Sandburg’s Jeremiah Aro has a lot of respect for Michael Schofield and Kendall Coyne Schofield.
The Southland sports power couple have made big names for themselves since graduating from Sandburg. Michael won a Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos. Kendall won a gold medal and two silvers in the Olympics with the U.S. women’s hockey team.
“If you live in Orland Park, it’s hard to not know about them,” said Aro, a Princeton-bound senior right-hitter for the Eagles. “They both accomplished so much.”
Last week, Aro was surprised with the seventh Schofield Family Foundation Scholarship. It was given to him for his play on the volleyball court as well as graduating in the top 5% of his class.
Not only a quick study in the classroom, the 6-foot-6 Aro also has learned rapidly on the court this season as Madisen Babich added a few more responsibilities to her standout’s repertoire.
“Jeremiah’s IQ of the game is getting better and better,” said Babich, who’s in her first year as Sandburg’s coach. “Each new week I feel like he advances on the knowledge side and with his decision-making.
“He’s playing all the way around for us, so his right back defense, we have crossed that bridge of seeing the change of him being able to read a hitter and how to pick up a tip. He’s keeping a lot more balls alive in the back row for us, too.”
Aro, the first volleyball player to earn Schofield Family Foundation Scholarship, helped Sandburg (25-4) finish second Saturday at the Richards Invitational in Oak Lawn. The tournament featured just 12 teams, but three were ranked in the Top 25 in the nation in the latest USA Today/American Volleyball Coaches Association poll.
Downers Grove North (27-4), ranked No. 20, defeated No. 14 Sandburg 25-18, 25-14 in the championship match, while No. 25 Brother Rice downed Wheaton-Warrenville South 25-22, 25-21 for third place.
Sandburg struggled Saturday against Downers Grove after sweating out three-game wins over Lyons, 19-25, 25-19, 20-18, and Brother Rice, 23-25, 25-23, 25-22. The Crusaders had handed the Eagles two of their losses.
Sandburg’s Will Ashum, an Aurora University recruit, and Aaron Dennie joined Brother Rice’s John Mikrut and Oliver McNichols, Stagg’s Charlie Zeiler, Shepard’s Dylan Harkala and Richards’ Kaden Oros on the all-tournament team.
“Will is always ready to go and he has the grit and always wants to find a way to score,” Babich said. “Aaron is a player I feel no one talks about. His serve receive is the most consistent.
“He’s not going to be someone who is like ‘woah’ across the gym, but we’re trying to make him known because he is a good weapon.”
Aro already had developed that wow factor during his sophomore and junior years for Sandburg. His jumping and powerful hitting abilities make an impact.
“He’s a much-needed piece for our team,” Ashum said of Aro. “Honestly, we would not succeed as much as we do without him. He’s a great teammate and makes everybody better.”
Aro said the best part of volleyball is interacting with his teammates.
The best part of this season, however, could be ahead for the Eagles. Sandburg and Brother Rice are seeded second and third, respectively, at the Hinsdale Central Sectional.
“When we have school, we all have busy schedules and we don’t get to see each other that much,” Aro said. “But when we’re playing volleyball, we are all together.
“This is a great group of guys and I love all of them.”
He also admires the football and hockey skills of the Schofields.
“I wanted to play football but my mom wouldn’t let me,” Aro said. “I went ice skating about three or four times, but I wasn’t very good, though.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
