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WXAV bringing the best podcast to you. Thank you so much for having me on. It's nice to be here. I love being at the media center for the first time.
I love being a part of the Player Profile podcast. It's awesome. I really appreciate it, man. We know you're a Volli-Baul player.
We know you're a two-sport athlete here, but we're going to start with Volli-Baul. I want you to tell me what made you fall in love with the sport of Volli-Baul. Well, John, that's a great question to start off. I started playing Volli-Baul my freshman year in high school.
I didn't make a baseball team, but we tried out for the Volli-Baul team my freshman year. I used to be a part of the Volli-Baul team my freshman year. I was just working out from there. I just loved the competitive atmosphere.
As soon as I started getting older and started playing in the club atmosphere, I really started falling in love with the game there, meaning a bunch of different people being a part of the community. The people and also the competitive aspect of it, I absolutely loved it. The fast pace of the game, being a part of the team, being out there, feeling like you're one of the boys. I thought that was the great atmosphere just surrounding it.
It's just different than any other sport. Every sport has its own unique aspects per se, but what I really enjoyed was just the competitive atmosphere of that. I can't even emphasize that at all. I think that was really what we fall in the game.
How far back does this love go? I mean, I know some people are born to be players of a certain sport and some people grow into it. Where you fall in on that spectrum, did you get to play in it when you were in middle school or in grade school or anything like that? When did it all really start to feel like a love for the sport of all of you?
No, it's a great question. I think that that love for the game first came about right in the middle part of high school. I was going up to the Varsity team. He used to come off the state championships.
I wanted to feel that he was just some big dogs there. I was just really excited to play. That's what I wanted to do. Just get out there and get my best in play.
Just keep my head in the game. That's where I loved it. Going back to your original point, I think I just grew into it. I definitely wasn't born with a volleyball in my hand by any means.
I just had to grow into it and learn the atmosphere, learn the vibe, learn the game. I mean, just getting into college, learning the aspect of film, watching film, watching my own highlights back saying, okay, this is what I could have done better. This is perfect. I need to implement this more.
I think that's really where I fell in love with the game late high school and early college where I really started to profile into the game and just the finer aspects of it. Yeah, and you talk about, you know, you're linking way east upbringing when it comes to volleyball and you talk about feeling in big shoes. I was about to say, feeling in big shoes. Like the constants around or something like that.
But no, you talked about having the feeling in big shoes, especially, you know, it's really hard to top a championship team. But you know, you seem to be a kind of person to take that challenge and run with it. I mean, what was it like to give up the varsity the year after and have a shot to repeat for your school? Yeah, it was exhilarating.
Like, you know, just being a part of the varsity team and I'm a coach came up with the starting line about it, starting middle. And you know, just being a part of that, I was like, you know what, I know there's a lot of pressure here. You know, we got to repeat what the guys did before us the year before. And even though it was a lot of pressure, I just kind of push it out of my own head and just be out there and be my own self when I'm playing it.
It was just, you know, it was definitely an experience. And I also gave you a lot of pride to come on the heels of, you know, the state championship team and having that honor of being in the starting lineup. And I was like, wouldn't have given it all for anything else in the world. It was awesome.
Yeah. You know, you're doing it here. You had a pretty good year. I mean, you made a run to the sectional final, of course, you know, there was some tough competition that you're at.
Maris was, you know, on another level, that game. But, you know, going through your first playoff run, I mean, that's a different animal. I want you to take me through, you know, what's your first, you know, taste of high school postseason volleyball was like. It was definitely different than any regular season game point.
I just remember, you know, lace it up for even just those regional matches saying, you know, even though the competition wasn't that great, I just remember just going out there being like, okay, you know, it's winter go home. Like this is what it's all about. And just being a part of that. And, you know, the atmosphere was so much more different as electric, just, you know, hosting that regional and, you know, being there, having our fans at our backs, it was just a different vibe because it's almost tasted in the air.
It's just, you know, everybody in that gym wanted it. And we just wanted to keep going and try to make that run as best as we could. And I think the kind of sectionals, obviously, Maris was at Buzzsaw, but even that gym was electric, you know, like our fans going against their fans. And, you know, it was still amazing, but definitely different amount of pressure and definitely different vibe in that gym when I came to postseason play.
Yeah. And you talk about, you know, the competition difference between, you know, when you first started running, when you end the run, but I want to highlight a game that was in between. You guys had a, you know, had a three set battle with Samberg and you, you know, you obviously, you got to, you know, easy regional championship, you know, you ran, you know, swept two teams on your way to a regional championship and you run into Samberg and they come out and take the first set. Do you remember what you were thinking going in going back into the huddle and having to like recollect yourself and try to, you know, get out of the hole and, you know, come back to win that game?
Yeah, man, it's a great question. I mean, I think even the memory back here for that one, but yeah, I mean, I just remember, you know, losing that first set and being like, okay, I mean, it's, you know, it's go time now. Like, you know, we got nothing, we can't lose another one or else. It's on, you know, it's, so, you know, I had to come out firing in that second set, you know, I have a couple of these in blocks.
I remember I had a couple of these in swings in there and, you know, just being able to bring that back and, you know, take that second set away. I mean, just, you know, just to collect variables all about the postseason, you know, we just got to just got to make a place you can make and just hope for the best. But just, you know, come out there with a lot of energy, a lot of hype. Just pick each other up after each and every play and it's just every single point meant that much more knowing that we were down and we had to battle our way back.
