As the winter sports season beings to bridge from the regular season to the postseason, many of the area’s stars proved they’re in top shape after big performances during the first full week of February.
This week’s nominees for our Torq Fitness Winter Athletes of the Week include 30-point scorers in basketball, a regional champion in wrestling, a multi-event Mid-Illini champion in boys swimming and players that led their teams to significant wins.
Check out our nominees for Boys and Girls Athletes of the Week with information on their standout performances below, vote for who you think should win and spread the word to vote before polls close at 11:59 PM on Thursday!
Boys Athlete of the Week nominees
Quinton Kitt, East Peoria boys basketball
Kitt came up with multiple masterful performances to help the Raiders win three games last week, including a 72-69 overtime win over Class 3A No. 3 Morton where he scored a team-high 34 points. The sophomore had another 30-point game in an overtime win, dropping 32 to go with 12 rebounds in an 86-84 win over Champaign Centennial on Feb. 4. He added another double-double with a 20-point, 12-rebound showing in a 54-46 win over Washington on Feb. 5.
Kelton Graden, Olympia boys wrestling
Graden was one of many regional title winners from the weekend, but stood out by earning three pins en route to the championship and helped Olympia finish first in the team standings as well. Graden pinned Clinton’s Jacob Hubble, Dee-Mack’s Caleb Greer and Eureka’s Sam Hoffman in succession and all of them were accomplished in under three minutes.
Micah Meiss, El Paso-Gridley boys basketball
Meiss has earned nominations multiple times this season and for good reason since he keeps on producing. El Paso-Gridley’s star senior had 30 points and 15 rebounds to power his team to a 64-58 win over Eureka on Feb. 7. One day later, he led the Titans in a key win over Vienna at Benton’s Rich Herrin Classic with 29 points in a 65-57 triumph.
Drake Shepherdson, Washington boys swimming
Shepherdson was a big part of an unstoppable Panthers team that won every event at the Mid-Illini Conference Meet on Feb. 8. The sophomore won the 100 breastroke in 1:01.16, the 100 butterfly in 54.06 and was part of Washington’s 200 free relay and 200 medley relays that each took gold as well.
Barrett Marfell, Peoria Heights boys basketball
Peoria Heights’ big man had several strong performances last week to help the Patriots win a pair of games. Marfell scored a team-high 22 in a 54-32 win over Havana on Feb. 4 and bumped that total up to 23 points in a 65-39 win against Bushnell-Prairie City on Feb. 7. He ended his week by scoring 12 in a 62-51 loss to Delavan on Feb. 8.
Vote here!
CSM Boys Athlete of the Week poll
Quinton Kitt, East Peoria boys basketball
Kelton Graden, Olympia boys wrestling
Micah Meiss, El Paso-Gridley basketball
Drake Shepherdson, Washington boys swimming
Girls Athlete of the Week nominees
Amiyah Gulley, Dunlap girls basketball
Gulley led the way for Dunlap as it pulled a 60-48 upset victory over Class 3A No. 4 Morton on Feb. 7 by pouring in a team-high 19 points. The talented freshman also was a factor in a loss to Class 3A No. 1 Washington, finishing with 13 points.
Brooke Allen, Elmwood girls basketball
Allen shined brightly for Elmwood in a pair of wins last week, including one over rival Brimfield which gave the Trojans possession of second place in the Inter-County Conference. She scored 10 in a 53-36 win over the Indians on Feb. 3 and added a game-high 24 to help Elmwood cruise to a 56-27 victory over Lewistown on Feb. 6.
Dalia DeJesus, Dee-Mack girls basketball
Another week at the office for DeJesus means still being one of the biggest performers in the area. Her 26 points led Dee-Mack, which has won eight straight, in a 47-28 win over Lexington on Feb. 3 and she provided 22 points in a 60-44 triumph over Havana on Feb. 7. DeJesus added seven tallies in a 56-36 win over Macomb on Feb. 4.
Emy Wardle, Peoria Notre Dame girls basketball
Wardle earned a nomination based on her impressive passing prowess, which resulted in her averaging over 10 assists per game in three wins last week. The sophomore dished out seven assists in a 47-39 win over Lincoln on Feb. 3 and added eight more to go with 11 points in a 79-21 win over Peoria High on Feb. 6. However, she saved her best performance for last by totaling 16 assists in a 69-38 win over Danville on Feb. 8.
Kylie Moeller, East Peoria girls basketball
Moeller has been no stranger to putting up crooked numbers this season and continued that trend by exploding for 31 points in a 69-42 win over IVC on Feb. 8. The McKendree signee added 14 in a loss to Morton on Feb. 4 and poured in a whopping 26 points in a loss to Metamora on Feb. 7.
Vote here!
CSM Girls Athlete of the Week poll
Amiyah Gulley, Dunlap girls basketball
Brooke Allen, Elmwood girls basketball
Dalia DeJesus, Dee-Mack girls basketball
Emy Wardle, Peoria Notre Dame girls basketball