Vote: CSM Spring Athletes of the Week, March 31-April 6, 2025

As the calendar turned from March to April, several Central Illinois prep athletes turned it up a notch and earned CSM Spring Athlete of the Week nominations.

This week’s nominees include two-way threats and RBI machines in baseball and softball, event winners from track and field meets, plus standouts in girls soccer and lacrosse.

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UPDATE: East Peoria's Kaden Eklund and Olympia's Gabby Frye won CSM Spring Athletes of the Week after receiving the most votes in their polls. Voting closed at 11:59 PM on Friday.

Boys Athlete of the Week nominees

Alec Williams, Limestone baseball

Williams got it done on the mound and at the plate, with his highlight being a complete game shutout with 12 strikeouts and two walks in a 7-0 win over Canton on April 3. He went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs in the series opener against the Little Giants, a 14-4 win on April 31 and added a base hit in Limestone’s 9-3 win over Freeport on April 5. 

Kaden Eklund, East Peoria boys track and field

Eklund got the chance to shine at Moline’s Gene Shipley Invite on April 5. The Raiders’ junior won the long jump with a mark of 20 feet and 10.75 inches and also ran the 100 meters, placing sixth. 

Micah McCoy, Washington baseball

McCoy raked at the plate in a pair of Washington victories last week, pushing across five RBIs in an 11-4 win over previously undefeated Eureka on March 31. McCoy did his damage in that game via two doubles and went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and another double in a 10-8 win over Galesburg on April 1. 

Ty Basham, Illini Bluffs boys track and field

Basham was a four-event winner at a tri-meet with Inter County Conference opponents on April 1. The Tigers’ junior won the 100 meters in 11.37, the 200 meters in 23.41, the 400 meters in 52.84 and ran on Illini Bluffs’ first-place 4x800 relay that put up a clocking of 9:29.62.

Cameron Hayes, Richwoods baseball

Hayes had all the right stuff working on April 1, tossing a complete game shutout with four strikeouts in a 3-0 win over East Peoria. Hayes allowed two hits in the victory and added a pair of RBIs in a win over Peoria High on March 31. 

Girls Athlete of the Week nominees

Gabby Frye, Olympia softball

Frye was at the center of a 3-0 week for Olympia softball, throwing a five-inning no-hitter against Tremont on April 3 with 10 strikeouts and no walks; she was an error away from a perfect game. She added three hits and three RBIs in that game. Frye additionally helped shut out Bloomington in a 2-0 victory on March 31 and had two hits in a 7-6 win over Mahomet-Seymour on April 1. 

Jorja Farrell, Morton girls soccer

Farrell was one of many Potters players to score in two big wins last week and totaled three goals between the pair of games. Farrell struck for two goals in an 8-0 win over Canton on April 1 and found the back of the net again in another 8-0 win over Bloomington Central Catholic on April 3.

Olivia Sass, Dunlap girls lacrosse

Sass walled up in front of the goal for the Eagles’ girls lacrosse team in a thrilling win on April 3. The Dunlap goalie made 20 saves to help her team eke out an 8-7 victory over Normal Community.

Adelin Bruce, Tri-Valley girls track and field

Bruce began her outdoor season on the right foot at the Paxton-Buckley-Loda Preseason Kickoff on April 3, winning the 800 meters in 2:28.97. Her second-place finish in the 1600 (5:25.94) helped Tri-Valley come away from the meet with a team title. 

Abby Bazyn, IVC softball

Bazyn and the Grey Ghosts had a monstrous week at the plate in a trio of run-rule wins. Bazyn went 3-for-4 with a double and five RBIs in a 19-2 romp over conference opponent Paxton-Buckley-Loda on April 5. Three days earlier, she drove in four runs on two hits in a 20-0 win over Princeville and supplied another RBI in a 13-1 win over Putnam County on March 31.