A family legacy. A tradition of excellent Lincoln-Way East defenders. A history of captains leading the Griffins to state championships.
Senior linebacker Jake Scianna plans to be the next in line in several ways.
Last season, Scianna emerged as a star and put up huge numbers, but his team finished below its standards with a 9-3 record. He’s eager to take East back to the top.
“This year, our main goal is to remind people who Lincoln-Way East is,” Scianna said. “Last year was an off year for us, but we’re back this year and we’re hungry.”
Scianna is just one of 16 returning starters for the Griffins, who check in at No. 2 in the Daily Southtown’s preseason rankings.
Scianna comes from a family with a long track record of success in sports.
His grandfather, Andy, coached the Oak Forest baseball team for 27 years and won over 500 games, including the 1985 Class AA state championship.
His father, Randy, was an all-state linebacker at Homewood-Flossmoor and played at Notre Dame.
His two older brothers, Danny and Ryan, played at Lincoln-Way East. Danny went on to play at Furman.
“I hold myself to that family name,” Jake Scianna said. “I have some great role models to look up to. I can always have a conversation with my dad. Both my brothers played in that 2017 state championship game, so they can give me some advice when I need it.
“I’m blessed to be part of a good football family.”
Jake is the youngest brother, which has always put a bit of a chip on his shoulder.
“Most definitely, being the youngest growing up, my brothers definitely made me a lot tougher, I’ll say that,” Jake said. “I wasn’t able to be on a football team with them because they’re much older than me, but I’d come to their practices and games here at East and I learned a lot from just watching them play.
“Of course, they’d take me to the field and get in some extra work with me, too.”
Lincoln-Way East coach Rob Zvonar saw that hard work start to pay off last season for Scianna, who piled up 144 tackles — including 17 for a loss — and three sacks.
“Jake is unbelievable,” Zvonar said. “We call him the eraser because if someone in front of him makes a mistake, he erases that mistake. If a D-lineman misses a gap or anything like that, Jake is there to fix it and cover up for his teammate’s mistake.
“He’s the heart and soul of our whole team. All the guys look for his leadership.”
Senior defensive back DJ Ritter can attest to how helpful it is having Scianna as a teammate.
“Jake is the best of the best,” Ritter said. “He knows what he’s doing. I can trust him. I’m lined up right next to him and I know I’ve got a guy that’s going to help me do my job even better.”
Growing up around the Lincoln-Way East program and watching his brothers play, Scianna has observed the development of all-state players for the Griffins, watching them succeed beyond high school.
He would love to add his name to that list. More importantly, he has a promise to keep from a postgame talk following a 3-0 loss to Loyola in last season’s Class 8A quarterfinal.
“The biggest thing is to win a state championship,” he said. “I told the guys last year after we lost to Loyola, ‘We’re going to get this one back for you. We’re going to win it next year for you.’
“I’m going to do my best to make sure that promise is fulfilled.”
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Team: Lincoln-Way East.
2021 record: 9-3.
Offensive leaders: Bradley Abbott, senior, lineman; Will Heitner, senior, lineman; James Kwiecinski, senior, running back; Petey Olaleye, senior, running back.
Defensive leaders: Conner Durkin, junior, linebacker; Hank Ravetto, senior, lineman; DJ Ritter, senior, defensive back; Jake Scianna, senior, linebacker.
X-factor: Jayden Cook, senior, receiver/defensive back.