Three good stretches before warm-ups weren’t enough for Lincoln-Way West’s Colin Dargan.
He had to have two more deep stretches at an unusual time — during the player introductions.
After the junior right-side hitter’s name was announced, he walked over to near the serving line, plopped himself down to the floor and did some more intense stretching.
“I love deep stretching before my games,” Dargan said. “I feel like if I don’t stretch, I can’t play well. I love to be loose. I love to be stretched out. I don’t want to pull any muscles or get injured.
“That’s scary.”
It’s not a stretch to say that Dargan has been a big part of a huge season for the Warriors.
The left-handed Dargan delivered six kills Tuesday night to help host Lincoln-Way West roll to a 25-11, 25-21 SouthWest Suburban Conference win over crosstown rival Central in New Lenox.
Connor Jaral added six kills and seven digs for the Warriors (21-3, 2-0). Hunter Vedder tallied four kills, while Noah Konopack produced 20 assists and Andrew Flores contributed eight digs.
Joey Vellenga led Lincoln-Way Central (13-11, 0-2) with five kills and Braeden Fawcett had three. After a rough first game, the Knights battled to a 14-14 tie before the Warriors pulled away.
Dargan has turned into the Warriors’ version of Stretch Armstrong. His mantra is to “stay elastic.”
“Staying elastic really helps with your vertical,” Dargan said afterward. “I jump somewhat high for being 6-foot-3. But staying elastic really helps me so much with running, jumping and swinging.
“I started doing it out of habit when I was 14 years old.”
Dargan calls himself “super flexible” and proved it after the game by bending his right arm behind his back in a hammerlock motion and touching the back of his head with his hand.
That’s impressive.
Lincoln-Way West coach Jodi Frigo also is impressed with Dargan’s power.
“He’s very dynamic and brings out a lot of energy,” Frigo said of Dargan. “The ability to have three pins that can continuously perform in the front row and back row is great.
“They are weapons who can spread the offense.”
One of those weapons is Jaral, a senior outside hitter who is choosing between NCAA Division III national powers North Central College and Loras for his next stop.
Jaral thinks this season is going so well that expectations have shifted.
“At the beginning of the season, we were talking about how many wins we were going to get,” Jaral said. “We thought we would be 24-11. Right now, we are 21-3.
“We’re exceeding expectations in my mind. We’re going for a 30-win season. Last year, we went 30-10, and we’re trying to be better than we were last year.”
Lincoln-Way West also finished 8-0 in the conference in 2023, a program first. The Warriors are hoping to duplicate that feat.
Dargan, meanwhile, is collecting college suitors. He said he is getting a host of looks from North Central College, Aurora, Concordia-Chicago, Long Island and The Master’s University.
But Dargan has a lot of time to go with the Warriors. And he wants the hits to keep on coming.
“I keep a simple philosophy — see ball, hit ball, hit ball hard,” Dargan said. “All jokes aside, I think I’m one of the best pin hitters on this team, and every time I get the ball, it’s an opportunity to execute and try to be great for my team and bring everyone up.
“I want to get everyone excited where the energy is great. I always have a great day. I look forward to every single practice and playing with my team.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