Yeah, that definitely sounds like John Glenn in response right there. That we sounds like a response for you. But, you know, yeah, you know, obviously it was a great battle. I wish that you had gotten a chance to make a final run for your senior year because obviously, you know, with the program, the way that it is, the way he's always going to compete, but a monkey in retrospect, you see, you know, we all know what it is, we all know what it was.
So, you know, when COVID hit, I was already committed here to go with St. David. So, I knew I had, you know, more volleyball to come, but missing out on that senior year when it first happened, I remember when we were in our coaches' classroom, it was in his history classroom and, you know, we gave us the word that it was going to be the first two weeks and we'd be back and I kind of held that hope. I was like, okay, like, we only have two weeks of off time, like to stay in shape as best you can.
We come right back to him in two weeks and then two weeks turned into a month was turned into, I mean, shoot, I mean, the whole summer, you know, so it was wild. And he was not having volleyball there for me. I was like, man, like, this is really tough. Like, you know, I hate it.
I mean, I'm not being out there competing. I just hate it, not being out there and having that chance to win. And we had a great team that year. We had a lot of younger guys coming up and it was just a really fun experience with the team or at least the couple of weeks that we had together before COVID hit.
And, but yeah, it was definitely really tough. I mean, it was almost surreal in the moment, just thinking, man, I can't, I can't play volleyball. Like, this is wild. You know, I have to wait until I get to college to play.
And, you know, I definitely miss it. I think about everything that I miss that senior year and what could have been, you know, like, you know, time goes on, but overall, yeah, it was definitely tough to process in the moment. It's not having that there and being able to get people's definitely the top best. Yeah, I know it's, I know it can be hard to think about the what is, but you obviously had to think about the what's next and you don't have to make a decision.
And I mean, you made it beforehand, you know, before everything fell apart. But what made St. Xavier the place to be for you, John? That's a good question.
So I was recruited heavily by two schools. One was Benedictine over in Lyle D three college, really solid volleyball team. And, you know, I liked the atmosphere there, but then when I came here to St. Xavier and I visited and I was able to watch a game and there was a five set match against Quincy University.
And, you know, just watching the team, watching how they roll. And I know what I definitely think that I could be apart here and a couple of my teammates from that I played club with, I mean, name and names, Shane Holmes and Mason Nastiger, two great guys and, you know, having them be here as well. It was kind of like a deciding point for me because I knew guys going in. And also I knew that, you know, I just wanted to represent my home city of Chicago and, you know, I thought it was awesome just going to school and basically in my backyard.
I thought it was great. I'm on the plane on the south side. I think that's, you know, St. Xavier is definitely one of my body's spirit of Chicago.
I just want to be a part of that atmosphere. My dad grew up literally blocks out the fear. I want to brotherize high school, graduate from Loyola. And, you know, I just want to have the glen in name back in the neighborhood.
And I thought it was kind of a really cool experience just to be back on the south side and just, you know, kind of take my talents here and just know, glorify God through them and also just, you know, represent the south side of Chicago with all my heart. So that was a really cool experience. And that's what kind of led my decision to come here to St. Xavier.
Do you recall your family's reaction when you committed here? It was awesome. I remember I was on my way to St. Louis with my dad for a volleyball tournament.
This was right before COVID hit. I remember it was like early February. So about month later, it was when COVID started and, you know, right there high school season. But I remember talking to dad about just weighing the options between Benedictine and St.
Xavier. And I remember right there, then and there is on the right. I remember calling Tom Ryan and saying, Hey, coach, I'm in. Like, you know, let's do this thing.
I remember calling my mom and they were, you know, everybody was ecstatic for me. My dad was super proud. My mom was super proud. She was really happy for me.
And I called up on my teammates that, hey, you know, I called Shane up and said, hey, Shane, I was committed like going to be teammates for the next four years here. So he said, he was really high for me as well. And, um, but my family was super supportive. They were, you know, they loved that I was going to school close by.
They loved that they would be able to have the opportunity to support me. Just not even just from home, but also they come up to our games and watch. And they loved that aspect too, when I'm super grateful to them for all their support. But yeah, it was just really surreal.
It was awesome to get that monkey off my back and finally had a college decision made. And everybody was just so supportive and I guess I'm myself very blessed to have that support. Okay. Well, eventually you wound up here.
Graduated from Lincoln Way East. Who Rob? Yeah, it's real. Who Rob, um, you came here and obviously, you know, with volleyball being a primary school, you had to, you know, wait a little bit to, you know, get your first taste of college volleyball.
But when January of 21 came around and you got a chance to get your first taste of any college volleyball, what was it like? What was the atmosphere like? And what were you going through? What was your mind going through, man?
It was definitely different. It's laced them up for that first game. I thought, you know, I didn't start that game, but just being there, part of the team, I said, this is awesome. You know, being there, supporting all my buddies that, you know, I've come in over the past few months, a bunch of local guys that are from suburbs and just able to come together and just, you know, kind of, you know, even though we're all different, we all had different stories while related really well together.
And, you know, just kind of grinding through that, that weird kind of where COVID was still around and not too many fans were allowed to come to games and everything, having to go through testing and all that kind of stuff. It was just, it was a grind. But then when it came to the actual game, it was just amazing just to be there. And I said, oh, man, we got to play best of five now.
So that's three anymore. And, you know, being a part of that, this will grind the games a little bit longer. I said, all right, like this is growing man's volleyball now. Like, you know, I play with the big boys.
This is awesome. And I just consider myself less. I just try to cherish every moment of it. All right, at the beginning.
And, I mean, from there around, we started off, I just, you know, kind of look back. We just started off and put a great start this season. Yeah. And I have to remind you that you are quite literally part of probably the most successful class of volleyball players that this school has, you know, ever seen when a Christian man's volleyball.
