The Mount Vernon News sports department’s MVN ATHLETE of the WEEK is a weekly feature that spotlights local student-athletes and their schools. Based on their performances, we will select an ATHLETE of the WEEK and recognize other outstanding athletic accomplishments.
As winter sports have given way to spring sports, many of the area’s talented athletes are already in midseason form. This week’s winners come from the world of track and boys volleyball. Our Athletes of the Week are Juliette Laracuente-Huebner (Highland track) and Cooper Carpenter (Mount Vernon boys volleyball).
Female Athlete of the Week
Juliette Laracuente-Huebner
At the 33rd annual New Balance Nationals Indoor track meet, held March 9-12 at The Track in Boston, Highland High School track star Juliette Laracuente-Huebner won a national title, placed second in another event and fourth in another. Laracuente-Huebner, who has committed to continue her academic and athletic careers at the University of Cincinnati, following her 2023 senior year at Highland, performed at the highest level on the national stage.
Laracuente-Huebner’s gold medal came in the Girls Triple Jump Championship. She faced 51 challengers and jumped 12.81 meters (42.00.5 feet) to best second-place jumper India Alix by 4.25 inches. In the girls long jump, Laracuente-Huebner placed second among 49 competitors, going 6.15 meters (20 feet, 2.25 inches) and losing by only 2.75 inches. She was also fourth in the girls high jump among 59 in competition, with a height of 5 feet, 6 inches. And in the 60-meter hurdles, among 53 girls, she finished 13th to qualify for the finals, then finished sixth in her heat in 8.66.
Laracuente-Huebner has now won 10 Indoor State Championships, two Outdoor State Championships in the long jump, two National Championships in the triple jump and a D2/3 Indoor Team State Championship. She currently ranks No. 2 nationally in the triple jump.
Highland girls track coach Chip Wendt said Laracuente-Huebner is a worker who is always about the team.
“She is very unselfish,” Wendt said. “At no time does she mention ‘me’ or ‘I’. It was always ‘we’ and how hard ‘we worked’. She works very hard at her craft. More work than most people can imagine.”
Male Athlete of the Week
Cooper Carpenter
The Mount Vernon Yellow Jackets boys volleyball team started its season with five games over a week’s time and while going 2-3, a number of players stood out with top performances. Among them, setter Cooper Carpenter was stellar. In Mount Vernon’s 3-1 win over St. Vincent-St. Mary on March 11, Carpenter was a machine, accumulating 50 assists to go with seven kills, two blocks and eight digs. In another match that day – a win over St. Charles – Carpenter finished with 24 assists, six digs, two blocks and a pair of kills.
Carpenter has started on varsity since his sophomore year and is looked upon for leadership in the setter position. Mount Vernon boys volleyball coach Chad Sivewright said Carpenter adds to team strategies and analysis.
“Cooper is always working hard to be the best that he can be,” Sivewright said. “He gives great input during our team discussions. He was voted captain for the year by his teammates and was chosen for that role for what he does both on and off the court. He has been on varsity his entire high school career and has shown that he deserves all the honors he has earned.”
Honorable mention goes to Carpenter’s teammate, Parker Gantt. In the Jackets’ win over St. Vincent-St. Mary, Gantt dominated the offense with 29 kills and also had 17 digs on defense, three blocks and in another win that day – against St. Charles – Gantt led the way with 16 kills, two aces, one block and six digs.
To coaches and community members, join us in our award process. Send us your choices for MVN ATHLETE of the WEEK, a recap of their prowess in competition and a photo of them and give them the community recognition they deserve. Encourage your community members and coaches to contact us each week. Send your selections to mike.blake@mountvernonnews.com.
