, but he was always working to improve himself,” Perry said. 

As Mordini’s high school career comes to an end, he will continue to play basketball at Illinois Wesleyan University, where he will be majoring in finance and sports management. 

“I was going to school to first be a student then an athlete. When I visited, all the guys were super inviting, and it was a family, and it felt like everyone on campus really wanted to be there, and this was the place they loved, so I loved that,” Mordini said. “Their basketball team is also remarkable. They’re a great basketball team, which really made my decision easy because this place felt like home.” 

There is no question Mordini won’t be remembered as a skilled multi-sport athlete with grit and incredible hard-working qualities. His rare combination of pushing an athlete to unlock their fullest potential, and not only leading with his voice but also with his actions, sets him apart from anyone else. 

“We return a lot of guys next year, but we lose Dominic. People are going to remember him on the court as someone who led our team to the sectional finals, which ties for the farthest Lake Forest has ever been,” Pettinger said. “Regardless of the struggles at the beginning of the year, he helped carry our team from the struggles we were in all the way through. He was the guy who just put the team on his shoulders and was able to lead us all the way there.”