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the Lockport Legend | July 12, 2018 | 37
Alumni Spotlight
Chmielewski chasing starting spot at Southern
Randy Whalen
Freelance Reporter
Matt Chmielewski will never
forget what it was like to start his
first college football game.
A 2016 Lockport Township High
School graduate, he signed to continue
his football career at Southern
Illinois University. After redshirting
his freshman year, Chmielewski
was a starter on the offensive
line for the Salukis as they took the
field in the season opener on Sept.
9, 2017 against visiting Mississippi
Valley Sate in Carbondale.
“It was awesome,” Chmielewski
said of starting at left guard in the
Salukis 55-3 victory that day. “It
was great to be back out on the
field and out there working with
pads on. As a redshirt freshman,
time seems so long and it’s so hard
watching. You want to be out there,
on the field, contributing in a positive
manor.”
Chmielewski also started in
the second week, too. That was
Sept. 16 and was a 35-17 victory
at Southeast Missouri. He quickly
noticed one particular difference
between the high school and college
games.
“Just the game speed in general,”
Chmielewski said of the difference.
“Each level you move up
gets faster, faster, and faster. It’s
just that everybody is good and
you have to separate yourself. Plus,
there’s the mental part of the game.
Just making sure you’re in the right
spot and always knowing your responsibility.”
While Chmielewski proved
himself capable enough to earn a
starting spot, he was also in there
because of an injury to the normal
starting left guard Josh Podzielinski.
So, while Chmielewski played
in the remaining nine Salukis’
games (they went 4-7), most of
those were on special teams. He
got back in for some more offensive
line play, but mostly blocked
on field goal and extra point attempts
and was also on the kickoff
receiving team.
Chmielewski, who is listed at
Lockport Township High School graduate Matt Chmielewski, of the class of 2016, will be competing for a starting spot along the offensive line at
Southern Illinois University this fall. Photo submitted
6-foot-4 and 294 pounds, did get
an opportunity with the ball in his
hands.
“Yes, I got one at South Dakota
State,” he said of the teams 49-14
loss on Oct. 7 in Brookings, South
Dakota. “But I fair caught it. The
coaches told me to fair catch the
ball and I didn’t want to make them
mad.”
Despite having the experience
of fielding a kickoff, Chmielewski
doesn’t expect to be included in the
offensive gameplan anytime soon.
“I doubt if I would, but that
would be awesome,” Chmielewski
said of the possibility of being used
as a ball carrier near the goal line.
“That’s every lineman’s dream to
score a touchdown.”
When he was at Lockport,
Chmielewski made an impact on
the offensive line as a three-year
starter. He was named as an honorable
mention All-State selection in
his senior season of 2015 as well
as a two-time Academic All-State
selection. He was a two-time firstteam
All-Conference honoree in
the SouthWest Suburban Blue as
the Porters rushing attack gained
more than 1,000 yards in that pair
of years.
He also competed in track and
field, where he qualified for the
state meet in the shot put, and also
participated in basketball.
“He’s a great kid,” Lockport
football coach Dan Starkey said.
“He going to be right in the mix
this season at Southern, and the
thing about Matt is that he’s a good
athlete. He’s very bright and a hard
worker in the weight room and
those things do great things for you
as an offensive lineman.
“We had Matt and Quinn Polaski
[who was 6-foot-6, 305 pounds]
side-by-side and our line leaned
to the left as far as running behind
them. I think Matt is going to make
big contributions. I know the head
coach there, Nick Hill, and this is a
good time to be at Southern.”
Chmielewski has been at Southern
working out and taking classes
most of the summer. He got his
football career start later than most,
not playing until high school.
“I played a lot of sports, like
baseball and basketball, before
high school,” said Chmielewski,
who also played basketball his senior
year at Lockport and placed
11th in the shot put in the Class 3A
state finals as a senior. “I first tried
football in high school because I’m
big and it looked fun. I tried it out
and never looked back.”
Now, he hopes to once again
crack the Salukis starting lineup.
The position competition will start
next month and Chmielewski plans
to be right in the mix for that left
guard spot. But no matter what, he
knows he’s in the right place.
“I’m looking to play more, I’m
looking for a spot, but no matter
what I’m looking to play in a
lot of games,” said Chmielewski,
who is majoring in mechanical engineering.
“At Southern, it’s just
the people, the atmosphere and
the love and care everyone has for
each other.
“It’s one big happy family and I
also love that everything is set up
right there. Everything is close on
the campus and right next to each
other. I get to play and work out
with my brothers and I can’t wait
to play football again.”