Lane is the son of Brian and Greta. Family has been a cornerstone in shaping Lane’s perspective. “My family has influenced me to stay focused on the future. Schooling opens many opportunities for possible careers, and what I do today further benefits my future. I enjoy quality time at home over the holidays with my family when everybody makes the trip home. As my older siblings pursue their careers, I learn to grasp their advice. By taking hold and exploring different suggestions, I have developed a greater idea for my future.”

Among the many classes taken, biology stands out as Lane’s favorite. "My favorite class so far was biology class. The forward thinking along with hands-on activity such as dissections and mannequin assemblies always made for memorable classes. Because of the memorable classes, the learning material stuck with me. Learning about body anatomy and physiology continues to lead my daily life. I believe students looking for a class to further pursue learning from tenth grade biology should take advantage of the higher-level course as a junior or senior.”

Teachers often leave a profound impact, and Ms. Menden, an English teacher at Royalton High School, has done just that according to Lane. “My favorite teacher is Ms. Menden. Every morning before school, she greets me as she makes her way to her classroom. English with Ms. Menden always challenges students’ reading and writing skills. Through her classes, I learned the importance of brainstorming and prewriting for an essay. She also makes time for the students before, during, and after school. As a senior, essays and recommendation letters for colleges need to possess top level skills. I can always count on her to both assist in editing my essays and writing a letter of recommendation. Thank you for all you do!”

Lane’s school life is filled with numerous enriching activities, “Cross Country, I enjoy running with friends and enjoying the weather. I learned a lot about dedication to others from coach Marschel. Wrestling, my favorite sport, teaches me lessons every day. Dedication, accountability, responsibility, and determination are a few great values I learned from wrestling. Track, Track acts as a great wrap-up sport for the school year. As a distance runner, I work out and run with friends every day. The lower pace days provide for a conversation time. The support of all teammates and families drives many athletes to achieve better results. YES! Club, as a member of the YES! Club, I learn about the importance of conserving our environment, especially our resources. FCA, Fellowship of Christian Athletes provides another morning in the week for me to connect with God. Every Friday morning, a group of students and advisors gather to read the Bible while enjoying donuts and hanging out. MHS, Minnesota Honors Society provides me with incentive to get out in the community and represent Royalton students by volunteering. Royal Ambassador Program, which a mentorship program that allows me to meet and help our younger students at RHS.”

Outside of school Lane stays very busy, “Throughout the spring, summer, and fall I run my own lawn mowing contracts. The mowing provides me thinking time while also teaching me the challenges of keeping the lines straight. I also work as a warehouse associate in the summer. I learned the importance of a good work environment, whether the atmosphere or team member traits, greatly influences the success of a company and the workers. As a three-sport athlete, I developed a sense of importance for working out. By working out before school every day, I learn countless life lessons related to dedication, goals, and modesty. During my free time in the morning, evening, and weekends, I enjoy cooking. Many mornings, I cook breakfast for my sister, cousin, and anyone else that shows up after working out. Mom usually has food ready at home after sports practices, but I still find some excuse to cook my own food and improve my skills. The weekends provide me time to cook large meals. Not only do I improve my cooking skills, but I learn to multitask effectively. I also prepare all of my lunches for the week on Sunday afternoons.”

When Lane was asked what high school memory stands out above all others, he had this to say, “I enjoyed the band cruise last spring. We flew into Florida and cruised through Royal Caribbean to Nassau, Bahamas. I like to describe the cruise as a miniature utopia, where life refuses to throw problems my way. Hanging out with friends, enjoying the warm weather, and experiencing the activities on the cruise produced a strong memory I will never forget. The 2021-2022 wrestling season stands out above all other events in my high school career. With the team only losing two matches all year, one against the second ranked team and the other in the state championship, the second-place finish.”

Although undecided on a college, Lane is set on pursuing a degree in biology, driven by a fascination with bodily systems. In 10 years, Lane hopes to be working as a physician’s assistant or doctor, using his knowledge to make a difference in others' lives.

Lane’s advice to underclassmen? “Live your own life. Ignore peer pressure. Pursue personal success while helping others along the way.”

As Lane prepares to embark on the next chapter, his journey is a testament to hard work, ambition, and the support of a strong community.