The Peoria Journal Star Athlete of the Week is a weekly vote that anyone in the community can participate in, which recognizes local high school athletes’ accomplishments. A list of nominees is released on Monday, and you can vote from Tuesday until Friday. Athletes are nominated based on memorable performances from the previous week. The list features the best athletes from all different Peoria area schools.

Last year in the 2021-22 season Richwoods had a total of 5 winners. On November 16th, Molly Gordon won for girls’ swim and dive, then on December 28th, Jack Hammerton won for boys’ swim and dive. The wrestling team had an amazing season and won three different times! On January 18th, Kyley Bair won, on February 15th the RHS girls wrestling team won as a whole, and lastly, Jaida Johnson won on March 1st for her amazing performance at the state wrestling tournament.

As we are at the beginning of the 2022-23 sports season, Richwoods has not had any athletes of the week yet but, Richwoods senior, Cory Wysinger a running back on our varsity football team was nominated for the week of September 12-17. At the Shamrock Classic at Dozer Park Richwoods won 48-35 against Peoria Notre Dame. Wysinger helped tie the game in the first quarter and added a 74- yard TD run at the end of the fourth quarter helping to end our 16-game losing streak and win against PND for the first time since 2012.

Freshman Kara Hoffman was also nominated as the first athlete of the week this year! She was nominated for exceptional performance in a Big 12 Conference meet with Normal Community. Kara won an individual event by more than 9 seconds, and she helped with three second-place finishes in relay events. With this being her first varsity swim meet, she is sure to be nominated again.

Keep up the great work RHS athletes we’re excited to see which athletes win this year!