Gainesville, FL

Lorianys Castanon Cruz is this week's Tuesday Teammate of the Week!

Castanon Cruz is a native of Mulberry, FL, who chose to play for Santa Fe for its closeness to her hometown. Bringing her talents to the Saints, she scored over 2,000 career points during her high school career. Recently, she finished her freshman season with Santa Fe Women's Basketball, starting 16 games at guard.

Castanon Cruz proved to be a reliable scorer in her first year with the Saints. She posted 20-point outings in 4 games, posted two season-high games of 27 points, and scored at least 10 in more than half of her games with the Saints. From the free throw line, Castanon Cruz proved to be a sharpshooter, posting an 87.5% free throw percentage and missing just three all season. Her best game of the season came against Hillsborough Community College, where she scored 27 points on 55.6% shooting.

In just her first year with Santa Fe, Castanon Cruz proved to be a dependable teammate, both on and off the court. She spent extra time this season supporting her fellow Saints athletes, both through volunteering for the athletic department and cheering on her fellow Saints in action at other sports.

Off the court, Castanon Cruz has an interest in all things sports. She intends to pursue physical therapy as her major, further displaying her helpful and supportive spirit.

UF Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine sponsors a "Teammate of the Week" selection from all five Santa Fe Saints sports teams. The Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), the SF sport specific coaches, and the athletic director nominate deserving Saints for this weekly award. Teammates of the week will embody the character qualities the SAINTS (Seek, Aware, Integrity, Noble-Minded, Thankful, and Safe) emphasize and value. SF Student-Athletes who impact their team, community, classmates, and families for the better are the best candidates for this weekly award hosted by proud SF partner UF Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.