BCC’s Wyse, Normal West’s Bierbaum win CSM Fall Athletes of the Week

A pair of standouts from Bloomington/Normal won the latest CSM Fall Athletes of the Week honors after putting up multiple strong performances during the week of Sept. 15-Sept. 21.

Bloomington Central Catholic’s Jack Wyse and Normal West’s Maddie Bierbaum both received the most votes in their respective polls after Wyse scored several goals to lead the Saints’ soccer team to a pair of wins and Bierbaum notched a pair of strong rounds to gain momentum before the postseason.

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

Wyse won CSM Boys Athlete of the Week after receiving 46 percent of the votes in the boys poll. The Saints’ junior forward scored three goals and provided an assist in BCC’s 8-0 win over Tolono Unity on Sept. 16, a win that helped the team break out of a five-game skid. Wyse scored BCC’s lone goal in a respectable 2-1 defeat against St. Joseph-Ogden on Sept. 18 and put one in the back of the net again in a 3-0 victory against Decatur St. Teresa on Sept. 20. Wyse currently leads the Saints with six goals and six assists on the season. 

Get to know Wyse in a Q and A here: 

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

“My favorite memory so far has been winning [a] regional against [Urbana] Uni-High my freshman year.”

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

“I would pick Lucas Beck to be stranded on an island with me because him and I would die laughing together because we both wouldn’t know how to survive by ourselves. Or I would pick Giuseppe Vetri because I would be able to survive because he is very smart.”

Favorite music artist?

“My favorite music artist probably has to be Drake.”

Favorite food?

“My favorite food is pizza.”

Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?

“My game routine is that I listen to music to get focused before a game.”

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

“One thing on my bucket list is to go to Europe and watch professional soccer.”

Who’s your role model and why?

“My role model would have to be my dad because I have always looked up to him and he sets a great example for me in everything I do.”

Bierbaum won CSM Girls Athlete of the Week after receiving 52 percent of the votes in the girls poll. The Wildcats’ freshman, who has played at the top of their lineup, shot a 38 to win the Big 12 tri-meet against Richwoods and Peoria Notre Dame at Kellogg Golf Course on Sept. 16. She also led Normal West by shooting a round of 77 that included two birdies at the Livingston County Invitational on Sept. 18 to finish eighth at Wolf Creek Golf Club. More recently, she finished fourth at the Big 12 Conference Tournament on Sept. 23 with an 89 and ninth at the John Macek Memorial Tournament on Sept. 26 in Champaign with an 85.

Get to know Bierbaum in a Q and A here: 

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

“My first Friday night lights football game. Super fun with all of my friends.”

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

“I would be stranded with Addie [Williams] because we both like similar things and would find a way to have fun.”

Favorite music artist?

“Tyler Childers.”

Favorite food?

“Mac and cheese please!”

Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?

“I pray before I play and on the harder courses, I have to pray more to avoid trouble on the course.”

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

“Go to Paris.”

Who’s your role model and why?

“My golf coach Stacey Miller. She helps me so much with golf but also teaches me life lessons. She's awesome.”