Athletes of the Week: Barnhart wins state title, Buckles leads team in regionals
Feb. 26—The votes are in. With our new process, powered by Copper Creek Contractors, Jack Barnhart of the Centennial wrestling team and Molly Buckles of the LeRoy girls' basketball team are this week's winners. Here they are, in their own words, with their biggest supporters — their teammates and their family:
Jack Barnhart — Centennial wrestling
Why he's Athlete of the Week: Barnhart completed a perfect 44-0 season with an IHSA Class 2A state title at 285 pounds, just the second Charger wrestler to ever win state. He won all four of his state matches during the three-day gauntlet at State Farm Center, the championship match a 4-1 victory over Crystal Lake's Andy Burburija, the only other 2A undefeated heavyweight in the state.
From Barnhart: "It's exciting for me just to see all the support. ... It means everything (to win a state title). This is my 13th season of wrestling; I've done it since kindergarten. To see all my time and my parents' and coaches' time culminate to that point was awesome. It wasn't something that came overnight. It took a lot of nights, actually. A lot of disappointments and a lot of good times to get there, but it ended with a state title."
My favorite TV show is ... "The Simpsons."
My favorite music genres are ... rap, metal, rock and country. I like it all.
If I could have any superpower, it would be ... teleportation because of all the traveling I've had to do, even just with sports. It would save so much time.
Something that's on my bucket list is ... I want to go skydiving and play in the NFL.
My biggest pet peeve is ... when people say they want to accomplish something but don't put in the work to do it.
My favorite wrestling memory is ... becoming a state champion, for sure. Easily.
My favorite athlete is ... Gable Steveson.
Before a match ... I'll listen to music for a little bit, pace back and forth and then stretch out. I'll try to think positively, things that I can do and not what the other person is going to do. Just keep myself moving and try to score points.
After a match ... if it's a local dual, I'll try to get some food and then watch my teammates' matches. If it's a bigger match, like at state, I'll finish my match and start mentally preparing for the next one.
In five years ... I want to go to college, get a good degree and just work hard in the classroom. That's the biggest thing for me. My high school goals are done, so I've set some college goals. I want to be an All-American in both wrestling and football. Ideally, my dream is to be in the NFL. Maybe it'll happen. It probably won't, but who knows? Unlikely, but it's possible.
Athlete of the Week finalists: Garren Barker, Champaign Central swimming; Chris Bush, Champaign Central basketball; Trey Welter, Monticello basketball.
Molly Buckles — LeRoy girls' basketball
Why she's Athlete of the Week: Buckles led the Panthers to a Class 1A regional title on their home court, scoring 15 points in the semifinal win and tallying 13 points, six rebounds and three assists in the 51-40 championship win over Mt. Pulaski. Buckles then scored a team-high 16 points in a season-ending 1A Ridgeview Sectional semifinal loss to Cissna Park.
From Buckles: "I've never really been up for an honor like this, so it was great to see that on Twitter when I woke up (last Monday). I was very shocked because my teammate, Natalie Loy, was just up for Athlete of the week. I think it's super cool that we were both up for it in the span of two weeks. It's super exciting to know my entire community was supporting me throughout the week because I saw it all over Facebook. ... We were all super excited for the season and had big goals. We came up short on a couple of those goals, but one of them was to win a regional, and we did that."
My favorite movie is ... "The Notebook."
My favorite musical artist is ... Parker McCollum or Zach Bryan, but I love all country music.
If I could have any superpower, it would be ... invisibility. It would help me out in sports. I could be sitting in the corner of the court and get an open three-pointer.
Something that's on my bucket list is ... I want to go skydiving, and I really want to go to Greece.
My biggest pet peeve is ... people driving under the speed limit.
My favorite basketball memory is ... going to Wisconsin Dells last summer with my entire team. There were a ton of teams from all over, and it was good to get experience against teams we don't usually see.
My favorite athlete is ... Caitlin Clark.
Before a game ... I always get a nap in before I go to Casey's and get a Monster. Then, I usually drive around and listen to music to hype myself up.
After a game ... I always come out to see my family and friends who came to support me. If we win, all my friends and teammates go to McDonald's.
In five years ... I want to have a stable job. What I'll look back on is all the regional championships my classmates and I won together.
Athlete of the Week finalists: Megan Martin, Watseka basketball; Zoey Thomason, Tuscola basketball; Kylie Waldinger, Mahomet-Seymour basketball.
