Multiple athletes from around Central Illinois delivered clutch performances in the postseason and end of the regular season to help their teams win state trophies, conference championships, state trophies, regional titles and more.
This week’s nominees for CSM Fall Athletes of the Week Presented by Dominos include a pair of football standouts who scored an eye-popping number of touchdowns in Week 9 games, an IHSA state standout doubles pairing in tennis, two of the best area finishers in cross country regionals and more.
Want more high school sports coverage from Central Illinois? Subscribe to CSM Overtime to gain access to hundreds of more stories, including feature stories, news, daily roundups with scores and stats and downloadable photo galleries! Use code "AOTW" when checking out at www.clutchsportsil.com/overtime for a 20 percent discount on the first two months of a monthly subscription!
Take a look at our nominees below, vote for who you think should win, and spread the word to vote before polls close at 12 PM on Friday!
Boys Athlete of the Week nominees
Brogan Benassi, Pekin football
Pekin’s quarterback Benassi had a monster game in a 64-20 Week 9 win against East Peoria, accounting for five touchdowns and helping the Dragons avoid an upset. He completed nine of his 11 passes for five touchdowns and 208 yards as Pekin turned an early 20-14 deficit into a rout to win its fifth straight game heading into the postseason.
Believe Avida, Normal Community boys soccer
Avida came up clutch multiple times for Normal Community, who won a Class 3A regional title last week. The Ironmen junior scored the go-ahead goal in a 2-1 regional semifinal win over Minooka on Oct. 22 and netted the only goal Normal Community needed in a 1-0 regional championship victory over East Moline United on Oct. 26.
JW Black, Normal U-High boys cross country
Black led the Pioneers to a Class 2A Morris Regional championship on Oct. 26, finishing tops out of Normal U-High’s runners. Black ran a personal-best 16:00.90 to finish third at the event, the freshman’s best varsity placement of the year so far.
Jack Hanley, Peoria Notre Dame football
Hanley ran wild over Champaign Centennial in Week 9 as Peoria Notre Dame earned a 65-36 victory for their fifth and final win needed to reach playoff eligibility. The Irish running back ran for 164 yards and six touchdowns on 18 attempts and scored all six of his touchdowns in the first half.
Sam Ott, Dunlap boys soccer
Ott delivered several goals for Dunlap in the Class 2A Geneseo Regional, which the Eagles won. Ott tallied a goal and an assist in Dunlap’s 7-0 win over Sterling in the regional semifinals, then scored both of his teams’ goals in a 2-0 win over Geneseo for the regional championship.
Vote here!
CSM Boys Athlete of the Week poll
Brogan Benassi, Pekin football
Believe Avida, Normal Community boys soccer
JW Black, Normal U-High boys cross country
Jack Hanley, Peoria Notre Dame football
Girls Athlete of the Week nominees
Elle Blunier, Eureka volleyball
Blunier’s big contributions helped Eureka overcome a tough path to win the Heart of Illinois Conference Tournament last week. The Hornets’ senior setter started the tournament with a 19-assist, 10-dig double-double in a quarterfinal win over Lexington. Her seven aces, along with six digs and 17 assists led the Hornets to a win over Dee-Mack in the semifinals and she added 11 assists and eight digs in a sweep over Tremont in the tournament championship match.
Carolina Gusso and Isabella Gusso, Dunlap girls tennis
The Gusso tandem fought hard all weekend to give Dunlap a chunk of points at the Class 1A State Finals and finished sixth place in the state. The Eagles’ pairing swept both of their opening matchups in the championship bracket before falling into the consolation bracket with a 3-set loss. However, they rebounded with wins over duos from Chicago DePaul, Maroa-Forsyth, Hinsdale South and the same Woodstock Marian pairing that beat them earlier before losing to Glen Carbon Father McGivney’s Kennadi Taylor and Natalie Beck 6-4, 2-6, 10-3 in the fifth-place match.
Macy Hunziker, Normal Community girls swimming
Hunziker was a stud for the Iron at the Big 12 Meet on Oct. 26, winning two events as an individual and leading Normal Community to wins in the 200 medley relay and the 200 freestyle relay. She swam personal-best times in the 200 free (1:59.80) and the 500 free (5:20.30) to place above the rest of the competition.
Sophia Ramirez, Washington girls cross country
Ramirez added “regional champion” to her resumé at the Class 2A Dunlap Regional. The Washington junior finished the course before any other runner in 18:07.14, which was a season best time. Her finish provided the Panthers with a big boost in securing the team title over Morton.
Lyla Tate, Heyworth volleyball
Heyworth’s star outside hitter put up huge numbers in the Heart of Illinois Conference Tournament, led by a 22-kill, eight-dig outing in a first-round victory against Fieldcrest. The six-foot junior powered home 16 kills and eight digs in a loss to Dee-Mack and added another big stat line with 12 kills and seven digs against Lexington.
Vote here!
CSM Girls Athlete of the Week poll
Elle Blunier, Eureka volleyball
Carolina Gusso and Isabella Gusso, Dunlap girls tennis
Macy Hunziker, Normal Community girls swim
Sophia Ramirez, Washington girls cross country
Opmerkingen