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Pregont and Mortensen top senior athletes at Janesville Craig

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

Craig's JoJo Pregont is a three-sport star and will play football for the University of Iowa.

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Photo by Al Hoch

Craig's Jillynn Mortensen scores under Parker's Lindsay Kluge in the first inning.

JoJo Pregont and Jillynn Mortensen have been named the top senior athletes at Janesville Craig High School.

They received the American Legion Athletic Medal, presented by the Richard Ellis Post, at the school’s senior awards ceremony Thursday night.

Pregont is the son of Joseph and Tina Pregont. Mortensen is the daughter of Chris and Lori Mortensen.

The annual Legion award, based on athletic participation and citizenship, has been presented in Janesville since 1922. It has been given at Craig and Parker each year since the school split in 1967, and it is in its 22nd year as a co-ed award.

It was presented Wednesday night to Catie O’Leary and Ross Mauermann at Parker.

Kristine Benson immediately preceded Mortensen on the Craig girls Legion honor roll. Pregont follows Charles Roherty as Craig’s 42nd male recipient.

Pregont, who plans to attend the University of Iowa as a preferred walk-on in football, earned his Legion honor by winning 10 letters. He will complete his high school athletic career with four letters in track and field, three each in football and basketball.

After qualifying for the WIAA state track and field meet in three events last year, Pregont will go for a repeat when postseason competition begins Tuesday. He repeated as Big Eight Conference champion in the long jump this week.

This year’s honors for track and field have not been announced, but Pregont was voted most valuable on last year’s team, and he was the Big Eight runner-up and a state qualifier in the long jump as a sophomore. He also was voted the best in his class as a freshman and sophomore.

Pregont topped off his three-year varsity football career last fall as an Associated Press second-team all-state selection after being named Offensive End of the Year in the Big Eight. He also was a Cougar captain and received honorable mention in the coaches’ all-state selections.

As the Cougars’ leader in rebounds, assists and blocked shots, Pregont was an All-Big Eight second-team selection in basketball as a senior. He also was a captain and the team’s most valuable player, and he received All-Big Eight honorable mention as a sophomore and junior.

Mortensen will finish with six letters, including three each in volleyball and softball. She was an All-Big Eight second-team selection in softball as a sophomore and in volleyball as a senior, when she was a team captain and Craig’s most valuable player.

All-conference teams have not been selected this spring, but Mortensen also received honorable as a softball outfielder last season.

Pregont and Hassinger were joined by 17 classmates in receiving athletic awards and scholarships.

Eric Cooney, son of Robert and Barbara Cooney, and Nicole Gutzman, daughter of Orval and Laurie Gutzman, were recognized as the school’s nominees for the WIAA Scholar/Athlete Award.

Zach Bayreuther, son of Dan and Debbie Bayreuther, and Michael Valentine, son of Mike and Liz Valentine, received the Janesville Youth Hockey/Barritt Scholarship. Bayreuther also will receive the Janesville Youth Baseball Scholarship at a later date.

The other winners:

-- George Clatworthy Riverside Golf Association Scholarship—Katelin Decker, daughter of Ronald and Laurie Decker; Jeffrey Hesse, son of Stephen and Mary Hesse.

-- Gene Thorp, Fred Parkinson, Don Kazda Municipal Men’s Golf Association Scholarship—Megan Terry, daughter of Robert and Laurie Terry; Sam Waddell, son of Scott and Jenny Waddell.

-- Kyle Sippy Memorial Scholarship—Hannah Dolan, daughter of Rebecca Hendrickson and Brad Dolan; Garrick Jannene, son of Dean and Georgiana Jannene; Cassidi Running, daughter of Roger and Lisa Running.

-- Janesville Youth Wrestling Scholarship—Daniel Wimann, son of David and Denise Wimann.

-- CATS Scholar/Athlete Award—Benjamin Olin, son of Joe and Joanne Olin; Whitney Storbakken, daughter of Kerry and Donna Storbakken.

-- Michael S. Grogan Memorial Scholarship—Brett Fredricks, son of Matthew and Christine Fredricks.

-- Janesville Youth Football Scholarship—Benjamin Hassinger, son of William and April Hassinger.

-- Phil McQuade Memorial Scholarship—Jason Ruchti, son of Alan and Dianne Ruchti.