The Times Athlete of the Week: Ottawa boys soccer’s Gio Resendez

After the online votes were counted, Ottawa boys soccer star Gio Resendez is The Times Athlete of the Week after receiving 159 of a record 467 total votes in a field of nominees that included runner-up Claire Vogel (Streator girls tennis) as well as Emma Benson (Earlville volleyball) and Carter Andrews (Somonauk boys soccer). All four nominees received more than 80 votes.

The straw that stirs the drink for a Pirates team that entered the weekend with 15 wins, the dynamic Resendez reached a career milestone in the Pirates’ 2-2 tie at Roanoke-Benson, depositing his 100th career goal in net.

Ottawa opens postseason play Wednesday against Streator in the Class 2A La Salle-Peru Regional semifinals.

Here are Resendez’s answers to our Athlete of the Week Q&A:

Do you have any nicknames?

Resendez: G.

What is your favorite memory playing sports?

Resendez: I don’t have a specific favorite memory. I enjoy and cherish them all.

What do you like most about soccer?

Resendez: The ability to express myself on the field.

What’s more rewarding: scoring a goal or recording an assist?

Resendez: An assist is more rewarding for me.

How old were you when you started playing the game?

Resendez: I was around 2 when I started playing, but I was about 5 when I started playing organized soccer.

What is your favorite subject in school?

Resendez: History is probably my favorite subject in school.

What’s your favorite dessert?

Resendez: Ice cream.

What song do you listen to to get hyped up for a game?

Resendez: I listen to music a lot, but I don’t have one specific song to get hyped before a game.

What has been the key to your team’s success this season?

Resendez: The key to the team’s success this season has been our unity. We all get along well, on and off the field.

Do you have plans to continue playing soccer after high school?

Resendez: Yes, my hope is to continue playing soccer as long as I can.