David Wolfe may have been destined to be a basketball star.
Yes, the 6-foot-8 New Trier senior is a star, but not in his sport.
“My dad (Adam) played basketball at New Trier,” Wolff said. “But I wasn't that good at basketball.”
However, Wolf is very good at hockey and volleyball. He is the Zdeno Chara of high school hockey, a towering, high-scoring defenseman who helped New Trier win the past two Amateur Hockey Association Illinois State Championships.
Wolff is even stronger in volleyball and is a strong outside hitter. USA Volleyball recently named him Junior Male Athlete of the Year.
“I’ve been playing hockey ever since I was 6 years old,” he said. “But I continued to grow after that. Many of my friends started playing volleyball, so I picked it up fairly quickly.”
Wolfe's mother, Elizabeth, played high school volleyball and softball in Arizona. But one thing is clear: Wolff's choice of sport and talent in both are what make him extraordinary.
“We had a lot of guys who played basketball, football and soccer, but I don't remember any hockey players playing volleyball since I've been here,” said new Trier men's volleyball coach Sue Ellen. Haak said this in his 28th year at the school. . “David is pretty unique because he’s a big guy.
“He has height, but he can also move. He's a six-rotation player and does everything well, so he really stands out. Most players his size can't perform at that level. So I think that's what makes him unique.”
Wolfe, who will play volleyball at Stanford University, is a third-year starter for the Trevians. In his sophomore year, he had 218 kills and 110 digs as the Trevians advanced to the state quarterfinals. Wolf recorded 279 kills, 160 digs, 32 blocks and 20 aces as a junior and was named to the Illinois Prep Volleyball Third Team All-State.
“It's a real honor to coach David Wolfe,” Haak said. “He's not only an outstanding performer, but a great leader and a great young man.
“He was a mainstay on our team every year. Even when he found his footing as a sophomore and became a bit more of a role player, he ended up leading us in kills.”
It's a similar story in hockey, where New Trier is even stronger, having won 18 state championships.
Most recently, on March 13, Wolff had three assists, including the game-winning assist for Hans Huber, in the Trevians' 6-1 victory over York at the United Center. New Trier defeated York 2-0 in the 2023 state championship game at the same arena.
“Both times were great,” Wolff said of playing at the United Center. “It's no different than a normal game. Once the puck drops, things start to settle down and it's just like any other game.”
But Wolff isn't just an athlete, and his choice of sport isn't typical either. He attributes his success to his mentality.
“I'm really competitive,” he said. “So if I'm given any challenge, I always want to be the best at it.”
It took a lot of effort for Wolff to make that happen. The hockey season completely overlaps with club volleyball, so Wolff had to juggle both with his schoolwork.
On a typical weekday, Wolf would go to school and head to hockey practice from 4 to 6 p.m. After dinner, we had volleyball practice from 8pm to 10pm, followed by homework. I had very little sleep and my weekends were filled with tournaments.
“It can be difficult to make time for both sports,” Wolff said. “I had to communicate better with the coaches. They both understand. I've been prioritizing volleyball more this year and I think it's definitely paid off.”
For the Trevians, who won their only volleyball title in 1995, it could pay off with a state championship. Wolfe, who had 14 kills in New Trier's 25-19, 25-19 win over Barrington on March 20, is optimistic about her team's chances.
“We have a lot more depth than most teams,” Wolff said. “I wasn't at my best from the start (against Barrington), but I was able to rely on my teammates. Once my teammates got going, I started to have more confidence and was able to get it back.”
It was New Trier's second game of the season. Wolff departed shortly after, catching a plane to Philadelphia, where New Trier's men's hockey team will play in the national championship. The Trevians went 1-2, ending Wolf's hockey career.
“It was a lot of fun,” he said. “I've always looked at hockey as something very close to me. All my friends come from hockey and I've accomplished a lot, including winning two state championships towards the end of my career. I may be a little sad, but I'm still very excited about volleyball.”
Wolff chose to play volleyball in college because it offered more opportunities, including the chance to attend an elite educational institution. He chose Stanford University over Princeton University and Penn State University.
“Once recruiting started towards the end of my sophomore season and it started to take off, I realized I could take this to the next level,” he said. “So I started putting more time and effort into it.
“I was leaning toward more prestigious schools. One of my former teammates from New Trier, Stefan Jaja, went to Princeton for volleyball. To take this very seriously In a sense, it hit me that I could do that.”
Wolff said her hockey skills have helped her in volleyball.
“I think the hand-eye coordination aspect of hockey definitely translates to volleyball, because most players my size don't have that much coordination,” he said. said. “Having that ability from a young age definitely helped me.
“What's interesting about these two is that while hockey is obviously a very physical sport with contact surfaces, volleyball can also be physical by playing on the net. Thanks to this, I was able to gain the strength to put away the ball near the net and block it.”
Hark noticed.
“What stands out about David is that he's really calm on the court and a fierce competitor,” Haak said. “He wants the ball in big pressure situations and he can go about his business when the game is on the line. So he's a very confident player and that's what makes him It makes it stand out.”
Hark wasn't the only one who noticed. She said one of the physical education teachers at New Trier told her that Wolff was the best athlete in the school. That's what you're saying at a school like New Trier, where high expectations are the norm. Wolff said New Trier is similar to Stanford in that way.
“That's kind of why I chose it,” he said. “I feel like many of the teachers and coaches at New Trier are preparing me well for the next level. I definitely needed to increase the rigor of the course level this year, but it will be a long-term challenge. I think it will pay off.”
That may be true on and off the court.
“Going to Stanford University will give me a lot of job opportunities in the future, even if volleyball doesn't work out,” Wolff said. “Then if you want to play at the next level, you can take that risk and play in Europe and develop your game.”
But over the next two months, Haak is enjoying Wolf's final run as the Trevians hope to win another state title.
“David is the total package,” Haak said. “He is a great student, a great person, a leader and a phenomenal athlete.”
Matt Le Crenn is a freelance reporter.
