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lockportlegend.com sports
the Lockport Legend | June 14, 2018 | 39
fastbreak
Going Places
Porters’ Pfeiffer leaves lasting legacy
Erin Redmond
Freelance Reporter
22nd Century Media File Photo
1st and 3
LTHS catcher to
play in Big Ten at
Maryland
1. An early decision
LTHS catcher Gracie
Voulgaris committed
to play softball
at the University of
Maryland during her
sophomore year.
2. Four-year player
Voulgaris was pulled
up to the varsity
team as a freshman
and played at that
level all four years
of her high school
career.
3. Big numbers
During her senior
season, Voulgaris
hit .392, tallied 37
RBI, was second on
the team with 10
doubles and had 15
extra base hits.
Anthony Pfeiffer had two
goals for his senior season:
beat Sandburg and win regionals.
He did both on the
same night.
“He was able to beat every
single team that’s been
on our schedule — even
Lincoln-Way East, which
was 79-1 in conference. We
were that one loss,” Porters
coach Nick Mraz said. “This
was the team he wanted
and to get it in the regional
championship, that meant
everything for me to see
and it meant everything for
him… He led the way. He
was picking up balls, he led
us in kills — he did it all for
us that night.”
It’s been a long road for
Lockport’s star setter, who
has been playing volleyball
for as long as he can remember.
As the younger brother
of another Porters standout,
Kayla Pfeiffer, Anthony
had an excellent role model
when it came to learning the
game. His earliest memories
include going to her games
with his parents where he
was inspired to try it, too.
When he was 9 years old,
Anthony joined club volleyball
with Kayla — and he
never looked back.
“I used to play basketball,
I used to play football,” Anthony
said. “Of course those
are all team sports, but I feel
Anthony Pfeiffer (left) contributed to more than 100 wins
during his four-year career on the Lockport Township High
School boys volleyball team. 22nd Century Media File Photos
like [volleyball] requires a
lot of skill. It’s just fun and
I’m able to learn new things
everyday… You can’t really
just jump into playing
volleyball, you have
to learn [the game]. I love
team sports and having team
chemistry. My sister being
able to teach me was a big
factor, too.”
When Anthony first started
playing, it was just for fun
— but it soon developed into
an insatiable passion.
He watched his sister continue
her career and earn her
spot on Ashland University’s
roster, helping fund her college
education and told himself
if she could do that, so
could he–and he did.
Anthony will attend
Queens University of Charlotte
in North Carolina
where he plans to play all
four years while pursuing a
degree in business.
“It really opened my eyes
when I saw my sister getting
a lot of college coaches
talking to her,” he said. “She
basically got her whole college
paid for through volleyball.
Men’s college volleyball
isn’t as big as women’s
volleyball in college. I still
thought if I played my best
I could still get something
paid for. I’m following
through with what I wanted
to do.”
That follow through and
work ethic is exactly what
has made him into the Lockport
legend he is. He was
named Third Team All-State
in his junior season, making
him the first player in Por-
Please see
going places, 34
Anthony Pfeiffer (16) will be continuing his volleyball career
at Queens University of Charlotte in North Carolina.
LISTEN UP
“I’m just a pretty competitive person. I want that
feeling of winning. It drives me to play and I love it.”
Gracie Voulgaris — Recent LTHS graduate who will continue her
softball career at the University of Maryland
Tune In
Youth Football
Off to camp — June 11-27, at LTHS’s East Campus
• The Porter Football Youth Summer SKILLS Camp is
for players ages 5-14 to practice and develop skills
in a safe setting and meets twice a week.
Index
35 - Team 22 Girls Soccer
34 - Athlete of the Week
FASTBREAK is compiled by Editor Max Lapthorne,
max@lockportlegend.com