Morton’s Davis, Elmwood’s Ryan win CSM Fall Athletes of the Week

The end of the regular season is an opportune time for big performances and both of the latest Clutch Sports Media Athletes of the Week winners did just that. 

Morton’s Isaac Davis and Elmwood’s Payge Ryan won the honors after receiving the most votes in their respective polls. Davis led the Potters football team to a historic conference championship and Ryan had a season-high in assists among several strong showings to lead the Trojans’ volleyball team to a pair of wins.

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

Davis won CSM Boys Athlete of the Week after receiving 65 percent of the votes in the boys poll. The senior, who plays running back, wide receiver, quarterback and linebacker for the Potters, ran for three touchdowns in Morton’s 35-7 win over Metamora at Dozer Park on Oct. 16. His three-yard score put Morton on the board late in the first quarter and his second touchdown gave the Potters a 14-0 halftime lead. He added a four-yard touchdown late in the third quarter as well. That win clinched Morton’s first-ever outright Mid-Illini Conference title in football. 

Get to know Davis in a Q and A here: 

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

“Winning the Mid-Illini conference outright for the first time in school history.”

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

“I would be stranded with Keenan Smith because he has great ideas that would keep us entertained.”

Favorite music artist?

“Treaty Oak Revival.”

Favorite food?

“Steak and shrimp.”

Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?

“Pregame nap and no headphones.”

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

“I want to catch a 10 pound bass.”

Who’s your role model and why?

“My role model is my dad because he is super hardworking.”

Ryan won CSM Girls Athlete of the Week after receiving 52 percent of the votes in the girls poll. The Elmwood setter had two double-doubles and nearly had a third in a trio of Trojans contests near the end of the regular season. She finished with 17 assists and 11 digs to accompany three kills, an ace and a block in a three-set loss to Peoria Christian on Oct. 13 and put up a season-high 29 assists to go with nine digs and three kills in a sweep over Delavan on Oct. 14. She finished her week with 19 assists, 18 digs, three kills and two aces in a win over Macomb on Oct. 15. Ryan finished the regular season with 512 assists and 45 aces, both of which led Elmwood, as well as 246 digs. 

Get to know Ryan in a Q and A here: 

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

“My favorite memory of my high school career was beating Brimfield this year. They are our rivals and usually we get nervous and lose, but this year we battled through, played a great game and won!”

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 choose Wren Kellenburger, she is so resourceful and has good critical thinking.”

Favorite music artist?

“My favorite music artist is Lady Gaga.”

Favorite food?

“My favorite food lasagna.”

Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?

“My pregame ritual is checking to see if I have any texts, then sit and stretch somewhere. While I stretch, I “talk” to grandma who passed and always end my convo with ‘I love you Nana, this game is for you.’”

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

“One thing on my bucket list is to take the longest vacation possible to the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee.”

Who’s your role model and why?

“My role model is my mom, Lisa. She always puts her best foot forward and puts her entire being into everything she does. I love my mom and will always aim to be like her.”