Record-setting golfers, strong tournament showings from volleyball players, speedy cross country runners and more stood out during the second week of September and are nominees for CSM Fall Athletes of the Week Presented by Dominos.
This week’s nominees also include a clutch football performer, a young swimming standout and a key piece of one of the area’s best soccer teams.
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Update: Anna Jennings of Bloomington girls swimming and Isaac Reetz of Washington boys soccer won CSM Fall Athletes of the Week after receiving the most votes in their respective polls. Voting concluded at 12 PM Thursday. Stay tuned for a story about our winners!
Girls Athlete of the Week nominees
Ellie Rink, Normal West volleyball
Rink’s storied career saw another milestone chapter on Friday as she reached 1,000 career kills in a win over Limestone at Lincoln’s Hampton Inn Invitational. Rink eventually led the Wildcats to the tournament title over a loaded field, tallying five aces in a pool play win over Decatur St. Teresa, driving home a team-high 11 kills in a semifinal win over Lincoln and leading Normal West with 13 kills and two aces in a 3-set win over Bloomington Central Catholic in the championship game.
Sydney Hunt, Dunlap girls golf
Hunt was at the forefront of a strong week for the Eagles’ girls golf team, shooting a 40 to help Dunlap win a tri-meet over conference title contenders Metamora and Pekin at Lick Creek Golf Course on Sept. 9. She also played big roles in the Eagles winning another Mid-Illini triangular over Canton and Limestone on Sept. 10 and finishing third at the Normal Community Invite on Sept. 14, where she placed fifth overall.
Zoe Carter, Normal U-High girls cross country
Carter was the top area finisher in the girls Class 2A race at the First to Finish Invitational at Detweiller Park on Sept. 14, running the course in 17:09.60 to place second. Her strong effort helped Normal U-High finish fourth out of 56 teams.
Chloe Fabry, Brimfield volleyball
Fabry put together a strong week for Brimfield, who finished second at the Midland Invite on Sept. 14. The senior finished the four-game tournament with 44 kills and 27 digs, highlighted by a 17-kill, 9-dig performance in a two-set win over Spring Valley Hall. Fabry also tallied 11 kills and three digs to lead the 10-1 Indians in a victory over rival Elmwood on Sept. 10.
Anna Jennings, Bloomington girls swimming
Jennings continued a stellar freshman campaign for the Purple Raiders at the Barbra Larson Astro Invitational in Palos Heights on Sept. 14. She took home first place in the 100-yard breaststroke with a season-best time of 1:11.83 and took second in the 50-yard freestyle with a timing of 25.76. Jennings also helped Bloomington finish second in the 200 free relay and 200 medley relay.
Boys Athlete of the Week nominees
Connor Watson, East Peoria boys golf
Watson played some of his best golf last week, winning the 36-hole Redbird Classic with a 141. The Raiders’ ace shot a 3-under-par 69 at Coyote Creek before carding an even-par 72 at Weaverridge to win his flight by three strokes and the overall tournament by one. Watson’s efforts helped East Peoria finish second in its flight. Earlier in the week, he caught fire and shot a 5-under-par 31 to win medalist honors in a Mid-Illini tri-meet over Metamora and Morton at Pine Lakes and the Raiders shot a collective school record 9-hole score of 138.
Sean Kaeb, Normal U-High boys cross country
Kaeb enters the week with two more medals than he did last week, finishing third in the Class 2A boys race at the massive First to Finish Invitational at Detweiller Park with a time of 15:00.70. His effort helped the Pioneers finish fifth as a team, just a few days after they dominated their U-High Invite where Kaeb won the race in 16:23.41
Dylan Anderson, Pekin football
Anderson had an unforgettable game in Pekin’s 34-33 win over Dunlap on Friday, preserving the win by intercepting Dunlap’s potential game-winning 2-point attempt in the end zone. He helped the Dragons build their lead as well, taking in three long touchdown passes from quarterback Brogan Benassi, including the go-ahead score with 5:39 left in the fourth quarter.
Isaac Reetz, Washington boys soccer
Reetz and the 8-1-1 Panthers are rolling after a pair of shutout wins last week. Reetz scored twice while assisting on three goals in Washington’s 8-0 win over Pekin on Sept. 10 and tallied two goals and an assist in 4-0 victory over Rock Island on Sept. 12.
Crew Fortin, Illini Bluffs boys golf
Fortin shot an Illini Bluffs school record and played consistently to help the Tigers win three meets last week. His 33 at Coyote Creek on Sept. 12 was the lowest 9-hole score in program history and helped the Tigers win a tri-meet over LVC and Havana. His round of 38 helped lead the team in a dual win over Illini Central on Sept. 10 and he followed it up the day afterwards with a 37 to win a triangular over LVC and Canton.
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