Vote: CSM Spring Athletes of the Week, June 2-7 2025

Central Illinois high school athletes have had an incredible year with several performances that have been clutch, historic or simply eye-popping. Two more will take home another honor in the final CSM Spring Athletes of the Week poll of the season after notable postseason outings. 

This week’s nominees include a pair of Peoria Notre Dame soccer stars that led the Irish to a state runner-up finish, the top performers from area sectionals in baseball and softball and a Eureka senior that led the Hornets baseball team to a third-place finish in state. 

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UPDATE: Peoria Notre Dame's Abigail Chaddock and Normal Community's Max Heineman won CSM Spring Athletes of the Week. Polls closed at 11:59 PM on Friday.

Girls Athlete of the Week nominees

Abigail Chaddock, Peoria Notre Dame girls soccer

Chaddock came through in the clutch for the Irish and scored the game-winning goal that sent PND to its first state title game in program history. The junior midfielder scored off an assist from Maddie Stickelmaier in double overtime to take a 3-2 lead against Springfield in the Class 2A state semifinals on June 6, giving Chaddock her 22nd goal of the season. 

Nora Johnson, Metamora softball

Johnson makes an appearance as a nominee for the second straight week after leading Metamora to a Class 3A sweet 16 berth. The Redbirds senior shut out Dunlap in 2-0 sectional semifinal victory on June 3, giving up three hits and striking out five. She also threw six shutout innings with three strikeouts while singling at the plate in a 1-0 loss to Pontiac in the Class 3A East Peoria Sectional title game on June 6. 

Ava LaFollette, Peoria Notre Dame girls soccer

LaFollette added on to her already-historic season in PND’s Class 2A super-sectional on June 3. The star junior forward netted all three of the Irish’s goals in the second half of their win against New Lenox Providence Catholic to send PND to state for the second year in a row. LaFollette ended her season with 57 goals, which is tied for 15th-most in a season in IHSA history. 

Boys Athlete of the Week nominees

Cohen Alstat, Eureka baseball

Alstat gave Eureka a major lift this season and in the Hornets’ final week of the year, which ended in a Class 2A third-place finish. The senior threw a complete game shutout with seven strikeouts and six hits allowed in a 4-0 win over Wilmington at the Class 2A Geneseo Super-Sectional. He went 2-for-3 at the plate in the Hornets’ 6-5 loss to Springfield Sacred Heart Griffin in the state semifinal and earned the win on the mound in Eureka’s third-place game, pitching four innings and hitting an RBI double. 

Max Heineman, Normal Community baseball 

Heineman’s offensive explosion lifted Normal Community to winning the Class 4A Illinois Wesleyan Sectional for the Ironmen’s first sectional title since 2004. The senior went 3-for-4 with five RBIs and a home run in Normal Community’s 10-8 win over O’Fallon.

Gavin Lawrence, Washington baseball

Lawrence’s pitching was arguably the biggest factor behind Washington winning the Class 3A Metamora Sectional title. The Panthers’ senior threw a complete game with six strikeouts, three hits and just one run allowed as Washington held off Morris to win 4-1 and take home the sectional plaque on June 7.