BCC’s Niepagen, Farmington’s Crawford win CSM Fall Athletes of the Week

The IHSA fall sports season has all but wrapped up with only state championship games in Class 5A-8A football still to be played after snow-related postponements. So has the list of Clutch Sports Media’s Athletes of the Week from the fall season after Bloomington Central Catholic’s Kampbell Niepagen and Farmington’s Landon Crawford won the weekly honors. 

Niepagen put on a pair of strong performances on the state’s biggest stage, leading BCC volleyball to a Class 2A state runner-up trophy for the second straight year. Crawford was a bright spot in the final game of the season for Farmington, who recorded the winningest two-year stretch in program history. 

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

Niepagen won CSM Girls Athlete of the Week after receiving 48 percent of the votes in the girls poll. The Saints’ junior outside hitter helped lead BCC to the Class 2A state title game for the second straight year, recording a team-high nine kills and two blocks in its 25-16, 25-18 state semifinal win over Port Byron Riverdale. She led the Saints with 12 kills and a pair of aces to go with seven digs in BCC’s three-set state championship defeat to Columbia. The Auburn commit was an IVCA Class 2A first-team all-state selection, collecting 395 kills, 241 digs, 60 aces and 42 blocks while leading BCC to a 36-6 record. 

Get to know Niepagen in a Q and A here:

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

“My favorite memory has been going to the state tournament back to back years and getting to the championship match both times!”

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

“If I was stranded on an island, I would pick Rosie Krenz because she is hilarious and so fun to be around.”

Favorite music artist?

“My favorite music artist is Drake.”

Favorite food?

“My favorite food is any type of pasta.”

Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?

“My favorite pregame ritual is dancing in the locker room to Danza Kuduro and Wobble.”

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

“One thing on my bucket list is traveling to Europe and visiting as many countries as possible!”

Who’s your role model and why?

“My role model is my mom because she is always pushing me to be the best version of myself and has sacrificed so much for me and my family.”

Crawford won CSM Boys Athlete of the Week after receiving 47 percent of the votes in the boys poll. The Farmington wide receiver caught three passes for 46 yards and a touchdown in a 32-15 Class 2A state quarterfinal loss to El Paso-Gridley and caught a two-point conversion as well. An ICC baseball commit, Crawford helped lead Farmington to an 11-1 record and was a multi-year starter for a Farmers squad that had its winningest two-year stretch (23) in program history. 

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

“Breaking the school record in both football and baseball.”

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

“I would pick Jack Gronewold just because he is always someone I can talk to and he’s smart and we are really close friends.”

Favorite music artist?

“Drake.”

Favorite food?

“Pizza.”

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

“I want to leave the country at some point.”

Who’s your role model and why?

“My dad because he is always the one who is trying to set me up to be the best I can be. [He is] always on my side and will do anything for me and my grandpa. I say he is my guardian angel looking above me ever since he passed away. But he is a role model because I want to be the athlete and person he was.”