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Peoria Heights girls basketball player voted Peoria Journal Star athlete of the week

adam duvall, peoria journal star
·3 min read
Peoria Heights' Emily Dana, right, shoots over Dee-Mack's Keely Zeller in the second half of their girls basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023 at Dee-Mack High School in Mackinaw. Dee-Mack defeated the Heights 32-17.
Peoria Heights' Emily Dana, right, shoots over Dee-Mack's Keely Zeller in the second half of their girls basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023 at Dee-Mack High School in Mackinaw. Dee-Mack defeated the Heights 32-17.

Emily Dana of the Peoria Heights girls basketball team was voted as the Journal Star athlete of the week.

Dana, who earned 255 of 762 votes, helped the Patriots make program history last week. The senior guard scored 20 points as Peoria Heights won its first regional since 1992 with a 52-29 win over Midland at the Class 1A Flanagan-Cornell Regional on Friday night. She scored a career-high 30 points and recorded four steals last Monday in a 35-point win over Roanoke-Benson in the regional semis. The Patriots are 26-6, setting the school record for wins in a season.

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 X.com at @pjstarsports. Last week, Kiarra Kilgore of the Galesburg girls basketball team was named JS athlete of the week.

Malachi Persinger, Peoria Christian boys basketball

Peoria Christian's Malachi Persinger (1) moves to the basket against Peoria Heights in the first half of their high school basketball game Friday, Jan. 26, 2024 at Peoria Heights High School. The Chargers defeated the Patriots 60-58.
Peoria Christian's Malachi Persinger (1) moves to the basket against Peoria Heights in the first half of their high school basketball game Friday, Jan. 26, 2024 at Peoria Heights High School. The Chargers defeated the Patriots 60-58.

Persinger wrapped up the regular season in a big way last week. He scored a game-high 23 points Friday night in beating Brimfield, 61-48. The junior began his week last Tuesday by going for 11 points and 11 assists as PCS beat Roanoke-Benson, 73-48. PCS is 20-11 and heads to the Class 1A ROWVA/Williamsfield Regional as the second seed.

Gus Rugaard, Morton boys basketball

Morton's Gus Rugaard (11) looks to pass as Washington's James Johnson defends in the second half of their Mid-Illini Conference basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024 at Washington Community High School. The Panthers fell to the Potters 51-39.
Morton's Gus Rugaard (11) looks to pass as Washington's James Johnson defends in the second half of their Mid-Illini Conference basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024 at Washington Community High School. The Panthers fell to the Potters 51-39.

Rugaard stepped up for the Potters in two games last week. His week began last Tuesday with 13 points as Morton locked up a share of the Mid-Illini Conference title in a 51-39 win over Washington. He ended the regular season by pouring in 20 points to beat Decatur MacArthur, 70-54 on Thursday. No. 10-ranked Morton (27-4) heads to the Class 3A Limestone Sectional as the third seed.

Avery Tibbs, Washington girls basketball

Washington's Avery Tibbs (2) passes to a teammate as the Panthers battle Metamora in the first half of their girls Class 3A Pontiac Regional basketball title game Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024 at Pontiac High School. The Panthers defeated the Redbirds 67-53.
Washington's Avery Tibbs (2) passes to a teammate as the Panthers battle Metamora in the first half of their girls Class 3A Pontiac Regional basketball title game Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024 at Pontiac High School. The Panthers defeated the Redbirds 67-53.

Tibbs filled up the stat sheet last week for the Panthers. In Thursday's Class 3A Pontiac Regional title game, the sophomore scored a team-high 22 points in beating rival Metamora, 67-53. She started her week last Monday by going for nine points, seven steals and six assists to beat Streator, 59-9.

Nick Mueller, Dunlap boys wrestling

Dunlap's Nick Mueller wrestles Vernon Hills' Illia Dvoriannikov in the 165-pound division of the Class 2A state wrestling championships Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024 at the State Farm Center in Champaign.
Dunlap's Nick Mueller wrestles Vernon Hills' Illia Dvoriannikov in the 165-pound division of the Class 2A state wrestling championships Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024 at the State Farm Center in Champaign.

Mueller made Dunlap program history on Saturday. The senior became the first Eagles wrestler ever to win a state championship, capturing the Class 2A 165-pound crown. He beat Ilia Dvoriannikov of Vernon Hills, 4-2 to finish his season at 43-3. Mueller's near fall in the third period sealed the title bout victory.

Jackson Carroll, Illini Bluffs boys wrestling

Illini Bluffs' Jackson Carroll, right, wrestles with Unity's Kaden Inman in the 144-pound match of the Class 1A state wrestling championships Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024 at the State Farm Center in Champaign. Carroll took the title with an 8-7 decision.
Illini Bluffs' Jackson Carroll, right, wrestles with Unity's Kaden Inman in the 144-pound match of the Class 1A state wrestling championships Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024 at the State Farm Center in Champaign. Carroll took the title with an 8-7 decision.

The junior joined an elite group of IB wrestlers. Carroll became just the fifth Tigers wrestler to win a state championship, claiming a Class 1A 144-pound crown on Saturday. He beat Tolono Unity junior Kaden Inman, 8-7 in a last-second victory. He finished 51-2 this season.

Riley Stevenson, Galesburg boys swimming and diving

Riley Stevenson, Soph.
Riley Stevenson, Soph.

Stevenson was a big reason the Silver Streaks won a sectional championship on Saturday. The senior qualified for state in four events as Galesburg won the Richwoods Sectional in dominating fashion. He won the 50-yard freestyle in 21.59 seconds, then took the 100-yard freestyle (47.23 seconds) title. He was also a member of the winning 200-yard medley relay (1:36.76) and 200-yard freestyle relay (1:29.08).

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: Results of poll for Peoria Journal Star high school athlete of the week