Extra Effort: Cate Uhren making an impact at Central Catholic, in community

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Central Catholic senior Cate Uhren is a perfect example of someone who packs a big punch despite her not-so-big stature.

“Knowing I’m the smallest on the floor most of the time, I just have to go into the game with my strengths,” Uhren said. “Shooting, for example. I practice so much on my shot because as much as I like to go in th paint and get those rebounds, it’s harder at my size.”

So exactly how big is she?

“The thing about Cate is she’s 5-foot-2,” said Central Catholic head coach Debbie Coffman. “But she gives so much more on the court. She does these little moves, floaters in the lane that are very impressive.”

She’s also impressive off the court. Uhren is an honor roll student, a National Honor Society member who led her team to ‘Stuff-a-Bus’ filled with items to help people in her community.

“We stand outside Kroger or Wal-Mart and ask customers if while they are shopping they would buy a few things like diapers, baby wipes, baby toys and then stuff a whole transit bus to donate it,” Uhren said of the project to support the Brightpoint Bloomington’s Crisis Nursery.

She was also part of a “row for dough” fundraiser this summer at the gym where she trains.

“I was part of a team,” Uhren said. “We rowed a marathon, 24 miles, while raising money for Special Olympics.”

She’s scored over 1,000 career points to help the Saints, who were undefeated Illini Prairie Conference champions and play for the Fieldcrest regional championship Friday. Yet she may be making a bigger impact in her community.

“It’s nice to know we are making an impact at such a young age,” Uhren said of her team. “Hopefully others can look up to us as they enter high school and do the same.”

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