I mean, it's realistic because, you know, before you guys came here, you know, before, you know, your class came in, you know, the volleyball program, you know, wasn't as good as it, you know, is now beforehand, you know, they had a one-twenty win season back in maybe 18 or 19. Yeah, that's rather than that, the program had been struggling to get, you know, get on foot and be competitive. Then you guys came in and, you know, you were, you were witness to a 23 and four season. And now it's like, S.X.
You volleyball is really on the map now. What was it like to, you know, have such a successful season, your first year of college and just seeing, you know, how successful your team was and what you could turn into? It was really unique, Jonathan, because, you know, coming from that East team, I knew I was part of a couple of good teams going in. But this was definitely different.
Like being a good team at a college level is so much harder than being a good team at a high school level. Just, you know, so many different personalities, the practices, all the game plans and all that kind of stuff. It was just, it was definitely different experience. Being a part of a winning program, I thought, man, like we've got, we've got opportunities to do this in damage here over the next few years.
This is, you know, this is ours, this is ours to lose basically. Like, we could run this conference really sweet for the next few years if we wanted to. Like, since then, I mean, it's just been, we've been playing some great volleyball, new kids coming in, you know, the old guys moving out, graduating and just having to deal with that. It was, you know, definitely an experience, but being a part of a winning program is definitely brought a lot of pride to myself and also to my teammates in the program as well.
Yeah, you guys have done a lot, a lot of winning. And I know you come from a high school that is really, really known for winning on multiple different levels. And now you come into college and they're starting to win as well. It's almost like, you know, you kind of brought the winning culture, you know, two things later along with everybody else, obviously, it's not just a one man team, obviously.
But you know, you guys have assembled a lot of great talent over the past few years. And I mean, from your freshman year to now, what are some of the, you know, some of the best moments you've had, you know, playing volleyball here at St. Xavier? It's a good question.
I mean, there's so many to choose from, Jonathan. Like, it's awesome. And, you know, I would say each year winning conference has been a different experience, you know, like going from freshman year, we just, you know, rolled through conference. It was great.
So, up in the year, we had that five set battle with Trinity in the conference final. And that was just, you know, it was electric, man. It was just, it was nuts. It was, you know, just exhilarating, having to deal with that and just, you know, being on the brink of being like, oh, man, we could lose here.
Just coming out with a win was huge. And then junior year being blessed with the opportunity to start and starting that conference match. You know, I played really well. My teammates played lights out.
It was great. But yeah, just be, each year is a different experience, but the end result was the same. But even still, like each year almost got sweeter. Like, just, you know, just like considering where I've come, like all the blend sweat, the report out in the court and just all the coming together, you know, at the end of that conference run and, you know, getting that big to nationals, I would say that that that junior year of conference, I think, was definitely the highlight, you know, being able to, you know, contribute more to that team and, you know, just having a great time with all the scholars and, you know, just being out there coming together as one, that was definitely a highlight for me.
And then that year, last year, that is when we went out to nationals and we lost that first game to Benedictine Mesa, you know, that was top up, you know, we knew we had a team that could fight and still at least have a shot at advancing. And even though we didn't, I mean, we came out with that double against Georgetown and that was, you know, a memory in itself, you know, I just remember just being in so in the moment, so locked in and, you know, it's like, you know, sweating going into the fist set and, you know, everybody's tired, but, you know, you still have that energy and that motivation to keep pushing and maybe even try to advance on an election. Even though it didn't happen, you know, that was definitely probably one of my highlights. So conference, the conference went from junior year then at first national win of program history against Georgetown at national tournament.
I think those are the top two for me. Yeah. And let's talk more about that junior year because I mean, that was a historical year for St. Xavier volleyball.
I mean, first off, it's as simple as this, John, what does it feel like to make that kind of history? It was in the moment you don't realize that, but then once you're changing the locker room, you're laughing with the guys, you're like, man, we just made history. Like first program went into the history of volleyball history and be a part of that to contribute to that. It felt so good.
I felt really good in my heart and said, you know what, from here, you know, we just gave our best effort. I mean, we're better than those guys that we can do. You know, just that junior year and that making history just felt so good. And knowing that sweat was put to good use and just all that effort, that whole grind, like we suffered injuries, you name it, typical team stuff, just overcoming a lot of adversity and just being able to compete together as a team.
It was incredible. And being able to make history, it's definitely an honor. I'm so glad I was able to do it here in my tenure here. And yeah, and just like kind of setting the stage for this year, senior year, I mean, that was great.
That was great. I mean, it was awesome to be a part of history and just the honor was amazing. Just kind of just trying to revel in the moment as best as I could and just enjoy it as as best I can. And it was great.
It was great. It was great. I mean, there was also another weird side to it. It also marked the end of that season because, you know, and it has an interesting kind of pool play kind of system when it comes to the national tournament.
It's not just like, I just say, we're just like, okay, you face one team is winner go home. You lose you, you lose you go home when you move on. But obviously there was a lot of importance in the first game, you know, and you know, winning that second game only meant that you had a chance if somebody else lost. I mean, what was that experience like after you guys pulled off the comeback against Georgetown?
Was there a lot of scoreboard watching? Was there any like anxiety? Was there like any like severe, I'm rooting for this team. So we think we're seeing a lot of types of stuff.
I mean, what was the what was the module like after you pulled off that comeback? Actually, so the way it works for the pool play, it's four pools of three teams. And so basically we were one in one of that pool. Georgetown was all in one and Ben and Ditin was one of the last to be us.
