High school lineman explores South Korean roots before building football culture at Princeville

PRINCEVILLE — Logan Olshawsky understands the value of culture.

He has experienced it as part of the undefeated Princeville football program via a renovated weight room. And he experienced it last summer via a trip to South Korea to discover his family roots.

Olshawsky, a three-year starter in the middle of the offensive line for Princeville , is a better man as part of a football family that is undefeated and has clinched a playoff spot — and as part of a family at home that explored its roots in the Republic of Korea in early July.

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"That was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, to go to Korea and meet all our family members," Olshawsky said. "It was incredible. I'm still extremely overwhelmed by the whole thing."

Boryeong-Si, Cheonbuk-Myeon, South Korea

Olshawky's mother, Christina, was born in Michigan but lived for a while in South Korea with her parents.

Olshawsky's grandfather, Ted, was in the Army at Camp Henry in South Korea. He met Jin-Mae, Olshawsky's grandmother, during his tour there in 1975. She came to the United States in 1977 and married him.

"In early July, we had a chance to go to Korea and meet a lot of our family members," Olshawsky said. "I'd never been there. It was exciting."

They live in Boryeong-Si , Cheonbuk-Myeon, South Korea, a city of about 100,000 on the west coast of the Yellow Sea, within the administrative division known as Cheonbuk-Myeon . It's well-known for its beaches and is nestled about two hours from Seoul.

"They knew a little about (American) football because my grandfather told them about it, told them I played," Olshawsky said. "My grandfather is a Lions fan, and I'm a Bengals fan. We kind of just smile at each other."

So there he was in South Korea, with his mother, Christina, sister Brianna, great-aunt Jin-Hee, grandmother Jin-Mae Keagle, great-aunt Jin-Sook, great-uncle Young-Su, grandfather Theodore Keagle and generations of cousins.

The Princeville center went to Seoul and shared a Korean street food meal with his mother, called Odeng , a savory-sweet fried fish cake. He visited Namsan Tower in Seoul, which sits on a massive hilltop and offers a panoramic view of Seoul. And he went to Changdeokgung Palace in Seoul, a royal palace built in 1405.

There were adventures to E-World in Daegu , a theme park with an 83-floor observatory tower, amusement park rides, zoo and more, and Haeundae Beach in Busan, parked on the Sea of Japan.

"The food and the culture and the respect for the elderly is incredible in South Korea," Olshawsky said. "I won't forget that. We had a family octopus meal together. A few of them. Can't forget that, either.

"Those two-and-a-half weeks there were just mind-blowing."

A weighty proposition

Back in the U.S., Olshawsky spent a lot of time with his football family at Princeville, too.

The third-year starter is part of a football program that underwent a renovation to its weight room, and it has factored heavily in its 6-0 start to the 2024 season.

"The players really dedicated themselves," Princes coach Jon Carruthers said before the season started. "We averaged 42 players in the weight room three days a week at 6:30 a.m. The buy-in has totally changed the culture of the program."

Junior lineman Collin Lowery delivered a squat at 405 pounds, a bench of 275 and hang clean of 255, the latter third-best all-time for the program.

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"Lowery is probably going to break our weight room records," Princes quarterback Jake Williams said. "He's incredibly strong. The whole team got stronger, better, from the weight room program this offseason and it's a big change for us."

Olshawsky is next on the team with a 395 squat (a 13% gain), a bench at 220 (a 16% gain) and a hang clean of 215, third-best on the team (a 23% gain). Lowery achieved a 45% gain in the squat; Williams gained 26% in the squat.

Overall, the team produced a 15% increase in squat, a 15% increase in bench and a 9% increase in hang clean.

"The weight room renovation has changed things for us," Olshawsky said. "The team is closer, better because of it. It brings out a whole new competitive drive for us and it's showing on the field."

It's a whole new world for Olshawsky this season. On, and off, the football field.

Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on X.com @icetimecleve.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: High school lineman explores South Korean roots before building football culture at Princeville