Grant Urban’s Journey from Soccer Hopeful to Key Volleyball and Football Player

In seventh grade, Grant Urban was dedicated to soccer, baseball, and basketball. Fast-forward to his senior year at Lincoln-Way East, he was a college recruit in football and a crucial player in volleyball. Urban reflected on this unexpected journey, saying, “I had no idea where my career would go. I actually thought I was going to be a professional soccer player.” His future involves kicking for the Wisconsin-Whitewater football team, but currently, he is focused on helping Lincoln-Way East in its postseason volleyball campaign.

On Thursday, Urban led the Griffins with nine kills, securing a 25-17, 25-21 victory over Lincoln-Way West in the Kankakee Regional championship match. Teammate Carter Geiger, a junior outside hitter, contributed six kills and nine digs, aiding Lincoln-Way East (28-10) in claiming its third consecutive regional title and 18th overall. Additional support came from Henry Yacobozzi with five kills, Rylan Kim with 23 assists, and Marty Dwyer with 14 digs. For Lincoln-Way West (22-15), Colin Baikie led with 10 kills, supported by David Neylon with five kills, Aiden Kettelson with 18 assists, and Mason Thompson with 14 digs.

Urban’s rise in volleyball is noteworthy. He joined the varsity team three years ago, starting late in the sport. Coach Kris Fiore praised Urban’s athleticism, highlighting, “It’s a lot easier to excel at any sport if you are as athletic as he is.” Urban did not engage in club volleyball during the offseason, busy attending various kicking camps. Fiore noted, “It took him a little while to get going because he didn’t play in the winter,” but emphasized Urban’s growing confidence.

Teammate and George Mason recruit, Geiger, praised Urban’s ability to motivate, saying, “He gets all the guys going and everyone loves him. You can hear them cheer his name.” Anticipation builds as the team prepares to face Lincoln-Way Central (30-6) in the O’Fallon Sectional semifinals. Their record stands with a split in two previous regular-season clashes.

This regional title marked a resurgence for the Griffins, who were 8-7 earlier in the season due to injuries, including the loss of senior outside hitter Joey Abbeduto. Geiger remarked on their 13-match winning streak, “The season didn’t start out the best but we got back and had a big run. Everyone has a lot of energy, even the bench, and that’s a key part of our program.”

Beyond volleyball, Urban has been impactful during his senior football season. He participated in the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer, raising approximately $1,000 through pledges tied to his field goals and extra points. Urban stated, “I thought it would be a nice thing to do. I really wanted to make my season on the field help make an impact off the field.” His efforts gained recognition, spreading through social media and family networks.