On Campus: McHenry East grad Ray Vohasek earns starting spot with North Carolina

Two years ago, Ray Vohasek was a junior college football player who had spent time at six different positions.

“It helped me out in some areas, like with instincts,” said Vohasek, a McHenry East graduate. “I can recognize things (on the field).”

Instead of being a jack of all trades, Vohasek has spent the past year at the University of North Carolina honing his skills to master one role -- the interior defensive line.

“Not needing to know multiple positions and the techniques is nice for me,” he said.

The rewards of his work will be starting at nose guard when the Tar Heels open the season against Syracuse at 11 a.m. Saturday in a game that will be televised on the ACC Network.

“He’s the tip of the spear for our defense,” UNC defensive line coach Tim Cross said. “He’s doing a great job. He leads the way for us with the example of the way he plays with such physicality and aggressiveness.”

Saturday’s game will be Vohasek’s first start for the Tar Heels after playing 12 games as a reserve last season and compiling 15 tackles, five tackles for loss and a sack.

This season, Vohasek said he is in much healthier than a year ago, when he was still building up the strength in his surgically repaired right shoulder, which was operated on in 2018 while he was at College of DuPage.

“It felt good last year, but it was all about putting strength on,” said the 6-foot-3 Vohasek, who has bulked up to 305 pounds, about 40 pounds heavier than his playing weight at COD. “It was a process.”

Learning the intricacies of the position required watching and listening to Cross – who has coached more than 50 current and former NFL defensive linemen – and former Tar Heels Jason Strowbridge (Miami Dolphins) and Aaron Crawford (Baltimore Ravens), who were seniors last season.

“They set an example of how to practice,” Vohasek said. “Just seeing them do the techniques at practice every single day, seeing how they would use it in a drill, then bringing it to a game and applying it was huge for me. When I got here, I felt like I had some ability, but I didn’t understand the techniques.”

With two regulars off to the NFL, North Carolina will rely heavily on Vohasek.

“Just being consistent is my biggest (goal),” he said. “I’m excited to play and I want to have a big impact for us up front. I’m excited for the opportunity.”

Staying in Springfield: After an impressive volleyball career at D-II University of Illinois Springfield, Cary-Grove grad Alli Splitt is staying with the program in a new role.

UIS announced Wednesday that Splitt has been hired as an assistant coach to “continue to contribute to the success she helped create,” head coach Trey Salinas said.

From 2016 to 2019, Splitt was a key piece of the most successful four-year stretch in UIS volleyball history. The team posted a 77-53 record over that time with three consecutive seasons of at least 19 wins. In 2018, the Prairie Stars won the Great Lakes Valley Conference title and advanced to the NCAA tournament. That season, split was named first-team All-GLVC as a middle blocker and earned honorable mention All-America honors.

Splitt is the program’s all-time leader in hitting percentage (.329) and ranks second in career kills (1,218) and points (1,546) and third in blocks (436).

Newest ISU Redbird: After he graduated from D-II Winona (Minn.) State, Cary-Grove grad Michael Gomez had one season of college football eligibility remaining and a goal to play at a higher level.

“It’s always been a dream of mine,” said Gomez, who was a three-time All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference choice as a Winona defensive lineman.

That desire led Gomez to Illinois State, a D-I Football Championship Subdivision member, as a walk-on and a graduate student pursing an MBA. He also considered North Dakota.

“I’m trying to get in where I fit in and help the team as much as I can,” Gomez said. “I could definitely see myself playing a little bit of tackle.”

Gomez is living with fellow C-G grad Tyler Pennington, an ISU fullback, as the team prepares for a spring season against Missouri Valley Football Conference teams after the fall campaign was canceled.

“I see great potential in our team,” Gomez said of the Redbirds, who made the FCS quarterfinals last season. “I’m trying to be explosive and have good hands and see what can happen.”

Barry Bottino writes about local college athletes for the Northwest Herald. Write to him at barryoncampus@hotmail.com and follow @BarryOnCampus on Twitter.