Ahmad Powell is more than just a volleyball player. Homewood-Flossmoor High School senior outside hitter is a talented athlete, for sure, but he’s more than that.
Powell is part of the school’s Rising Vikings program and speaks to elementary and middle school kids about the high school. He’s student council president and near the top of his class academically. He’s involved in clubs. He’s got his toe in a lot.
“Ahmad is the real deal,” coach Mark Ciesielski said. “Everything he does, he’s dedicated to. He’s good at what he does. He’s personable, well-spoken, kind, well-respected by teachers and students alike, good sense of humor. He’s just a good kid.”
It was a conscious choice for Powell to be involved in different things. His parents instilled it in him, he said. They want him to be disciplined and successful. He credits his religion, as well.
Powell moved into the H-F community from South Holland and once considered himself an outsider. Getting involved was a way to immerse himself in Homewood-Flossmoor, get to know some people and learn what the school and area had to offer.
“When I first came here, I didn’t feel comfortable. I was kind of lonely,” he said. “Something told me that I wanted to be more included in this community and that led me to so many doors in my life. I’m so appreciative that I took those opportunities.”
Powell found a warm reception at school and at volleyball practice.
“This community deserves my energy and my time,” Powell said. “I love it here.”
The Vikings lost some key pieces to graduation a year ago. Powell is just one of the players filling those gaps in play but also in leadership. He doesn’t try to do the latter, he said, but is happy to play that role.
“He’s probably not our biggest vocal leader. Our libero, Bryan Ahrendt, is the quarterback on the court,” Ciesielski said. “Ahmad, his presence in itself makes him a leader. He works hard. If he’s doing something, people know that’s what we should be doing.”
Powell will be there to make a big play, too. He had over 20 assists in both of the first two matches this season, wins over Illiana Christian and Oak Lawn. Passing and defense are now his strong suit, he said, but he can be a big hitter when the team needs it.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen an athlete like him. I think he’s got a 35-inch vertical jump. He’s stronger than an ox. He goes to our lifting sessions and the football coaches are like ‘Hey, who’s this guy?’” Ciesielski said. “As athletic as he is and as smart as he is, he’s always trying to get better. He’ll go home and watch tape to try to get better. He’s coaching himself.”
Powell believes the Vikings have a “winning spirit.” He said he and his teammates are fired up and looking to win some in-season tournaments that eluded them a year ago.
He believes chemistry will be the key.
“I think the intangibles are what separates good teams from great teams,” Powell said. “It’s what you do on the court but also what you do off the court, the relationships you have with your team.”
Volleyball will likely come to an end for Powell in a couple months. Columbus, Ohio, is probably the next stop, where he’ll study electrical and computer engineering at Ohio State. If a volleyball scholarship offer comes, he’ll entertain the idea but right now the Buckeye State is the plan.
The ultimate goal before that is a postseason trophy. Powell wants to win a regional title. The last time H-F took home one of those was in 2021 and that was only the program’s second since the mid 1990s.
“I just want us to be satisfied with what we did,” Powell said. “I want to be consistent in energy, be consistent in how we play, be consistent in how we treat each other. Those are my brothers out there and I care for them a lot.”