The Downers Grove lacrosse team bonds two schools together making a family. Within this team are two defensive players who are true family: brothers, Ethan and Lucas Oliwa.
The DG lacrosse team is having an impeccable season being 9-0 and first in conference. Senior Ethan Oliwa is a Long Stick Midfielder on the team. He shares the team’s mindset continuing through the rest of the season.
“This season is different from last season because we lost a bunch of key players, such as our goalie and face-off specialist, but we have had guys step up and fill their roles. Also, this season we are coming off one of our best seasons as a program with the highest ranking and farthest playoff run yet. We have already surpassed our highest team ranking from last year by beating Wheaton Academy and York. With every year the bar is being raised towards an undefeated season” Ethan Oliwa said.
Ethan Oliwa has been playing lacrosse for four years with DG lacrosse and outside of school. His passion for the sport has grown and will outlast his time in high school.
“I hope to coach this summer for DGS as well as play club lacrosse in college. Long term, I would love to continue coaching into my adulthood” Ethan Oliwa said.
Sophomore Lucas Oliwa is a goalie on the team. This is his first time playing on varsity and is still beginning his journey with lacrosse.
“I’ve been playing lacrosse for around two years, and only half of that time was spent being a goalie. It was a big shock to me making varsity. I wasn’t expecting to be on the team so early. I thought I was going to be placed as the JV goalie. It’s pretty cool to be one of three sophomores on the team” Lucas Oliwa said.
Outside of lacrosse he additionally plays as a goalie for his club hockey team. He explains how these roles stay separate for him in his mind.
“In my opinion, it really doesn’t help too much. Obviously the key ideas of being squared up to a shot, or just simply tracking the ball coming into my stick translates over from hockey, but, most of the things I do in hockey are much different from lacrosse, and that’s because the games are very fundamentally different” Lucas Oliwa said.
This is the first time the brothers have been on a team together. The bond from knowing each other so well makes working together on the defensive side an instinct.
“It’s awesome being on a team together. Driving to practices and playing in the same games instead of having separate experiences has been a lot of fun. During practices, Lucas usually tries to look for me first, and I try my hardest to cut back and get the ball from him” Ethan Oliwa said.
“Ethan helps out on the slide package, taking away what would be a 20 yard step down and making it easier to save. He also breaks up the field, splitting the ride up on the clears” Lucas Oliwa said.
This will be an unforgettable season for the Oliwa brothers playing alongside the rest of their DG lacrosse family.
“There hasn’t been a time yet when somebody has tried to give my brother a hard time in the net yet, but when there is, I’ll be sticking up for him” Ethan Oliwa said.