Vote now: Who should be SBLive's Illinois High School Athlete of the Week (May 29-June 4)?

Here are the candidates for SBLive's Illinois High School Athlete of the Week as nominated by fans, readers and SBLive’s staff.

Read through the nominees and cast your vote at the bottom of the page. Voting will conclude on Sunday at 11:59 p.m. and the winner will be announced the following week. If you would like to nominate an athlete in the future, please email athleteoftheweek@scorebooklive.com.

THIS WEEK’S SBLIVE ILLINOIS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK NOMINEES:

Editor’s Note: Our Athlete of the Week feature and corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes that receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified.

Jimmy Amptmann, Sycamore baseball

Amptmann provided the Sycamore offense with a spark when they needed it the most in the Class 3A Kaneland Sectional semifinal game. Trailing St. Francis 2-0 in the fifth, Amptmann led off with a home run to open up a three-run inning for Sycamore who went on to win 3-2.

Michela Barbanente, Lake Park softball

A Penn State commit, Barbanente provided the heroics in Lake Park's Class 4A Sectional championship against reigning state champion St. Charles North on Friday. The senior drove in the go-ahead run with an infield single in the fifth and made two outstanding defensive plays to prevent potential runs from scoring.

Tyler Bell, Lincoln-Way East baseball

Bell led the way for the Griffin offense during their 10-9 Class 4A sectional championship win over Lockport on Saturday. The Pittsburgh commit smashed a 2-run home run, a double, and scored 2 runs on the day.

Brady Biffar, Gibault baseball

Biffar starred both offensively and on the mound during the 1A state championship game for Gibault Catholic on Saturday. The junior tripled and came around to score during a five-run fifth inning and he tossed a 72-pitch complete game shutout to lead the Hawks to an 8-0 win and the second baseball state title in school history.

Eileen Dooley, Loyola girls lacrosse

A Marquette commit, Dooley played a key role in the Ramblers' 13-8 victory over Hinsdale Central in the state championship on Saturday. The senior tallied a team-high three goals while also contributing an assist to cap off her high school career on a high note.

Eden Echevarria, Antioch softball

A senior, Echevarria came through in the clutch during Antioch’s Class 3A sectional championship game against Wauconda on Friday. The Wisconsin commit belted a two-run home run to give her team the lead in the fifth inning en route to a 5-1 victory to move on to the supersectional.

Rania Fikri, Benet Academy girls soccer

A junior, Fikri got Benet on the board fast with a goal from 8 yards out. The goal would prove to be the game winner as the Redwings went on to defeat Crystal Lake Central 2-0 to punch their ticket to the 2A state championship.

Angela Horejs, Benet Academy softball

A sophomore shortstop, Horejs continued her breakout season during the Class 3A St. Ignatius Sectional championship game at UIC on Friday. Horejs played solid defense (no errors in six chances) and drove in three runs to lead the way as Benet defeated St. Ignatius 10-0 in five innings.

Tommy Kemp, Joliet Catholic baseball

In the 2A state semifinal against Quincy Notre Dame on Friday, the senior was a perfect 4-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, and a run scored as Joliet Catholic won 10-3 to advance to the championship game.

Nicky Pastore, St. Viator lacrosse

Pastore starred for the Lions during their Illinois lacrosse semifinal contest against Lake Forest at Benedictine University. The senior erupted for an impressive seven goals and an assist to lead the way to a 13-4 victory to secure a trip to the championship.

Joe Richardson, Stevenson baseball

An Eastern Illinois commit, Richardson showcased his power during the Patriots' 8-3 victory over Hersey in the Class 4A Mundelein Sectional championship on Saturday. The senior hit a pair of doubles and drove in a pair of runs to lead the way to Stevenson's fourth baseball sectional title in school history.

Will Schufreider, Grayslake Central baseball

Schufreider had a great performance on the mound during the Class 3A Grayslake Central Sectional championship against Lake Forest on Saturday. On his 18th birthday, the right-hander tossed a six-inning complete game shutout as the Rams won 10-0.

