Heyworth’s Riddle, IVC’s Ward win CSM Winter Athletes of the Week

Two Central Illinois basketball stars proved their mettle in the end of the regular season and the playoffs, helping them win Clutch Sports Media’s latest Winter Athlete of the Week awards after receiving the most votes in their polls.

Heyworth’s Alia Riddle and IVC’s Brady Ward took home the honors after Riddle played well beyond her years while leading the Hornets to a regional title and Ward continued to catch fire down the stretch before the postseason started.

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

Riddle won CSM Girls Athlete of the Week after receiving 57 percent of the votes in the girls poll. The Heyworth freshman guard led her team to winning the Class 1A Tremont Regional championship after averaging 24 points per game in two games. Riddle went off for 33 points and seven rebounds in a 61-33 regional semifinal win over Ridgeview on Feb. 16. In the regional title game, she scored 15 points to go with seven rebounds while helping the Hornets come back from a deficit to beat Tremont 52-47. The regional title was Heyworth’s first since 2017.

Get to know Riddle in a Q and A here:

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

“My favorite high school memory is winning regionals and all the bus rides home from games!”

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

“If I had to be stranded on an island with a teammate, I would choose Karissa Cook. We work very well together and she is super fun to be around.”

Favorite music artist?

“I don't have a favorite but rap is what we listen to in the locker room!”

Favorite food?

“Pasta.”

Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?

“I have to have a pink slush Alani and Cheez-Its before the game and then during [the game], I always drink a grape Gatorade!”

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

“Visit Greece and Hawaii.”

Who’s your role model and why?

“My biggest role model is my coach Tom Eller. He not only helps me on the court, but also off the court. He is always pushing and guiding me to become a better player. He has beneficially impacted my life in many ways!”

Ward won CSM Boys Athlete of the Week after receiving 46 percent of the votes in the boys poll. The Grey Ghosts’ senior played a big role in helping IVC win 10 of its final 13 games of the regular season, including their last two. He finished with 16 points and eight rebounds to help IVC pull out a 59-54 Illini Prairie Conference win over Paxton-Buckley-Loda on Feb. 16 and put the icing on the cake with a 21-point performance in a 63-58 victory over El Paso-Gridley on Feb. 19.

Get to know Ward in a Q and A here:

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

“Staying overnight in Champaign with the team.”

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

“I would choose Jackson Lopotko to be my teammate on the island because there’s no way we would survive but we’d manage to make it a good time.”

Favorite music artist?

“Linkin Park.”

Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?

“I do the same stretches every time and Ryan Mathis and I have a handshake before every game.”

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

“I want to go to Lake Como in Italy.”

Who’s your role model and why?

“My father is my role model because of his perseverance throughout his life.”