Vote: Who should be SBLive's Illinois High School Athlete of the Week (9/11/2023)?
Here are the candidates for SBLive's Illinois High School Athlete of the Week as nominated by fans, readers and SBLive’s staff.
Read through the nominees and cast your vote at the bottom of the page. Voting will conclude on Sunday at 11:59 p.m. and the winner will be announced the following week. If you would like to nominate an athlete in the future, please email athleteoftheweek@scorebooklive.com.
THIS WEEK’S SBLIVE ILLINOIS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK NOMINEES:
Editor’s Note: Our Athlete of the Week feature and corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes that receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified.
Cole Arl, Naperville North football
In a 51-49 victory over Bolingbrook, the senior rushed for 314 yards and three touchdowns and added a 55-yard touchdown reception.
Noah Battle, Downers Grove North football
The senior had 198 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries as the Trojans beat Glenbard West 31-7 to snap a 16-game losing streak in the series.
Christian Betancur, Marian Central football
The Clemson commit caught seven passes for 206 yards and four touchdowns in a 40-0 shutout of Bishop McNamara.
Ryan Boe, Batavia football
The senior threw for 253 yards and three touchdowns in one half during a 47-21 DuKane Conference victory over Lake Park.
Braylon Bower, Huntley football
The junior completed all 11 of his passes for 136 yards and two TDs in a 40-21 win over Jacobs.
Troyer Carlson, Kaneland football
The senior threw for 170 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 175 yards, another two scores and a two-point conversion in a 43-33 loss to Morris.
Johan Cortez, Mendota boys soccer
Cortez had a goal in each match as Mendota beat Geneseo 3-0 and downed Hononegah 1-0 at the BodyArmor Series to stay unbeaten at 11-0-1.
Kate Foltz, Tuscola girls cross country
The sophomore took the Class 1A title at the First to the Finish Invitational in Peoria at 16:48.
Jack Ginnan, South Elgin football
The junior threw for three touchdowns, rushed for another two and had a 2-point conversion in a 79-7 Upstate Eight Conference victory over Fenton.
Colton Gumino, Hersey football
In a 42-0 win over Glenbrook North, the junior completed 14 of 19 passes for 305 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for another score.
Becca Heitzig, Lincoln girls cross country
The senior was the Class 2A champ at the First to the Finish Invitational at Peoria's Detweiller Park, running 17:01.
Dierre Hill Jr., Althoff football
The junior had 11 carries for 264 yards and four touchdowns, caught a 48-yard touchdown pass and returned an interception 28 yards for his sixth touchdown in a 61-33 victory against Centralia.
Kevin Holland, Lockport football
The senior scored the game-winning TD in overtime in a 31-24 victory against Naperville Central. He finished with six catches for 140 yards and two touchdowns.
Dale Johnson, Sterling boys cross country
The senior ran a personal-best 14:28 to win the Class 2A race in the First to the Finish Invitational at Peoria's Detweiller Park.
Joey Kowall, Burlington Central football
The senior rushed for 117 yards on 14 carries and scored four touchdowns in a 35-21 Fox Valley Conference victory over Crystal Lake South.
Hannah Langton, Genoa-Kingston girls volleyball
The Central Michigan commit had 38 digs and 25 aces as the Cogs went 5-0 to win the Byron Power Classic.
Luke Mailander, York football
The Illinois State commit caught five passes for 120 yards, including touchdowns of 33 and 75 yards, in a 47-7 win against Downers Grove South.
Alessio Milivojevic, St. Francis football
The Ball State commit completed 24 of 30 passes for 305 yards and four TDs, and also ran for 43 yards and a score in a 42-28 victory over St. Laurence.
Anthony Palano, Buffalo Grove football
The senior set a program record with six touchdowns in a 62-14 victory against Vernon Hills. He had 124 rushing yards and three touchdowns, finished with 99 receiving yards and two scores, and returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown.
Emma Rambo, Streator girls volleyball
Rambo had 21 kills, 11 aces and 69 assists as the Bulldogs went 5-0 to win the Sandwich Invitational and improve to 12-3.
Jacob Schwartz, Morris football
In a 43-33 win against Kaneland, the senior running back rushed for 203 yards and scored two touchdowns.
Anthony Shelton, Sandburg football
The junior quarterback was 21 of 28 for 325 yards and five touchdowns in a 41-34 win against DeKalb. He also ran for a score.
Travis Stamm, Lyons Township football
The junior was the go-to target for quarterback Ryan Jackson during a 42-17 victory over Hinsdale Central. He caught nine passes for 98 yards and all three of Jackson’s touchdown throws.
Nate Stempkowski, Geneva football
In a 28-6 DuKane Conference victory over Wheaton-Warrenville South, the senior threw for 98 yards and two scores and added 128 yards and another TD on eight carries.
Aaron Stewart, Warren Township football
The sophomore led the way with 238 rushing yards and two scores in a 28-8 North Suburban Conference win against Libertyville.
Azuriah Sylvester, West Aurora football
The junior ran back an interception 29 yards for a touchdown and also had an 83-yard rushing score in a 56-14 win over Romeoville.
Camyn Viger, Plainfield South boys cross country
The senior won the Class 3A race at the First to the Finish Invitational at Peoria's Detweiller Park, running 14:23.
Cam Williams, Glenbard South football
The Notre Dame commit had seven catches for 189 yards and two touchdowns, ran for a touchdown and intercepted a pass on defense in a 35-0 shutout of Larkin.
Jonas Williams, Bolingbrook football
The sophomore completed 32 of 40 passes for 355 yards and six touchdowns, but Bolingbrook lost 51-49 to Naperville North on a late field goal.
Trenton Zeeb, Breese Mater Dei football
The senior had career highs of 273 total yards and five touchdowns in a 36-14 win at Effingham. He completed 19 of 30 passes for 252 yards and four touchdowns with one interception and ran for 21 yards and a score.
Joliet Catholic football player Patrick Durkin voted SBLive's Illinois High School Athlete of the Week (August 28-Sept. 3)
Congratulations to Joliet Catholic football player Patrick Durbin, who was voted the SBLive Illinois high school Athlete of the Week for August 28-Sept. 3. He received more than 41 percent of the votes.
Durkin, a senior, converted on field goals of 22, 27, 28, and 39 yards and added the PAT kick on the only touchdown of the night as Joliet Catholic defeated rival Providence 19-0.
Burlington Central football player Jackson Alcorn finished second in the voting after receiving more than 35 percent of the votes.
View the rest of the nominees here: Who should be SBLive's Illinois High School Athlete of the Week (August 28-Sept 3)?
PREVIOUS WINNERS: Waubonsie Valley's Tyler Threat (August 21-27)
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