Sep. 2—The votes are in. Powered by Copper Creek Contractors, Ryan Edwards of the Armstrong-Potomac boys’ golf team and Ella Schweighart of the Villa Grove girls’ golf team are this week’s winners. Here they are, in their own words, with their biggest supporters — their teammates:
Ryan Edwards — Armstrong-Potomac boys’ golf
➜ Why he’s Athlete of the Week: Edwards helped the start-up Armstrong-Potomac golf team make program history on Aug. 19, winning its first-ever match. The Trojans shot a team score of 189 to best Villa Grove and Heritage, and Edwards earned medalists honors with a nine-hole round of 44.
➜ From Edwards: “I’m just excited to be a junior on our first full golf team for Armstrong. I’m excited for me and the boys, and I’m proud to be able to lead the way. … We were pretty surprised (to get the win), but we were pretty excited and proud of ourselves and got ready to get to the next match.”
➜ My favorite movie is … “The Sandlot.”
➜ My favorite music genre is … country.
➜ My favorite sports team/athlete is … the Chicago Cubs.
➜ If I could have any superpower, it would be … to make the golf ball go straight down the middle of the fairway. I’d be shooting under or right at par.
➜ My go-to pregame song is … whatever’s on the radio on the bus.
➜ My go-to postgame meal is … sometimes Jersey Mike’s or Dairy Queen.
➜ My biggest golf pet peeve is … when someone walks in your line on the putting green.
➜ My favorite golf memory is … last week after practice, I was playing a par 3 and chipped in for a birdie.
➜ At the top of my bucket list is … going pro in any of the sports I play (golf, basketball and baseball).
➜ Athlete of the Week finalists: Reis Claybrooke, Mahomet-Seymour golf; Easton Friedman, Prairie Central golf; Brycen Umstattd, LeRoy golf
Ella Schweighart — Villa Grove girls’ golf
➜ Why she’s Athlete of the Week: Schweighart was the low medalist at two matches during the first week of the season. She led the Blue Devils to a win over Armstrong-Potomac on Aug. 19 with a personal-best score of 39. Two days later, she shot a 42 against Central A&M and Tuscola.
➜ From Schweighart: “I had seen some of my friends get Athlete of the Week, and to actually get it myself is crazy. I didn’t even start golfing until my freshman year. … This winter, we got a golf simulator, and I have a chipping range in my backyard. That’s what’s helped me, putting in the work in the offseason. I probably golfed every single day over the summer. Getting out on the course, perfecting everything and learning more about myself has really helped me with my scores this year.”
➜ My favorite TV show is … “Gilmore Girls.”
➜ My favorite musical artist is … Adele.
➜ My favorite athlete is … Nelly Korda.
➜ If I could have any superpower, it would be … invisibility.
➜ My pregame routine is … drinking an Alani Nu, and my hair always has to look good.
➜ My go-to postgame meal is … whatever I’m feeling.
➜ My biggest golf superstition is … taking a deep breath before every shot to help me reset.
➜ My favorite golf memory is … making my second-ever eagle when I shot a 39 at our home course. It felt so good, and everybody was like, “Oh my gosh, no way you shot a 39.”
➜ At the top of my bucket list is … playing at Pebble Beach.
➜ Athlete of the Week finalists: Kate Bushue, Sullivan golf; Addi Erwin, Arthur Christian volleyball; Anna Houpt, Danville tennis
