Prairie Stars pitcher Mark DeCicco has been named the Jimmy John's Athlete of the Month for May, following a pair of standout performances that capped off a strong season on the mound for the junior right-hander.

DeCicco delivered two strong starts in May, including a dominant outing against Quincy in the GLVC Tournament, where he tossed a complete-game, nine-inning shutout to keep UIS in the winner's bracket. The performance earned DeCicco a spot on the GLVC All-Tournament Team and marked his fourth complete game of the season. 

In total, DeCicco went 2-0 on the month with a 2.40 ERA, striking out 16 batters over 15.0 innings, while allowing just six hits and holding opponents to a .120 batting average. His efforts were key in helping the Prairie Stars reach the GLVC Championship Game and reinforced his status as one of the most reliable starting pitchers in the conference.

For his performance throughout the season, DeCicco also earned First Team All-GLVC honors, and was recently named to the ABCA Second Team All-Region, further highlighting his impact on the mound.

The Jimmy John's Athlete of the Month award is presented to a Prairie Stars student-athlete who exemplifies excellence in athletic performance, sportsmanship, and team contribution. DeCicco is the final individual honoree of the 2024-25 academic year. The final award of the year, Jimmy John's Academic Team of the Year, will be announced this summer.

May 2025 Nominees
Mark DeCicco, Baseball
Seth Masters, Baseball
Ivan Dahlberg, Baseball
Rosie Bartletti, Softball
Taylor Zawacki, Softball
Elaine Grant, Women's Golf
Madelyn Miller, Women's Track & Field
Matt Padilla, Men's Track & Field

For a full list of Jimmy John's Athlete of the Month winners, visit this page.