As the old saying goes, the cream of the crop has risen to the top and the fall high school sports season has been narrowed down to just a few of the top teams remaining.
This week’s 10 nominees for CSM Fall Athletes of the Week Presented by Dominos helped keep their team’s seasons alive in the postseason and include football performances that single-handedly affected the outcome of first round playoff games, state qualifiers in cross country and soccer and studs from regional volleyball.
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UPDATE: Morton's Isabella Grieder and Peoria Notre Dame's Lawson Alwan won CSM Fall Athletes of the Week Presented by Dominos. Voting closed at 11:59 PM Thursday.
Girls Athlete of the Week nominees
Kennedy Teubel, Brimfield volleyball
The Brimfield standout helped the Indians to a Class 1A Abingdon-Avon Regional title and led the team in the championship match against Monmouth United with 16 kills, 12 digs and two aces. Teubel contributed five kills and five digs against Biggsville West Central in the regional semifinal game as well.
Bryn Williamson, Limestone volleyball
Williamson was one of multiple Rockets that delivered in the Class 3A Metamora Regional title game, Limestone’s second regional volleyball plaque in three years. The sophomore finished with a double-double of 12 kills and 19 assists in the dramatic win, which the Rockets took via scores of 22-25, 25-17, 26-24.
Isabella Grieder, Morton girls cross country
Grieder led the Morton girls cross country team, which won the Class 2A Metamora Sectional to advance to this week’s upcoming IHSA State Finals. The senior ran the 2.94-mile course at Metamora’s Black Partridge Park in 18:28.6 to finish 10th overall and just in front of teammates Madison Greiner and Avery Braker.
Amanda Freehill, Normal U-High volleyball
Freehill helped Normal U-High win the Class 3A Rantoul Regional, which was the program’s sixth straight plaque, excluding the Covid-impacted 2020-21 season. The versatile senior got it done on offense and defense with a 17-dig, four-kill, three-ace performance against Mt. Zion in the regional championship game, while adding six kills and 16 digs versus Bloomington in the regional semifinal.
Morgan Coker, Pekin girls cross country
Coker continued a strong sophomore season by qualifying for the IHSA State Meet as an individual at a highly-competitive Class 3A Normal Community Sectional. The Dragons’ runner ran an 18:29.68 to finish 17th and reach state for the second consecutive year.
Boys Athlete of the Week nominees
Lawson Alwan, Peoria Notre Dame football
Every time Peoria Notre Dame needed a clutch play in a heart-stopping 59-58 upset victory over Rochester, Alwan delivered. The senior booted a 30-yard field goal to tie the game at 52 heading into overtime, blocked Rochester’s extra point attempt following a Rockets score in OT, scored a game-tying touchdown from one yard out and kicked the game-winning point after touchdown.
Noah Grieshaber, Normal U-High soccer
Grieshaber continued a shutout streak as Normal U-High punched its ticket to the Class 1A State Finals for the second consecutive season. The Pioneers goalkeeper didn’t allow anything to get past him in a 4-0 win over Fisher/GCMS in the Class 1A Monticello Sectional championship on Oct. 29 then posted another shutout in a 5-0 win against host Manteno in their super-sectional match.
Hunter Reed, Washington football
Reed embodied Washington’s traditionally strong run game, and then some in Friday’s Class 6A first round playoff win over Shepard, 52-21. The Panthers’ senior running back was responsible for six touchdowns, which came on runs of eight, two, 53, five, six and 12 yards, bringing his season total to 26 rushing touchdowns.
Maxwell Kirby, Peoria Notre Dame boys cross country
Kirby was a winner at the Class 1A Elmwood Sectional in more ways than one, leading the Irish to a team title and finishing first at Maple Lane Country Club with a time of 15:04.47. The sophomore is one of the statewide favorites for Saturday’s Class 1A State Finals at Detweiller Park.
Maliq Givens, Normal West football
Givens gave, and took away, for Normal West with a game-dominating performance in a 20-15 win over Chicago Simeon in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs on Nov. 2. The Wildcats’ junior intercepted Wolverines quarterback Kaleb Sims three times, snuffing out multiple scoring chances, and led the team’s receiving corps with four catches for 48 yards and a touchdown.
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