:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/CTXCE4T3XG7YFLEH6WD7ACEFJE.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/KOEBKBEKKZTSURU5RJXZXLJLDM.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/Q2KAUYV6UCXZXYH35M2IBMAVXA.jpg)
Female
Abby Krull and Alyssa Cooley, Sycamore
Seniors | Tennis
Why Krull and Cooley were selected
The No. 1 doubles team helped the Spartans to a perfect week, rolling to wins against Hampshire (6-3, 6-3) and Yorkville (6-1, 6-3). They beat DeKalb doubles players Izi Meyers Miller and Ashley Nelson and DeKalb volleyball player Kallie SIebrasse in an online poll.
• Krull on transitioning from singles last year to doubles this year:
"It's definitely been a different mentality. The game is very different. The spacing on the court, the speed of play, it's all different. It's been even more fun. Singles is fun too but it's been really fun to have a partner to collaborate with."
• Cooley on how Krull has transitioned to doubles:
"I think she's adjusted really well and I think we compliment each other great. She's great at the baseline with longer shots and I'm more accustomed to the net."
• Krull on expectations for the year
"Alyssa and I have very high expectations. We've been playing since our freshman year, and we're among the few on the team to play it all four years. So our expectations are very high. We'd love to go to state, it's the No. 1 goal, but wherever the season takes us is OK with us."
Male
Kyle Thompson, Hiawatha
Senior | Football
Why Thompson was selected
The Hiawatha running back scored five touchdowns – four on the ground and one on an interception return. He rushed for 145 yards, caught 48, and ran the INT back 40. He beat out Sycamore soccer player Olek Clark and DeKalb golfer Jack Paeglow.
On what clicked Friday:
"The power run was just working. Their linebackers just weren't coming up and our line was awesome the whole time. There were some big lanes for me to run through."
On winning the opener:
"It gives us some confidence but it's the first week and maybe that team wasn't as prepared as we were. The next teams we face will have film and know what we do. This team probably never saw us, future team teams will know what we do and have time to stop it."
On what it felt like scoring five times
"It's great, but you have to give all the props to the line and the play calling by the coaches. Hopefully next game I can get six, maybe keep it going."