So basically in order to have a shot at advancing everybody had to be one in one. So basically we were rooting for Georgetown, the team that we just beat to be Ben, you may so we just lost to and we went to that game and just though all the guys we were the loudest people in that arena, like we were just going crazy. We were trying to trip up on you may so that you could trash talk you name it support in the Georgetown guys and that match went to five and we were just watching like all of us were hoarse with after going to scream in the past couple of days after playing and everything we're all still tired and you know, but we were still there trying to support Georgetown even though they didn't come up short, it was just, you know, a surreal experience to be like, we still got a shot to advance and like when it went to the fourth set and the fifth set, we just kept, you know, just kept surfing and surfing and surfing. And you know, we got into that venue, Mesa heads a little bit, but you know, overall, this wasn't off.
They're pretty overpowering. But overall, it was definitely surreal and just being, you know, having the opportunity to, you know, potentially advance like the energy in that arena for that just for that game was on that. I mean, just bringing that hype even just from watching from the sidelines. How unique, you know, was that experience?
I mean, that's not something that happens in competitive sports. Very often, I mean, I mean, that's, that's a very rare thing to do to have to, you know, beat a team and then turn around and root for them in this in the span of what they are to. Exactly. Literally a day.
I mean, I mean, how do you ever imagine that you'd be in a situation like that? No, absolutely not. I thought, you know, everybody's the enemy man. It's us against the NAI, bro.
Like it was, it was surreal. It's like, oh man, like we just beat these guys like now we got a roof for him. Like now what do they think about us? Like are they going to take our chance and everything?
Are they going to see us against themselves bringing themselves that good energy? But it actually turned out like what's props to the Georgetown team and they took it in stride and you know, like we were just doing our best to be friendly with them and in the end it was all good sportsmanship. So we appreciate what they did and how they fought, you know, because they were fighting for their playoff chances too. If they had won, then they would have had, you know, we would all have opportunity to go to elimination where we would have had to root against each other again.
So in play against each other again. So, you know, it's that experience and just, you know, it's nothing like any other like you were saying like in the IHSA or even Division I, I was just all bracket play when I go home like the NAI format with still having opportunity to potentially do that. It was unique. Like it's truly not like anything else.
And you know, I enjoyed it. It was really cool to just be, you know, still alive and, you know, being able to witness that and be a part of the moment. It's where, you know, if we were playing in a unique format where we're able to somehow maybe advance, we'll see what happens. But it was really crazy.
Just like you said, just having to turn around after a day and root for the team that we just beat. I thought it was crazy, but in the end it was awesome. It was so much fun. Yeah, I can imagine.
I was literally looking at the score like I looked back on it while I was doing my show like that Friday and I'm just sitting here. I'm just like, this is, this is something else. I need to dig somebody's brain about this one day because this is not normal. I'm sitting here and that's when I got to learn about the pool logistics.
And I'm like, so we literally have to root for a team that we just reverse swept. Exactly. Something by man. I was just like, oh man, I mean, as fun as it is for you guys to, you know, be in that situation, it was almost just as fun for us fans to look back and be like, so this is what has to happen to or for us to say like, okay, well, go door down right now, for this next hour and a half or whatever, go door down.
But you know, that was, that was, that was some funny stuff, man. But I want to stick to your junior year because it's one thing to be a college student athlete. It's one thing to be a college student athlete playing multiple sports, but playing two sports in the same season is not something that you see very often. And I have to ask you this now, what made you want to take on, you know, throwing for the S.
X.U. track and field team while, you know, having a deal with volleyball? That's a great question. So actually the national tournament and the track and field season was still on.
And I'm going to give my girlfriend, Jamie's Rocky, she's the best. You know, she, you know, I got to know her obviously and got to know her teammates, got to know the coach and the coach saw me and said, you know what, I think you know, I think you might have success in Jeff and I said, really? I mean, you think so. I mean, I've you want to give it a try.
Basically nothing to do for the next couple of weeks after our vaud was that. I said, Screw it. Like let's give it a shot. See what happens.
I mean and it was surreal and, you know, going to the frustration at first, you know, trying to pick it up and just holding that jam the right way and, you know, trying to throw it the right way is not like throwing a baseball or even a football or anything like that. It's like you just hold a spirit and you just got to like, you almost all pre-store, like you're in the medieval time. Yeah, it was just it was so unique and I'll probably everybody for being patient with me and just being so supportive and eventually after a couple of weeks, you know, that first meet, I believe it was all of that was my first meet where I threw 40 meters, which was, you know, at the time I think was, it was either second or third on the team right then. So I said, oh man, so I have a success with this.
This is really cool. And even though I really stack up well against the best people in the end, the best throwers, even in conference, it's still really fun to have that experience. But definitely in terms of the physical toll, I just played a whole volleyball season. I was tired.
And then going into the javelin, having to use that arm again and have to run up that runway, just down and back. It definitely took a toll. I remember this my right arm, which I felt like I was ready to fall off. But it was a really unique experience.
And I really enjoyed it. I hope I get the opportunity and the blessing to do that again. This year, I don't know if I'll be able to with just the crunching of the schedules and everything. But if the opportunity didn't come to pass, I would definitely do it again.
And I think I could realize some more success in that arena, for sure. Yeah. And by the way, you've placed third in that event that you threw javelin in at the O and you invited. That's right.
That's right. That was the highest on the team. That's right. You were only the other two other all of that guys had higher more distances than you did.
That's right. So you came in and you literally made your impact like right there. And they're like, I am here now. Exactly.
That is pretty crazy to turn around after, how long was it between you throwing at javelin and the Georgetown game? Two weeks maybe? If that? Yeah, exactly.
