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mokenamessenger.com sports
the Mokena Messenger | June 7, 2018 | 43
Athlete of the Week
10 Questions
with Lauren Hunter,
Lincoln-Way East softball
Lauren Hunter is a senior first baseman on
the Lincoln-Way East softball team
How’d you get started in softball?
I played baseball when I was younger for a
really long time. And then, when I was about
8 years old, I joined my first travel [softball]
team. And then, I’ve basically been playing
travel ever since.
Jules Gomez — a sophomore on the Titans’ softball, volleyball and basketball teams
— won the May Athlete of the Month competition for publisher 22nd Century Media’s
Southwest Chicago branch. Jeff Vorva/22nd Century Media
Athlete of the Month
Titans softball pitcher
earns May honor
Bill Jones, Managing Editor
Tinley Park High School’s
Jules Gomez is a multi-sport
athlete, taking on basketball
in the winter and volleyball
in the fall. But in the spring,
she shines on the diamond as
a pitcher for the Titans’ softball
squad.
She is the type of athlete
who got Division I offers,
even though she is only a
sophomore, and she plans to
play softball for DePaul.
And she recently earned
another accolade, leading
the way in votes to claim
22nd Century Media’s
Southwest Chicago Athlete
of the Month crown for May.
The Athlete of the Month
competition pits featured
Athlete of the Week selections
from our south suburban
newspapers against one
another in an online voting
contest.
The next contest is to begin
Sunday, June 10.
To vote, visit MokenaMessenger.com,
hover
over the “Sports” menu tab
and click “Athlete of the
Month.” Readers can vote
once per session per valid
email address. Voting ends
at 5 p.m. June 25.
All athletes featured in
the May Athlete of the Week
sports interviews are automatically
entered into the contest.
What’s your favorite position to
play?
I like first base the best because it’s more
involved with every play. People are throwing
the ball to you and you have to ready. I’m
a lefty, so it’s just fun to play there because
it’s easier, too.
Who’s the best player of all time?
I’ve always liked [former MLB player]
Jim Thome from the Sox. He’s a really, really
good hitter and has an awesome swing.
So I think he’s pretty great. I like Jackie Robinson,
too. He was a good player.
What’s your spirit animal?
I gotta’ stick with my answer [from
AOTW in basketball]. It’s a person: Carolyn
Waleski, who was my basketball teammate.
What’s the first thing you’d buy if
you won the lottery?
I would buy my dad a car. He’s always
wanted an Audi.
What are your plans for college?
[Hunter was chosen as a scholarship recipient
for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy]
My orders are for me to report next month;
June 27 is when I’m going to leave… [I’ll be
going through] it’s called, “indoctrination.”
It’s about a month long. It’s basically boot
camp.
What kind of exotic pet would you
Photo submitted
own if you could?
A monkey. It could just sit on [my] shoulder
all day.
What life lesson have you learned
playing softball?
I learned that sports can get you really
good relationships with people and bring toward
a lot of people. You meet really great
people through sports, and it helps pave the
way for your life and help you make decisions
in your life.
If you couldn’t play softball or
basketball, then what other sport
might you try?
Rugby. I think that’d be pretty fun.
What’s your advice for the new
Griffin softball players coming up
next year?
Just to live in the moment and not always
be thinking about the future. Just enjoy what
they have while they have it, because once
it’s gone, you’ll finally realize how great you
had it. Don’t blink. Be happy with what you
have. Keep an open mind about things, even
though things might be rough in the moment.
Interview conducted by Editor T.J. Kremer III