Normal U-High’s Rader, Bloomington’s Hartman win CSM Fall Athletes of the Week

A pair of Bloomington/Normal stars became CSM Fall Athletes of the Week winners after standout performances and receiving the most votes in their Athlete of the Week polls. 

Normal U-High’s Kinslee Rader won CSM Girls Athlete of the Week after leading the Pioneers’ first-year flag football team to a trio of wins at quarterback. Bloomington’s Eli Hartman took home CSM Boys Athlete of the Week honors after winning a coveted Intercity title in a competitive field.

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

Rader won CSM Girls Athlete of the Week after receiving 45 percent of the votes in the girls poll. The Normal U-High flag football quarterback guided her team to several wins to close the regular season, including a 34-0 win over Normal West on Sept. 21 where she went 11-for-16 for 157 yards and three touchdowns. The next day, she went 15-for-28 for 228 yards and two touchdowns, along with a 16-yard rushing touchdown in a win over a strong Champaign Central squad. The sophomore ended her week by leading the Pioneers to a 34-6 win over Champaign Centennial. Through the first 12 games of the season, she threw for 1,726 yards and 17 touchdowns, along with adding 165 yards and a touchdown on the ground and 19 receptions for 100 yards through the air.

Get to know Rader in a Q and A here:

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

“My favorite memory has been flag football and being able to be a part of the first season.  I loved our team dinner before regionals because it helped us come together as a team before postseason.  I love the culture that our coach has help create on this team.”

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

“I would be stranded on an island with Holly because she would have a great time and she would tackle anyone trying to attack us.”

Favorite music artist?

“My favorite music artist is Ella Langley, because I am always screaming her songs in the car.”

Favorite food?

“My favorite food is any type of seafood, specifically shrimp.”

Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?

“My pregame routine is I always pray before I go out onto the field.”

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

“One thing on my bucket list is to go to a different country.” 

Who’s your role model and why?

“My role model is Patrick Mahomes because he is a Christian and is a really good quarterback.”

Hartman won CSM Boys Athlete of the Week after receiving 90 percent of the votes in the boys poll. The Bloomington sophomore won the title at the Randy Sharer Bloomington/Normal Intercity Meet on Sept. 26 with a then-personal best time of 15:05.9, which he has since broken. Hartman won the race by six seconds over Normal U-High’s Andrew Aldeman and led the Purple Raiders to a third place finish as a team. Since then, Hartman set a new personal best time of 14:49.7 at the Peoria High Invitational on Oct. 3 to place sixth in the Class 1A/2A race.

Get to know Hartman in a Q and A here:

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

“Running the Geneseo Invite in the mud and rain.”

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

“Lincoln Steers, he’s funny, can fish, and wrestle the wild animals.”

Favorite music artist?

“The Smashing Pumpkins.”

Favorite food?

“Pasta.”

Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?

“Play chess or read.”

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

“Get the Bloomington school record.”

Who’s your role model and why?

“Jamari Randolph; he is one of the best hurdlers in the state, and is very humble and works hard.”