A couple of weeks, I don't say. How do you shift your mind from the end of the volleyball season to no-stiving, into throwing a javelin that you don't really have that much experience? I mean, how do you go along with doing that, John? You know what?
I mean, I will shout out Jamie again for his inspiring me to say, hey, I think you could be good at this. And the coach saying, hey, I think you could have success. And you know what? I took that and kind of used it as motivation to say, you know what?
I think they believe in me. Like, let me try it. Like, let me see if I can make the police workout. And just a mentality switch from going to a sport that I've been playing for years.
And then just picking up something completely new was definitely different. Like, I remember the first couple weeks I was so frustrated. Like, our girlfriend was throwing further than me. So that was like an ego check for me.
I was like, and obviously she's a bass. She's got the school record in jab. Like she's like almost 36 meters. Like, oh, basically scratching at the National Mark.
And I was just going, like watching her eyes. I wish I could do that. And you know, sure enough, I had to stay patient. And that was the biggest part of it was just that patient.
And just doing it like push forward, Johnny, just keep moving, just keep sticking with it. Like, you could be good at this if you really want to be. And sure enough that me came along and realized it was that I was just like, you know what? I give my shout out to all the throwers and all the my teammates that I've come to know as family and friends.
And I thank them. And I also just, you know, I mean, I shout out to the coach and also just, you know, to myself, just for being able to try something new. I was kind of part of myself in that moment. Just being like, hey, you know, you try something new and you had success with it.
So, you know, it was definitely mentality switch. You know, just trying to relate volleyball to that. Like even the motion in the arm, even though it's different. And, you know, just trying to, you know, try something new.
It was just definitely a surreal experience. And, you know, just trying to pick up something new. Like a completely different sport and then it's definitely a really different mentality switch. It was definitely weird in the first couple of weeks.
But, you know, once I got to competing, everything, I started getting it down. Like it really became something I started to enjoy. That's very interesting. I mean, obviously you have the ultimate supporter by your side, which is your girlfriend.
But outside of her, you know, you have to walk into, you know, a team that, you know, not just the guys, but there's also the girls that you can work with as well. I mean, what was it like, you know, that first week, walking into that environment, having literally everybody, you know, around you and helping you support me? It was, it was interesting. I felt like, you know, I was almost like a patient in an ER room or something like that.
And it was like, they're all like, they're all very, you know, like, show me different, you know, ways to hold it, like different footwork, all that kind of stuff. And, you know, shout out to the coach, like he was great with helping me out with that too. He was, you know, very patient. He said, you know, here's what you have to do.
And he was scrambling around because there's, you know, I'm just one of a bunch of throwers, you know, I don't even know how many throwers around the team anymore. I think almost scratching at 30 throwers now, but, you know, like obviously we all don't have the same practice as that. But, I mean, there's, you know, at least 15 of us at one practice, you know, for him to at least take the time and just being willing to kind of, you know, show me the basics and at least be able to, you know, be patient with me and see the potential that I had. I was super grateful for that.
And also for my teammates, you know, being, being a co-ed sport too, like having different perspectives from both the men and the women. I thought that was really unique. And I really kind of enjoyed that having that experience. A girlfriend giving me tips too, was super helpful with that.
And, you know, I was just super grateful to all of them for being so supportive of me and being patient. Just me picking up a completely new sport. I did my best to be a good sport about even about frustrated at times, but in the end, it definitely worked out. And I, you know, definitely wouldn't trade that experience for anything.
That's, this is a very unique spot, man. I don't think I've met somebody who has dared to take on two sports that overlap throughout the same season. Yeah. I mean, that is unbelievable.
I give you props. I don't know how to do that. Thank you. That's actually like very, very unique.
I mean, you look back at this, if it were me, and I look back at the fact that I played two sports in the same season, I'd be like, man, how in the world did I do that? Right. So, I mean, props to you, man. That's a heck of an accomplishment.
Thank you so much. But obviously, you know, this is a whole new year. And you just started volleyball. Yes, sir.
You guys are off to a little bit of a slow start, but you've had a tough schedule, you know. Four different top 15 teams is no slouch. You guys were top 10 team in the preseason polls yourself. But, you know, obviously, you guys have had to deal with some adversity.
You know, how are you going to go forward and, you know, tackling this adversity and getting back to your winning ways? I think it's just a matter of chemistry building at this point, Jonathan. I really do. I think that we've just, the theme of the game has been the same.
I mean, we've gone, we've had a competitive, each one of our matches. But each time we just fall a little short. I feel like this is just a little technical things, like, you know, like lack of communication on the court, kind of stuff like that. And yet we have new guys too.
I mean, that's always, I think, too. We got a brand new setter, two new setters actually, Christian and Cam, they're great athletes, much faster than them for where they come in and have been able to make an impact right off the rip. We got our new outside, Matt Panala, the middle, Alessandra Gianotti, those guys are awesome. Having Shane Beck has been incredible.
Then, him going down with that broken finger definitely hurt. But yeah, I mean, coaches had made a few lineup switches like guys, you know, have a rough game, you know what? Sometimes you just got to let them sit at the bench for a couple of sets and be like, you know what? Like, just a little bit of reality check.
You know, definitely a part of men's sports has got to be ego as well. Like everybody's out there like they're trying to play their best, trying to show their stuff. And sometimes like, yeah, it just gets right ahead a little bit. Yeah.
But at the same time, I think in the end of the world is down to all ego and trying to put our best place out there aside. I think it's just a matter of trying to build that chemistry. And it's early in the season. So I'm honestly not concerned.
It's beginning of February. We've got some conference play coming up. So, you know, trying to, you know, garner some home matches and home wins, I think that'll really help us out. And just trying to build that confidence.
