Vote now: Who should be SBLive's Illinois High School Athlete of the Week (May 15-21)?
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.
Kayda Austin, Cahokia girls track and field
Austin took home first in two events in the Class 2A state meet in the 100 meters (11.85 seconds) and 200 (24.23). Her effort helped Cahokia secure a third-place finish as a team.
Lauren Bailey, Lake Zurich girls soccer
A junior forward, Bailey totaled five goals and two assists for the Bears in two postseason matches while helping her squad secure a regional title.
Tatum David, Olney (Richland County) girls track and field
A senior, David had a record-setting performance in the state meet on Saturday. She set the meet record with a time of 9:53.96 in the 3,200 meters to bring home the title.
Parker Detmers, Glenwood baseball
Detmers had an impressive performance on the mound against Springfield on Wednesday. The University of Louisville commit allowed just one run and one hit and struck out 12 in a complete-game effort. His fastball reached an impressive 97 miles-per-hour during the 3-1 win.
Jaden Fauske, Nazareth Academy baseball
Fauske had a solid day both on the mound and at the plate during the Roadrunners’ 11-1 win over Glenbrook South on Thursday. The sophomore University of Louisville commit hit a home run and tossed two scoreless innings in relief with four strikeouts.
Gavin Gomez, Providence Catholic baseball
Gomez starred in a semifinal win over Sandburg and a championship win over Lyons Township at the Do It Stevie’s Way Classic on Saturday. Between the two games, the senior collected six hits and drove in nine runs to help the Celtics secure the title.
Hannah Hull, Buffalo Grove softball
Hull came through when the Bison needed it the most against Barrington on Thursday. The senior stepped up to the plate with her team down 5-4 in the last inning and she answered the call with a three-run walk off homerun to win the Mid-Suburban League championship.
Kyleigh Jannisch, Metea Valley girls soccer
Jannisch had a great performance for the defending champion Mustangs in their 3A regional championship match against rival Neuqua Valley on Friday. The junior recorded a goal in an assist during the 8-1 Metea Valley victory.
Taylor London, Andrew girls soccer
London came through in a clutch situation during Andrew’s Class 3A regional championship match against Homewood-Flossmoor on Friday. After H-F tied it up with 16 minutes to play, London scored the game-winning goal a minute later.
Bella Najera, St. Charles North girls soccer
A Michigan State recruit, Najera scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal in the second half of the North Stars’ regional final match with Wheaton Warrenville South on Friday. With the victory, St. Charles North secured their 20th consecutive regional title.
Gabi Novickas, Marist softball
A sophomore, Novickas had a monster week as she went 10-for-14 with five home runs, nine RBIs, and nine runs scored across five wins for the RedHawks.
Emily Petring, Downers Grove South girls soccer
Petring would not be denied a victory during Downers Grove South’s regional title matchup with Downers Grove North. Trailing by two goals with less than 2 minutes left, the Coastal Carolina recruit scored twice in the final 1:36 in regulation. South went on to win in penalty kicks to take home the title.
Emmi Scales, St. Viator girls track and field
Scales ended her accolade filled high school career with a great performance at the state championship meet on Saturday. The senior University of Kentucky commit finished first in the 100 meters and 300 hurdles to repeat as champion in both events.
Alex Schiefer, Kaneland baseball
Kaneland was able to knock off St. Charles East 11-4 on Friday thanks largely to Schiefer’s performance on the mound. In four innings of relief, the junior did not allow a hit and struck out five to earn the win.
Kaitlyn Schofield, Newark softball
A senior pitcher/infielder, Schofield starred in two playoff wins for Newark going 6-for-7 with three home runs and five RBIs at the plate and earning the win in the circle in the regional title game after going four innings and striking out 10.
TJ Schuyler, Antioch baseball
A senior committed to the University of Indiana, Schuyler starred during Antioch’s win against Huntley on Saturday. The future Hoosier hit two home runs and picked up the win on the mound going seven innings and striking out nine.
Nicholas Segreti, Oak Forest baseball
Segreti had a dominant performance on the mound during Oak Forest’s South Suburban Conference matchup with Argo on Friday. He tossed a complete game while allowing just one hit and striking out 10 (including eight in a row at one point) as Oak Forest won 12-0 in four innings.
Dominic Voegele, Columbia baseball
A senior, Voegele was the hero on Wednesday as he came through with a two-run walkoff home run against Alton Marquette to win 4-3 in the regional semifinal. On Saturday, he helped Columbia secure the regional title with his effort on the mound against Breese Central. The University of Kansas commit turned in a complete game, allowing just two hits and striking out 12, as Columbia won 4-0.
Antioch's Jacey Schuler voted SBLive's Illinois High School Athlete of the Week (May 8-14)
Previous winners: Lemont's Sage Mardjetko (May 1-7), Nashville's Trey Reinburg (April 24-30), St. Rita's Louie Sisto (April 17-23), Benet's Nina Pesare (April 10-16), Lemont's Cannon Madej (April 3-9), Lincoln-Way East's Amanda Martineck (March 27-April 2), St. Charles North's Leigh Vande Hei (March 20-26), Mascoutah's Austin Musso (March 13-19), Benet Academy's Brayden Fagbemi (March 6-11), Benet Academy's Samantha Trimberger (Feb. 27-March 4), Loyola Academy's Harlee Hiller (Feb. 20-25), Aurora Central Catholic's Riley Cwinski (Feb. 13-18), Geneva's Leah Palmer (Feb. 6-11), Kennedy's Brett Gomez (Jan. 30-Feb. 4), Oswego East's Bryce Shoto (Jan. 23-28), Benet Academy's Brady Kunka (Jan. 16-21), Lincoln-Way East's Lilly Dockemeyer (Jan. 9-14), St. Francis' Tea Rubino (Jan. 2-7), Libertyville's Will Buchert (Dec. 26-31), Rich Township's Diondre Henry (Dec. 19-24), Montini Catholic's Shannon Blacher (Dec. 12-17), East St. Louis' Macaleab Rich (Dec. 5-10), Butler's Xamiya Walton (Nov. 21-26), East St. Louis' TaRyan Martin (Nov. 14-20), Lake Zurich's Tyler Erkman (No. 7-12), St. Rita's DJ Stewart (Oct. 31-Nov. 5), Stevenson's Matt Projansky (Oct. 17-22), Prospect's Brad Vierneisel (Oct. 10-15), Brother Rice's Owen Lyons (Oct. 3-8), Bolingbrook's Jonas Williams (Sept. 19-24), Benet Academy's Aniya Warren (Sept. 12-17), Bolingbrook's I'Marion Stewart (Sept. 4-10), Lemont's Nate Wrublik (Aug. 29-Sept. 3) and Highland's Travis Porter (Aug. 22-28).
Download the SBLive Sports App
To get live updates on your phone - as well as follow your favorite teams and top games - you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App | Download Android App