Vote: CSM Fall Athletes of the Week, Sept. 1-7, 2025

More outstanding performances were turned in from Central Illinois high school athletes in the first week of September with 10 of them earning nominations for CSM Fall Athletes of the Week.

This week’s nominees include football end zone magnets, standout tournament performers in volleyball, medalists in golf and cross country and one of the area’s top goal scorers in soccer.

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Check out each 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. 

Boys Athlete of the Week nominees

Dereon Mays, Peoria High football

Mays was a catalyst for Peoria High’s explosive offense in a 58-31 win over Peoria Notre Dame on Sept. 5. The senior wide receiver caught six passes for 139 yards and three touchdowns, with 111 of those yards and two of those scores coming in the first half. Mays’ touchdowns came from 54, four and 28 yards out. 

Hudson Scrivner, Washington boys soccer

Scrivner kept piling on more goals to his campaign, scoring seven of his 17 on the year in four Washington victories last week. The senior forward scored once in a 3-0 win over Metamora on Sept. 2 and twice in a 4-1 triumph over a formidable East Moline United side on Sept. 4. Scrivner kept it going at the Herscher Shootout on Sept. 6, notching a hat trick plus an assist in a 9-0 win over Somonauk and a goal in a 4-0 victory against Lisle. 

Maxwell Kirby, Peoria Notre Dame boy cross country

Kirby began his junior year with a pair of top-3 finishes, including a win on his home course. The Irish’s distance extraordinaire won PND’s Early Bird Invite at the 5,000-meter course at Donovan Park in 16:51.0, helping his team to a first place showing. Kirby also finished third at the Galesburg Silver Streak Invite on Sept. 6., running a 15:59.3 to headline the Irish, who finished in second.

Nolan Eccles, Dunlap boys golf

Eccles came out on top at the IVC Invite on Sept. 4 by shooting a 69 at Arrowhead Country Club. He birdied four holes during the round but the exclamation point came on the par-4 10th hole, which he eagled. Eccles won the event by three strokes and his round gave Dunlap a six-shot cushion over Ottawa to pull out the win. 

Lincoln Knapp, Eureka football

Knapp helped captain Eureka’s offense, which took a big step up in Week 2, in a 35-0 win over Peru St. Bede. The Hornets quarterback accounted for five touchdowns, doing a majority of his damage on the ground (128 yards, three TDs). Knapp also threw for 95 yards and a pair of touchdowns as well. 

Vote here!

CSM Boys Athlete of the Week poll

• Dereon Mays, Peoria High football
• Hudson Scrivner, Washington boys soccer
• Maxwell Kirby, PND boys cross country
• Nolan Eccles, Dunlap boys golf

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Girls Athlete of the Week nominees

Addison Duncheon, East Peoria volleyball

Duncheon’s contributions propelled East Peoria as it gained early-season momentum by winning the Richwoods Knights Tournament on Sept. 6. Duncheon earned all-tournament honors and helped the Raiders go 5-0 on the day with two sweeps against Pekin, sweeps over Stark County and Peoria Christian and a 2-1 win over Richwoods. 

Jaydah Green, Richwoods flag football

Green was efficient and borderline unstoppable in a trio of games for the Knights over the weekend, totaling 456 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Her best performance came on Sept. 6 in a 25-24 loss to Mahomet-Seymour where she ran six times for 236 yards and a pair of scores. Green’s efforts, which also included 15 tackles overall, led Richwoods to wins over Danville and Manual. 

Adelin Bruce, Tri-Valley girls cross country 

Bruce put up a strong performance at the Tri-Valley Viking Invite on Sept. 6, winning the second varsity race of her high school career in 18:37.8. Bruce was one of seven Vikings to finish in the top 10 as the hosts handily won the meet. 

Payton Hays, Morton girls golf

Hays continued to build on an impressive season for the Potters, shooting a 41 to lead them to a Mid-Illini triangular win over Pekin and Limestone on Sept. 2. The junior’s round on the front nine of Lick Creek Golf Course featured four pars. Hays also led Morton at the Normal Community Invite at Ironwood Golf Course on Sept. 6, firing an 87 to take 11th place. 

Tessa Arnott, Dunlap volleyball

Arnott stayed busy all week, helping Dunlap beat Richwoods, along with going 4-1 at the Edwardsville Invitational on Sept. 5-6. Arnott had six kills and five digs in a 2-0 win over the Knights on Sept. 2. She added at least six digs and eight kills in each of Dunlap’s games at Edwardville, highlighted by a nine-kill, eight-dig, two-block performance in a win over Washington. 

Vote here!

CSM Girls Athlete of the Week poll

• Addison Duncheon, East Peoria volleyball
• Jaydah Green, Richwoods flag football
• Adelin Bruce, Tri-Valley girls cross country
• Payton Hays, Morton girls golf

See All Options