I think once that first win comes along, I have no doubt in my mind that we'll start to take off and then get our sport away. So, ours will back to top then status once again. Yeah. And obviously you guys have a pedigree for winning.
So, this is definitely not something too panic about. No, that's wrong. And you guys have shown, you know, you guys can dominate the conference over the past three years and over your entire tenure here, you guys are 37 in one in conference play with that one loss being that five set, you know, set back to Trinity Christian last year. Right.
But still to dominate a conference like that. And you know, this conference is nothing that sneezes at when it comes to, you know, volleyball. It can be competitive sometimes. I can be.
But to have a stranglehold over the conference like that, yeah, this is definitely not something to panic about. Right. You know, you guys always seem to have like a, you know, really tough schedule. You guys have, you know, a lot of top 15 ranked teams on your schedule.
And this is, I mean, that first half was only the, you know, part of it. You have more ranked teams down the road. So when you, you know, when you look at, you know, what's coming up next, you guys have that, but Turbo try match this weekend. And then you have your first conference home game against Justin.
You know, what are going to be some of the, you know, main things that you think you guys want to touch up on as you, you know, try to notch up a string of wins? I think a lot of what we, what we need to touch about everything, like nobody's a perfect player. I mean, we have all to work on our attack. But most of all, I think it's a block in our defense.
Our block has been, it's been good. But against these top 15 teams has been working out, like they're, you know, hitting shots around us as a middle, you know, I got to be, you know, fast in the pins. I feel like I've been in a lot of situations. I can say the same for all of our middles, honestly, but I think overall, they got a block in our defense.
I play this pick it up a little bit. That's definitely what we're going to focus on this week. I don't see being a practice. I know coach, probably going to have a definitely mindset towards the guys on the net block and then he's going to have the defensive specialist doing a bunch of defensive drills.
Just trying to dig out of tough situations. But I think that's, you know, kind of the main part of it. Like, you know, we're not playing these slouches, like we're playing some top 15 teams. It's tough.
It's tough competition. Like NAI volleyball, something that's needs that, like you're saying. But, but yeah, it's like we're going to little things, we're going to technical stuff. I mean, we have the talent to make great run.
I mean, really do. I think we've had the most talented team, honestly, since I've been here, I think that that's safe to say that we've had the most talented team that we've had, at least in my four years here anyway. So I think that that just working on a little things, like you can't, you can't teach talent, but you can coach the technical things. So, I think once we clean up those technical errors, I think we're going to be in great shape all over.
Okay, it'll definitely be something that I'll be keeping an eye on because I really want to see you guys make that one last run, especially considering, you know, this is your last semester here. Yes, sir. So, you know, to go out with a bank, you know, I would hope that it was a good priority to have for you. So, best of luck to you guys, obviously.
But I want to talk about team culture. And this is the last thing that I'll talk about when it comes to your sports. I know you're around the volleyball team a lot more than you are the track team, but how do you kind of compare and contrast like the team culture? Like how do you feel, you know, that, man, this is a tough question.
It's good. How do you compare and contrast like the team culture between volleyball and the team culture that you see with the track and field teams? Because I would have to imagine those are two completely different dynamics. Oh my gosh, it's ridiculous.
I mean, the volleyball team for us, I mean, we're just focused on volleyball. It's, you know, it's just us, you know, just a group of all of our many guys. We have like about 30 guys and, you know, just trying to work our way towards that one and goal of one of the national championship. And that's, you know, just like when we have to work together as a team and that's how, you know, that's how it's going to be.
That's how it's been the last four years. In terms of the track team, throwing is so much more individual. Like you have your teammates support. But once you're on that runway, holding that jab on your hand, it's all you.
You're on your own. And so, you know, the team culture I definitely think is very similar in that the throwers and then the volleyball team. We're all tight knit. We all have, you know, good chemistry.
Like we all, obviously we're our own people. Like we all have our own hobbies. We like doing our own different things. When it comes to volleyball, we all have that opportunity to work out together, to play together, To go on these road trips together and, you know, hang out together, play cards, do whatever it is.
Like, having that culture and still that friendship, that bond, that's when the last of lifetime, I think it's huge. I think that's what really sets our team that mindset apart from, you know, even track or anything like that. I mean, I think the throwers are great people. And I love being a part of the throwers just because it's, you know, a completely different sport.
You can all relate to a lot of different things. Like, you know, you have all these technical things and I really am blessed to get through myself with one of them. And it's definitely different from volleyball. But overall, the team aspect is definitely, it's more of a team going towards one goal, where it's throwing its more individual accomplishments.
And each of your teammates is supporting you in that strive to gain that individual accomplishment, whether it be a PR, a national qualifying mark, you name it. And it's awesome to survive around a track team because everybody's supporting you. And also with, you know, there being so many events during track and feel like these meets are crazy. Like, there's so many things to going on at once.
And sometimes you do feel like it's just kind of you're in your own bubble there. Whereas in volleyball, you've got the team there. You've got six guys on the court at once. You know, you got to bring it in in the huddle after each and every play.
And it's definitely different kind of a culture. But I'd say that our team culture right now is pretty solid. It's working our way up. Like, we're just trying to build that mindset of the end goal, winning a national championship and just trying to become brothers and find a lot of ways.
So I think it's really unique. And I think that the difference that I've been able to witness between track and field and volleyball is awesome. And I've enjoyed each very immensely. So I think it's going to be to have, you know, those different kinds of goals.
Because when you're playing volleyball, that's the only thing that's going on. You know, there's one court, you know, there's a net, there's two sides of the net, and there's two teams trying to score as many points as they can. Exactly. With track and field, obviously there's so much going on.
