A pair of Mid-Illini stars won the first CSM Spring Athletes of the Week after earning the most votes in their respective polls.
RJ Duncheon of East Peoria baseball won CSM Boys Athlete of the Week and Justice Krus of Dunlap softball won CSM Girls Athlete of the Week. Both players helped their teams to undefeated starts to the season and swung hot bats in every game.
Get to know more about our winners below!
Duncheon won CSM Boys Athlete of the Week with 50 percent of the vote total and was a big force behind East Peoria’s three wins in the season’s opening week. The Raiders utility player starred in a doubleheader against Farmington on March 16, where he had a double, home run, four RBIs and two walks in a 15-1 victory in the first game. He also started the game and gave up one hit in two innings while striking out four and earning the win. In the day’s second game, he went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two runs. Earlier in the week, Duncheon gave East Peoria two late runs via sacrifice flies in a 9-5 win over IVC. To date, the sophomore is hitting .571 with 10 RBIs for the 5-0 Raiders.
Get to know Duncheon in a Q and A here:
What are your goals for the season?
“It has to be just keep grinding, getting better and keep helping out the team.”
What’s your favorite memory of playing your sport?
“It has to be hitting my first home run in high school.”
If you had a walk-up song, what would it be?
“My current walk-up song is ‘Pour Some Sugar on Me’”
Favorite food?
“I’d have to say my favorite food is a good steak from any steakhouse.”
What’s on your bucket list?
“My bucket list would definitely be going to all 30 MLB stadiums or traveling the world.”
Who’s your favorite teacher at school?
“Mr. VanWinkle or Mrs Caughlon are my favorite teachers.”
Who’s your role model and why?
“My parents are my role models because they both played Division-I baseball and softball. Even though my dad was in the Anaheim Angels organization, I would like to make it further than he did.”
Krus won CSM Girls Athlete of the Week with 42 percent of the vote total and the senior had a monster day on Saturday where Dunlap handily beat Chicago Payton 13-3 and Ottawa Marquette 12-2 in a doubleheader. Krus hammered a grand slam in the second inning of the game against Chicago Payton to open up a 7-2 lead and drew a walk to force in a run later on. She added a double in the first inning and a single in the fifth. Shortly afterwards, the St. Ambrose commit helped the Eagles go from being in a 2-0 hole after three innings to winning by mercy rule after five innings. Krus hit a game-tying two-run home run in the fourth and added another three-run shot in the next frame.
Get to know Krus in a Q and A here:
What are your goals for the season?
“My goals for the season is to have fun with my teammates for my senior season and win a regional!”
What’s your favorite memory of playing your sport?
“My favorite memory for softball is the overnight trips and the hotel stays.”
If you had a walk-up song, what would it be?
“My walk up song would be ‘Wop’ by J. Dash.”
Favorite food?
“Mac and cheese.”
What’s on your bucket list?
“Something on my bucket list is to go bungee jumping.”
Who’s your favorite teacher at school?
“My favorite teacher is Mrs. Lynch.”
Who’s your role model and why?
“My role model is my mother because she always supports me through everything.”
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