Vote: CSM Spring Athletes of the Week, March 30-April 5, 2026
- Clutch Sports Staff
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
Central Illinois high school athletes continued to pack in top-notch performances as the calendar turned from March to April, leading to a stacked lineup of nominees for Clutch Sport Media’s Spring Athletes of the Week.
This week’s nominees include three lights-out hitters in baseball, a pair of Bloomington/Normal Intercity girls soccer standouts, leaders for two of the area’s best small-school softball teams and three multi-event winners from track and field.
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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 Saturday night at 11:59 PM!
CSM Boys Athlete of the Week nominees
Jackson Ahrens, East Peoria baseball
Ahrens was the hottest hitter in the entire state last week, going 13-for-17 while hitting for the cycle and nearly doing it twice more. The Raiders star hit for the cycle and drove in three runs in an 11-8 loss to Troy (OH) on March 30. That was the second game in a row he had achieved the rare feat. Later on the 30th, he went 4-4 and fell a double short of the cycle in a 3-0 win over Revere (OH). He came close another time by going 3-4 with five RBIs plus a double, triple and home run in a 17-4 win over Marysville (OH) on March 31 and went 2-3 with an RBI and a double in a 7-4 loss to Southside (AL) on April 1.
Josiah Kniep, Peoria Christian baseball
Kniep had several strong games during a busy week for the Chargers, highlighted by a March 30 game against Delavan where he went 3-4 with two home runs, a triple and seven RBIs in a 17-10 win. He drove in a run and threw 4.2 innings with two strikeouts, two walks and two runs (none earned) in a 6-1 loss to Roanoke-Benson on April 3 and went 3-4 with two doubles, a triple and an RBI in a 10-4 win over Olympia on April 4.
Jamari Randolph, Bloomington boys track and field
Randoph had a starring day at the Springfield High School Open on April 4, winning four events. He took first in his main hurdle events, winning the 110 hurdles in 14.89 and the 300 hurdle in 39.44 and lended his speed to Bloomington’s 4x400 and sprint medley relays, which both crossed the line first as well.
Drew Glatz, Dunlap boys track and field
Glatz placed first in three events across a pair of meets last week, leading Dunlap to winning the Dunlap Open on April 4. The Eagles junior won the 100 meters in 11.83 and was part of the winning 4x100 relay, which clocked in at 45.14. Glatz also won the 200 in a dual meet with Galesburg on March 31 with a time of 22.43
Jackson Vanderheydt, Washington baseball
Vanderheydt got it done both at the plate and on the mound to lead Washington to a pair of victories. He went 5-5 with a home run and three RBIs in a 12-3 win over Eureka on March 30 and picked up the win in relief in a 6-2 win over IVC on April 3, pitching 1.2 scoreless innings.
Vote here!
CSM Boys Athlete of the Week poll
Jackson Ahrens, East Peoria baseball
Josiah Kniep, Peoria Christian baseball
Jamari Randolph, Bloomington boys track and field
Drew Glatz, Dunlap boys track and field
CSM Girls Athlete of the Week nominees
Aubrey Balota, Normal U-HIgh girls soccer
Balota put together a fantastic week by scoring seven goals and picking up three assists while leading Normal U-High to a pair of Intercity victories and a conference win. Balota scored twice in a 4-0 win over Normal Community on March 30, had two goals and an assist in a 9-0 win over Springfield Southeast/Lanphier on March 31 and had a hat trick with two assists in a 7-1 win over Normal West on April 1. Her last goal against Normal West marked the 99th of her career.
Kennadie Finchum, Olympia softball
Finchum thrived during a busy week for the Spartans, going a combined 11-18 with 10 RBIs and four doubles while helping Olympia go 5-1 during the week. Finchum had a trio of great performances in a three-game tournament at Springfield on April 4, going 3-3 with two RBIs and a double in an 11-2 win over Morrison, 3-3 with two doubles in a 4-1 loss to Liberty and 2-4 with five RBIs in a 20-1 win over South Fulton. She chipped in two RBIs and a double in a 10-0 win over Mahomet-Seymour on March 31 and drove in a run to help Olympia beat Tremont 3-1 on April 2.
Ryan Temples, Normal West girls track and field
Temples won a pair of events at the Pekin Dragon Relays on April 3. The Wildcats’ sophomore won the long jump with a distance of 17 feet, 9.5 inches and helped Normal West’s 4x100 relay take first in 49.06.
Schyer Meinders, Brimfield/Elmwood softball
Meinders threw three gems in the circle, including two one-hitters to lead Brimfield/Elmwood to three wins last week. She allowed just one hit in wins over Princeville and Abingdon-Avon, striking out six in five innings in an 11-0 win over the Princes on March 30 and fanning four in seven innings in an 8-0 win over the Tornadoes on March 31. Meinders threw four scoreless frames with three strikeouts in a 10-0 win over Heyworth on April 3 and added three hits, three RBIs and a triple at the plate.
Campbell Damery, Normal Community girls soccer
Damery lifted Normal Community to a pair of Intercity wins last week. She scored twice in a 6-0 win over Bloomington Central Catholic on April 1 and netted another goal in a 3-1 win over Normal West on April 4.
Vote here!
CSM Girls Athlete of the Week poll
Aubrey Balota, Normal U-High girls soccer
Kennadie Finchum, Olympia softball
Ryan Temples, Normal West girls track and field
Schyer Meinders, Brimfield/Elmwood softball