LAPEL — Mention Levi Frazier’s name and you don’t hear about his athletic accomplishments. You don’t hear about his football sectional title as a freshman, his state championship on the basketball court as a sophomore nor his batting average for the Lapel baseball team.
You’ll hear what a “character guy” he is.
From coaches, teachers, and teammates, you’ll hear how unselfish and understated Frazier is, despite his obvious talents.
“I try and be a leader for the team and stay humble,” Frazier said. “It makes me feel good to know that I’m doing the right thing.”
Frazier recently went on a mission trip to Honduras through the Madison Park Church of God. The purpose of the trip was to build a house for an elderly woman who was living with multiple family members in a one-room shack.
One of Frazier’s responsibilities was to coordinate athletic activities for local youth, and he said the trip was very rewarding.
“I was one of the leaders for the games,” he said. “I don’t speak very good Spanish, so the only way we could communicate was through sports, which is right up my alley. Just to see their eyes light up when they learn a new game, or when they get high-fives — that was cool for me to support them and have fun with them.”
He added his work in the church is a top priority for him.
“My faith is super important,” he said. “Faith, academics then sports is where I’m at. It all comes together real quick. Faith always comes first.’
Levi’s younger brother, Noah, is a sophomore this season and plays the same sports. Levi said the experience of playing with his brother and the support of his family has been a blessing.
“They’re so supportive,” he said. “My dad and my mom are always there and ready to go. My dad does a cool thing before I go to every game. He gives me a Bible verse that I put under the play chart just to read it and keep it with me. He was there, freaking out when I was a freshman, but now he’s telling me to cherish my senior year.”
Frazier was a part of the 2016 state championship basketball team at Lapel, although it was very brief. He missed the entire season because of a late football season knee injury; but he was healthy and able to return to the court for the final 28 seconds of the championship win against Indianapolis Howe.
He said he learned a great deal about leadership from that experience and from the seniors on that team.
“It was awesome,” he said. “Just to get in for the state championship game was awesome — it blew my mind. I learned a lot from (Tristan Carpenter), Kamron (Herrington), Brady (Smith) and Jon Ross (Richardson) about the process of a state championship team. They taught me a lot.”
Frazier said his confidence level is high heading into his senior football campaign, and this year’s team is ready to go.
“(Starting) now has become normal,” he said. “We’ve all moved up together, and we’re all comfortable. Confidence is much higher and we’re ready.”
Frazier has drawn some interest from colleges in both football and baseball, including from Anderson University and former Lapel baseball coach Matt Bair, but there have been no serious offers yet.
He is patiently waiting, however, and hopes to combine his passions into his college choices.
“Maybe something in sports ministry,” he said. “I don’t know how I’d be able to use that, maybe minor in marketing and tie it together. Something in sports.”