Ava Swain, Lockport softball

A junior third baseman, Swain proved to be the difference-maker during the Class 4A Lockport Sectional championship game on Friday. With the game tied 0-0 in the top of the seventh inning, Swain drove in the game-winning run with an RBI single as Lockport escaped 1-0.

Makenzie Sweeney, Yorkville softball

The leadoff hitter for the Foxes had an impressive performance at the plate during the Class 4A Oswego Sectional championship game on Friday. The junior second baseman opened the scoring with a two-run single that started a six-run third inning. She later added a double as the Foxes won 10-0 in 5 innings.

Cole Van Assen, Brother Rice baseball

After a rocky first inning against conference rival St. Rita on Saturday, Van Assen settled in and twirled a gem on the mound for the Crusaders. The Purdue commit went the distance while giving up just four hits and striking out eight to help send Brother Rice to the supersectional.

Dominic Voegele, Columbia baseball

A senior committed to the University of Kansas, Voegele was dominant during Columbia’s state semifinal game on Friday. The hard-throwing right-hander tossed a complete game shutout with nine strikeouts as Columbia won 9-0 over DePaul College Prep and secured its spot in the 2A championship.

Kaitlin Weidemenn, Warren softball

Weidemenn put on a hitting display during Warren’s Class 4A sectional championship against Buffalo Grove on Friday. She went 3-for-4 with a solo home run that gave Warren a three-run lead in the seventh to secure the 11-8 victory.

Aiden Weisenborn, Wheaton Academy lacrosse

Weisenborn was a scoring machine during Wheaton Academy’s 17-9 victory over St. Viator in the Illinois lacrosse state championship on Saturday. The senior West Point commit scored six goals – including five in the first half – to lead Wheaton Academy to its first state title in program history.

Kaneland softball's Brynn Woods voted SBLive's Illinois High School Athlete of the Week (May 22-28)

Previous winners: Buffalo Grove's Hannah Hull (May 15-21), Antioch's Jacey Schuler (May 8-14), Lemont's Sage Mardjetko (May 1-7), Nashville's Trey Reinburg (April 24-30), St. Rita's Louie Sisto (April 17-23), Benet's Nina Pesare (April 10-16), Lemont's Cannon Madej (April 3-9), Lincoln-Way East's Amanda Martineck (March 27-April 2), St. Charles North's Leigh Vande Hei (March 20-26), Mascoutah's Austin Musso (March 13-19), Benet Academy's Brayden Fagbemi (March 6-11), Benet Academy's Samantha Trimberger (Feb. 27-March 4), Loyola Academy's Harlee Hiller (Feb. 20-25), Aurora Central Catholic's Riley Cwinski (Feb. 13-18), Geneva's Leah Palmer (Feb. 6-11), Kennedy's Brett Gomez (Jan. 30-Feb. 4), Oswego East's Bryce Shoto (Jan. 23-28), Benet Academy's Brady Kunka (Jan. 16-21), Lincoln-Way East's Lilly Dockemeyer (Jan. 9-14), St. Francis' Tea Rubino (Jan. 2-7), Libertyville's Will Buchert (Dec. 26-31), Rich Township's Diondre Henry (Dec. 19-24), Montini Catholic's Shannon Blacher (Dec. 12-17), East St. Louis' Macaleab Rich (Dec. 5-10), Butler's Xamiya Walton (Nov. 21-26), East St. Louis' TaRyan Martin (Nov. 14-20), Lake Zurich's Tyler Erkman (No. 7-12), St. Rita's DJ Stewart (Oct. 31-Nov. 5), Stevenson's Matt Projansky (Oct. 17-22), Prospect's Brad Vierneisel (Oct. 10-15), Brother Rice's Owen Lyons (Oct. 3-8), Bolingbrook's Jonas Williams (Sept. 19-24), Benet Academy's Aniya Warren (Sept. 12-17), Bolingbrook's I'Marion Stewart (Sept. 4-10), Lemont's Nate Wrublik (Aug. 29-Sept. 3) and Highland's Travis Porter (Aug. 22-28).

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