BCC’s Manney, Canton’s Hedges win CSM Winter Athletes of the Week

Bloomington Central Catholic’s Keshaun Manney and Canton’s Chloe Hedges are performing when it matters most late in the season and won last week’s CSM Winter Athletes of the Week honors. 

One of Central Illinois’ most prolific scorers, Manney delivered several big performances in key games down the stretch for the Saints while Hedges added her biggest championship of the season yet at the DeKalb Sectional.

Read more about our winners and their big performances and get to know them in Q and A’s below:

Manney won CSM Boys Athlete of the Week after receiving 40 percent of the vote total in the boys poll. The Bloomington Central Catholic junior guard has helped lift the Saints to seven straight wins heading into the postseason, including a pair of Illini Prairie Conference victories. He scored 21 in a 61-57 win over Rantoul on Feb. 10 and helped the Saints to a key victory over St. Joseph-Ogden on Feb. 13. Manney led BCC with a team-high 23 points in an impressive 65-59 win in overtime against Warsaw West Hancock at the Riverton Shootout on Feb. 14 as well. Later on, he put up 30 points in a 78-62 win over Macon Meridian to close the regular season on Feb. 17.

Get to know Manney in a Q and A here: 

What’s been your favorite memory of your high school career so far? 

“Hitting a game-winner against Tri-Valley.”

If you had to be stranded on an island with a teammate, who would it be and why?

“Crayton [Schnierle] because we could chat [about] anything.”

Favorite music artist?

“Raq Baby.”

Favorite food?

“Any type of pasta.”

Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?

“Listening to music.”

What’s one thing that’s on your bucket list?

“Get my first offer.”

Who’s your role model and why?

“My dad, He’s always there for me [and] always willing to get me better whether I like it or not.”

Hedges won CSM Girls Athlete of the Week after receiving 58 percent of the votes in the girls poll. One of the top wrestlers on a deep Canton team, she won the 115-pound bracket at the DeKalb Sectional to set herself up well heading into this week’s IHSA State Finals. Hedges started out with a pin of LaSalle-Peru’s Emily Lowery before beating Bloomington’s Autumn Starr in an 18-2 tech fall in the semifinals. Hedges then beat Streator’s Laila Vaughn in an 18-13 decision in the championship match, using three takedowns in the third and final period to pull out the victory. Hedges carries a 33-3 record into the state finals and has won the Geneseo Regional, Mid-Illini Conference Tournament, Canton Invitational and Morris’ Reindeer Rumble this season.

Hedges has not responded to an email Q and A inquiry as of time of publication, this story will be updated if answers are received.