Ean Goldstein ’23
Staff Writer
The 2022-23 handball season got off to a great start for the Foresters, and specifically sophomore Dylan Schmitt. Schmitt won the Illinois Handball Association Joe Ardito Contenders Tournament, the first Forester to do so since 2015. Throughout the round of 16, quarterfinals, and semifinals, Schmitt won by a combined score of 90-31, en route to the championship match. Hosted at the Sports and Recreation Center, Schmitt was able to fight adversity in the championship match, winning the final two games 15-10 and 11-3 after dropping the first.
Where are you from?
New Braunfels, Texas
What’s your major?
Politics
How long have you been playing handball?
I learned how to play when I was child, but I didn’t really start playing seriously until three years ago, when I decided to play at Lake Forest.
What is your favorite part about being on the handball team?
My favorite part about playing on this handball team is that some of the best people that I know are brought together by such an amazing sport that I really love.
How did you get into the sport of handball?
I’ve been around handball for my entire life because both of my parents played (that’s how they met), my aunts and uncles played, and it has run through my family for generations.
How different is it playing singles vs. playing doubles?
In singles, the goal is to win the rally based on where your one opponent is, a pretty simple goal that you can usually accomplish by hitting one really good shot. There’s more to think about in doubles because, offensively, the other team can cover double the court, so shots must be more precise. Also, defensively, you must communicate with your teammate and cover their back in certain situations. There is a lot more to doubles and the game can get very complicated especially when the ball is moving extremely fast, but can also be the most enjoyable form of the game when played right.
What is it like to be playing for a handball program with so much history and so many national championships?
It’s a great experience playing for such a legendary coach and seeing all the pictures on the wall. Playing on a court where I can see the old champions from the ’80s staring at me really makes me want to win, too.
How did it feel to win the Joe Ardito Contenders Tournament?
It felt great to win a tournament that so many other great players and LFC alumni have won, but I still know that there is a lot more work to be done and I am nowhere near where I need to be as a player.
What are you doing to prepare for the upcoming Milwaukee Classic from December 2-4?
Exactly what I’ve been doing for my time here at LFC, playing handball as much as I can because I love it and it’s a lot of fun.
