Stagg volleyball coach, freshman player, reunite in gym where she helped save his life
There is something good about Jordan Sintich and the month of May.
On May 30, 2023, the Stagg teacher and head boys volleyball coach brought a new person into the world with the birth of her daughter, Taytum.
On May 14, 2024, Sintich helped keep a person in this world alive when she performed lifesaving techniques on freshman Miles Sanchez, a student athlete.
So, what’s going to happen in May, 2025?
“Oh, I’ll probably do something crazy,” Sintich joked.
Sintich was involved in a lifesaving situation that she was prepared for but never had to go through.
The varsity team came back to the Palos Hills campus from New Lenox after a SouthWest Suburban Conference Red match with Lincoln-Way West.
All seemed normal when the team entered the gym.
“The JV team was running in our gym, and they were just finishing their last lap,” Sintich said. “Miles essentially collapsed, and it was very, very chaotic for a moment.”
Sanchez, who has a heart disease known as the Brugada syndrome, said he started to feel dizzy and then took a knee.
“That’s all I remember,” Sanchez said. “I woke up and saw my coach right beside me and comforting me. I was scared but I knew I was safe at the same time.”
Sintich, who had CPR training, jumped in and used an automated external defibrillator to shock Sanchez to get his heart back to normal and to keep him alive.
“I’ve never done that before except in practice and training,” Sintich said. “But I never did it to someone in a real-life setting. I just reacted and did what I knew how to do.”
Sanchez eventually ended up at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he received open-heart surgery. He came home over the weekend and while he wasn’t able to go back to school, he attended Monday’s Stagg Regional quarterfinal, in which the Chargers beat Chicago Acero/Garcia 25-7, 25-6.
Per doctors’ orders, he wasn’t jumping up and down and wildly screaming during the Chargers’ convincing victory. He had to remain quiet in his first trip back to the gym he collapsed in less than a week prior.
Despite the restrictions, he said he enjoyed himself.
“It was fun to finally be out again,” Sanchez said. “It was great to see my teammates after all of this. I got to bond with them again.”
And he got to reunite with his lifesaver.
“I’m really grateful for coach Sintich and thankful that she knew what to do in that short of time,” he said. “She did all of that extremely quickly.”
According to his mother, Tatum Sanchez, Miles had two surgeries at age 9 after finding out about the Brugada syndrome. He had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator and pacemaker installed.
The mayoclinic.com website states Brugada syndrome is a “rare but potentially life-threatening heart rhythm condition.”
It said that it causes an increased risk of irregular heartbeats.
Sanchez, now 15, said it’s been a long time since he has had an episode and in the past six years he has been athletically active playing golf and volleyball.
This episode has given him a fresh perspective on life.
“Every day I am grateful to be here,” he said.
Sintich, whose maiden name is Kelley, was a student-athlete at Oak Forest High School and played volleyball at Moraine Valley Community College.
She was also a lifeguard, which first introduced her to lifesaving techniques. She teaches them during swim instruction during physical education classes.
Sintich also worked at Reavis before coming to Stagg.
On the volleyball court, the Chargers dropped a 25-19, 25-18 decision to St. Laurence Tuesday night in the regional semifinal, which turned out to be her last match. After four years at the helm, she is giving up the position.
“It was best for my daughter and myself, mentally,” Sintich said. “Coaching is a lot. It takes a lot of time, and you don’t see your family.”
She said she will continue to teach at Stagg.
Meanwhile, eight days after saving Sanchez’s life, Sintich still can’t believe it.
“Obviously, it’s repeating in my head,” she said. “At this point, it doesn’t feel real. It’s like a surreal experience.
“But everything ended on a positive note.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.