Farmington football player Jack Gronewold was voted the Journal Star high school boys athlete of the week for Sept. 29-Oct. 4.
The senior did a little bit of everything to knock Macomb from the unbeaten ranks. He ran for a touchdown, then came up with the eventual game-winning score in Friday’s 30-16 road win. His 87-yard TD on a pass from quarterback Caron Noy put ahead the Farmers 23-16 with 4:24 to play. Gronewold, a North Dakota commit, put Farmington on the scoreboard with his second-quarter TD run.
The poll closed at noon Friday. Information about the nominees is below.
If you have a nominee for the honor, email us at sports@pjstar.com or tag us on Twitter @pjstarsports. Last week, Colin Kemp of the Pekin team was named JS boys athlete of the week.
Dereon Mays, Peoria High football
Mays put together one of the most impressive performances in recent memory. The senior scored four touchdowns in four different ways as Peoria High cruised to a 80-30 win over Richwoods on Friday. He scored on a punt return for a TD (77 yards), interception return for a TD (69 yards), reception TD (24 yards) and a kickoff return for a TD (76 yards).
Joe Heiar, Dunlap soccer
The senior goalkeeper went 3-0-0 on the week, helping unseat a pair of undefeated teams. His clean sweep last Tuesday was big in handing Washington its first loss of the season, 2-0. He had five saves in the match, using goals by Raphael Nascimento and Jackson Orris. In Thursday’s nonconference meeting with 13-match winner Normal West, Heiar once again posted a shutout as the Eagles won 2-0. He ended his week by blanking Normal U-High, 1-0 on Saturday. Heiar has allowed just eight goals all season.
Aiden Faulkner, Elmwood/Brimfield cross country
The senior claimed his second consecutive Prairieland Conference championship on Tuesday. Faulkner covered the 3-mile course at Macomb’s Spring Lake Park in 15:51.50. His time was 35.5 seconds faster than the runner-up finisher. Faulkner’s victory also helped E/B take the team title with 31 points, placing three other runners — Kam Stevenson, Cole Cahill and Danny Sharp — in the top 10.
Elijah Ackerman, Peoria Christian golf
The sophomore not only won a regional title, but helped PCS break a drought as well. Ackerman took medalist honors at the Class 1A Ottawa Regional individual title on Wednesday. He shot an even-par 70 at the Deer Park Country Club in Oglesby, highlighted by five birdies to give him a 1-under 34 on the back 9. That win also went a long way in earning the Chargers their first regional championship since 2021.
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: Farmington football player voted boys athlete of the week for Sept. 29-Oct. 4, presented by CEFCU
Reporting by Adam Duvall, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
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