Vote: CSM Spring Athletes of the Week, April 6-12, 2026

The list of great performances by Central Illinois high school athletes last week was overflowing and 10 of the best have a chance to win Clutch Sports Media Spring Athlete of the Week honors.

This week’s nominees include a pair of baseball players who threw no-hitters, two-way softball standouts that led their teams to four wins, sprinters and distance runners who led their teams to winning big meets and two of the top girls soccer and lacrosse goal scorers in the area.

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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

Addison Duncheon, East Peoria softball

Duncheon has ignited the Raiders in her sophomore season and continued to produce at the plate and in the circle. She helped East Peoria go 4-1 last week by going 8-17 with 12 RBIs, three doubles, two triples and five stolen bases. Duncheon led shutout wins over Bloomington Central Catholic, Limestone and Canton by striking out 25 batters in 19 innings with five runs allowed on the week.

Ava LaFollette, Peoria Notre Dame girls soccer

The prolific PND goal scorer has been an unstoppable force for the undefeated Irish. LaFollette helped PND to one of its bigger wins of the season so far by scoring four goals in a 6-0 win over Dunlap on April 11. She also keyed the Irish to 9-0 blowout wins over Manual and Danville during the week. 

Sophia Watson, Eureka girls track and field

Watson helped lead Eureka to the team title at the highly-competitive Chuck Danner Invite at Metamora, winning the 800 meters in 2:17.48, which is the No. 8 time in Illinois this season. She also helped the Hornets win the 4x800 and take second in the 4x400. On April 8 against Normal U-High, she won the 1600 in 5:27.91 and led Eureka’s 4x800 to a win as well.

Adalynn Stickel, Midland softball

Stickel has helped Midland start to turn things around and led the Timberwolves to four wins last week. She threw complete-game shutouts in wins over Galva and Putnam County on April 6 and 7, striking out 11 in a three-hitter against Galva and 12 in a one-hitter against Putnam County. On April 9, Stickel helped Midland beat Putnam County again in a 13-inning marathon, pitching the entirety of the game with 12 strikeouts and just five hits and four runs allowed. On April 10, she went 2-6 with a homer and four RBIs at the plate in a 22-10 win over Farmer City Blue Ridge to finish the week 7-19 with six RBIs at the plate.

Gigi Kattom, Dunlap girls lacrosse

Kattom was one of several difference makers for Dunlap in a trio of wins last week, which helped the Eagles get to 5-2 and set a new program record for wins in a season already. Kattom had five goals and an assist in a 14-2 win over Edwardsville on April 11, scored four times in a 13-8 win against Bloomington-Normal on April 8 and had three goals in a 14-9 win over Washington on April 7.

Vote here!

CSM Girls Athlete of the Week poll

• Addison Duncheon, East Peoria softball
• Ava LaFollette, Peoria Notre Dame girls soccer
• Sophia Watson, Eureka girls track and field
• Adalynn Stickel, Midland softball

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CSM Boys Athlete of the Week nominees 

Grayson Coughlin, Tri-Valley baseball

Coughlin was one of many Vikings to have strong weeks during a 4-0 stretch and threw a complete game no-hitter with 12 strikeouts and four walks in a 6-0 win over El Paso-Gridley on April 6. He added an RBI in that game and had hits in a pair of shutout conference wins over Fieldcrest and Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley as well.

Jaiduan Cranford, Metamora boys track and field

Cranford ran the second-fastest 100-meter time by an Illinois high school runner this season and led host Metamora to winning the Chuck Danner Invite on April 11. The senior ran a 10.63 in the 100 meters, won the 200 in a personal-best 22.21 and led Metamora’s 4x100 to first place in 42.98. 

Truman Tyra, Dunlap baseball

Tyra played a big role in Dunlap extending its lengthy win streak last week as the Eagles swept Pekin and beat Ottawa and Normal West. He went a combined 7-for-11 with five RBIs, two doubles — including two of the go-ahead variety against Pekin —, five runs and two steals, plus a pair of outfield assists as well. He pitched twice in relief and struck out the side to earn the save in a 7-4 win over Normal West on April 11.

Braden Gibson, El Paso-Gridley boys track and field

Gibson’s performances helped El Paso-Gridley win Mendota’s Don Gooden Invite on April 11. The Titans’ sprinter won the 100 meters in 11.29, the 200 in 22.73 and led EPG’s 4x100 to victory in 44.77. He also won the 100 meters in 11.15 and led the 4x100 to a win in a meet at Dee-Mack on April 7. 

Jarek Quinn, Richwoods baseball 

Quinn tossed an impressive no-hitter for the Knights on April 7 in a 3-0 win over IVC to spark a week where Richwoods went 3-0. He went all seven innings with 10 strikeouts and two walks in the no-hitter and added an RBI and a triple in an 18-0 win over Peoria High on April 10.

Vote here!

CSM Boys Athlete of the Week poll

• Grayson Coughlin, Tri-Valley baseball
• Jaiduan Cranford, Metamora boys track and field
• Truman Tyra, Dunlap baseball
• Braden Gibson, El Paso-Gridley boys track and field

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