Grant Urban Transforms from Multi-Sport Athlete to Dual College Recruit

During his seventh-grade year, Grant Urban was active in soccer, baseball, and basketball. Fast forward to his senior year at Lincoln-Way East, Urban emerged as a sought-after college recruit in football and a pivotal figure in volleyball for the Griffins. Reflecting on his journey, Urban expressed surprise over his path. “I had no idea where my career would go,” he shared. Initially dreaming of a career as a professional soccer player, Urban has focused his athletic ambitions on joining the Wisconsin-Whitewater football team while aiming to propel Lincoln-Way East through a successful postseason.

Urban, serving as a senior outside hitter, demonstrated his prowess by securing nine kills in the victory against Lincoln-Way West, where the Griffins secured a 25-17, 25-21 win in the Kankakee Regional championship match. Junior outside hitter Carter Geiger contributed six kills and nine digs, enhancing Lincoln-Way East’s standing (28-10) and earning the team its third consecutive regional title and 18th overall. Further support came from Henry Yacobozzi with five kills, Rylan Kim with 23 assists, and Marty Dwyer accounting for 14 digs. Lincoln-Way West, with notable performances from Colin Baikie with 10 kills and David Neylon with five, put up a formidable fight, aided by Aiden Kettelson’s 18 assists and Mason Thompson’s 14 digs.

Urban’s impact on the team comes after beginning his volleyball journey later than most, spending three years on varsity. His athleticism impressed Lincoln-Way East coach Kris Fiore, who remarked, “It’s a lot easier to excel at any sport if you are as athletic as he is. He could be a great basketball player. He’s just an athletic kid.” Urban’s presence as a motivator is well-recognized, with Geiger affirming, “He gets all the guys going and everyone loves him.”

The Griffins are set to face rival Lincoln-Way Central (30-6) in the O’Fallon Sectional semifinals, reigniting a competitive spirit after splitting two regular-season encounters. Securing the Andrew Regional with a win over Homewood-Flossmoor, Lincoln-Way Central presents a formidable challenge. Lincoln-Way East’s achievement in obtaining the regional title follows a season marked by adversity, including injuries such as senior outside hitter Joey Abbeduto’s needed shoulder surgery. Despite these setbacks, the team showcased resilience, showcased by their 13-match winning streak. Reflecting on their journey, Geiger stated, “The season didn’t start out the best but we got back and had a big run.”

Apart from his spring achievements, Urban’s fall sports contribution includes using his kicking skills to aid the football team and support cancer research. Partnering with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer, Urban earned pledges for each field goal and extra point. His philanthropic effort raised approximately $1,000. Urban remarked on his initiative, “I thought it would be a nice thing to do. I really wanted to make my season on the field help make an impact off the field.” His efforts received substantial support from family and community, showcasing the broader impact of his athletic achievements.

Jeff Vorva, a freelance journalist for the Daily Southtown, covers these impressive achievements.