Junior Chloe St. Laurent and sophomore Gwyneth Mureika were chosen as Athletes of the Week for the week of Oct. 27.

St. Laurent serves as a side base on the varsity cheer team. She joined the sport four years ago in eighth grade, though her passion began long before.

“I’ve always wanted to be a cheerleader,” St. Laurent said. “When I saw that Medea [Creek Middle School] was having tryouts, I had to do it.”

Since then, she has developed a deeper appreciation for cheerleading and the sense of community it brings.

“I really do love the environment of the sport, how the whole team is [made up of] friends,” St. Laurent said. “Even with JV and varsity, you’re never alone and the practices are very fun. The best feeling is seeing progress in trying new things like stunts and dances.”

The cheer team meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays with three-hour-long practices, drilling cheer-stunt combinations and preparing for upcoming halftime shows. St. Laurent takes an encouraging approach during these practices and Friday performances.

“A lot of things can go wrong out there, but as a base it’s our job to just keep things safe,” St. Laurent said. “I feel like having a positive attitude while doing so makes everything much easier.”

She believes her uplifting attitude and leadership contributed to her being named Athlete of the Week.

“I think I was chosen because my stunt group has been thriving and overall working amazingly together,” St. Laurent said. “I also volunteer as a coach for the middle school cheer team, so I think I just showed my passion for the sport.”

As the fall athletic season wraps up, St. Laurent looks forward to growing alongside her teammates and exploring new opportunities.

”Now that football season is coming to an end, I can’t wait to see how basketball season goes,” St. Laurent said. “I hope to become closer to more of the athletes interested in joining the stunt team and our next year’s varsity cheer squad!”

The next Athlete of the Week, Mureika, serves as a middle blocker on the varsity girls volleyball team. She first played the sport in elementary school.

“I’ve been playing volleyball for about four years, but I used to play when I was younger at the [Woodland Hills Recreational] Center,” Mureika said. “I started playing at the rec center in 2018 because I did track in the spring and I wanted another sport to do in the fall.”

Since then, her passion for volleyball has grown, strengthened by the Oak Park High School girls volleyball team’s camaraderie.

“I love playing it with my friends and being part of a team,” Mureika said. “I also love hitting and blocking.”

During practice, the team typically runs hitting and blocking drills before playing six-on-six or working on other skills. Mureika focuses on maintaining a forward-looking approach while refining her skills during these sessions. 

“Some personal goals I have for myself are to always stay positive and get as many kills and blocks as I can,” Mureika said. “I find the best way to improve my performance is to always stay positive and energetic and have fun while playing.”

Mureika attributes being named Athlete of the Week to her growth and dedication to volleyball over the last few years.

“I think I was chosen because of how much I’ve improved over this year as well as last year, and how hard I’ve been working,” Mureika said.