Lucas Dahlberg stopped when he heard his name called at an Elk River football game. Any subsequent requests are fine.
“Lucas, are the cameras set up?” “Lucas, where should I put the Gatorade?” “Lucas, can you add ‘Hot to go’ to your music playlist?” “Lucas, eat some popcorn. Is that okay?”
The Elk River senior was stopped five times as he walked between the school’s football stadium and the nearby community ice rink on a chilly Friday evening, responding to requests from adults and students.
As the football team prepared to play against Rogers, the Minnesota State Scutch Junior A hockey team took to the ice next to them.
Dahlberg can’t be in two places at once, but he can try. There is no written to-do list. “There you are,” he said, tapping his temple.
Lukas Dahlberg explains the order of the pregame show with Elk River Band Director John Rosner before the football team’s game against Rogers. (Cassidy Hettesheimer/Minnesota Star Tribune)
Even though he hasn’t even graduated from high school yet, Dahlberg has been running the show, or rather, the show, for so long that it’s become second nature. As a freshman, he offered to run the video committee for the city of Elk River’s new ice rink. He is currently employed as the city’s senior coordinator of event experiences and game day presentations, as well as presenting and producing high school football, hockey, baseball, soccer and lacrosse games.
It’s rare to be a senior coordinator, that is, senior.
“(Surprise at my age) is something I’ve had since I was a freshman,” Dahlberg said. “Yes, I’m a high school student, but I know what I’m doing.”
