By Jeff Vorva
Correspondent
The Brown family’s legacy continues in the world of boys volleyball.
Twins Chris and Eric Brown helped Oak Lawn finish fourth in the IHSA volleyball tournament in 1993, the second year the boys state tournament took place.
Though the twins graduated that year, that season served as a springboard for the 1994 campaign in which the Spartans won the state championship — one that remains the lone athletics state title in school history.
Flash forward to 2024: Chris’s sons, Zach and Ben, were key players in leading York to the best season in program history as the Dukes (27-5) finished runner-up to Marist in a two-set loss on June 1 at Hoffman Estates High School.
Ben, a sophomore outside hitter, had seven kills while Zach, a senior setter, had 13 assists.
Ben credits Chris for helping him and Zach develop into elite players.
“He’s always pushing us to do better,” Ben said of his father. “After every game, he’s always teaching me something. He watches me and gives me little tweaks to help me fix my game.
“Every morning, we pepper outside and he’s always coaching me. And he’s always encouraging me.”