Vote: CSM Fall Athletes of the Week, Oct. 19-25, 2026
The IHSA postseason has magnified the many Central Illinois athletes who have been standout performers all fall long. Ten of the many area stars from last week’s action have earned nominations for Clutch Sports Media’s Fall Athletes of the Week.
This week’s nominees include regional champions from cross country and boys soccer, conference champions in volleyball and girls swimming and Opening Round standouts in football.
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Check out all of our nominees with information on their standout performances below, vote for who you think should win and spread the word to vote before polls close on Friday at 11:59 PM!
CSM Girls Athlete of the Week nominees
Ava Otto, Eureka girls cross country
Otto was a star performer at the Class 1A Eureka Regional by winning the individual title, which boosted the Hornets to the team title as well. Otto clocked in with a personal-best time of 17:27.0 and marked her second win of the season. The Hornets won the team title with 43 points as they edged out Elmwood/Brimfield by three points.
Presley Shanahan, Tri-Valley volleyball
Shanahan starred for Tri-Valley as the Vikings won the Heart of Illinois Conference Tournament to close the regular season. She dominated the title match against Eureka with 20 kills, 15 digs and two blocks in a three-set win over the Hornets on Oct. 22 and put up eight digs, six kills and two aces in a semifinal win over Tremont earlier that night. Shanahan tacked on seven kills, four digs and three aces in a quarterfinal win over LeRoy on Oct. 20.
Maya Happel, Washington co-op girls swimming
Happel was a key factor in Washington winning the Mid-Illini Conference Meet on Oct. 24 by winning a total of three races. She took the 200 individual medley title in a personal-best time of 2:12.00 and swam on Washington’s winning 200 free relay (1:43.12), and anchored its winning 400 free relay (3:50.24). Happel also placed second in the 100 breaststroke with a season-best clocking of 1:10.99.
Anna Yu, Dunlap girls tennis
Yu went the furthest out of all area competitors at the IHSA Girls Tennis State Finals, regardless of class. The Dunlap junior secured a top eight finish in the Class 2A singles bracket and won six matches. She won her first two matches 6-2, 6-3 and 6-1, 6-1 before suffering a three-set loss in the third round. Yu followed it up with three straight sweeps in the consolation round before being eliminated in the consolation semifinals.
Lillian Chaddock, Peoria Notre Dame girls cross country
Chaddock led Peoria Notre Dame to a Class 2A regional title on its home turf to advance to sectionals. The sophomore finished the 3.1-mile Yeti Course at Donovan Park in 19:33.0, which marked her personal best time for that distance. PND won the regional title with 28 points and seven runners in the top 15.
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CSM Girls Athlete of the Week poll
Ava Otto, Eureka girls cross country
Presley Shanahan, Tri-Valley volleyball
Maya Happel, Washington girls swimming
Anna Yu, Dunlap girls tennis
CSM Boys Athlete of the Week nominees
Briggs Bucy, Metamora football
Bucy lit up Malone Field on Oct. 23 by setting a program record and scoring three long touchdowns in Metamora’s 56-7 Class 4A Opening Round win over Alton Marquette. The Redbirds wide receiver caught three passes for 137 yards and all of them went for touchdowns. His second touchdown catch, which marked his 12th of the season, broke the Metamora single-season receiving touchdowns record.
Aiden Duhs, IVC boys cross country
Duhs collected plenty of hardware at the Class 1A Seneca Regional on Oct. 24 and won the individual title in 15:53.2. His performance helped the Grey Ghosts win the team title as well. He also won a dual meet against Peru St. Bede in 16:23.1 on Oct. 20.
Payton Miller, Peoria Christian boys soccer
Miller came up big in the clutch to help Peoria Christian win a Class 1A regional title on its home turf. The Chargers’ goalkeeper made 12 saves in a regional semifinal win over Bloomington Central Catholic on Oct. 20 and made eight saves in a thrilling regional championship win against Roanoke-Benson/Eureka on Oct. 23, including two in a penalty kick shootout that helped keep Peoria Christian’s season alive.
Jimmy Lollar, Olympia football
Lollar rumbled for 155 yards and four touchdowns to lead a potent backfield in the Spartans’ 56-28 Class 3A Opening Round win over Monticello. The senior averaged 10.3 yards per carry and added eight tackles on defense.
Corie Green, Delavan boys cross country
Green put up a blazing-fast time of 14:41.4 to win the Class 1A Williamsville Regional on Oct. 24 and lead his team to a regional title as well. The time marked a personal-best for Green and was the 31st-fastest time in Illinois this season, regardless of class.
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