Trilingual triathlete tries anything and succeeds

Knowing his Espanol wasn't up to snuff when it came to communicating with native speakers, Owen Prunskis began setting his morning alarm to a local Spanish language radio station to improve his understanding.

And unable to do anything more advanced than an awkward dog paddle just five months ago, he enlisted the help of a friend in the U.S. Naval Academy to teach him how to swim.

Now, the Barrington High School graduate can confidently call himself trilingual and a top area triathlon competitor.

It's an attitude that has led the 18-year-old to excel in just about everything he attempts.

His next challenges will come at Harvard, where he secured a spot in the storied university's freshman class with straight As and a perfect 36 ACT score. Then there is his athletic feats such as being co-captain of Barrington's varsity basketball team and winning the Nastar giant slalom skiing national championship as a 10-year-old.

“Part of my personality is trying to find parts I'm weak at,” the Barrington Hills teen said. “I try to do little things to confront them, and I guess it's been successful.”

The son of a Lithuanian father and African-American mother, both of whom are physicians and leaders in the field of pain management, Owen grew up connected to both communities and surrounded by accomplished role models.

But he never took success for granted, pouncing on any opportunity that came his way and developing a work ethic that's bound to take him great places.

One of Owen's most important and gratifying experiences has been his volunteer work through the Maironio Lietuviska Mokykla Lithuanian school in Lemont.

Though he didn't necessarily care for or appreciate it at the time, he and younger sister Kristin grew up commuting an hour there and back every Saturday to learn the language and about religion, dance and customs. Operating under a use-it-or-lose-it mindset, Owen has spent the past two years as a Sunday school teacher there and a counselor at a Lithuanian summer camp in Michigan.

He also hopes to take a sixth trip to the small European country to visit family and further immerse himself in the culture.

“Having that strong familial connection to my ancestors is really important,” Owen said. “It's a very tight-knit community I know I'll always be able to count on.”

Just as impressive were Owen's contributions on the basketball court, where the 6-foot-3 power forward started for two years and helped lead his team to the regional championships as a star defensive player.

Head coach Bryan Tucker said he's asked Owen to speak at camps. He uses him as an example to inspire kids to try to emulate his work ethic and selfless play.

“He's very respected by both his peers and adults in the community,” Tucker said. “His heart is as big as his intellect, and I think all his accomplishments pale in comparison to his character.”

After basketball season came triathlon training, which led to a third-place finish in his age group at the Olympic-distance Lake Zurich Area Triathlon on Sunday.

Both sports are bound to be mentioned at a July 19 golf outing in Bolingbrook, where Owen will be awarded a scholarship from the National Football League's local chapter of retired and current players. The organization picks former student athletes not attending college on an athletic scholarship.

Owen also spent senior year exercising the right side of his brain.

He was a main contributor to Barrington's “Nuance Literary Magazine” through his Thursday Thoughts column, opining on such topics as sleep, food, farewells and kissing.

He never hesitated to make fun of himself, once writing a “self-centered, excessively boastful” ode that included the lines “Into your every desire I will pry and poke. I'm Helen of Troy for all feminine folk.”

Looking ahead, Owen is considering a career in medicine but leaning toward something in the world of economics. He's always had a passion for the subject, with his personal library featuring numerous books on the stock market.

He's already a step ahead of most, having spent a summer interning at an options firm after sophomore year.

He says he felt at home when he went to visit Harvard and was pleasantly surprised at the number of humble students he encountered. He had worried about an atmosphere of entitlement.

“Sure, people operate on a very high level there, but they don't know everything,” he said. “They're there to learn.”

One weakness he's currently trying to overcome? Remembering names. For him, battle dates and country capitals are a cinch compared to putting a name with a face.

“I'm still a normal kid who makes stupid mistakes and has to negotiate curfew,” Owen said. “I'm not a robot — just focused on work.”

Ÿ Elena Ferrarin and Kimberly Pohl are always looking for Suburban Standouts to profile. If you know of someone whose story just wows you, please send a note including name, town, email and phone contacts for you and the nominee to standouts@dailyherald.com.

Owen Prunskis

<B>Age:</B> 18

<B>Hometown:</B> Barrington Hills

<B>School:</B> Barrington High School, soon Harvard University.

<B>Who inspires you? </B>I am inspired by the incredible intricacies of everyday life. I do not have a role model; I have many.

<B>What book are you reading? </B>“America: The Last Best Hope,” by William J. Bennett.

<B>What's on your iPod? </B>It ranges from Yo-Yo Ma to the Ying Yang Twins.

<B>The three words that best describe you?</B> Reflective, Passionate, Balanced.