In seventh grade, Grant Urban was active in soccer, baseball, and basketball. By his senior year at Lincoln-Way East, he evolved into a college football recruit and an essential player for the Griffins in volleyball. Reflecting on his unexpected career path, Urban said, “I had no idea where my career would go. I thought I was going to be a professional soccer player.” He now plans to play for the Wisconsin-Whitewater football team while aiming to lead his volleyball team to a strong postseason performance.
Urban, an accomplished senior outside hitter, recorded nine kills on Thursday night, guiding the Griffins to a 25-17, 25-21 win over district rival Lincoln-Way West in the Kankakee Regional championship. Junior outside hitter Carter Geiger contributed six kills and nine digs for Lincoln-Way East, a team boasting a 28-10 record and its third consecutive regional title. The region boasts 18 titles overall. Meanwhile, Henry Yacobozzi added five kills, Rylan Kim had 23 assists, and Marty Dwyer achieved 14 digs. On the other side, Colin Baikie led Lincoln-Way West with 10 kills, supported by David Neylon’s five kills. Aiden Kettelson recorded 18 assists, and Mason Thompson amassed 14 digs.
Urban has spent three years on varsity volleyball after a late start in the sport. “It’s a lot easier to excel at any sport if you are as athletic as he is,” said Lincoln-Way East coach Kris Fiore about Urban. “He could be a great basketball player. He’s just athletic.”
Due to his focus on kicking camps, Urban didn’t play club volleyball in the offseason. “It took him a little while to get going because he didn’t play in the winter like others,” Fiore explained. “But with reps, he got comfortable again.” Geiger also praised Urban as a motivational leader. “He gets all the guys going and everyone loves him,” said Geiger. “You can hear them cheer his name.”
Cheers for Urban will resume at 10 a.m. Saturday as Lincoln-Way East competes against district rival Lincoln-Way Central in the O’Fallon Sectional semifinals at Lincoln-Way East. Lincoln-Way Central secured their spot by defeating Homewood-Flossmoor 25-23, 25-17 in the Andrew Regional. The teams split their regular-season meetings.
This regional victory was gratifying for the Griffins, overcoming early setbacks such as losing senior outside hitter Joey Abbeduto to shoulder surgery and other injuries. The team is currently on a 13-match winning streak. “The season didn’t start out best, but we turned it around,” Geiger shared. “Everyone has a lot of energy, even the bench, which is vital for our program.”
While Urban excels at volleyball in spring, he made a significant impact in football during the fall of his senior year. He contributed on the field and participated in a fundraiser for the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer, raising approximately $1,000 through pledges for each field goal and extra point. “I wanted my season to have an off-field impact,” Urban explained. “I got a lot of support from my family and community.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.