Vote: CSM Fall Athletes of the Week, Oct. 5-11, 2026
The end of the regular season and the postseason is prime time for Central Illinois athletes to flex their muscles and the latest group of Clutch Sports Media Fall Athletes of the Week nominees did just that.
This week’s nominees include several of the top area state finishers in golf, Bloomington/Normal-area volleyball standouts, title winners in girls tennis and swimming and small-school stars in football and cross country.
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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
Laine Thompson, Normal West volleyball
Thompson continued being an engine behind a lengthy win streak for Normal West as she capped off her week with 63 assists and 14 aces across five matches at the St. Charles East Scholastic Cup. Her performances help the Wildcats win the tournament and landed her on the all-tournament team. Additionally, she put up 12 assists and seven digs in a win over Champaign Centennial on Oct. 6.
Elle Filarski, Tri-Valley golf and volleyball
Filarski was the highest-finishing golfer from the area at the IHSA State Finals regardless of class, finishing 11th in Class 1A. She shot an 80 in the first round and followed it up with a 75 in the second round at Red Tail Run Golf Course in Decatur and led the Vikings to a sixth-place finish as a team. Earlier in the week, she led Tri-Valley in winning the Class 1A Arlington Heights St. Viator sectional title by taking medalist honors with a 77. On the volleyball court, she added seven digs in a conference win over Tremont on Oct. 6 and 12 more ina win over Heyworth on Oct. 8.
Isabella Gusso, Dunlap girls tennis
Gusso helped Dunlap win the Mid-Illini Conference Tournament on Oct. 10 by taking the crown in the No. 2 singles bracket. She also earned a 6-0, 6-1 win against Peoria Christian on Oct. 6 in an 8-1 Eagles victory.
Kampbell Niepagen, Bloomington Central Catholic volleyball
Niepagen was a dominant force at the BCC Fall Classic and finished the five-game tournament with 71 kills, 41 digs and 10 aces. Leading the way were a 19-kill, 10-dig game in a two-set win over Metamora and a 20-kill, 14-dig performance in a three-set loss to Tri-Valley. The Auburn commit also added 14 kills, 10 digs and two blocks in a win over El Paso-Gridley on Oct. 5, nine kills and two blocks in a win over Champaign St. Thomas More on Oct. 6 and 10 kills in a win over Rantoul on Oct. 8.
Ella Kraft, Normal U-High girls swimming
Kraft was one of few swimmers to win multiple titles at the Bloomington/Normal Intercity meet on Oct. 8. She finished first in the 100 breaststroke in 1:14.49 and also took a win in the 200 individual medley in 2:23.16 to help the Pioneers win the team title.
Vote here!
CSM Girls Athlete of the Week poll
Laine Thompson, Normal West volleyball
Elle Filarski, Tri-Valely golf and volleyball
Isabella Gusso, Dunlap girls tennis
Kampbell Niepagen, Bloomington Central Catholic volleyball
CSM Boys Athlete of the Week nominees
Myles Alger, Elmwood/Brimfield football
Alger was a workhorse for Elmwood/Brimfield in the Trojans’ 62-40 win on the road over West Hancock. The Trojans’ running back rushed 38 times for 349 yards and four touchdowns, including a go-ahead touchdown after they trailed 34-32.
Jack Coulter, Peoria Notre Dame golf
Coulter capped off his high school career with his best finish at the Class 2A State Finals where he took third. Coulter fired rounds of 68 and 69 at Weibring Golf Club and made a total of 10 birdies on the weekend, including four on the back nine in the second round. The senior also finished second at the Class 2A Quincy Notre Dame Sectional on Oct. 7 as he shot a 72 and lost in a playoff for medalist honors.
Truman Lenover, Washington boys soccer
Lenover was one of several Panthers to have a big week as his clutch heroics helped Washington earn a draw against Dunlap on Oct. 5. After Dunlap took a 2-1 lead in the final minutes, Lenover responded with a goal to equalize and keep the Panthers undefeated in conference play. He also chipped in two goals and two assists in a 7-0 win over Galesburg on Oct. 8.
Caleb Scheirer, Lowpoint-Washburn/Roanoke-Benson boys cross country
Scheirer pulled off a double on Oct. 7 at the Lowpoint-Washburn/Roanoke-Benson Invite as he won the individual title and led his team to the team title. Scheirer clocked in at 15:48.1, giving him his second title of the season after winning the Tri-County Conference title earlier in the year.
Jack Quinn, Normal U-High boys golf
Quinn ended his superb campaign by taking fifth place at the Class 2A State Finals on his team’ home course of Weibring Golf Club. The Normal U-High junior carded a 70 in the first round and followed it up with a 69 in the second round, accumulating 10 birdies combined. He was the top finisher for the Pioneers, who placed seventh as a team.
Vote here!
CSM Boys Athlete of the Week poll
Myles Alger, Elmwood/Brimfield football
Jack Coulter, Peoria Notre Dame golf
Truman Lenover, Washington boys soccer
Caleb Scheirer, L-W/R-B boys cross country
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