Vote for Journal Star Boys Athlete of the Week for Oct. 12-17, presented by CEFCU

After plenty of solid high school sports performers over the last week, here are the Journal Star Boys Athlete of the Week nominees for Oct. 12-17, presented by CEFCU.

Head to www.pjstar.com/sports to vote. The poll closes at noon Friday, Oct. 23. Information about the nominees is below.

If you have a nominee for the honor, email us at sports@pjstar.com or tag us on X @pjstarsports. Last week, Aaden Adams of the El Paso-Gridley football team was named JS Boys Athlete of the Week.

Isaac Davis, Morton football

Davis scored two touchdowns in securing the Mid-Illini Conference title on Friday, Oct. 16. The senior found the endzone twice in the first half in beating Metamora 35-7 at Dozer Park. He started the scoring with a three-yard TD, then added another score just a minute before halftime. This was Morton's first-ever outright Mid-Illini championship.

Jayden Schmick, Dunlap football

Schmick put together a big-time offensive game in Friday, Oct. 16. The senior running back rushed for 110 yards and four touchdowns in a 37-21 home victory over Pekin. Schmick scored three first-half touchdowns, twice tying the game with his third score putting Dunlap (8-1) up 23-14. He then found his fourth TD of the night later in the third quarter.

Ronin Spinks, Peoria Notre Dame football

Spinks was big on both sides of the ball on Friday, Oct. 16. The senior running back rushed for 181 yards and two touchdowns in beating Big 12 Conference rival Peoria High 72-22. His touchdowns came in the second half from 10 and eight yards out. On defense, Spinks added an interception as Peoria Notre Dame (6-3) finished third in the Big 12.

Maxwell Kirby, Peoria Notre Dame cross country

Kirby won back-to-back Big 12 Conference championships on Saturday, Oct. 17. The senior covered the historic 3-mile Detweiller Park course in a season-best 14 minutes, 47.0 seconds. This was Kirby's second consecutive league title, improving his time by 2.1 seconds from last season. His finish helped lead PND (30 points) to a Big 12 championship.

Cole Whitaker, Morton soccer

Whitaker helped the Potters to the outright Mid-Illini Conference title on Tuesday, Oct. 13. The senior forward scored a pair of goals in lifting Morton to a 7-0 victory over visitor Metamora. That win in the league finale gave the Potters a 6-0-1 record in Mid-Illini play. This win also helped Morton (13-5-4) to its first conference championship since 2022.

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Vote for Journal Star Boys Athlete of the Week for Oct. 12-17, presented by CEFCU