Vote: CSM Spring Athletes of the Week, May 25-31, 2026

Late in the season, Clutch Sports Media’s Spring Athletes of the Week nominees are all about making history and leaving a legacy for their teams and themselves with strong postseason performances.

This week’s nominees include state champions and record-holders in boys track and field, softball and soccer players that led their teams to sectional titles, a state placer in boys tennis and two standout pitchers from regional action in baseball.

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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 vote before polls close on Saturday at 11:59 PM!

CSM Boys Athlete of the Week nominees

Isaiah Whitaker, Bloomington Central Catholic boys track and field

Whitaker etched his name into IHSA history by winning his fourth straight state title in the pole vault, becoming just the second athlete in state history to accomplish such a feat in the same event. After winning three Class 1A state titles, Whitaker won the Class 2A crown by clearing 17 feet, 8.5 inches. That mark set a new all-time state meet record in Illinois.

Gavin Swartz, Normal Community baseball

Swartz threw a six-inning no-hitter in Normal Community’s regional semifinal win, which helped the Ironmen go on to win their fourth straight regional title. Swartz struck out nine batters with two walks in his team’s 10-0 win over Plainfield Central on May 27 and threw 52 of his 82 pitches for strikes.

Malik Johnson, Peoria High boys track and field

Johnson became the first Peoria High track and field athlete to win a state title in over a decade by winning the Class 3A triple jump with the best distance in the state this season. Johnson went into the sixth and final round sitting in first before one of his competitors beat his mark by half an inch. The Lions senior responded by putting up a distance of 48 feet, 4.5 inches to win the state title by over one foot. 

Weston Lange, Metamora boys tennis

Lange teamed with Tommy Sopko to bring home the best finish by any Central Illinois player at the IHSA State Finals in boys tennis. The duo took down pairings from Macomb and Lake Forest before beating Dunlap’s Noah Lippens and William Song 6-2, 6-3 in the third round. They put up a 7-5, 0-6, 6-4 win in the quarterfinals before dropping their final two matches to place fourth in Class 1A. The performance helped the Redbirds tie with Dunlap for fourth place in the overall team standings.

Chase Rhodes, Tremont baseball

Rhodes sizzled on the mound to help Tremont win a Class 1A regional title in shutout fashion over conference foe Fieldcrest on May 30. The Turks pitcher struck out 14 batters with one walk and one hit allowed in six shutout innings of a 6-0 victory over the Knights. 

Vote here!

CSM Boys Athlete of the Week poll

• Isaiah Whitaker, BCC boys track and field
• Gavin Swartz, Normal Community baseball
• Malik Johnson, Peoria High boys track and field
• Weston Lange, Metamora boys tennis

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CSM Girls Athlete of the Week nominees

Sophie Walker, Washington softball

Walker’s late-game heroics helped Washington win the Class 3A Lincoln Sectional title. With the Panthers trailing 2-0 to Champaign Central in the sectional title game on May 29, Walker hit a go-ahead three-run home run in what went on to be a 3-2 win. Walker also had a hit and two RBIs in Washington’s 11-3 sectional semifinal win over Mt. Zion on May 26. 

Addie Reed, Dunlap softball

The Dunlap freshman didn’t shy away from the big moments and was a big factor in Dunlap winning the Class 3A LaSalle-Peru Sectional title. Reed had a team-high three hits to go with two RBIs in the Eagles’ 10-0 win over LaSalle-Peru in the sectional championship game. She also slugged a huge triple and came across to score the go-ahead run in the sixth inning of Dunlap’s 2-1 sectional semifinal win over Ottawa on May 26.

Adly Hilt, Morton girls soccer

Hilt helped lead a Morton defense that put up its 18th and 19th consecutive shutouts, which is a new IHSA record, en route to the Potters winning a Class 2A sectional title. The Morton goalkeeper ensured that neither Champaign Central nor Dunlap scored in Morton’s 4-0 sectional semifinal win over the Maroons and its 5-0 sectional championship win over Dunlap.

Sawyer Drury, Brimfield/Elmwood softball

Drury turned in two strong pitching and hitting performances to lead Brimfield/Elmwood to a Class 2A sectional title. The Indians senior threw a complete game with 13 strikeouts, no walks and five hits allowed in a 6-1 sectional semifinal win over Peoria Notre Dame on May 27, adding an RBI at the plate as well. She also threw another complete game with nine strikeouts and two walks in a 8-1 sectional championship victory over Port Byron Riverdale while going 2-3 with two RBIs at the plate.

Lauren Durako, Bloomington Central Catholic softball

Durako led the Saints’ lineup en route to winning the team’s first sectional title in program history. She went 2-3 with a home run and scored three runs in BCC’s 4-3 sectional semifinal win over Marshall and went 2-4 with a run scored in its 4-1 sectional title win over Tolono Unity.

Vote here!

CSM Girls Athlete of the Week poll

• Sophie Walker, Washington softball
• Addie Reed, Dunlap softball
• Adly Hilt, Morton girls soccer
• Sawyer Drury, Brimfield/Elmwood softball

See All Options