A pair of athletes from the biggest schools in Central Illinois but up some of the biggest performances in the postseason and were voted as the latest Torq Fitness Athletes of the Week.
Normal Community’s Wade Pyle took home Boys Athlete of the Week after a strong performance at the IHSA State Meet in boys swimming and Pekin’s Cadence Covert won Girls Athlete of the Week after helping the Dragons girls basketball team reach its first sectional title berth in program history.
Read more about our winners and get to know them in Q and A’s below:
Pyle won Torq Fitness Boys Athlete of the Week convincingly after receiving 73 percent of the total votes in the boys poll. He qualified for the final heats in both the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle. Pyle swam a school record time of 20.72 in the 50 free prelims before putting up a time of 21.08 in the finals to finish eighth in his heat and 13th overall. He touched the wall in 45.19 in the prelims of the 100 free before notching a time of 46.18 in the finals, which also placed him eighth in his heat and 13th overall.
Get to know Pyle in a Q and A here:
What’s been your favorite memory of the season so far?
“Definitely Nolan [Pyle] winning the 200 free at sectionals, to see my brother go to state as a freshman is a really cool thing.”
If you had to be stranded on an island with a teammate, who would it be and why?
“I would definitely want to be stranded with Ethan [Arndt], he’s the smartest one of our group so he’d be able to get us off the island the quickest.”
Favorite music artist?
“J Cole.”
Favorite food?
“Pizza”
Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?
“I love to listen to music and visualize before every race, just helps me focus a little better.”
Who’s your favorite college or professional athlete?
“Favorite college athlete is definitely Jordan Crooks.”
Do you have any hidden talents?
“I don’t have any hidden talents.”
Who’s your role model and why?
“My role model is definitely my dad and my coaches, they have taught me everything I know and I owe a lot of respect to them.”
Covert won Torq Fitness Girls Athlete of the Week after receiving 37 percent of the votes in the girls poll. The Dragons’ junior scored 14 points – which was a Pekin team-high – in its 47-39 win over Normal Community in the Class 4A sectional semifinals. That win helped propel the Dragons to their first sectional title appearance in program history, where they fell to Alton.
Get to know Covert in a Q and A here:
What’s been your favorite memory of the season so far?
“My favorite memory was my freshman year when we won the JV conference championship at Metamora High School. I got to play that year with some of my closest friends and former [Pekin] Bulldog players."
If you had to be stranded on an island with a teammate, who would it be and why?
"I would want to be stranded with my teammate Lily Towery. I chose her because she is always prepared and she would keep me entertained."
Favorite music artist?
"Megan Maroney."
Favorite food?
"Chipotle or any Mexican."
Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?
"I always make sure I put on my right shoe before my left shoe."
Who’s your favorite college or professional athlete?
"Caitlin Clark because she is fun to watch."
Do you have any hidden talents?
"Hula hooping and I can play the clarinet."
Who’s your role model and why?
"My role model is my mom because of how hard she works everyday to take care of our family and how strong she is."
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