Normal West’s Rankin, Tremont’s Keever win CSM Fall Athletes of the Week

Normal West’s Lexi Rankin and Tremont’s Troy Keever have been impactful parts of their teams for multiple years and both of them won CSM Fall Athletes of the Week after strong performances in the middle of the season.

Rankin won CSM Girls Athlete of the Week after winning multiple diving competitions for Normal West while Keever won CSM Boys Athlete of the Week following a five-touchdown, 247-yard performance to lead Tremont football to its first win of the season.

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

Rankin won CSM Girls Athlete of the Week after receiving 77 percent of the votes in the girls poll. The Normal West senior won the diving competition at multiple meets during the week of Sept. 7-13. She put up a score of 208.75 to take first against Urbana on Sept. 8 and also finished second in the 50 free and was part of the Wildcats’ 200 medley relay in a 132-45 Normal West win. Two days later, she put up a mark of 240.55 to win the diving competition at a quad meet that featured LaSalle-Peru, Normal Community and Danville. Rankin is a three-time state qualifier and three-time Big 12 Conference champion. 

Get to know Rankin in a Q and A here:

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

“I would say my favorite memory of my high school career so far would be when I first qualified for state freshman year. I had got 2nd at sectionals to my club teammate Leah, so I had to qualify by score instead which meant my spot wasn’t guaranteed. I remember being so nervous and excited when I found out I had officially qualified.”

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

“If I had to be stranded with a teammate, It would be my friend Elle [Floit]. She also dives, so we spend a lot of time together already. Since we already spend a lot of time together, I know she wouldn’t annoy me, and she’s a creative thinker which would be helpful!”

Favorite music artist?

“Green Day.”

Favorite food?

“Popcorn.”

Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?

“I stretch out before all meets, and I like to model out my dives on the ground before I complete them.”

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

“I want to travel to Scotland and Greece someday.”

Who’s your role model and why?

“My sister is my role model. Growing up I really looked up to her, and I still do. She is incredibly driven, kind, and funny. I think watching her become herself has shaped me into who I am today.”

Keever won CSM Boys Athlete of the Week after receiving 37 percent of the votes in the boys poll. The Tremont senior had a huge game against Seneca on Sept. 11 by rushing four four touchdowns in a 47-28 win, the Turks’ first of the season. Keever piled up 254 yards on just 11 carries and scored touchdowns from one, 79, 64 and 67 yards out and scored on defense with a fumble returned for a touchdown as well. Keever also booted five extra points in the win to finish with 35 of Tremont’s 47 points in the winning effort. Recently, he helped Tremont win its second straight with 15 carries for a team-high 62 yards plus three extra points in a 27-8 victory against St. Louis Gateway STEM on Sept. 18.

Get to know Keever in a Q and A here:

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

“My favorite memory so far has been either being nominated as a 1st Team All-Conference linebacker as a junior or winning our first game this year. We'd lost to LeRoy the week before, (who Coach Hagaman used to coach for) we came out overconfident and I could definitely sense the disappointment in him. So it meant everything to me that we came back the next week and got it done at Seneca for him. Not only did I have a great game, but I could tell our coach was proud of the way we played and made up for the loss the week before.”

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 with one teammate, I would have to choose Eli Bohm, not only because he's a really good buddy of mine, but we both work well together and he’s into the outdoors like me so we'd survive pretty well together.”

Favorite music artist?

“Rock-Metallica, Pop- Michael Jackson, and Country-Joe Diffie”

Favorite food?

“My favorite food has to be some different types of really good BBQ, but every year for my birthday I have hamburgers and mac and cheese!”

Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?

“I don't have a lot of routines or rituals that are very unique to me I'd say. I do try to hit some smelling salts before heading out for warm ups. I also take my chain and watch out for warm ups and give it to my special teams/LB coach, I just like inconveniencing him and it's been a running joke for a while. The only other thing I can think of is we were all given goal note cards (personal goals on one side and team goals on the other), so before the game I read them to remind myself what I'm trying to achieve every game as well as what the teams' goals are as well.”

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

“One thing that's on my bucket list is to go watch the Ohio State Buckeyes play in Columbus. I've been a Buckeye since I was born so it'd be a once in a lifetime experience for me!”

Who’s your role model and why?

“Two role models I have are Nick Saban and my coach. I've listened to Mr. Saban talk about having mental toughness and his constant demand for discipline and demand for perfection, and I've tried to take that to heart, fixing all the small things about my game and trying to be the best I can possibly be. And then my coach, Joe Hageman changed my life in many aspects. He came into the program and took a chance on us even though he could've coached somewhere else, and has brought a whole new atmosphere to the game of football we've never had in Tremont before. He's taught us that hard work does pay off and he never gave up on us as a team even at the lowest points. And also he's one of the most positive and funny individuals I've ever met. There's laughter and jokes in every conversation we've had and so it's been refreshing to be around someone who is always happy so it's rubbed off on me being more of a positive person and looking on the bright side of life.”