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Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Northern Kentucky-bound Devlin Biggs makes huge plays as Marist rolls past Mount Carmel. ‘Variety and versatility.'
Not only can Devlin Biggs be a menace to opponents, he can be pretty troublesome for his Marist teammates, too. The senior outside hitter takes practices as seriously as he does matches. He doesn't ease up on anyone, according to teammate Nathen Toth. 'He's a very physical player,' Toth said of Biggs. 'It's great to have him on our side. 'If you go up against him in practice, he'll make your forearms hurt a little bit.' Biggs, Toth and the rest of the defending state champion RedHawks have been putting a big hurt on all of their opponents during the postseason. That includes Tuesday's 25-9, 25-13 win over Mount Carmel in the De La Salle Sectional final in Chicago. It's the seventh sectional title for Marist, which is seeking its fifth state championship. The MIT-bound Toth tallied 10 kills, three aces and five dig for Marist (36-2). Biggs added seven kills, while Griffin McElroy chipped in with five kills and two blocks. Rorey Donnelly made eight digs and Jacob Finley totaled 15 assists against the Caravan (17-11). Biggs, for one, has been a bright spot all season long for the RedHawks. 'He was really excited to step into a bigger role this year,' Marist coach Jordan Vidovic said. 'All things considered, he's just another perfect example of the senior class, how they go about it every day during the season and how they try to get better even when things are going well. 'And he's added a lot. He has more than just a power game. He's added variety and versatility, and that's big for us.' Marist takes on Lake Park (28-11) at 1 p.m. Friday in the state quarterfinals at Hoffman Estates. The Lancers beat Hersey 23-25, 25-17, 25-13 to win the Schaumburg Sectional. Biggs, a Northern Kentucky recruit, never imagined he would be a 6-foot-3 force for Marist, ranked second in the nation by the USA Today/American Volleyball Coaches Association. He was a 5-3 libero in seventh grade and wasn't really living up to his last name. But by the time he was a freshman, he grew to 6-1 and added two more inches after that. The progress is all recorded in pencil on a kitchen wall at his house. 'I had a massive growth spurt and after that, I started taking volleyball seriously,' Biggs said. 'I put in hours and hours of practice. I knew I was going to grow, but I didn't think I would be this tall.' While Biggs was getting some playing time here and there the last two seasons, he's really making his mark this spring as a senior. 'This is his first taste of being a high-impact option,' Vidovic said. 'He's really excited about the game aspect.' Biggs will have an interesting challenge ahead in college. Northern Kentucky will play its first season in 2026 under coach Jim Palilonis, who played on Marist's first team in 1992 and coached at St. Rita. Palilonis took an interest in Biggs early on. 'I've known him since seventh or eighth grade,' Briggs said of Palilonis. 'He coached at Purdue Fort Wayne and he recruited me for there. 'Then he ended up switching to Northern Kentucky and he recruited me there. It's brand-new team and he's bringing in five guys from Illinois.' That list includes Lincoln-Way West's Drew Kregul. No matter what happens this weekend, however, Briggs' high school career will be coming to an end. He said he will miss his teammates. 'The 10 seniors are 10 of my best friends,' Biggs said. 'Outside of volleyball, we're hanging out all of the time. They make practices so fun. 'This season is so sick. Playing with this team is so much fun, and we've been able to have fun and still be serious.'
Chicago Tribune
17-02-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
A perfect 30-0 as a freshman, South Elgin's Allison Garbacz builds upon past performances. ‘I'm not new to this.'
Young and precocious, South Elgin's Allison Garbacz doesn't get rattled by the next challenge. Even though she's only a rookie as far as the high school level goes, Garbacz still understands the rigorous demands of being elite at her sport. And that comes from past performances. 'I've been wrestling for a really long time — I'm not new to this,' she said. 'It might not seem like it because I'm just a freshman. But I've waited a long time, almost years, just for this moment.' Garbacz maintained her sensational start Saturday with a 5-1 victory over Schaumburg senior Madeline Zerafa-Lazarevic in the 145-pound championship match of the Schaumburg Sectional. While remaining unbeaten, Garbacz (30-0) qualified for the individual state meet at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington. Zerafa-Lazarevic (44-2) entered Saturday's final with experience and savvy. Garbacz rendered those advantages null and void, though, taking control with a takedown in the first period. Without a doubt, Garbacz didn't blink, either. 'There's definitely nerves, but I feel that helps me push myself to be the best I possibly can be,' she said. 'I work hard, I have good coaches and I put the effort in, which is all you really need.' Azucena Rodriguez, a junior who went 3-2 Saturday and finished just short of qualifying for state at 115, said Garbacz does a great job of meshing together technique and tenacity. 'I think she has a great consciousness about her moves when she's out there,' Rodriguez said. 'She definitely thinks of everything and knows what she is doing. 'She believes in the coaches, and you see that in her confidence and her support.' Garcacz's father is an assistant coach for the girls wrestling program at South Elgin. Her older brother, Austin, was a standout wrestler at Bartlett. 'Her best quality is her technique,' South Elgin coach Robert Tornabene said. 'Sometimes, I really have to search for things in the room that she doesn't really know. 'She started the season at 155 pounds and did really well there. She has this quiet confidence about her.' A swimmer, Garbacz competes in the sprints and the breaststroke. She also plays defender in soccer. Wrestling, however, is the sport that best suits her manner and nature. 'A lot of other sports, you can hide behind the team,' she said. 'With wrestling, there's nobody doing that for you. 'I feel like wrestling has always helped me work hard and have the mentality of trying to be the best I could be at something.' In the sectional semifinals, Garbacz gave up her first takedown of the season against Batavia junior Anabelle Guthke, then responded with a pin in the first period. The championship round was a rare match that went the distance for Garbacz. Her blend of quickness, speed and superior technique has been a revelation. 'My style depends on the day,' she said. 'I like shooting except when I don't like it. (Saturday) I was quick with my shots and got into my offense. 'I'm always going to do whatever I know will work in that moment.' As the youngest of three children with a significant age gap, Garbacz wanted to mirror her siblings' success while making her own reputation. 'My siblings were always smart and good at sports,' she said. 'I think I've always had that desire to be the best at something.' Bookish and quiet, Garbacz's favorite subject is math. She has an analytical approach, always looking to optimize her scoring. 'Being good at learning has taught me how to be a student of wrestling,' she said. 'It feels really good to put the work in and go to state. I really have to stay focused. 'I know everything I've done has prepared me well.' Originally Published: February 16, 2025 at 11:09 PM CST
