After a large voting turnout, Tremont’s Maia Lorengo and Normal West’s Tyler Cunningham won CSM Spring Athletes of the week, presented by Dominos, for their performances during the week of April 1-7.
Lorengo earned CSM Girls Athlete of the Week with 42 percent of the vote total and had 12 more votes than Dunlap’s Sutton Centoni, who also finished with a 42 percent total. The Tremont pitcher threw her second no-hitter of the season on April 5 against Ridgeview, striking out 17 and walking two. She continued her shutout streak on Saturday by tossing five shutout innings against Normal U-High. She also got it done at the plate against the Pioneers, hitting two doubles and driving in three runs. Lorengo and the Turks are currently 8-4 on the season and 2-0 in Heart of Illinois Conference play.
Get to know Lorengo in a Q and A here:
What are your goals for the season?
“To go far in the postseason with my team and have fun while doing it. My personal goal is to reach my 500 varsity strikeouts, which I’m very close to.”
What’s your favorite memory of playing your sport?
“Going to [Oklahoma City] with my travel team a couple years ago and winning the tournament on my birthday.”
If you had a walk-up song, what would it be?
“My walk-up song this year is ‘Without Me’ by Eminem.”
Favorite food?
“Smoked chicken with spicy BBQ.”
What’s on your bucket list?
“A lot of traveling, [I] would love to go out west and hike at the national parks.”
Who’s your favorite teacher at school?
“My AP Biology teacher Mrs. Shoot. She is always making things fun and comes to support her students outside of the classroom.”
Who’s your role model and why?
“My parents, both my mom and dad. My mom because she has always pushed me and been my biggest supporter. She is always growing as a person and influences me to do the same. My dad, because he has always been by my side when it comes to softball. He is one of the strongest people I know and has taught me so much. Both of them have raised me to be who I am as an athlete, student and person as a whole.”
Cunningham won CSM Boys Athlete of the Week with 41 percent of the vote total and is the first tennis player – boys or girls – to win a CSM Athletes of the Week award. He helped Normal West to a narrow 5-4 victory over Pekin by winning two matches: a 6-1, 6-2 victory at No. 3 singles and 8-3 at No. 2 doubles while teaming up with Dane Schlipmann.
Get to know Cunningham in a Q and A here:
What are your goals for the season?
“My biggest goal this year is to just keep the errors low and play to my best ability every match.”
What’s your favorite memory of playing your sport?
“The best memories I have is definitely the team dinners that are held before matches.”
If you had a walk-up song, what would it be?
“If I had a walk-up song, it would probably be “God’s Country” by Blake Shelton.
Favorite food?
“Barbecue smoked ribs.”
What’s on your bucket list?
“Something that’s on my bucket list is to watch the Dodgers play in person at Dodger Stadium.”
Who’s your favorite teacher at school?
“My favorite teacher at West is Mr. Hoder.”
Who’s your role model and why?
“My role model is my brother because he’s always been there for me. We connect like no other brothers do and will always be there for each other.”