If you live in Tara at Wildhorse, you might notice someone constantly talking about, watching, or playing football. That would be Nikhil Sud, a junior at Lafayette High School and the Athlete of the Month. To say Nikhil is a fan of the game is an understatement - his mom even says he’s a bit obsessed! Nikhil’s love for the sport started early. As a baby, he was already watching his favorite team, the Chicago Bears. With encouragement from his dad, Rishi (who even coached his teams for years), Nikhil started playing flag football before moving to tackle in the second grade. After moving to Missouri in third grade, he took a short break but got right back into the sport in seventh grade and hasn’t looked back since.

Today, Nikhil plays on both sides of the ball for the Lafayette Lancers, playing as both a defensive and offensive lineman. Being a lineman isn’t always about the glory of scoring touchdowns; it’s about strength, grit, and protecting the team. In 2024, his team reached the final four in the state. They followed that up with an incredible 2025 season, where the Lancers went undefeated and headed into another deep playoff run! "My favorite moments have been those playoff runs," Nikhil says. "It’s about giving everything you’ve got."

Being a student and an athlete isn't easy. Between the long season and the physical demands of the sport, Nikhil says the biggest challenge is staying focused when things get tough. "When calls don’t go your way, you just have to keep playing," he advises. For other neighborhood kids looking to get into sports, Nikhil has some simple but good advice: Go as hard as you can and never give up, show up and go to as many practices as possible. Balance is key: Learn how to manage your time between the field and the classroom.

When he isn't at practice, you can find Nikhil... well, watching football. It truly is something he loves. As he looks toward graduating high school, Nikhil plans to study business in college. He is still weighing the big decision of whether to "walk on" and play at the university level. While he knows the time commitment is huge and he needs to focus on his studies, he admits, "I don’t think I can just walk away from this game that I love." Whether he’s sporting the Lancer colors or cheering on the Bears with his sister, Sonya, and his parents, Monika and Rishi, Nikhil Sud is a true example of dedication to his sport.

Congratulations, Nikhil, on being our Athlete of the Month!