THE TEAM PLAYER: "I continually try to train myself so I can better myself to help the team," Landis said. "As a team, we’re very strong, but it starts at the individual level. Everyone works hard, and that’s why we’re at where we are right now."
GOAL FOR THE SEASON: Win states. After each practice Highland Park’s huddle breaks with "1-2-3-states." Last season, the Middlesex County school lost to South River in Central Jersey, Group 1 quarterfinals.
OFF THE FIELD: Landis started a Buddy Ball chapter in Highland Park as a Bar Mitzvah project in eighth grade. He raised $18,000 in donations and brought the program which provides special needs children the opportunity to take part in athletics with a teenage "pal." The program started with 10 children and now services 25 "buddies." It runs every Saturday and every sports team at Highland Park High School participates.
I FIRST STARTED PLAYING SOCCER: Highland Park’s travel team at age 7.
BEST SOCCER MEMORY: His first varsity away game against Spotswood. Noah Weinberg scored a game-winning goal in double overtime to lift Highland Park when Landis was a sophomore.
"We all piled on him and it was my first overtime experience with my high school team. It was pretty cool."
COLLEGE: Landis will attend an ID camp at Carnegie Mellon this fall, one of his top choices.
FAVORITE OPPONENT: Metuchen, Highland’s Park’s rival
CLUB TEAM: The Jersey Knights
CLAIM TO FAME: Landis has a perfect attendance record. He hopes to keep the 13-year streak alive through his senior year.
THE ROCKER: Landis is a member of Hattrick along with bandmates Aidan Kusnekov and David Segal. The trio could be an Arctic Monkeys cover band, Landis said.
FAVORITE TV SHOW: "The Walking Dead"
FAVORITE MOVIE: "A Few Good Men"
FAVORITE FOOD: Greek salad
FAVORITE TEAM: Minnesota Vikings
FAVORITE ATHLETE: Sebastian Schweinsteiger of Bayern Munich
ONE SUPERPOWER: To fly
DINNER FOR FOUR: Sun Tzu, author of "The Art of War", Leonardo da Vinci and John F. Kennedy.
TEN YEARS FROM NOW: Landis hopes to be in a leadership position in the business world and lead a soccer team from the sidelines.