Illini Bluffs’ Emhoff, Normal Community’s Aviles win CSM Fall Athletes of the Week

Two Central Illinois athletes showed off their wide array of talents early in the fall season and earned Clutch Sports Media Fall Athlete of the Week honors after receiving the most votes in their respective polls.

Illini Bluffs soccer star Will Emhoff won CSM Boys Athlete of the Week after putting on a goal-scoring clinic to lead the Tigers to an early-season tournament win while Normal Community standout swimmer Izzy Aviles won a total of seven races across six different events to key a pair of wins for her team. 

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

Emhoff won CSM Boys Athlete of the Week after receiving 56 percent of the votes in the boys poll. The Illini Bluffs senior shined in multiple sports but primarily in soccer, where he scored 10 goals at the Pekin Soccer Invitational to help the Tigers win the title. Emhoff was responsible for all four of IB’s goals in a 4-0 win over Monmouth-Roseville on Aug. 28, then added two hat tricks with one coming in a 7-0 win over Pekin and another coming in a 9-0 win over Olympia on Aug. 29. Emhoff also showed his speed on the cross country course as he placed fifth at the Farmington Invitational on Aug. 24 with a time of 17:17.32 to lead all Tigers runners.

Get to know Emhoff in a Q and A here:

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

“My favorite high school memory has been the friends, teammates and mentors I’ve met throughout my experience at Illini Bluffs.”

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, it would be Judd Vice because I think we could lock in and find a way off.”

Favorite music artist?

“I can’t choose a favorite music artist, I love all types of music.”

Favorite food?

“My favorite food is probably a good pizza.”

Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?

“I don’t have many pregame rituals, just a good stretch.”

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

“One thing on my bucket list is to travel a lot.”

Who’s your role model and why?

“My role model is probably my uncle. Throughout my whole life, he has been the coolest person I’ve met.”

Aviles won CSM Girls Athlete of the Week after receiving 89 percent of the votes in the girls poll. The Ironmen swimmer won multiple different races throughout the week to help her team win a pair of dual meets. She won three times against Chatham Glenwood on Aug. 27, taking the 200 individual medley (2:18.12), the 100 butterfly (1:00.58) and swimming on Normal Community’s 200 medley relay that won in 2:06.87. She swam a nearly completely different lineup against Richwoods on Aug. 29 but it made no difference as she won the 200 free (2:08.73), 100 butterfly (59.74) and anchored the Ironmen’s winning 200 and 400 free relays. 

Aviles and her coach were unable to be reached for a Q and A before time of publication, this story will be updated if answers are received.