The Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC) recently named the Dick Durrant Academic Athlete of the Year award winners for 2021-2022. Waubonsee Community College's Veronica "Ronnie" Latka was one of 14 winners of this prestigious award this year. The award is given annually to the male and female student-athletes in the ISCC who attain the highest grade-point-average (GPA) after completing four semesters of college work. Latka, a softball player from Kaneland High School, earned this distinction with a perfect 4.0 grade-point-average, bringing the Chiefs' total to 33 student-athletes who have earned this honor since the inception of the award in 1979.
The award is named after Mr. Dick Durrant, who was an outstanding teacher, coach and athletic director at Elgin Community College from 1961 through 1985. Durrant championed the philosophy of academic as well as athletic excellence while at Elgin. Coach Durrant was known for his concern for students, his sense of fair play and his attitude of education before athletics.
Latka, a sophomore catcher, hit .270 with five doubles, a triple and a home run. The fleet-footed receiver also stole 21 bases and was thrown out only twice all season. Latka posted a .972 fielding percentage in 41 games behind the plate, catching all but five innings the Chiefs' played during the season. The right-handed hitter was named to the All-ISCC Second Team, and will be continuing her athletic and academic career at North Central College in Naperville, majoring in Exercise Science and Pre-Physical Therapy.
In addition, 38 sophomores and 29 freshmen Waubonsee student-athletes achieved ISCC All-Academic status for the 2021-2022 school year. The list consisted of the following:
(SOPHOMORES)
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Jason Daniels |
Baseball |
Hammond, IN / Morton |
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Jonah Hays |
Baseball |
Geneva, IL / Geneva |
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John Kruzwicki |
Sandwich, IL / Sandwich |
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Jesus Maravillo |
Baseball |
Aurora, IL / Aurora West |
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Joseph Pantano |
Baseball |
Geneva, IL / Geneva |
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Jaron Schiera |
Baseball |
Sandwich, IL / Sandwich |
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Ryan Stempowski |
Baseball |
Batavia, IL / Geneva |
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Brendon Wilson |
Baseball |
Aurora, IL / Marmion Academy |
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Brandon Ducoing |
Men's Basketball/Soccer |
Yorkville, IL / Yorkville |
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Anthony LoPresti |
Men's Cross Country/Golf |
Aurora, IL / Aurora Central |
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Xander Lundblad |
Men's Cross Country |
Batavia, IL / Batavia |
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Edgar Barrientos |
Men's Soccer |
Montgomery, IL / Yorkville |
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Caleb Hester |
Men's Soccer |
Sandwich, IL / Sandwich |
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Mauricio Ortiz |
Men's Soccer |
Aurora, IL / Aurora East |
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Morgan Keifer |
Softball |
Montgomery, IL /Oswego |
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Delanie Krantz |
Softball |
Yorkville, IL / Yorkville |
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Veronica Latka |
Softball |
Sugar Grove, IL / Kaneland |
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Jesika Lowe |
Softball |
Lee, IL / Indian Creek |
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Rachel Prinz |
Softball |
Aurora, IL / Oswego East |
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Hailey Ruhl |
Softball |
Plano, IL / Homeschooled |
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Claire Sweeney |
Volleyball |
North Aurora, IL / Aurora Christian |
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Catherine Klein |
Women's Basketball |
Yorkville, IL / Aurora Central |
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Delani Kosner |
Women's Basketball |
Aurora, IL / Aurora Central |
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Jaylynn Vana |
Women's Basketball |
Sandwich, IL / Sandwich |
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Taylor Wyeth |
Basketball/Tennis/Softball |
Aurora, IL / Aurora West |
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America Chavez |
Women's Cross Country |
Aurora, IL / Aurora East |
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Elizabeth Anne Kuhn |
Cross Country/Basketball |
Sheridan, IL / Serena |
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Emily De Avila |
Women's Soccer |
Aurora, IL / Rosary |
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Lindsay Ferris |
Women's Soccer |
Geneva, IL / Geneva |
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Isabelle Harkleroad |
Women's Soccer |
Geneva, IL / Geneva |
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Kathleen Jones |
Women's Soccer |
St. Charles, IL / St. Charles North |
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Kiara McPherson |
Women's Soccer/Volleyball |
Aurora, IL / Aurora West |
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Olivia McPherson |
Women's Soccer/Volleyball |
Aurora, IL / Aurora West |
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Emely Mendoza |
Women's Soccer |
Aurora, IL / Aurora East |
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Bailey Prichard |
Women's Soccer |
Sugar Grove, IL / Kaneland |
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Tsion White |
Women's Soccer |
Aurora, IL / Aurora West |
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Lauren Silva |
Women's Tennis |
Montgomery, IL / Aurora West |
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Etoile Theinkeu |
Women's Tennis |
Oswego, IL / Oswego |
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(FRESHMEN)
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Lukas Haddox |
Baseball Yorkville, IL / Yorkville |
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Michael Mumme |
Baseball Maple Park, IL / Marmion Acad. |
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Emilio Nacasio |
Baseball Aurora, IL / Aurora East |
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Julio Romero |
Baseball Los Lunas, NM / Valencia |
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Cade Rundle |
Baseball North Aurora, IL / Aurora West |
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Cole Schrank |
Baseball Rockford, IL / Winnebago |
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Bryson Schmidt |
Baseball Plano, IL / Plano |
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Jack Scott |
Baseball Hinckley, IL / Hinckley-Big Rock |
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Brian Wrenn |
Baseball Geneva, IL / Geneva |
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Melvin Langford |
Men's Basketball Indianapolis, IN / Meridian |
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Brennan McNally |
Men's Basketball Shabbona, IL / Indian Creek |
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Cameron Russell |
Men's Basketball Shabbona, IL / Indian Creek |
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Jordan Smith |
Men's Basketball Tampa, FL / SLAM Tampa |
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Justin Gallegos |
Men's Cross Country North Aurora, IL / Aurora West |
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Connor Holdiman |
Men's Soccer Sandwich, IL / Serena |
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Juan Noyola |
Men's Soccer Yorkville, IL / Yorkville |
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Eric Vargas |
Men's Soccer Warrenville, IL / Wheaton-Warrenville South |
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Breanna O'Malley-Molk |
Softball Plainfield, IL / Plainfield East |
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Janeen O'Reilly |
Softball Plainfield, IL / Plainfield Central |
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Taylor Warren |
Softball Yorkville, IL / Yorkville |
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Jillian Scull |
Volleyball Plano, IL / Plano |
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Jordan Weber |
Volleyball Elburn, IL / Kaneland |
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Emalee Wiley |
Volleyball Elburn, IL / Kaneland |
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Brooke Heiman |
Women's Basketball Shabbona, IL / Indian Creek |
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Angelina Schlinger |
Women's Basketball Oswego, IL / Oswego |
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Samantha Garcia |
Women's Cross Country Montgomery, IL / Oswego East |
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Payton Heiden |
Women's Cross Country Plano, IL / Plano |
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Nichole Jacobsen |
Women's Soccer Plano, IL / Plano |
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Breanna Carr |
Women's Tennis Montgomery, IL / Oswego |