LAKEVILLE, IN. – LaVille’s Riley Kwiatkowski has been selected the Dale E. Cox Male Athlete of the Year for 2022. Kwiatkowski participated in five sports – Soccer, Basketball, Wrestling, Baseball and Track and Field – during his prep career and earned a total of seven varsity letters. "When I earned this award to be honest I wasn’t really expecting anything because I kind of just stayed to myself and pushed my limits when it came to sports," explained Kwiatkowski. "Sometimes people say that I’m too aggressive and don’t know how to stop when I'm injured. But I did what I thought my body was capable of doing so I never stopped. "I am thankful for getting this great accomplishment I wouldn’t have been able to if I didn’t have the people that have been in my life to keep pushing me forwards. My sisters Heaylyn and London kept pushing me to become better because they are amazing athletes and their skill was beyond mine. I always pushed myself to stay up with them I am very grateful that they are my siblings. I wouldn’t have gotten this award without them. With all the sports he played in high school, he narrowed his favorite sport down to two. "Baseball called to me," said Kwiatkowski. "I just loved the sport. But also soccer, because I felt like a different person and a great help to the team. It felt like I was in a different place when I was on the field. It formed me into the person I am today."We asked Kwiatkowski about any pre-game rituals he had before heading into competition. "I just always told myself , ''Grandpa give me the strength I need to keep moving forward” said Kwiatkowski. "I always told myself that ever since he passed. Every time I told myself that I just kept pushing my limits and didn't know how, but my body never gave up."During his time on the soccer field, Kwiatkowski picked up a couple of conference recognitions. The LaVille defender earned All-Hoosier North Athletic Conference honors in 2020 and 2021. When asked about his athletic experience at LaVille, Kwiatkowski said, "It was a great family community and a great bonding moment with people that you have never met before. You become close and just keeping building them up to their full potential even though they want to give up. There’s always another way to succeed: just keep pushing through the limits and not give up on everyone else. If you stop, it affects everyone on the team. The closer you are as a team the better everyone becomes. Practices can be hard but that’s where most of the memories come from and they were amazing."Most every athlete has come across something they have heard or read that means a lot to them. Kwiatkowski says, "If you think something is right don't give up on that thought just keep bringing it forward and it all might work out for you at the end of the day. "Being involved with multiple sports, participating in practice, matches, and games, we asked Kwiatkowski if he had a most memorable moment. *Soccer – “Junior year we always had a great laugh with each other at practice. When it was raining one day and we played 5-on-5 in mini goals. We were slipping and sliding everywhere but it was a great day." *Basketball - "Sophomore year box out drills were my favorite. All I could do was play defense and one day I went up against coach Codee (Kimbel) and he laid me flat on the floor. It just pushed me to go harder. It was a great experience that day." *Baseball - "Baseball freshman year we all just had a great time with (coach Brian) Lawler and everyone got along." *Track - "Senior year, (coach) Kathee (Beehler) and everyone supported each other. Even on off days we just kept pushing each other to get faster and stronger even though I couldn’t stop hurting myself. It is sad that I couldn’t do both of them at the same time." According to Kwiatkowski, through all of his time being in a Lancer uniform he always tried to make sure he played hard."Every time I had a uniform on for the school I knew that whatever I did on the field or at the school could affect the community. So I went all out no matter what to support the school and tried to keep my cool so I didn’t do anything dramatic." When asked about the best advice he has been given, he said, "If you focus on something or put your mind to it you can accomplish anything that comes your way." Following his diploma collection from LaVille High School in June, Kwiatowski plans to serve in the National Guard. He also plans to be in the operators union and after a few years of that become a worker on an oil rig somewhere. "I would just love to travel the world," concluded Kwiatkowski.