Mount Carmel's Vrdolyak bounces back from injury

Mount Carmel's Gavin Vrdolyak is more than excited to play in today's Prep Bowl at Soldier Field.

The senior linebacker and his teammates take on Simeon at noon, and he is just happy to be playing football after he dislocated his shoulder in the third game and re-injured it later in the season.

"I want to play and to have that chance after the playoffs, it is just great," Vrdolyak said. "I can still remember, it was De La Salle's second play of their first drive and I came in a little awkward and it popped."

Vrdolyak never let that diminish his enthusiasm for the sport he loves. He said he still was involved in practices.

"I worked with the linebackers and went over the scouting reports," Vrdolyak said. "It was tough to sit out, but I did what I could to help my brothers get ready for the games."

He was just hoping to play another down and today is his final hurrah.

"I am not playing in college, so this is it for me and I want to make a good showing," Vrdolyak said. "Some of our guys will play in college, but me, I am just glad to have that opportunity to play one more game of the sport I love."

His love shows said Caravan coach Frank Lenti.

"Gavin brings a lot of enthusiasm, even to the huddle," Lenti said. "He was hurt and I felt bad for him because he is a big part of our defense. He has come back, and played real hard for us."

In the six games, he has 19 tackles, including five for losses and he caused a fumble.

"I didn't play that first playoff game (against Hinsdale Central) and I was thinking about it would be terrible that I couldn't help my brothers on the field," Vrdolyak said. "I am so glad we won because I was cleared to play against Bolingbrook."

He is also proud to be part of the Mount Carmel legacy. Like many of his teammates, his dad, Peter, older brother, Peter, and grandfather, former 10th Ward Alderman Ed Vrdolyak, are Carmel grads.

"It is neat because a few of the teachers taught my dad," Gavin Vrdolyak said. "When you have families who continue to send their children here, that means Mount Carmel is really special and I am glad I am a part of it."

He even swaps a few stories with his classmates.

"They'll say, 'What year did your dad graduate?' and you tell them and they say, 'My dad did too,' or 'My dad was a year older.' It really is special."