Oh my God, that's funny. It's like you can't have your eyes at least if you're a fan. Players is different. But when you're, you know, a fan and you're watching a track or field or field meet or anything like that, it's like there's so many things going on.
Oh, it's crazy. And, you know, there's so many people doing so many different things. And, you know, as as a fan, as someone who watches these events, It can be a stark contrast in terms of like, you know, the environment and kind of like, you know, where our eyes are at, because you know, with track, with track and feel like I said, there's so much going on. So many people doing so many different things.
You look one way, you can see a sprint, you look the other way, you see somebody doing long jump. You look the other way, you see somebody chucking a spear as far as they can. It's just a lot of, it's just the best way I can put it. You're literally eating a spear as far as you can.
Literally. It's on it. I always thought that it was one of the more interesting athletic events that I had ever seen. Just javelin bros are just, I don't know why.
It's like a spectacle of some sort. It's like, man, you're eating a spear as far as you can. Like, I don't know what sounds so appealing about that, but it's so appealing. It is.
It's like, it's just going out there and being able to do something like competing in a different kind of sport is definitely unique. And like I compare that to, you know, I mean, take the other throwing events, it's like disc it's a shot put throw like shot put your little just holding basically the weight of almost a bowling ball in a much more compact weight. And you're just trying to throw that as far as you can hammer throw, it's literally that on the end of a metal string. And then this gets you just throwing oversized DVDs.
I'm like, dude, it's absolutely unreal. I absolutely like, I love every aspect of it. I think it's, you know, East Row where like I've gotten to know in so many people like this with the throwing community and, you know, specifically my teammates, obviously, because you know, obviously when you have to meet other people and you know, stuff like that. But being, you know, getting into my teammates and just all the technical aspect that goes into each and every event, it's just like, it's spectacular.
I mean, it's really, really cool. And even with javelin, like, yeah, you're trying to throw a spear as far as you can, but there's even technique within that. You got to hold it the right way and it's just got to come out just so in order to fly straight. Like I can even tell you how many times I had throws where like the javelins are like literally going sideways away from me.
I'm like, what just happened? How did I do that? You know, so, you know, it's been a like this each individual aspect is throwing and even just like, you know, running events like hurdles, sprints, other field events like wrong jump. We don't have any pull vaults or the scores, because we don't have the facilities for it.
But there's even that high jump. Like you name it. Each thing has its own unique aspect. So it's just really interesting and it's really kind of a cool part to be a part of and, you know, being a part of that atmosphere and in the end, again, it goes back to just contributing contributing to the school contributing to the team.
I think it's really awesome and definitely brings me a lot of pride and joy to be able to do that for the school for sure. Yeah. Sometimes I just wrap my mind around how much technicality there goes into throwing, you know, the items that you throw in field events. Just like you, some people just think that, oh, you just throw something as far as you can't know.
There's a lot of technicality. There's an insane amount of technicality and technique involved in how you throw those things. It's wild. It is wild.
It's like, man, I know my roommate, he throws shot put and it's just like, dude, what in the world? I sometimes he shows me film sometimes and I'm just like, the sheer fact that there's film for this. Yeah, exactly. And like there's film on you throwing something and it's like, you can point things out on how to throw it farther.
And it's not just, oh, just make sure you put more force into it. No, it's like, it's like these movements and these, you know, these, you know, set positions you have to be in and, you know, certain arm angles or something like that. It's just like, oh my goodness, this is a unique, it's a very unique thing about track and field. Like it's one of those sports where it's like, it's a lot harder than it looks.
It's a little definition of it. It's a little definition of it. Of course. Of course.
And it's just, it's just, it will never cease to fascinate me. It's impressive. But yeah, that's the athlete side of you. I want to know more about the student side of you, man.
You're, you came here for business management, right? That's correct. Business management and finance. So hopefully graduating with two degrees at the end of the semester.
So what do you, what do you want to try to do with this business management road? That's a, that's a great question, Jonathan. I've, I've been kind of diving into different opportunities like, and then also with the finance degree too, I can take that into different directions too. So I mean, I think about what I could do.
I think at the end, I want to work my way up into a firm and to kind of a management position, whether it be, you know, CFO, CEO, COO of any company. I mean, I want to start off here in Chicago. In terms of the actual opportunity, I'm not sure. I think I definitely want to work in an environment where I definitely feel like, you know, I'm definitely, you know, making a, making a difference in the post, just being a part of like, you know, pushing papers across the desk from nine to five.
You know what I mean? So I just want to take my degree and just, you know, contribute somewhere. I mean, I kind of use my athletic background just to think about contributing like, working as a teammate. It's all obviously, you know, this time I'll be making money while I'm doing.
You know, certain times, Slack's not as opposed to, you know, volleyball uniform, Jim shoes and, you know, whatever other accessories you find available, you know, so I definitely want to take it, you know, some way into, you know, business management role of some sort, whether it be, you know, starting off in lower management, a company is working my way up and not just trying to find success there. That's what I want to do in terms of a specific vocation and what I want to do. I mean, I'm entirely sure yet. I know that not every 21 year old man knows what they want to do.
So I, you know what, I'm like, you know, I just kind of go out there, kind of get my feet wet, maybe with a couple different jobs and see what I like. And then hopefully find my niche somewhere and take a kind of take a form there. I see. Do you have any family members that have like any experience with business management or is this something that you kind of picked up on your own?
No, absolutely. My dad, my dad has been a business man his whole life and he kind of was my inspiration because I see how well he is with people. He's a great people person. He can talk to anybody.
