Athletes from two of the biggest schools in the area provided two of the biggest performances during the week of Oct. 21-27 and won CSM Fall Athletes of the Week Presented by Dominos after receiving the most votes in their respective polls.
Pekin quarterback Brogan Benassi and Normal Community’s Macy Hunziker took the honors with strong performances near the end of the regular season. Benassi’s five touchdowns in a Week 9 contest against East Peoria helped Pekin sustain a five-game winning streak heading into the playoffs while Hunziker led the Ironmen with four first-place finishes at the Big 12 Conference Meet, becoming the fourth girls swimmer in five weeks to win CSM Girls Athlete of the Week.
Read more about our winners and get to know them in Q and A’s below:
Hunziker won CSM Girls Athlete of the Week after receiving 51 percent of the vote total in the girls poll. The Normal Community swimmer swept both of the distance freestyle events at the Big 12 Conference Meet on Oct. 25 and helped her team along the way to winning the 200-yard medley relay and 200-yard freestyle relay. Hunziker’s time of 1:59.80 in was a personal-best for her in the 200-yard freestyle, as was her time of 5:20.30 in the 500-yard freestyle. The Ironmen placed fourth at the meet but took home the second-most first place medals with eight.
Get to know Hunziker in a Q and A here:
What’s been your favorite memory of the season/offseason so far?
“My conference swims when I beat my pre-injury times. Two years ago I hurt my back, rehabbed, and returned to full time swim this season. It was also so much fun to swim with my friends from all the high school teams!”
If you had to be stranded on an island with a teammate, who would it be and why?
“I would say Emily Hall because she’s very nice, reliable, and very good with maps. During this season, we did team bonding at a corn maze and when we were stuck, she got us out of the maze very easily.”
Favorite music artist?
“Gracie Abrams.”
Favorite food?
“Pasta.”
Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?
“Because I have POTS, I lay on the pool deck with my legs up against the wall. This pushes the blood back to my heart and lungs. My swim friends are truly the best. They join me so I don’t feel weird doing it by myself. Luckily, it’s also good for them because it removes lactic acid.”
Favorite college or professional athlete?
“Hunter Armstrong or Missy Franklin.”
Do you have any hidden talents?
“I’m really good with little kids. I once had to corral and quietly entertain a room of 90 kids during a parent meeting all by myself. Luckily my 8 year-old little “BFF” Emi was there to help me out.”
Who’s your role model and why?
“Missy Franklin because she has a fun loving positive attitude. She once told me, “Happiest swimmers are the fastest swimmers! Enjoy it!” This represents what I try to bring to the sport by always being positive and having fun.”
Benassi won CSM Boys Athletes of the Week after receiving 39 percent of the total votes in the boys poll. The Pekin junior quarterback capped off an exceptional regular season with five touchdowns and 208 yards in a 64-20 win over East Peoria, in which the Dragons scored 50 unanswered points after trailing 20-14 and gave them a five-game winning streak heading into the playoffs. Benassi’s effort was an efficient one, as he only needed nine completions on 11 attempts to finish with his stat total.
Get to know Benassi in a Q and A here:
What’s been your favorite memory of the season/offseason so far?
“My favorite memory from this season so far would be winning against Dunlap in Week 3, 34-33 with Dylan Anderson’s game-winning interception to seal the game.”
If you had to be stranded on an island with a teammate, who would it be and why?
“Ty Jackson because I've known him my entire life and we just have fun together.”
Favorite music artist?
“Don’t have a favorite music artist.”
Favorite food?
“Steak.”
Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?
“We eat Jimmy John’s for [our] pregame meal every Friday before the game and we watch movies before.”
Who’s your favorite college or professional athlete?
“Michael Jordan.”
Do you have any hidden talents?
“Spinning a basketball on my finger.”
Who’s your role model and why?
“My dad because i look up to him every day and he’s someone I want to be like in my life.”
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