A pair of Big 12 standouts did nothing but win during the week of Jan. 13-19 and took home CSM Winter Athletes of the Week as a result.
Bloomington girls basketball player Madison Embry and Richwoods wrestler Gabe Martinez are the two latest winners of the awards after Embry led her team to three straight wins and Martinez continued a dazzling senior season by taking home a tournament title.
Read more about our winners and their impressive performances and get to know them in Q and A’s below.
Embry won CSM Girls Athlete of the Week after receiving 44 percent of the votes in the girls poll. The Bloomington forward put together a string of impressive games as the Purple Raiders won three straight against Springfield Lanphier, Danville and Jacksonville all by 25 points or more. The junior had her biggest performance against Lanphier, dropping 19 points and nine rebounds in a 60-34 win, but tacked on impressive showings with 13 points and six rebounds in a 59-34 win over Danville and 14 points and eight boards in a 55-13 win over Jacksonville.
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Get to know Embry in a Q and A here:
What’s been your favorite memory of the season/offseason so far?
“My favorite memory is during June on the bus rides to tournaments we would play the game “Heads Up!” on my phone.”
If you had to be stranded on an island with a teammate, who would it be and why?
“If I had to be stranded on an island with one teammate, it would probably be Lauren Shuey because she will put everyone else before herself and I know she would make me laugh.”
Favorite music artist?
“My favorite music artist is Future.”
Favorite food?
“My favorite food is chicken alfredo.”
Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?
“Before every game, my mom sends me a game day text which consists of many things but at the end of every text she say “Be you, stay true” and I always look forward to it. I also make sure to listen to “Sum 2 Prove” by Lil Baby.”
Who’s your favorite college or professional athlete?
“My favorite athlete is Paige Bueckers.”
Do you have any hidden talents?
“One of my hidden talents is i’m good at math.”
Who’s your role model and why?
“My mom is my role model because she never gives up on anything and no matter the challenge, she is always ready to step up to it.”
Martinez won CSM Boys Athlete of the Week after receiving 43 percent of the votes in the boys poll. The Richwoods star grappler helped the Knights win the Normal U-High Invitational on Jan. 18 by winning the 175-pound bracket and picking up 27.5 total points for his team. He quickly pinned Effingham’s Trent Reardon in the quarterfinals and won in a 17-1 technical fall over Crete Monee’s Kijuan Springfield in the semifinals. In the championship match, he pinned Springfield Lanphier’s Jaylen Crowder in 5:09 to take home first place. Martinez, who is 22-1 on the season, recently took home second place at 175 at the Big 12 Conference Tournament on Jan. 25.
Get to know Martinez in a Q and A here:
What’s been your favorite memory of the season/offseason so far?
“Favorite memory in-season has been going Dave’s Hot Chicken twice in one season.”
If you had to be stranded on an island with a teammate, who would it be and why?
“If I was stranded, I would say my brother Alex because he’s reliable.”
Favorite music artist?
“Tame Impala.”
Favorite food?
“Anything while cutting weight.”
Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?
“My pregame routine is eating raw honey and warming up with my friend Phoenix and so we can hype each other up.”
Who’s your favorite college or professional athlete?
“Cael Sanderson.”
Do you have any hidden talents?
“My hidden talent is I am a big history buff and [can] recall specific dates.”
Who’s your role model and why?
“My role model is my old wrestling coach, Steve Montez, because he pushes me to want to compete at the collegiate level.”
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