The sky’s the limit

WVHS senior Luke Harrison leads a multifaceted life with an attitude of gratitude.

He is co-captain of the 2021 Section IX Champion Wildcats soccer team, a creative and voracious student of all things music-related, a youth soccer coach and an independent local musician. One might say he loves kicking out the jams and the penalty shoot-outs.

The ‘why’ and ‘what’ behind the music

Luke’s two favorite subjects are Music Theory and his independent study in music with Elissa Maynard.

“Music Theory not only helps me become a better musician, but it also allows me to know the ‘why’ and the ‘what’ behind the music I create,” said Luke, adding that he plans on studying music in college.

He said his independent study with Maynard has not only helped him learn professional recording software like Logic Pro, but has also helped prepare him for his college auditions.

“These subjects have definitely given me a boost in my musical knowledge, and have helped build my confidence to study music in college,” he said.

Luke also spends his Tuesday lunch periods in Studio Music Club, learning the ins and outs of recording, writing, engineering, mixing and mastering his music.

‘The moment the final whistle blew ...’

Luke made the Wildcats varsity soccer team as a freshman and became a captain at the start of this year. He helped lead the team to a 15-1-1 regular season, capped off by a 2-0 win in the Section IX title game against NFA in October.

Luke said the elation he felt as the game ended will stay with him a long time.

“The moment the final whistle blew and we won 2-0, the pure joy and emotion I felt will always give me goosebumps,” he said. “It was the pay off for four years of hard work and dedication right in that moment, and I will cherish that feeling and memory forever. The championship season is everything I’ve wanted in Warwick High School soccer since I made the team.”

‘A pleasure to coach’

“Luke is a four-year varsity player who changed positions this season to help the team out,” said Wildcats Varsity Coach Denis O’Connor. “That’s the kind of player, teammate and leader this young man is, and he has been an absolute pleasure to coach.”

In his free time, Luke coaches a recreational league soccer team in town for boys 10-12 years old.

“Every practice and game we have makes my day because of how much fun it is to watch these young players grow as people and players, all while having a ton of fun,” said Luke. “It’s also a great feeling, helping coach and teach the sport I love to the youth of Warwick. In a small way, I feel I’m giving back to the community that made me who I am today.”

Luke shares the valuable lesson he learned as a Wildcat with the young players he works with: On a team where everybody picks each other up and doesn’t knock each other down, the sky’s the limit.

‘Trying to bring back a sound that’s fallen a little bit out of favor’

He also applies that positive “teamwork makes the dream work” approach to his other favorite pastime, the band he formed with classmates Jason Luhavalji, Aidan Steng and Timothy Leonard. The band is called Fever Dream. Luke sings and plays guitar.

“We’re a rock-and-roll/grunge band, trying to bring back a sound that’s fallen a little bit out of favor in recent years,” said Luke. “We plan to continue playing and writing and performing music until we leave for college, then meet and jam on breaks. But we haven’t crossed out the possibility of becoming somewhat big or recognized and being able to do tours and sign a record deal, either.”

‘Be happy it happened’

Luke said high school has given him a bounty of great memories, and even though he’s looking forward to what the future holds, he’ll definitely miss varsity soccer and all of the friendships and bonds he’s made with teachers and classmates. And when he looks back at just how much he’s learned at Warwick Valley High School, he said he’s left feeling excited to get out there and apply the knowledge he’s gained.

“I look back at the memories and smile knowing it all happened,” he said. “I like to think of my last four years this way - don’t be sad it is over, but be happy it happened.”