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opprairie.com sports
the orland park prairie | May 4, 2017 | 49
Athlete of the Week
10 Questions
with Sam Call
Sam Call is a senior at
Sandburg High School. He
an outside hitter for the volleyball
team.
How did you get started
playing volleyball?
It was just out of curiosity
for the sport. I played a recreational
league through the
Orland Youth Association,
even before middle school. I
tried out for my junior high
team at Century Jr. High
School at my older sister’s
request, and I made the team.
What is it about the
sport you love?
It’s fast-paced. I love the
game because you’re always
included in the play, and you
always have a job to partake
in.
What is the most
challenging part of
volleyball?
I guess breaking old habits.
It’s an evolving games
— especially when you get
into higher levels — and
it’s also very physically
demanding. I’ve had to increase
how high I can jump
to be competitive.
What is your best
moment in volleyball?
Playing in the state series
was a lot of fun [with
Sandburg], and it was different
than playing in any
club volleyball tournament.
I felt like there was more at
stake.
What is your favorite
food?
My favorite food is steak.
I’m a big meat guy. Bonefish
has really good steak.
What is your favorite
television show?
“Rick and Morty.” It’s one
of those Adult Swim shows.
It’s really just preposterous.
They have a lot of funny
little tidbits in there.
If you could travel
anywhere in the world,
where would you go?
I always wanted to go
see and travel to England.
I know my parents went
there when they just got
married. They said England
was one of their favorite
places. I just want to visit
Big Ben and just see how it
is there.
high school highlights
The rest of the week in high school sports
Softball
Sandburg 4, Plainfield Central 3
Elise Wantiez was the winning pitcher
April 26, when the Eagles improved to 15-7
on the season on the road against Plainfield
Central. Sam Coffel hit a solo home run in
the effort.
Photo submitted
What is your biggest
pet peeve?
This is a stupid one, but
people who chew with their
mouth open.
If you could have dinner
with anyone, living or
dead, who would you
choose?
I would probably just go
with Neil DeGrasse Tyson.
He is an astrophysicist. It
would be really fun to have
a conversation with him. He
has some really cool ideas
and concepts, and I would
just love to pick his brain.
What is one thing you
cannot live without?
Materially, my phone;
more metaphorically, music.
I listen to so much music.
I like The Chainsmokers.
Their new album is really
good.
Interview by Assistant Editor
Brittany Kapa
Girls Water Polo
Sandburg 10, Lockport 5
Emma Crnich had a whopping 17 saves
April 20, as the Eagles beat the Porters in Orland
Park. Nicole Manuel had three goals, as
did Tara Maher. Maher also counted four assists.
Bell Wrobel scored two for Sandburg.
Athlete of the Month
Providence Catholic hockey player
wins hotly contested April title
Bill Jones, Editor
It is rare that 22nd Century Media Southwest
Chicago’s Athlete of the Month competition
ends in a tie. Potentially unprecedented,
though, is the contest ending in a three-way
stalemate at the end of regulation.
But as everyone outside of soccer — and,
on rare occasion, American football —
knows, ending in ties is no fun. So this past
month’s Athlete of the Month competition got
sent to the rare staff overtime tiebreaker vote.
The choices came down to Lockport Township
baseball player Kevin Davis, Providence
Catholic hockey player Kevin Horan and
Lincoln-Way East boys water polo competitor
Ryan Murphy.
When the dust settled, Horan earned the
win yet again.
The senior has played on the varsity hockey
team for the past two years, in which the
Celtics won back-to-back Kennedy Cups. He
also took the trip once again to the Amateur
Hockey Association of Illinois Red Division
State Finals at the United Center.
The Athlete of the Month competition pits
featured Athlete of the Week selections from
our south suburban newspapers against one
another in an online voting contest.
This Week In ...
Eagles Varsity Athletics
Baseball
■May ■ 4 - hosts Lockport,
4:30 p.m.
■May ■ 6 - at Glenbard South,
10 a.m.
■May ■ 8 - at Lincoln-Way
Central, 7 p.m.
■May ■ 9 - at Homewood-
Flossmoor, 4:30 p.m.
■May ■ 10 - hosts T.F. South,
4:30 p.m.
Softball
■May ■ 9 - hosts Lincoln-Way
East, 4:30 p.m.
■May ■ 10 - at Glenbard South,
4:30 p.m.
Girls Soccer
■May ■ 4 - hosts Bolingbrook,
7 p.m.
■May ■ 5 - at Lockport, 4:30
p.m.
■May ■ 9 - hosts Lincoln-Way
Central, 6:30 p.m.
Boys Volleyball
■May ■ 4 - at Andrew, 5:30
p.m.
■May ■ 5 - hosts Warren High
School, 6:30 p.m.
■May ■ 9 - hosts Stagg, 5:30
p.m.
■May ■ 10 - hosts Downers
Grover South, 5:30 p.m.
Boys Water Polo
■May ■ 4 - at Naperville
Central, 5:30 p.m.
■May ■ 8-11 - at Lincoln-Way
Central Sectional, TBA
Girls Water Polo
■May ■ 4 - at Naperville
Central, 6:30 p.m.
■May ■ 8-9 - at Lincoln-Way
Central Sectional, TBA
After winning a staff-vote tiebreaker,
Providence Catholic hockey player Kevin
Horan claimed the title of 22nd Century
Media Southwest Chicago’s April 2017
Athlete of the Month. 22nd Century Media
File Photo
The next contest is to begin Wednesday,
May 10.
To vote, visit OPPrairie.com, hover over
the “Sports” menu tab and click “Athlete of
the Month.” Readers can vote once per session
per valid email address. Voting ends at 5
p.m. May 25.
All athletes featured in the April Athlete of
the Week sports interviews are automatically
entered into the contest.
Badminton
■May ■ 4-6 - at Hinsdale South
Sectional, TBA
Girls Lacrosse
■May ■ 4 - at Lyons Township,
7 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse
■May ■ 4 - at Plainfield, 6 p.m.
■May ■ 9 - hosts Lemont, 7:30
p.m.
Girls Track and Field
■May ■ 4 - at SWSC Division
Meet (Bolingbrook), 4:30 p.m.
■■
Boys Track and Field
■May ■ 5 - at Bill Jackson Invite
(Lockport), 4:30 p.m.
Boys Tennis
■May ■ 4 - at Thornwood, 4:30
p.m.