Finalists revealed for 2022 State Farm Student-Athlete Recognition Banquet

Posted on June 2, 2022
Former Tri-Valley High School Viking, University of Arkansas Track & Field standout, and Olympic Trials participant, Stephanie (Brown) Brokaw, will be the keynote speaker. (Facebook/State Farm Student-Athlete Recognition Banquet)

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the State Farm Student-Athlete Recognition Banquet is returning to McLean County.

The banquet, which has been hosted since 2008, recognizes high school athletes, coaches, and teams for their accomplishments on and off the field.

The State Farm Student-Athlete Recognition Banquet committee has revealed their finalists for this year’s event. The committee received nominations from high school athletic directors from across McLean County and is comprised of members from the Bloomington-Normal Area Sports Commission, WJBC, Special Olympics Illinois, State Farm and You Name It Sports. 

Female Team of the Year 

  • Normal West Volleyball 
  • U-High Girls Track & Field 
  • Ridgeview Girls Basketball 

Male Team of the Year 

  • LeRoy Baseball 
  • Central Catholic Boys Soccer 
  • U-High Cross Country 

Coach of the Year – Female Sport 

  • Gabby Zeedyk, Prairie Central Girls Basketball 
  • Amber McGee, Bloomington Softball 
  • Kelsey Mueller, Normal West Volleyball 

Coach of the Year – Male Sport 

  • John Schippert, Cornerstone Boys Basketball 
  • Reza Ghasemi, Central Catholic Boys Soccer 
  • Wayne Meyer, LeRoy Baseball 

Female Scholar Athlete 

  • Taylor Nowaskie, Olympia 
  • Adriana Crabtree, U-High 
  • Janani Dharmarajan, Cornerstone 

Male Scholar Athlete 

  • Tyler Dwinal, Normal Community 
  • George Fish, Bloomington 
  • Ryan Allen, Cornerstone 

Good Neighbor Award 

  • Bloomington Baseball 
  • Illinois High School Shrine Game 
  • State Farm Holiday Classic 

Female Athlete 

  • Avery Hernandez, Normal West 
  • Makenna Grisinger, Bloomington 
  • Nora Brady, Central Catholic 

Male Athlete 

  • Jack Weltha, Bloomington 
  • Connor Moore, Heyworth 
  • Zach Cleveland, Normal Community 

11 awards will be handed out during the banquet on Tuesday, June 21 at 7 p.m. at The Chateau Hotel & Conference Center.

Former Tri-Valley High School Viking, University of Arkansas Track & Field standout, and Olympic Trials participant, Stephanie (Brown) Brokaw, will be the keynote speaker.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by calling the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau at 309-665-0033.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

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