A star forward for one of Central Illinois’ biggest breakout girls basketball teams and a Morton wrestler who did nothing but win became the latest CSM Winter Athletes of the Week.
Manual’s Nyanna Payton and Morton’s Clay McKee earned the honors after receiving the most votes in their respective polls. Payton keyed four wins for the Rams’ hoopers with multiple double-doubles and gaudy scoring performances while McKee earned himself and his team titles at Pontiac’s “The Munch” Invitational.
Read more about our winners and get to know them in Q and A’s below:
Payton won CSM Girls Athlete of the Week after receiving 51 percent of the votes in the girls poll. The 6-foot-2 Manual forward had three double-doubles in four games from the week of Dec. 9-15, including three conference wins. Payton’s biggest game saw her score 32 points in a 79-48 win over East Peoria on Dec. 11. One day prior, she put up 24 points and 12 rebounds in a 76-30 win over Champaign Centennial. Later on in the week, she single-handedly outscored Danville with 18 points and 13 rebounds in a 75-13 romp over the Vikings and added 14 tallies in a 40-34 win over Normal West.
Get to know Payton in a Q and A here:
What’s been your favorite memory of the season/offseason so far?
“My favorite memory of this season was getting more close with the team [building] more sisterhood and developing more IQ and trusting one another and working on personal skills for myself,” Payton said.
If you had to be stranded on an island with a teammate, who would it be and why?
“I wouldn’t say a teammate because if I could take them all I would, but I’d take Admyre [Thompson],” Payton said.
Favorite music artist?
“My favorite artist is SZA, her music seems like it has different styles and personalities,” Payton said.
Favorite food?
“My favorite food is steak and Rotel.”
Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?
“My pregame routine is calling my mom, getting the support I need and want and an ‘I love you’ to top it off.”
Who’s your favorite college or professional athlete?
“My favorite professional athlete is Stephen Curry and Angel Reese,” Payton said.
Do you have any hidden talents?
“My hidden talent is drawing and [I] try coloring realistic things,” Payton said.
Who’s your role model and why?
“I don’t have a role model but my goal is to become one when I can and if I do get the chance, to come back to my home city [and] one day will teach another kid something I learned or help another person with similar life difficulties I had,” Payton said.
McKee won CSM Boys Athlete of the Week after receiving 48 percent of the vote total in the boys poll. The Morton senior wrestler won the 165-pound bracket at “The Munch” Invitational at Pontiac, bringing home a total of 31.5 points for the Potters who won the team title as well. McKee pinned Taylorville’s Ethan Rusher and Lincoln’s Ryne Metelko to start, then defeated Springfield’s Cody Stevens in a 16-0 technical fall in the quarterfinals. From there, he pinned Olympia’s Kaden Thomas and Evergreen Park’s Ashton Gray, both in under a minute, to win the championship. McKee picked up the 100th win of his career on Dec. 21 at the Mascoutah Invite.
Get to know McKee in a Q and A here:
What’s been your favorite memory of the season/offseason so far?
“My favorite memory of the season so far is winning the Pontiac Tournament. Winning something like that with our whole team working together is a truly amazing feeling,” McKee said.
If you had to be stranded on an island with a teammate, who would it be and why?
“If I were stranded on an island with one teammate, I would want it to be Harry Dea. I feel like I get along with him well and we would have the best chance of survival together,” McKee said.
Favorite music artist?
“My favorite music artist is probably Luke Combs. I like a lot of country music,” McKee said.
Favorite food?
“My favorite food is a good burger, which I sadly don't get too often during wrestling season,” McKee said.
Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?
“No, I do not have any routines or rituals, I just have to make sure my body is loose and ready to go,” McKee said.
Who’s your favorite college or professional athlete?
“My favorite athlete to watch is Jordan Burroughs. I wish I had a blast double like his,” McKee said.
Do you have any hidden talents?
“I don’t have any hidden talents,” McKee said.
Who’s your role model and why?
“My role model is my dad because he is everything a man should be. He is strong, hard-working, caring and so much more, and I aspire to be more like him,” McKee said.
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