Brendan Lauber spends three hours after school hitting blocking sleds, then goes home and picks up his trumpet.

The Lakota East senior is a varsity football captain and offensive lineman for the Thunderhawks, who sit at 4-2 overall and 3-2 in the Greater Miami Conference heading into Week 7. He is also a member of the school's Symphonic Winds, the top concert band at East, where he earned a spot as a sophomore trumpet player.

"During the football season my days are pretty busy," Lauber told the Lakota East Spark student newspaper in a profile published Sept. 30. "We have morning meetings and [football] practice for 3 hours after school. After practice I usually play my trumpet for about an hour and then do homework."

Lauber is also enrolled in Lakota East's engineering program and plans to major in mechanical engineering at Purdue, Ohio State or Michigan. He competes on the Science Olympiad team and serves as co-president of the Spikeball Club.

The Thunderhawks' season has been a mix of highs and a tough Week 6 reality check. Lakota East fell 48-22 to top-ranked Princeton at home on Saturday, Sept. 26. Quarterback Nile Knutson went 18-of-27 for 247 yards and two touchdowns in the loss, according to WLWT, but also threw a costly interception. Princeton running back Jordan Hall ran for 140 yards and four touchdowns to power the Vikings, Cincinnati.com reported.

The loss dropped Lakota East from No. 7 to No. 8 in the WLWT Blitz 5 Top 25. Still, the Thunderhawks entered the season with momentum after going 8-4 in 2025, a campaign that included a 42-28 rivalry win over Lakota West and a playoff victory against Oak Hills, according to The Report.

Teammate Braeden Pfeffer, a senior and varsity football player, told the Spark that Lauber's voice carries weight in the huddle. Pfeffer said Lauber is open about how he feels and willing to speak up if he disagrees with a play call.

Band director Rob Tanis told the Spark that Lauber turned heads when he joined Symphonic Winds as a sophomore. Upperclassmen did not know who he was, Tanis said, yet Lauber quickly solidified his place in the ensemble.

Despite the packed schedule, Lauber told the Spark he does not feel overwhelmed. He has balanced football and band for years, he said, and while some days pile up, he manages.

His biggest supporter is his mom. She attends every game and every concert.

Lauber and the Thunderhawks travel to No. 20 Fairfield on Friday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m. for a Week 7 GMC matchup.