Central Magnet's Vinny Peck, Siegel's Cate Schroer are 2024 DNJ President's Cup recipients

Siegel's Cate Schroer and Central Magnet's Vinny Peck were the epitome of success during a high school athletic careers.

Both balanced being standout athletes, being excellent in the classroom and also taking time to give back to the community.

The two recent graduates are the recipients of The Daily News Journal's All-Sports President's Cup awards for 2023-24, the most prestigious awarded given by the DNJ during the school year. The award highlights those who excel in all aspects of being a well-rounded athlete.

Vinny Peck had sights set on Air Force Academy at a young age

Peck was not only one of the state's top cross country runners, but he was also one of the area's top scholars, finishing as salutatorian at Central Magnet.

His path has led him to being accepted in the United States Air Force Academy, something that has been his plan since he was a young child.

"He's been wanting to join the Air Force since he was about 9 or 10," said his mother, Caron Peck.

He was unavailable for comment after already having been recently sworn in at the Air Force Academy.

"He's always been fascinated with space and weather patterns and things of that nature," she said. "He was actually in the spectrum program at Lascassas Elementary, and one of their projects was to research a topic they were interested in. He googled 'best place to go to college to become an astronaut,' and the USAFA came up. Pretty much since then, it was, 'That's where I'm going.' "

She said he never wanted a backup option. "That was his Plan A, B, C, D, E, F and G."

Peck finished fifth in the state at the TSSAA Class A-AA cross country meet to help the Tigers finish runner-up as a senior, finishing a career that saw him as a counting member of the 2021 Tiger state championship team and 2022 state runner-up squad.

He was team captain of both the cross country and track and track and field teams his junior and senior seasons and was first-team all-area in both sports as a senior.

He maintained a 4.0 grade point average, scoring a 35 composite on the ACT and enrolled in nine advanced placement courses.

He also spent many hours as a volunteer, including 75 community service hours at the local farmer's market.

"We are exponentially proud," his mom said. "He was extremely well-rounded."

Peck will spend four years at the USAFA and will be commissioned as a second lieutenant officer in the USAF upon graduation. His mom said he ultimately wanted to be a pilot in the Air Force, enrolling in a pilot's school after graduation.

Siegel's Cate Schroer starred on, off the volleyball court

It may have seemed like Schroer lived in a gym, with Siegel volleyball and club volleyball keeping her busy year-round.

But she balanced athletics with strong academics and also found time to give back, something she said was a big priority with Lady Stars volleyball coach Patricia Thwaits.

"It took a lot of time management," Schroer said. "I definitely tried to get all my work done during school where I would have time after school, whether we had a game or practice. All the teachers have been so helpful too, just getting me here. It just took a lot of balancing.

"I was able to do a lot (of volunteering) through Beta Club and National Honor Society. It makes me feel good, giving to other people who need it."

Schroer was one of the state's best volleyball players. The middle hitter was first-team all-area for the third consecutive season and made the Tennessee Sports Writers Association All-State team after accumulating 547 kills, 41 blocks, 81 aces, 304 digs and 83 assists in leading the Lady Stars to the region tournament.

In the classroom she maintained a 4.0 GPA while taking mostly advanced placement courses, scored a 31 on her ACT and was a Tennessee certified gifted scholar. As well as Beta Club and National Honor Society, she was also in the Humanities Academy, Linguistics Club and was twice the Siegel Scholar Athlete of the Month.

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Her community service included volunteering for Second Harvest Food Bank, Nourish Food Bank and Greenhouse Ministries, as well as helping with youth camps.

Schroer will begin the next chapter of her volleyball career at Freed-Hardeman in August. What is her advice to younger athletes?

"Word hard and have fun," Schroer said. "It has to be fun. You don't want to stress all the time. You have to enjoy it, but definitely hard work will get you a long way. Coachability will get you a long way."

Cecil Joyce covers high school sports and MTSU athletics for The Daily News Journal. Contact him at cjoyce@dnj.com and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @Cecil_Joyce.

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Daily News Journal President's Cup winners: Cate Schroer, Vinny Peck