By Gena Jones

Lane Tech boys volleyball captains Forrest Durnbaugh and Evan Schulman said their championship victory against Taft last Thursday was ‘four years in the making.’

“It’s wonderful,” Durnbaugh said. “We’ve been so close to city every year and to finally get it this year — it’s just beautiful. It just feels very full circle to end on the city note.”

The leading duo represent two of four seniors on the Champions’ squad who closed out the regular season with a stellar 29-6 record and five-game win streak. Year by year, they’ve watched each other grow as athletes, improving upon their unity as a team in hopes of bringing home a varsity championship plaque to Lane Tech.

Their keys to success? Focus.

“I think focusing during practice was huge,” Schulman said. “We had some troubles at the start of the season — one of our setters was gone, people were losing focus — but we were able to round it up. Everyone was able to focus in, and we came into this match really prepared for it.”

Head coach Amy Wallace has been with her seniors from start to finish, beginning her leadership of the team in 2021. 

“I think it’s just an accumulation of all the work they’ve put into it,” she said. “They work so hard outside of the gym time of our season. If we have an open gym at 6 a.m., it’s full. Not just with them, but of all the program kids and of all the other kids that wanted to try out as well.”

That environment of collective hard work and dedication was on full display during their competition with the Eagles. The Champions swept their opponents, winning the city championship by scores of 25-19, 25-14. 

High fives and shouts filled Little Village’s gym after each spike from the Champions. According to Coach Wallace, the team’s energy is a key trait that distinguishes them as competitors in the League.

“They’re so used to the last couple of seasons being the CPS underdog,” Wallace said. “The fact that they really ran with that and tried to flip the script on it — they’re hungry to prove themselves. They know what they have to do, so they’re stepping up to it and it’s fun. They’re just a really fun, goofy group of kids that get along so well. It’s easy to compete when you’re having fun during it.”

“We came in, we knew we were gonna win, we kept that energy the whole time and we just played like it,” Schulman said. “We had our confidence and that’s all we needed.”

While Thursday’s win was a night to remember for the Champions, both captains agree that their job this season is not quite done. 

Lane Tech’s next stop? State. The team, ranked #15 in Illinois according to MaxPreps, have had their eyes set on an IHSA title since the start of the season. Wallace believes there’s one thing that the team will need to keep up as they progress to their next round of competition. 

“Commitment,” she said. “We’ve talked a lot about it: whatever your job is, commit to it 100 percent. That was really happening tonight, and last night as well, and they really rose up to playing for each point as it is instead of just waiting for the next opportunity. Just taking advantage and making the most of what they have instead of waiting for it to be perfect.”

Moving forward, the Champions have a host of talent on their squad that they trust will continue to build upon the momentum of this year’s championship, the program’s first in four years.

“Our other captain, Richy, he’ll probably be a main leader,” Durnbaugh said. “Also our setter Martin Wynn – he’ll be a shot caller from now on.”

The legacy the senior Champions leave behind is one of perseverance, teamwork and of course: victory.

“I’m really proud of what they’ve accomplished,” Wallace said. “More than just the win.”

Photos by Hannah Henderson/OSA

Varsity photos: Lane vs. Taft

Sophomore title match