Athlete of the Month: Celebrating Excellence in Local Sports Teams

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Altonized Community Federal Credit Union Male Athlete Of The Month: Southwestern’s Zack Bean Builds Wrestling Momentum After Strong Regional

20 hours ago

PIASA - Zack Bean of the Southwestern Piasa Birds wrestling team was named an Altonized Community...

Byron, Carlson, Petri & Kalb Male Athlete Of The Month: McGivney's Omar Avalos Earns 2026 IHSA Class 2A All-State Honor

21 hours ago

GLEN CARBON — Father McGivney Catholic High School junior Omar Avalos has been named to the...

Midwest Members Credit Union Female Athlete Of The Month: East Alton-Wood River Valedictorian Honored For Gymnastics Success

22 hours ago

GODFREY/EAST ALTON/WOOD RIVER — Mid Illinois Gymnastics and Midwest Members Credit Union recognize...

Stillwater Senior Living Male Athlete Of The Month: Xavier Harris Made Positive Contribution To Warriors As Freshman

July 2 2026 at 1:52 PM

GRANITE CITY — Xavier Harris, a rising sophomore guard on the Granite City High School boys...

Altonized Community Federal Credit Union Female Athlete Of The Month: Vivian Zurheide Leaves Lasting Mark At Southwestern High

July 1 2026 at 3:49 PM

PIASA - Vivian Zurheide, a Southwestern High School senior and standout three-sport athlete, was...

Spencer Homes Male Athlete Of Month: Rowan Weller Adapts To Expanded Role On Edwardsville Boys Basketball Team For This Season

July 1 2026 at 1:29 PM

EDWARDSVILLE - Rowan Weller is a senior-to-be for a highly successful boys basketball team at Edwardsville...

Tucker's Automotive Repair & TIre Male Athlete Of The Month: Cameron Golike Caps Marquette Career With Breakout Track Season

June 29 2026 at 3:19 PM

ALTON - Recent Marquette Catholic graduate Cameron Golike, an “all-around athlete deluxe”...

Auto Butler Female Athletes Of The Month: Alton Redbirds Softball Builds Momentum With 2026 Season

June 29 2026 at 2:34 PM

ALTON — Under head coach Alyssa Maher and assistant coaches Amy Strobel, Doug Dey,...

Tom Lane State Farm Insurance Female Athlete Of Month: CM's Keely Windsor Recognized For Athletic, Academic, Service Achievements

June 29 2026 at 2:18 PM

BETHALTO — Keely Windsor, a 2026 graduate of Civic Memorial High School in Bethalto, has been...

Tucker's Automotive Repair & Tire Male Athlete Of The Month: Marquette Standout Elijah Heru Chooses Blackburn College

June 22 2026 at 4:32 PM

ALTON - Elijah Heru has signed to attend Blackburn College, where he will compete for the school’s...

Tucker's Automotive Repair & Tire Female Athlete Of The Month: Coach Billy Sprague Says Karly Davenport Marquette’s Gold Standard

June 22 2026 at 3:47 PM

ALTON — Karly Davenport recently concluded her track and field career at Marquette Catholic,...

Auto Butler Female Athlete Of The Month For The Redbirds: Justice Haynes Helped Power Alton’s Relentless Defensive Rise

June 22 2026 at 1:59 PM

EDWARDSVILLE — Alton senior guard Justice Haynes, a key contributor to the Redbirds’...

Sparklight Male Athlete Of The Month: Bradley Tueth Takes Third at Adidas Nationals Elite

June 22 2026 at 9:36 AM

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Bradley Tueth placed third in the 400-meter dash at Adidas Nationals Elite,...

Tom Lane State Farm Insurance Female Athletes Of Month: Civic Memorial Lands Two on All MVC First Team

June 19 2026 at 2:19 PM

BETHALTO - Civic Memorial placed two players on the first team of its All-Mississippi Valley Conference...

Sparklight Female Athletes Of The Month: Four Soccer Girls Earn All-Conference Honors

June 19 2026 at 10:24 AM

JERSEYVILLE — Jersey Community Unit School's Holly Lamer, Grace Russell, Ella Roberts...

Sparklight Male Athlete Of The Month: Jersey's Connor Talley Selected For Illinois Shriners All-Star Football Game

June 19 2026 at 9:32 AM

JERSEYVILLE - Connor Talley, a Jersey Community High School student in the class of 2026, has been...

Stillwater Senior Living Male Athlete Of Month For Warriors: Wilson Made History With First Run Scored At New Babe Champion Field

June 18 2026 at 4:46 PM

GRANITE CITY — Granite City rising senior infielder Ben Wilson, who scored the first run in...

Auto Butler Male Athlete Of The Month For The Redbirds: Alex Pilger Was A Team Player

June 18 2026 at 3:54 PM

EDWARDSVILLE — Senior outfielder and pitcher Alex Pilger said he believed Alton High School’s...

Byron, Carlson, Petri & Kalb Female Athlete Of The Month: Goalie Peyton Ellis Anchors Father McGivney State Title Run

June 18 2026 at 12:25 PM

GLEN CARBON - Peyton Ellis was the goalkeeper for the Father McGivney Catholic girls soccer team...

BJ's Printables Female Athletes Of Month: Metro East Lutheran Seniors Cap Standout Bowling Careers

June 17 2026 at 4:28 PM

EDWARDSVILLE — Katie Albrecht and Emma Gusewelle have concluded their senior years at Metro...

At Riverbender.com, the spirit of competition and sportsmanship comes alive as we honor the exceptional achievements of individual athletes across 12 distinguished local high school teams. Our Athlete of the Month feature shines a spotlight on those who have gone above and beyond on the field, displaying excellence, dedication, and a love for the game. From the relentless determination of the Edwardsville Tigers to the unwavering teamwork of the Alton Redbirds, we celebrate these athletes who inspire us all. Join us in recognizing the Athlete of the Month, a tribute to hard work, talent, and the vibrant sports community in our region. Explore profiles, interviews, highlights, and more, as we pay homage to the local heroes of our favorite sports.