Oswego East Student-Athletes of the Week-Sam and Savina Trujillo

For seniors Sam and Savina Trujillo, volleyball has been an integral part of their life since they can remember. Their mother, Maria Trujillo, played for the Greece Junior National team and passed down her passion for the sport to her daughters. However, Sam and Savina have forged their own path, and along with their teammates, have etched their names in the OE history books for team wins this season. Their leadership and play, and commitment to their teammates, are why they are this week’s Oswego East student-athlete of the week.

Sam and Savina began their volleyball journey in the first grade as members of Sports Performance volleyball. “When they were little, they looked up to the older players that volunteered as coaches to teach the younger players; now they have come full circle as they do the same and coach the younger players at their club in their very limited time off,” says Maria and Rick, Sam and Savina’s parents.

As freshmen at OE, Sam and Savina began solidifying their futures, albeit in different ways. Sam was able to make the JV as a freshman, which would be the first season she would play without her sister by her side. Up to the task of helping her team in any way possible, Sam played middle on the JV, and again as a junior on the varsity team, before settling into her role on the right side this season.

Head coach Dina Beamon understands how important Sam’s versatility and willingness to do what is necessary for the team is for their overall success, saying, “Samantha is probably one of the most versatile players on our team. Sam fills any role the team needs and does an amazing job at keeping a positive attitude. She cares so much about her teammates and makes sure she looks out for them and encourages them.”

That encouragement is something Sam prides herself on as a teammate. Sam and Savina have been playing with most of their senior teammates since the 3rd grade. Sam set a goal this season to, “become a reliable teammate, not just with the energy I bring on the court, but also someone my teammates can count on when we need a point,” says Sam.

Savina’s role on the team is different in that she is tasked with being the setter, which is the position of making sure her teammates are correctly aligned. “I’m in charge of making sure I understand what we, and the other team, are trying to do and calling our offense,” says Savina. She goes on to say, “I really love everyone on the team and I want to be at my best to help us all succeed.”

Being the setter means having a lot of responsibility, something coach Beamon knows is a role Savina thrives. “Savina is smart, very focused, and works hard. She is very particular about her sets and wants to make sure she is delivering to her teammates at all times.”

The relationship developed between this senior group has led to the most successful season in OE history. The team set the school record for wins with 25 and captured the SPC title for the first time in school history. Savina has amassed 30 serving aces, 27 kills, 81 digs, and 237 assists, while Sam has 4 aces, 101 kills, 7 blocks, and 36 digs. The team is seeded 4th in the Plainfield North Sectional with hopes of bringing home more hardware with a regional, sectional, and state title.

Both Sam and Savina are interested in playing volleyball in college, with some colleges recruiting not one but both girls. “They have spoken to several schools, some together and some apart, and we have been lucky that some schools that have invited them over for visits are interested in both girls,” says Maria and Rick.

Coach Beamon believes both girls have bright futures ahead of them, saying, “I see them succeeding in college because they are disciplined, smart, and wonderful people,” says Dina. She goes on to say, “They will work hard, respect the game, and have an amazing foundation they have already laid that will help them be successful in whatever they decide to do!”

Despite the heavy demands of both school and club volleyball, Sam has maintained a 4.1 G.P.A. at OE and plans on majoring in psychology in college, and eventually earning her master’s degree in either counseling or taking a pre-law track. English teacher Colleen Calvey knows Sam will thrive in either field, saying, “Sam will excel at anything she pursues because she is driven, resourceful, and energetic. When she mentors DJ1 students she holds them accountable for their work, is patient and constructive in her feedback, and knows how to celebrate with them when they reach a new milestone. She knows how to build strong relationships with others by using humor but also being forthright in her communication.”

Savina has also excelled in academics during her time at OE, earning a 3.9 G.P.A. and setting her sights on elementary education as a major, a career partially influenced by her mother’s experience in the education field. “Savina will be an amazing teacher, as she is caring, giving, and has patience with children,” says Maria. Savina’s Honors Spanish 4 teacher, Kristen Rude, says, “Having Savina in class was truly a blessing. I was impressed by her from the beginning of the year due to her willingness to engage in class discussions and even make small talk with me. She made an effort to participate in class, despite the nervousness everyone was feeling, and I found myself drawing energy and motivation from her.”

Already being part of the first team in school history to win the SPC conference championship, Sam and Savina are still eager to add to the school’s history book this post-season. Having attended OE during the entire pandemic, Sam and Savina still found a way to excel in both academics and athletics. Future Wolves would be smart to heed their advice, with Sam advising them to, “take it all in because it flies by really fast and there are hundreds of opportunities at OE for you to get out there and meet people.” Savina has similar advice, saying, “It’s best to put yourself out there and get involved in something you are interested in because our programs are led by great people and can help you make connections to new friends.”