Morton’s Ripka, Brimfield/Elmwood’s Malone win CSM Spring Athletes of the Week

The final Clutch Sports Media Athletes of the Week of the 2025-26 season ended their campaigns on a high note while helping their respective teams have one of the best seasons in program history.

Morton’s Izzy Ripka turned it up a notch during the super-sectional and state games for the Potters’ girls soccer team, which finished as the Class 2A state runner-up. Brimfield/Elmwood’s Noah Malone was the hero for the Indians in their Class 2A sectional title game by delivering a walk-off hit in the bottom of the seventh inning in a tie game. 

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

Ripka won CSM Girls Athlete of the Week after receiving 59 percent of the votes in the girls poll. The Morton junior midfielder scored four goals in the Potters’ last three games of the season as they finished their best season in program history by taking second place in Class 2A. Ripka scored a goal off a rebound in Morton’s 5-2 super-sectional win over Waterloo on June 2. She also scored two goals to power her team to a 4-1 state semifinal win over Wheaton St. Francis and scored Morton’s lone goal in its 3-1 loss to Crystal Lake Central in the state title game. Ripka finished her season with 11 goals and seven assists.

Get to know Ripka in a Q and A here: 

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

“My favorite memory of high school would have to be going to state for the first time in school history. This was such an amazing group of girls and to make history with them means the world.”

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 definitely be Leigha Kempf. She’s my best friend on and off the field and I know she would make the time fly.”

Favorite music artist?

“Megan Moroney.”

Favorite food?

“Steak.”

Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?

“I always have Leigha [Kempf] do my prewrap.”

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

“One thing on my bucket list is to visit Egypt.”

Who’s your role model and why?

“My role model is my mom because she’s always there for me and I know I can count on her.”

Malone won CSM Boys Athlete of the Week after receiving 60 percent of the votes in the boys poll. The Brimfield/Elmwood senior delivered the walk-off hit that gave the Indians first sectional title since 2022. In the bottom of the seventh inning, he hit an RBI single to right to give B/E a 7-6 win over Carthage Illini West in the Class 2A IVC Sectional title game. He finished that game with four singles, two RBIs and a stolen base. He also had an RBI single and threw one and two-third innings in the Indians’ 7-6 victory over Taylor Ridge Rockridge in the sectional semifinals. Malone finished the season with a .351 batting average, 33 hits, 22 RBIs, eight doubles plus a triple and a home run. He also had a 3.15 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 20 innings on the mound.

Get to know Malone in a Q and A here: 

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

“My favorite memory from my high school career has been the postseason run we just made. It felt like we kind of got overlooked all season so to come out and make a run with the guys I’ve been playing with since I was 10 was something special.”

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 Kaeden Schatsiek. His dad was a Marine so he’s got to have some survival skills.”

Favorite music artist?

“My favorite music artist is Tyler the Creator.”

Favorite food?

“My favorite food is spaghetti.”

Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?

“My only real pregame routine is to drink an energy drink and listen to music.”

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

“One thing on my bucket list is to go to Game 7 of the World Series.”

Who’s your role model and why?

“My role model is my dad because he always pushed me to better myself not just as an athlete but also as a person.”