Morton’s Ceresa, Farmington’s Helle win CSM Spring Athletes of the Week

Morton girls soccer and Farmington boys track and field have both had breakout spring seasons and the latest Clutch Sports Media Spring Athletes of the Week both led their teams to winning postseason plaques.

Morton’s Claire Ceresa won CSM Girls Athlete of the Week after scoring a multitude of goals to lead the Potters to a Class 2A regional championship while Farmington’s Ryan Helle won CSM Boys Athlete of the Week after his sectional title in the pole vault helped power the Farmers boys track and field squad to a Class 1A sectional championship as a team.

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

Ceresa won CSM Girls Athlete of the Week after receiving 35 percent of the votes in the girls poll. The Morton junior forward powered the Potters to a Class 2A regional title by scoring eight goals in two games. Ceresa struck for four goals in an 8-0 regional semifinal win over Limestone on May 19 and netted all four of her team’s goals in a 4-0 regional championship victory over Richwoods on May 22. Since then, she scored a goal in Morton’s 4-0 sectional semifinal win over Champaign Central on May 27, had a hat trick in a 5-0 win over Dunlap in the Class 2A Morton Sectional title game and scored twice in a 5-2 super-sectional win over Waterloo that clinched Morton girls soccer’s first-ever state berth.

Get to know Ceresa 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 probably last week winning sectionals for the first time in school history since 2013.”

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

“I would be stranded with Charlotte Vestal because we would have the best time together and make a bad situation a fun one.”

Favorite music artist?

“Drake.”

Favorite food?

“Watermelon.”

Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?

“I always have a Starbucks Strawberry Acai before every game.”

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

“One thing on my bucket list is going to the Bahamas.”

Who’s your role model and why?

“My role model is my mom because each day she always has a smile on her face, is so loving, and always sees the positive in people and one day I want to be just like her.”

Helle won CSM Boys Athlete of the Week after receiving 51 percent of the votes in the boys poll. The Farmington senior won a Class 1A Aledo Mercer County Sectional title in the pole vault by clearing 12 feet, 1.5 inches, which was just three inches short of his personal best. Helle’s performance qualified him for state and helped Farmington win a sectional team title for the first time since 2000.

Get to know Helle in a Q and A here:

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

“Senior year state.”

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

“Ethan Martin since he’s big and strong and knows a lot about survival I think.”

Favorite music artist?

“Noah Kahan.”

Favorite food?

“Chicken in a bag.”

Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?

“None.”

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

“Travel the world.”

Who’s your role model and why?

“Jeff Weyers, he is my pole vault coach and science Olympiad coach. He’s always been there and has been a great support throughout my high school and junior high years, even though he is retired.”