PND’s Coulter, Normal Community’s Graham win CSM Fall Athletes of the Week

A pair of Big 12 golfers took home the first CSM Fall Athletes of the Week awards of the year as Peoria Notre Dame’s Jack Coulter and Normal Community’s Ryann Graham earned the most votes in their respective polls. 

Coulter won the Raider/Redbird Classic on Aug. 19 with an impressively low round of 65 while Graham led the Iron to a pair of strong results early in the year, including at Bloomington’s Best Ball Tournament. 

Read more about our winners and their accomplishments and get to know them in Q and A’s below. 

Coulter won CSM Boys Athlete of the Week after earning 42 percent of the votes in the boys poll. His blazing-hot round of 65 gave him the win at the Raider/Redbird Classic at Weibring Golf Course by two strokes over Rockford Boylan’s Cole Beto. The PND junior birdied four holes in a row on the back nine and added four more on the front nine to go six-under-par, helping his team finish sixth out of 19 squads. Recently, Coulter finished second at the PND Invite at Kellogg Golf Course on Aug. 27 as he shot a 68 and lost in a scorecard playoff for medalist honors. 

Get to know Coulter 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 so far is making birdie on my first hole at state freshman year. Even though the rest of the weekend wasn't the greatest, I was really proud to start like that and represent my school in that way.”

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

“If I were to be stranded on an island with a teammate, I would probably choose Mason Kenny. Mason and I have been teammates and good friends since grade school, so I would definitely want him to be stranded with me.”

Favorite music artist?

“My favorite music artist is either Morgan Wallen or Chris Stapleton.”

Favorite food?

“My favorite food is steak with shrimp.”

Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?

“Routine-wise, I always drink a glass of chocolate milk before I go to bed, and I always keep 2 quarters in my pocket to mark my ball.”

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

“One thing on my bucket list is to go to Alaska.”

Who’s your role model and why?

“My role models are my dad and my grandpa, because they taught me the importance of hard work, self belief, and making as many connections as I can.”

Graham won CSM Girls Athlete of the Week after earning 38 percent of the votes in the girls poll. Normal Community’s good start to the year can be attributed in large part to her as she shot a 41 to win co-medalist honors and give the Iron a 175-191 win over Pekin at Ironwood Golf Course on Aug. 19. Three days later, she and teammate Savanna Siegrist headlined the Iron as they finished second at Bloomington’s Best Ball Invite at Highland Park Golf Course and carded a score of 74. Recently, Graham helped Normal Community to a sixth-place finish at Bloomington Central Catholic’s Saints Shootout at Prairie Vista by shooting an 88 to finish in the top 25. 

Get to know Graham in a Q and A here:

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

“Probably the tournament we played at Wolf Creek Golf Course last year. Wolf Creek is definitely my favorite course. Me, Savanna [Siegrist], and my friend, Natalie [Ocheltree], from U-High, all medaled, and my grandpa, who was the one who originally got me into golf, was also able to come watch me play. So it was an all-around great day that made for a great memory as well.”

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

“Probably Savanna Siegrist. I’m pretty good friends with her outside of golf, and I know she is trustworthy and she would know how to keep the mood light. She would also figure out some way for both of us to keep practicing for golf.”

Favorite music artist?

“Currently either Luke Combs or Josiah Queen.”

Favorite food?

“BBQ pulled pork.”

Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?

“I never hit my driver on the range before a match or tournament.”

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

“Playing St. Andrews in Scotland, or going to watch the Masters.”

Who’s your role model and why?

“Probably my mom. She is an amazing confident leader who has taught me to give my best in everything I do. She is also very strong, smart, and creative.”