Latest news with #DeCook
Chicago Tribune
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Tennessee recruit Claire DeCook will graduate early. For the junior star and Naperville North, ‘this is it.'
Naperville North junior forward Claire DeCook is considered an honorary senior by her teammates. When the season ends for the outgoing senior class, DeCook will be saying goodbye to her high school playing career too. The Tennessee recruit intends to graduate in December so she can begin taking classes at the university in January and get a head start on her college soccer career. DeCook made the decision before the beginning of this season at the urging of Tennessee's coaching staff. 'They highly encourage their recruits to come early just so you get a feel for everything,' she said. 'But it's completely optional. 'My family and I talked about the advantages and everything, and we thought it was best for me, especially with all the resources they could provide. It didn't take me long at all to be like, 'Yeah, I kind of want to do this.'' DeCook, whose older sister Cameron is a student at Tennessee, is part of a new trend of high school stars graduating early. It is more common in football, but for girls soccer players, it means missing their final high school season. The decision sped up the end of a whirlwind high school career for DeCook, who was the all-area player of the year in 2024 after returning from ACL surgery. This season has felt a little surreal to her. 'It's definitely different because when you're a junior, it's like, 'Oh, you have another season,'' she said. 'I feel like everyone feels that they have more time than they do. 'Freshman and sophomore year went by so fast, and so did junior year. It was a big reality check in like, 'OK, this is my last game playing against this team.' 'So the fact that I don't have another year after this, I'm just living in the moment and making sure I get everything done now.' DeCook, as ever, is getting a lot done. She scored the game-winning goal in the fourth-seeded Huskies' 3-0 victory over 13th-seeded Plainfield East in the Class 3A Oswego Regional semifinals on Wednesday. It was DeCook's 10th goal of the season and the 40th of her career. The Huskies (12-5-3), who will play either fifth-seeded Oswego or 12th-seeded Waubonsie Valley in the regional championship game at noon Saturday, want to extend their season — and DeCook's tenure — as long as possible. 'When we did our senior night, that's when it kind of became really real, when she was wearing the senior shirt rather than the underclassman shirt,' Naperville North senior defender Emily Buescher said. 'The other three freshmen she came on the team with, they gave her her rose. That was a really big thing. 'We don't refer to her as a senior, but in the world of soccer she is.' The Minnesota-bound Buescher said it was amazing to play alongside DeCook, whom she has known since they were little. One of Buescher's club teammates, Mya Nugent, enrolled early at Minnesota. Buescher sees the benefits in doing so but opted not to do so herself. 'It is much bigger culturally with the SEC,' Buescher said. 'It gives them a lot of time to start lifting and stuff like that. 'I leave in three weeks, so I leave pretty early too. But I definitely wanted to be here. I didn't get to play high school soccer my freshman and sophomore year, so to me I could never give up this because we're a family. What would I do without this?' What will the Huskies do without DeCook? Naperville North coach Steve Goletz is going to find out sooner than he'd like. 'For Claire to have the opportunity she has is incredible, and it's because of all the hard work that she's put in since she's been a little kid,' Goletz said. 'She's going to go on and do great things. 'For us, it's sad just because of not only Claire's soccer ability but also her and her family are incredible people. We really have enjoyed some amazing memories and moments with not only Claire but also Cam. So not only are we going to miss her on the field in regards to her ability, but also the charisma and what she brings every day.' Which is considerable. 'Her work rate is incredible,' Goletz said. 'Her willingness to compete is next level. I'm just super fortunate that I've been able to coach her and sad that this is it. 'Hopefully we can continue to win and get as many games as possible with her and with this fantastic group as a whole.'
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Man picks up a 3.81-carat diamond, thinking it was a candy wrapper, while on a trip with his family
Some say luck is just a preparation that meets opportunity, while others call it fate. But sometimes, someone comes across something so precious and completely unexpected that it reminds us all of how surprising life can be. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Be it people finding million-dollar paintings in thrift stores or ancient coins buried in their backyard, these moments of accidental fortune seem to make one's day. There's something magical about discovering hidden treasure in the most unlikely places, and similar is the story of a man who recently had such a moment, where a simple family outing turned into a story to remember. This man was on an outing with his family While on a family vacation in Arkansas, , a farmer from Minnesota and amateur rock collector, made an unforgettable discovery where he found a 3.81-carat brown diamond. This took place on April 21 at the , a public site known for allowing visitors to search for real gems. According to a press release from Arkansas State Parks, DeCook had been exploring the area when he spotted something shiny on the ground. 'DeCook calmly walked over to where he had seen the diamond, picked it up and inspected it before calling to his brother,' the release stated. ''Oh, you're going to be mad once you see what I found!'' he jokingly told him. DeCook later told FOX 9 Minneapolis that the diamond had an unusual yet familiar appearance. 'Kind of looks like a candy wrapper. Real shiny looking, kind of like a Werther's candy wrapper… As you get closer to it, you can tell it's a diamond pretty quickly,' he said. Named the diamond after his dog The Minnesota resident returned to the park a few days later to have the gem officially registered. He named it 'The Duke Diamond' in honor of his dog. 'You just never know what you're gonna find. It's a chance of a lifetime,' DeCook said. Assistant park superintendent Waymon Cox noted that the recent rainy weather helped unearth the diamond. 'April has been a very wet month at the park, with more than 12 inches of rain,' Cox said. 'As rain falls in the search area, it washes away the dirt and uncovers heavy rocks, minerals, and diamonds near the surface.' DeCook's discovery marks the largest diamond found at the park so far in 2025. Before this the most significant discovery of a diamond in the park was a 7.46-carat gem that was found by a French tourist in January 2024.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Minnesota man finds 3.81-carat brown diamond at Arkansas State Park
