Vote: Who should be SBLive's Illinois High School Athlete of the Week (9/25/2023)?
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.
Isaac Ackerman, Triad football
The junior quarterback completed 16 of 24 passes for 314 yards in a 28-21 win against Jerseyville.
Preston Baker, Breese Central football
The junior passed for three touchdowns during a 35-point first quarter in a 49-0 shutout of East Alton-Wood River.
Dominik Ball, Palatine football
The Tulane commit ran for 188 yards and scored four touchdowns in a 49-34 victory over Hoffman Estates.
Jacob Barraza, DeKalb boys cross country
The junior won the Bartlett Invitational in 15:18.8.
Robert Battle, East St. Louis football
In a 54-13 win over O'Fallon, the senior threw for 144 yards and three touchdowns and also added a rushing score.
Troyer Carlson, Kaneland football
The senior quarterback finished 15-of-23 passing for 335 yards and four touchdowns during the first half of a 49-14 win against Ottawa.
Michael Champagne, Glenbard South football
The senior threw two touchdown passes and ran for two more scores during a 63-21 win against Bartlett.
Jack Cook, Naperville Central football
The senior showcased his dual-threat ability with two rushing touchdowns and a 65-yard touchdown pass in a 21-7 rivalry win against Neuqua Valley.
Matt Crider, Wheaton-Warrenville South football
The senior rushed for 293 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-35 overtime loss against St. Charles North.
Isaac Diaz, Mendota boys soccer
The freshman scored the lone goal in a 1-0 shutout of Monmouth-Roseville that clinched a third straight Three Rivers Conference title for the Trojans (15-0-1).
Dillon Fitzpatrick, Barrington football
The senior carried the ball 35 times for 220 yards and two touchdowns in a 13-7 victory against Fremd.
Jake Furtney, St. Charles North football
The senior caught a personal-best four touchdowns – including the game-winner from 12 yards out in overtime – during a 42-35 victory over Wheaton-Warrenville South.
Korima Gonzalez, DeKalb girls cross country
The senior took first at the Bartlett Invitational with a time of 18:50.6.
Dierre Hill Jr., Althoff football
The junior standout carried the ball twice in the first quarter and scored both times – from 36 yards and 99 yards out – in a 42-0 shutout of Alton Marquette.
Dale Johnson, Sterling boys cross country
The senior won the Rock River Run by 11.1 seconds, finishing in 15:23.10.
Rachel Johnson, Edwardsville girls golf
The sophomore shot a 4-under 68 to win Pekin's Lady Dragon Classic by seven shots.
Dennis Mandala, IC Catholic football
The senior completed 18 of 30 passes for 259 yards and three touchdowns as the Class 3A Knights beat Class 8A Marist 28-21.
Nasir McKenzie, Hersey football
In a 35-0 shutout of Buffalo Grove, the senior rushed 24 times for 226 yards and two scores.
Ethan Plumb, St. Charles North football
The junior completed 37 of 53 passes for 397 yards and five touchdowns, and also ran for a score in a 42-35 overtime win against Wheaton-Warrenville South.
Deegan Prater, Dupo football
The sophomore accounted for five touchdowns in a 44-38 loss to Carlyle. He threw for 240 yards and four scores (along with two interceptions) and ran for 58 yards and a touchdown.
Dakota Rakers, Carlyle football
In a 44-38 win at Dupo, the senior ran for 189 yards and four touchdowns, had a 30-yard reception and contributed eight tackles and an interception.
TyVonn Ransom, St. Francis football
The junior finished with 157 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning score with 1:15 left to play, in a 33-28 win over Joliet Catholic.
Jack Skoog, Prospect football
In a 51-7 victory over Rolling Meadows, the junior threw for 302 yards and three touchdowns and also rushed for a score.
Seneca Smith, TF South football
The senior two-way standout rushed for 155 yards and two touchdowns in a 19-14 victory against Bremen.
Scout Storms, Barrington girls cross country
The junior took first at the Palatine Meet of Champions in 17:06.
Joey Vanderwiel, Prairie Ridge football
The senior threw for 116 yards and ran for 38 yards and a touchdown – the game-winning score with 2:10 left – in a 21-20 rivalry win against Cary-Grove.
Camyn Viger, Plainfield South boys cross country
The senior won the Palatine Meet of Champions individual title at 14:36 and helped the Cougars take the team championship 112-124 over runner-up Plainfield North.
Jonas Williams, Bolingbrook football
The sophomore passed for 336 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-28 loss to Lincoln-Way West.
Luke Williams, Naperville North football
The Purdue commit had 97 receiving yards and two touchdowns on offense and added an interception and several key pass break-ups on defense in a 42-20 victory against DeKalb.
Gabby Wire, Crystal Lake South girls volleyball
The senior had 37 kills, 23 digs and 11 aces as the Gators went 4-1 at the Prospect Invitational.
Neuqua Valley football player Andrew Hoffman voted SBLive's Illinois High School Athlete of the Week (Sept. 11-17)
Congratulations to Neuqua Valley football player Andrew Hoffman, who was voted the SBLive Illinois high school Athlete of the Week for Sept. 11-17.
Hoffman, a sophomore, totaled six tackles and two interceptions in a 17-7 DuPage Valley Conference win over Naperville North.
View the rest of the nominees here: Who should be SBLive's Illinois High School Athlete of the Week (Sept. 11-17)?
PREVIOUS WINNERS: Naperville North's Cole Arl (August 28-Sept. 3), Joliet Catholic's Patrick Durbin (August 28-Sept. 3), Waubonsie Valley's Tyler Threat (August 21-27)
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