Tri-Valley’s Morris, Morton’s Fritz win CSM Fall Athletes of the Week Presented by Josh Riekena Country Financial

Both of the latest CSM Fall Athletes of the Week Presented by Josh Riekena Country Financial led their teams to key wins leading into the postseason, whether it was on the volleyball court or football field.

Tri-Valley’s Kinley Morris and Morton’s Brody Fritz won Athlete of the Week honors after receiving the most votes in their respective polls. Morris helped Tri-Valley finish its regular season with a 12-0 Heart of Illinois Conference record while Fritz’s late-game heroics helped Morton defeat state-ranked Dunlap on the road. 

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

Morris won CSM Girls Athlete of the Week after receiving 30 percent of the votes in the girls poll. The Tri-Valley junior outside hitter had three strong performances to lead the Vikings to wins over Washington, Dee-Mack and Fisher, beginning with a 10-dig, seven-kill, two-block performance in a two-set win over the Panthers. Morris led the team with 10 kills and supplied eight digs in a three-set win over Dee-Mack and led the Tri-Valley attack to the tune of seven kills and four aces in a sweep over Fisher, which gave the Vikings a 12-0 record in Heart of Illinois Conference play. Morris is among Tri-Valley’s leaders this season in kills (164), aces (38), blocks (38) and digs (148). 

Get to know Morris in a Q and A here:

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

“Team bonding [and] learning self-defense in the beginning of the season.”

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

“Lauren Louck, we have a good connection and work well together.”

Favorite music artist?

“Lizzy McAlpine.”

Favorite food?

“Steak.”

Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?

“Listening to music in the locker room with my team before the game.”

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

“Travel to Greece.”

Who’s your role model and why?

“My dad, he was my coach for many years growing up and has helped me become the player I am today.”

Fritz won CSM Boys Athlete of the Week with 52 percent of the votes in the boys poll. Morton’s sophomore quarterback threw the game-winning touchdown pass in a 20-19 win over Dunlap in Week 8 that locked up a Potters’ playoff berth. With 19 seconds left in the game and trailing 19-13, Fritz threw an 11-yard touchdown to Brody Pinter to tie the game. Fritz finished the game with two touchdowns in the win over the state-ranked Eagles. 

Fritz had not responded to a Q and A inquiry as of Tuesday morning, this story will be updated if answers are provided