After he graduates from Lincoln-Way East, Zion Gist is headed to Western Michigan to play football and study aviation.
Gist, a senior running back, will be flying all over the football field this fall for the Griffins. But eventually, he plans to do his flying well above the ground.
“Since I was 7 years old, I was always on YouTube watching planes and flights,” Gist said. “I just fell in love with it. Besides being a football player, I’ve always wanted to be a pilot when I grew up.
“Western Michigan, their coaches love me. I love the campus. It’s only about two hours from home. And they have an aviation program for me, so it’s a perfect fit.”
While most people are understandably focused on what Lincoln-Way East’s passing attack will look like with new junior quarterback Jonas Williams — an Oregon recruit who transferred from Bolingbrook — don’t forget about No. 7.
Gist is ready to play a huge role for the Griffins, who are the No. 1 team in the Daily Southtown preseason rankings.
Last season, Gist served in more of a co-pilot’s role while senior Nuri Muhammad served as the captain. The duo was highly productive, with Muhammad piling up over 1,300 yards and 20 touchdowns and Gist topping the 800-yard mark with 12 TDs.
Now, though, Gist has been gearing up to be the workhorse.
“I’m definitely excited,” Gist said. “Through the offseason, I knew I was coming into this role, so there was a lot of preparation and a lot of getting my body healthy and right to be able to withstand the beating you get being a starting running back and the bell cow for your team.
“I think I’m ready for it.”
Lincoln Way East’s Zion Gist (20) fights for extra yards against Lockport during a SouthWest Suburban Blue game in Lockport on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. (Troy Stolt / Daily Southtown)
So does Lincoln-Way East coach Rob Zvonar.
“I actually coached a little eighth-grade football during the COVID spring, so I’ve been around Zion since eighth grade,” Zvonar said. “You always knew he was a special player with a high ceiling, and he’s worked hard to get to this point.
“You can see the work he’s put in with his body, getting bigger and stronger. If you took a picture of him and Jonas, you could have a picture of a college backfield and not know the difference.”
Senior defensive end Caden O’Rourke, a Northwestern recruit, said Gist is harder to bring down these days in practice.
“He’s become a much stronger, faster guy,” O’Rourke said. “He’s always been big, but he got really huge this past year. He’s an amazing running back and he’s a hard hitter.”
There’s one thing that feels way different about this season for Gist. He’s no longer teammates with his older brother, Stephon Gardner-Gist, who graduated in the spring and is now playing at Quincy.
“It’s kind of sad because I had the little brother thing,” Gist said. “On kickoff returns, we were both out there, so I’m definitely going to miss him this season.
“But he definitely took me under his wing and helped me out with certain things. Even off the field, he helped make me the person I am today, so that was really great.”
Gist started playing football when he was 6 years old, but things were quite different back then.
“I was the left guard and Stephon was the quarterback,” Gist said.
Going back to his future, Gist said he hopes one day to pilot an Airbus or a 747.
“Definitely a big plane like that,” he said. “I’ve always loved seeing them take off.”
For now, though, Gist is focused on making sure the Griffins soar — this time all the way to the top after they lost to Loyola in the Class 8A state championship game each of the last two seasons.
“We’re definitely starving,” Gist said.
Team: Lincoln-Way East.
2023 record: 13-1.
Offensive leaders: Anthony Arrivo, senior, lineman; Zion Gist, senior, running back; Jonas Williams, junior, quarterback; Trey Zvonar, senior, tight end.
Defensive leaders: Jacob Alexander, junior, lineman; Caden O’Rourke, senior, lineman; Dylan Weathers, senior, linebacker; Warren Yanong, senior, linebacker.
X-factor: Ari Daniels, senior, kicker/punter.
