In the quiet rhythm of Momence High School's hallways, junior Erick Castillo moves with the easy confidence of someone who has already mapped out multiple paths to success. As quarterback on the football field and point guard on the basketball court, leadership isn't just a quality he possesses—it's a responsibility he embraces.

"Being a leader to me is being a role model, being someone people can count on and trust," Erick explains. "That weight pushes you to work harder."

Since freshman year, Erick has occupied rare territory as Momence's starting varsity quarterback, a position typically reserved for upperclassmen. The transition wasn't accidental but intentional.

"When I was young, I played running back a lot in Jr. High," he recounts. "Coming up to high school, I had to make a decision about what I wanted to do. Looking at the players we had, I thought being a quarterback would be the right fit."

This strategic thinking—assessing the landscape, identifying opportunities, and committing fully to a path—reveals much about how Erick approaches life beyond athletics. The results speak for themselves: under his leadership, the football program flourished, winning its first playoff game in years last season.

Similarly, on the basketball court, Erick has been a varsity starter since freshman year. As point guard—the quarterback of the court—he orchestrates the team's movements: "I take care of the ball. I feed the ball to my players. I shoot the ball. I do everything."

While many high school athletes dream of playing collegiate sports, Erick's vision extends beyond the field and court. He balances his athletic commitments with academics, particularly excelling in math and English, which he values for their practical applications.

"I feel like those are two crucial parts to use outside of school," he says. "You need to use English. You need to sometimes do some quick math. These are just tools you need in real life."

This year, he's challenging himself with honors algebra 2, one of his first truly difficult math classes. "It's good to have that challenge," he notes. "You have to make mistakes to learn and grow. In math, you make a lot of mistakes, and sometimes it's really frustrating not understanding, but you just keep pushing through it. You'll figure it out."

Perhaps the most revealing insight into Erick's character isn't found on any scoreboard or report card but in his little-known side hustle. During the pandemic, when his father couldn't get a haircut, Erick picked up hair clippers and gave it a try.

"It was rough at first," he admits with a smile. "But I stuck through it, and then I cut my brother and family and friends. It's just a big progress—practice and practice—and over time, I just got better."

Now, with professional-grade equipment in hand, Erick has developed a skill that could become much more than a hobby. He plans to get his barber's license after high school while pursuing a business degree.

This entrepreneurial mindset comes naturally to Erick, whose father owns multiple businesses—a trucking company, a power washing company, and a concrete company. "That's where I get my entrepreneurship from," he says. "Seeing his success and his way of living, I want to do the same."

Already, Erick is thinking about scaling a potential barbershop business: "Owning your own shop and having people working with you... maybe making a clothing brand that goes with your salon... making an entertainment area... learning how to market your brand."

When asked what he'll remember about Momence when he returns for reunions years from now, Erick doesn't mention championships or personal achievements. Instead, he highlights "how the community is just so strong and always welcoming."

In a town that stands out for its remarkable diversity despite its rural setting, Erick appreciates "the environment and the community and the peacefulness of this town."

As his high school journey continues, Erick draws inspiration from teachers like Kristina DeBeck, his math teacher, and Ben Toberman, whom he describes as "all about leadership" and someone who "helps you understand what it is to be a true leader and what it is to go through adversity."

With supportive parents who want the best for him and siblings who look to him as an example, Erick carries the lessons of leadership from sports into his entrepreneurial ambitions.

"I want to get into business, into entrepreneurship," he says with clear-eyed determination. "That all takes leadership. If you're the boss, you have to be a leader. Having those traits of pushing yourself and pushing others and being a role model—that will help you tremendously in your career and anything you do outside of school."

As quarterback, point guard, student, and emerging entrepreneur, Erick Castillo is writing his own playbook for success—one that extends far beyond the final whistle of any game.