The polls are now closed for the February Athlete of the Month challenge.
Congratulations to Mariel Franco on being named our Northwest of the Month! Mariel will receive a commemorative plaque presented by Country Financial and be featured in this week’s edition of Pioneer Press. Thank you to all of our challengers and voters!
This program is governed by these rules. Voting results are considered preliminary and are not final until winners are announced at the end of the voting period.
Looking for your school? Find the correct zone.
More: Official rules | Athlete of the Month: FAQ | Questions? Concerns?
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Name: Ryan Kutsor
Year in school: Senior
School: Lake Zurich
Sport: Boys Basketball
Position: Guard
Season stats: 17 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists.
Best game: Kutsor had 24 points and nine rebounds in a 62-60 victory against Geneva in the championship game of the 6th annual Lake Zurich Martin Luther King Classic on Jan. 15. Kutsor was named the tournament’s MVP.
Quote: “(Kutsor is) a great leader. He’s so versatile in terms of what he can do offensively, but also he affects the game in so many ways, with his defense, his rebounding (and) his assists,” Lake Zurich boys basketball coach Billy Pitcher said.
Name: Mariel Franco
Year in school: Senior
School: St. Edward
Sport: Girls basketball
Season stats: A 5-foot-8 guard used mostly as a defensive stopper on last year’s third place finisher in the Class 2A state tournament, Franco has stepped up her all-around game for the Green Wave after playing AAU ball for the first time last summer. Franco averages 9.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3.5 steals for St. Edward, undefeated in the Metro Suburban Red and closing in on 20 wins.
Name: Anthony Letto
Year in school: Senior
School: St. Viator
Sport: Boys hockey
Position: Forward
Season stats: Letto led the Chicago Catholic Hockey League in scoring with 44 points in 20 conference games. Letto had 14 goals and 30 assists, and no other player had more than 37 points. He helped the Lions place second in the CCHL with a regular-season record of 14-2-4.
Quote: “There’s been a tremendous change in our organization,” Letto said. “Our practices, the drills we do, our system, it’s made us a stronger team.”