MURFREESBORO, Ark. — A visitor of Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas uncovered a 3.81-carat brown diamond in the ground while visiting with his family in April. The man who found the diamond was David DeCook, a regular visitor to the park from Stewartville, Minnesota. The state park says DeCook was visiting with his family on Monday, April 21, when he spotted what he first thought was a candy wrapper south of the park's south wash pavilion. However, once he saw a metallic shine on the object, he realized he had discovered the diamond. The 3.81-carat diamond is described as having a metallic, copper luster with a blocky, triangular shape. Crash between two trucks kills woman in Boone County, Arkansas According to the park, DeCook inspected the diamond and stashed it in his pocket, telling his brother Derek, 'Oh, you're going to be mad once you see what I found!' DeCook returned to the park a few days later to register the diamond. He decided to name his find The Duke Diamond after his dog and has not yet decided what to do with the diamond. The 3.81-carat diamond is the biggest diamond found at Crater of Diamonds since French visitor Julien Navas found a 7.46-carat Carine Diamond in January 2024. (Courtesy: Crater of Diamonds State Park) (Courtesy: Crater of Diamonds State Park) (Courtesy: Crater of Diamonds State Park) (Courtesy: Crater of Diamonds State Park) (Courtesy: Crater of Diamonds State Park) (Courtesy: Crater of Diamonds State Park) (Courtesy: Crater of Diamonds State Park) Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR -
Fox News
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Man finds 'candy-like' diamond while exploring Arkansas state park: 'Chance of a lifetime'
An amateur rock collector recently hit the jackpot while exploring a state park in Arkansas. David DeCook, a Minnesota resident, unearthed a stunning 3.81-carat brown diamond at the Crater of Diamonds State Park on April 21. The diamond is the largest that has been found in the park in 2025 so far, according to Arkansas State Parks. In a press release, the government organization said that DeCook was on a family trip to the park when he found the gem. "DeCook calmly walked over to where he had seen the diamond, picked it up and inspected it before calling to his brother," the press release noted. "Stirring up some natural sibling rivalry, David told Derek, '"Oh, you're going to be mad once you see what I found!'" The Minnesota resident returned to the park a few days later to register the diamond. DeCook decided to name his discovery "the Duke Diamond" after his dog. "You just never know what you're gonna find. It's a chance of a lifetime." DeCook identified himself as a farmer to FOX 9 Minneapolis and told the outlet that the diamond "kind of looks like a candy wrapper." "Real shiny looking, kind of like a Werther's candy wrapper… As you get closer to it, you can tell it's a diamond pretty quick," he said. DeCook added, "I was very surprised, I guess, and never thought I'd find one that big." "You just never know what you're gonna find. It's a chance of a lifetime." Arkansas State Parks also noted that after DeCook found the gem, a heavy amount of rain covered the area – a good omen for diamond hunters. "April has been a very wet month at the park, with more than 12 inches of rain," assistant park superintendent Waymon Cox said in a statement. "Many of the park's largest diamonds are found on top of the ground," he added. "As rain falls in the search area, it washes away the dirt and uncovers heavy rocks, minerals and diamonds near the surface." The Duke Diamond is the largest find at the Crater of Diamonds State Park since a French visitor found a 7.46-carat diamond in Jan. 2024. The tourist, Julien Navas, named the gem after his fiancée, Carine.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Man nearly mistakes 3.81-carat diamond for candy wrapper at Arkansas park
MURFREESBORO, Ark. (KARK) – What was first thought to be a candy wrapper turned into a diamond find for a Minnesota man visiting an Arkansas state park. A news release from Crater of Diamonds State Park said David DeCook from Stewartville, Minnesota, spotted a 3.81-carat brown diamond on April 24 while visiting the park with his family. DeCook said he spotted the diamond on his way down a hill south of the park's south wash pavilion. (Photos courtesy Arkansas Crater of Diamonds State Park) DeCook, a regular visitor to the park, told park officials he first thought he saw a candy wrapper, but as he drew closer, he realized the tinfoil-like shine was from a diamond. He said he picked it up and turned to his brother, who was also a regular park visitor, and said, 'Oh, you're going to be mad once you see what I found!' Arizona dad recounts finding 2-carat diamond with son at Crater of Diamonds State Park Officials said that the 3.81-carat find is the largest diamond harvested so far this year. They described it as having a metallic copper luster and a blocky triangular shape. DeCook told officials he was going to name his find 'The Duke Diamond' after his dog. It is the 217th diamond registered at the park in 2025 and the largest since a 7.46-carat find in January 2024 by French visitor Julien Navas. Officials said the abundance of recent rain means it is more likely that visitors will find a diamond on top of the ground. Taking a closer look at the Arkansas-mined 'Heart of Arkansas' diamond brooch The largest diamond ever discovered in the United States was unearthed in 1924 during an early mining operation on the land that later became Crater of Diamonds State Park. Named 'Uncle Sam,' this white diamond with a pink cast weighed 40.23 carats. It was later cut into a 12.42-carat emerald shape and is now part of the Smithsonian's mineral and gem collection at the National Museum of Natural History. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
