George Cullen and Nichole Skillman have been named the top senior athletes at Janesville Craig High School.
They were presented the Richard Ellis Post's American Legion Athletic Medal at the school's annual senior awards ceremony Thursday night.
Cullen is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Cullen, 220 Forest Park Blvd. Skillman is the daughter of Tanya Skillman, 2209 Happy Hallow Rd.
The annual Legion award, based on athletic participation and citizenship, has been presented in Janesville since 1922. It has been given to a male and female athlete at Craig and Parker each year since the school split in 1967, and it is in its 20th year as a co-ed award.
George Cullen
Nichole Skillman
Caroline Holznecht immediately preceded Skillman on the Craig girls Legion honor roll. Cullen follows Stephen Klobucar as Craig's 40th male recipient.
Ben Armer and Elizabeth Bohler received the Legion award at Parker last week.
Cullen, who has received an academic scholarship to Georgetown University and plans to play football, earned his Legion honor by winning eight letters. He got four in hockey, three in football and one in track.
As a co-captain and the Cougars' most valuable player in football last fall, Cullen received All-Big Eight first-team honors on offense and defense. He was the conference Defensive Lineman of the Year, a second-team all-state selection as a defensive lineman by The Associated Press and a first-team pick by the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association.
Cullen, a three-year starter in hockey, helped the Janesville Bluebirds reach the WIAA state semifinals as a sophomore. The next year, he played on the city's first Big Eight championship team.
Skillman was a rare 11-letter winner in four sports. She earned four letters in basketball, three in volleyball and two each in soccer and track.
As captain of this year's track and field team, Skillman placed fourth in the Big Eight in the 300-meter low hurdles. She also helped the Cougar girls basketball team to 15-7 season and third place in the conference at 11-5 as a senior.
Along with his Legion honors, Cullen received the Janesville Youth Hockey/Barritt Scholarship at Thursday night's presentations.
Youth Hockey/Barritt scholarships also went to Patrick Groessel, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Groessel, 3259 Brair Crest Dr., and Joseph McCann, son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel McCann, 4101 Stone Ridge Dr., Milton.
Josh Lund and Rachel Sheldon were recognized as Craig's nominees for the WIAA Scholar Athlete Award. Lund is the son of Jill Housker, 2718 Ruger Ave., and Terry Lund, Edgerton. Sheldon, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Sheldon, also received the George Clatworthy Riverside Municipal Golf Association Scholarship.
Sheldon and Peter Loizzo, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Loizzo, 2408 Chickasaw Dr., received the CATS Scholar/Athlete Award.
Loizzo and Kelsi Upmann, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Upmann, 245 Knoll View Dr., were presented the Kyle Sippy Memorial Scholarship.
Other recipients of Clatworthy/Riverside golf scholarships were Evan Diece, son of Mr. and Mrs. David Diece, 4255 Southwyck Dr.; Jarrid Hiser, son of Mr. and Mrs. Steven Hiser, 4043 Bordeaux Dr.; and Bobby Kennedy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kennedy, 439 Winnebago Dr.
Diece also got the Gene Thorpe, Fred Parkinson, Dan Kaza Riverside Municipal Golf Association Member's Scholarship.
Dennis Wimann received the Chad Holty Memorial Scholarship, along with Janesville Youth Wrestling and Janesville Youth Football scholarships. Wimann is the son of Mr. and Mrs. David Wimann, 1004 N. Pontiac Dr.
Holty scholarships, which honor Cougar wrestlers, also were presented to Paul Fetting II, son of Paul Fetting, 4336 Tanglewood Dr., and Donna Westland, Madison; Jacob Goike, son of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Goike, 2500 Kenwood Ave.; Brady Hamil, son of Troy Hamil, 1535 Vista Ave., and Jill Weimeling, 2323 Navajo Court; Jon Miller, son of Linda Disney, 2324 Lombard Ave., and Tim Miller, 2204 Mount Vernon Ave.; Nick Reese, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Reese, 4256 Saratoga Dr.; Brian Swanson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Swanson, 303 S. Parker Dr.; Christopher Weins, son of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Weins, 3305 Beckshire Rd.; and Daniel Yazumbek, son of Mr. and Mrs. Rick Yazumbek, 3507 Amherst Rd.
Swanson also got the Phil McQuade Memorial Scholarship.
Tanner Davis, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dan Davis, 903 N. Garfield, received the Janesville Youth Baseball scholarship.
Gregory Patten, son of Gail Patten, 915 N. Martin Rd., and the late Al Patten, got the Evelyn Kettle Memorial Youth Bowling Scholarship.
Derek Schneider, son of Mr. and Mrs. Randall Schneider, received the J-Hawk Swim Parent Association Education Scholarship.
Justin Dooley, son of Laurie Dooley, 1317 E. Memorial Dr., got the Brandon Miller/CYO Basketball Scholarship.
