Athletes of the Week: Cruz paces perfect team run, Bradley keeps swimming and winning

Oct. 8—Babette Bradley — Champaign Central swimming and diving

➜ Why she's Athlete of the Week: Bradley played a big role in the Maroons' success last week. Central won its second invite of the season Saturday at the Peoria Richwoods Invitational. Bradley took home two individual event wins, one in the 100-yard breaststroke and another in the 200 individual medley. She also helped the 200 medley relay team — along with Olivia Terry, Stella Asse and Macy Cappa — to a third win. Three days later, Bradley won the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:58.67 to contribute to Central's dominating win over Bloomington.

➜ From Bradley: "I was kind of surprised, but I was super duper happy (to be named Athlete of the Week), and I was proud of myself. ... Our team this year is really, really, really strong. We've been beating teams that we didn't last year, and our relays are doing really well. We're just looking really strong, and I'm excited to see how far we go this year."

➜ A TV show I could watch over and over is ... "Grey's Anatomy." I like the drama aspect of it because it keeps me hooked, but I also like that it's a doctor show because I want to be a doctor when I'm older.

➜ My favorite music artist is ... probably Zach Bryan, but I'm not a super big country fan.

➜ If I could have any superpower, it would be ... shapeshifting. I feel like I could shapeshift into any other superhero and get all their powers.

➜ Something that's on my bucket list is ... I really want to travel the world and see as many continents and countries as I can. I also want to go skydiving.

➜ My biggest pet peeve is ... not necessarily a pet peeve, but it's something I do. I hate being late to things.

➜ My favorite swimming memory is ... sectionals my sophomore year. I dropped time in both of my events. I looked up at the scoreboard and saw the times I worked for all season.

➜ My most embarrassing swimming memory is ... from my most recent meet (on Tuesday against Bloomington). I stayed in the water during the relay. I was going third, and the fourth almost flip-turned on me because I didn't realize I was still in the water.

➜ Before an event ... the biggest thing I do now is just listen to music. I put my headphones on and just listen to music behind the blocks a little early and talk to my coach.

➜ After an event ... I go back and talk to my coach about any corrections I need to make and warm down if I can. Then, I just go back to listening to music and cheering on my team.

➜ In five years ... I hope to be swimming in college, at a college that fits with what I want to be, where I want to live and what I want to do. I just want to be enjoying what I do. I want to be enjoying swimming, my major and what I'm doing.

➜ Honorable mention: Kate Foltz, Tuscola cross-country; Rachel Hartmann, Centennial tennis; Talynn O'Donnell, Mahomet-Seymour swimming and diving; Mary Roland, Heritage volleyball; Macie Russell, Oakwood/Salt Fork cross-country.

Marco Cruz — La Salette cross-country

➜ Why he's Athlete of the Week: Cruz led the Lions to a perfect team race last Saturday in the four-team Oakwood/Salt Fork Invitational. Competing against runners from St. Thomas More, Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin and Oakwood/Salt Fork, La Salette finished one through five to earn a perfect team score of 15. Cruz paced the team with a time of 17 minutes, 42.60 seconds. Teammates Andrew Gross (second in 17:57.19), Mercel LeFevre (third in 18:04.92), John Reen (fourth in 18:08.21) and Daniel Sullivan (fifth in 18:17.32) rounded out the top five.

➜ From Cruz: "I wasn't expecting (to be named Athlete of the Week). ... We were pretty happy because we had never won that race before. We got second place like four years in a row, so it was good to break that."

➜ A movie I could watch over and over is ... "Gladiator."

➜ If I could have any superpower, it would be ... flying so I could go wherever I want.

➜ Something I'm thankful for is ... I thank God for letting me be this fast.

➜ My biggest pet peeve is ... when people talk while I'm studying.

➜ My favorite running memory is ... regionals last year. I got first place and a 16:36 I think two times in a row, so that was pretty good.

➜ Someone I look up to is ... my brother. When he ran here, I looked forward to watching him.

➜ Before a meet ... I get motivated and change my mindset to "I can do this" and stuff like that.

➜ After a meet ... we pray together.

➜ In five years ... my goal for running is to run in the low 15 minutes or under 15.

➜ Honorable mention: Peace Bumba, St. Thomas More football; Talan Gredy-Nelson, Hoopeston Area soccer; Josiah Hortin, Tuscola cross-country; Logan Mills, St. Joseph-Ogden soccer; Matt Winterbottom, Champaign Central soccer.