Senior middle hitter Scott Szymkowiak and junior middle/opposite hitter Braeden Goebbert have designs on helping the Lockport boys volleyball team make it to the state tournament for the first time in program history.
If anyone has an idea about designing and finishing high in state competition, it’s these two.
In April, the volleyball and basketball teammates went their separate ways and competed in the Illinois Design Educators Association state competition. Szymkowiak placed second in the machine CAD software division, while Goebbert took second in the 3D modeling division.
Students were given a drawing problem to solve in a two-hour window.
Goebbert’s assignment was to get 20 small random shapes done correctly after being given instructed measurements.
He said he hopes to go into engineering and wants to find a good school that offers volleyball.
He isn’t close to picking a college yet, but he has been in contact with MIT, which is no stranger to the Southland. Lincoln-Way Central graduate Jack Yurkanin and Richards graduate Steven Serrano were on the 2021 roster.
Szymkowiak said the design competition and volleyball are done for fun. He’s heading to the Milwaukee School of Engineering to play basketball and work on a degree in computer engineering.
He’s also the rare athlete who found a college fit without playing travel or club.
Thanks to sending out film and an assist from Lockport assistant Andrew Weber, the former head coach at Rockford University, the 6-foot-6 Szymkowiak and MSOE became a match.
He said he never felt hindered by skipping the club and travel scene.
“I work out year-round,” he said. “I never have an offseason. I go from basketball to volleyball to summer league basketball, and when there is no season, train and shoot and get on the court five days a week.”
He’s not sure what he wants to do after college, but owning a business is something he said would interest him.
“I have no idea what I would do if I had my own company, but it’s something I want to do,” he said. “I want to find an idea and roll with it.”
Meanwhile, the Porters (14-3) are rolling this season, earning the top seed in sub-sectional B of the Mokena Sectional. Edwardsville is the top seed in sub-sectional A.
Under coach Nick Mraz, Lockport’s three losses have come to defending state champion Marist, which is seeded first in its own sectional; St. Rita, which is seeded first in its sectional; and Lincoln-Way East, which is seeded second at the Marist Sectional.
Lockport and Lincoln-Way East shared the SouthWest Suburban Blue title. It’s the Porters’ first conference championship in program history.
The Porters have nine seniors on the roster, including four-year varsity player Carter Steffgen. Sam Trafton, Matt Arens and Owen Knezevich are in their third year.
Goebbert said he will miss playing with these seniors.
“It’s just fun,” he said. “I’ve always been on good teams. I’ve always had great teammates. This year is really fun especially after not playing for a year. We came together and are having a great season.”
Like all teams in the state, Lockport’s 2020 season was canceled by the Illinois High School Association because of coronavirus concerns.
Until mid-May, it was unclear if there would be a postseason beyond regionals. Once the IHSA gave the green light, the Porters were happy they could try to make history.
“Playing-wise, we have a lot of guys who can do pretty much everything,” Szymkowiak said. “We have a solid guy in each spot. We work well together and we enjoy each other. We have a good time outside of practice.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