And you know, I saw what he did. I said, you know what I can do that too. You know, I can, you know, I can try to be personable if I can. And I should be my job.
I worked at a, but I'm still working at Pressman Country Club Golf Force for, uh, through high school and into college and you know, being a caddy there and working in the golf services section there too. I've been able to establish a lot of relationships and being able to get that interpersonal connection with different people. I think that that would definitely do me, do me a lot of things. I mean, I think that's been a big thing to me.
I mean, that's been his, that's been his vocation. He's been, uh, he's been successful in that. So I see what he does there. And I, you know, I've been, you know, looking at the transportation myself and just thinking about, oh man, like this would be kind of interesting.
And now he has connections, you know, I have some other connections through that through other businesses and that kind of realm too. So, you know, my dad definitely kind of laid the ground work for me there. And I said, you know, I can definitely see myself doing that something like that anyway in the future. Yeah, I was just about to ask, um, you kind of answered it a little bit already, but I was going to ask if you had like a preference of what kind of business you would want to see and dive into a little bit of the interesting stuff like that.
Exactly. Um, there's that question answered. Thank you very much. Yeah.
But yeah, dude, you talked about hobbies earlier when we were talking about team culture. What are some of your hobbies anyway? That's a great question, I mean, I've got a few hobbies. Um, I love the outdoors.
I love the water fountain. I love the fish. Um, it's just something I've been doing growing up my whole entire life. Like, we go hunt.
We don't got an end to sun in central Illinois down in the Illinois River down there and we also belong to a glue hunting club down in South here in Braywood about an hour south of here. And, you know, it's just been really fun. It's a different experience. You know, it's just hunting and being out, you know, being out nature and being outside is just awesome.
It's just awesome. Just getting that fresh air poisoning. I absolutely love it. You know, being inside a sweaty gym is definitely different from being outside kind of, you know, in the cold and hanging out with your body.
It's just doing something you all love to do when I've been doing that with my family, with my brothers Joey and Jake and my dad and my mom. And this is something that I've, you know, made a lot of core memories with. That's definitely one of my hobbies. Um, you know, that's definitely what sticks out to me, you know, officially the summer hunt during the fall and winter.
Um, other hobbies that I've got, I've got an old truck, I've got an old three guys to go around. Um, I love, uh, I've had so many issues with it. But I love whenever an issue comes up, I go on YouTube and I'm like, all right, I'm going to fix this. And I just love tinkering around with stuff like that.
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I just, you know, I had the radiator go on and I said, all right, well, let's see what we can do about it. If you do on YouTube, I was like, all right, let's go.
Three hours later, I was like, all right, we're done. You just fix the radiator by yourself off of a YouTube video. Basically, yeah. Just follow us.
I would go off a YouTube video. I would say, all right, so whatever's in the video doing the work. Click, click, blend the video, watch for about 20 seconds. All right, got to remove these bolts, whatever, do that, blah, blah, blah, blah, all that kind of stuff.
And then basically repeat the steps and reverse, put the new part in, get it done. And I've done that with my truck. What else have I done in that thing? I've done the brakes on it.
And I'm like little other parts of pieces of it. Like, you know, it's like the basics of, you know, oil changes. I've actually done oil changes. I don't want to open my own car, but anyway, kind of just getting off topic.
But just like, I kind of enjoy doing that. Just fixing my own stuff, saving myself a little bit of money. And I don't want to get some more money on the video. I'm trying to dive into something else.
My cousin and I have died in a jet ski repair a little bit. He's got a couple of jet skis and he and I always go up there and he and I was getting the grads. We just started working against just fun. And I was just like tinkering around and being able to fix something and making an engine run.
I think it's really cool. I took a couple of class, auto classes in high school and I kind of enjoyed that. So, you know, it's kind of a hobby of mine. It's on the side almost.
Even though it's not so much a hobby as it is like, oh man, I got to fix this right now or else, you know, I'm not going to be able to make it at the school. It's definitely kind of become something that I've come to enjoy a little bit. And even though I'm not, you know, in advance mechanic by any means, like, I can take care of some of those stuff here and there and it's definitely really fun. So that's kind of one of my other things.
I mean, outside of that, like all this boards, I mean, it's been hard to kind of dive into other sports. I just live the high one, everything being so busy. But I love golfing over the summer. I'm my brother Joey's an athlete.
I'm golfing here at SxU. I always golf with him. Whenever he gets buddies together, I just love doing that. Just having that time together on the golf course, even though this golf is one of the most frustrating games, I just has it so technical.
But I just find myself enjoying that and just being around the game working at Freshwick has been definitely a blessing for me. And I've grown to appreciate that game too. And that's not something like volleyball or track where you can just keep going with that forever. Like, you know, my body's only got so many reps and I have to give out.
So golf is something that can take into the future, especially like going to the business world. Like a lot of business deals are gone on the golf course. I've seen that a lot of times, you know, just as much in my time as a kid, like I was talking business out there. I'm like, I can see myself doing that.
So, you know what, that's another how we got to pick up. But yeah, I know. So I've been kind of yapping for a while. But this is all about.
This is what the podcast is all about. I am. Yeah. But not do it.
Do you guys get competitive when you guys golf against each other or is it just more casual? That's a good question. Joey always beats me and it's really annoying. But we definitely do get competitive out there.
And when I do play someone that's more my skill, it's not as advanced like it get really competitive out there. Like we'll throw a few bucks down on a hole or two and just, you know, but yeah, exactly. Yeah. What's money starts flying down?
Oh, yeah. Pretty real. You start to get into the chain factor. That's a different piece right there.