Don Morris Memorial Award
The Don Morris Memorial Award is named after the late Alleman Catholic High School Athletic Director and coach. Coach Morris passed away in 1983. He was one of the founding fathers of the Western Big 6 Conference. Don Morris was a fixture in the local high school coaching ranks for 33 years, all at Rock Island Alleman. He compiled an overall record of 491-335 with four seasons of 20 or more wins. His 1963-64 team put on a late surge to advance to the final four of the IHSA state tournament at a time when all schools competed in one class for the championship. Alleman gym is now named for him. He was a standout athlete at St. Ambrose and Streator (Ill.) High School. Mr. Morris, a native of Streator, IL, was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1975 as a coach and a player. He also has been selected to the Quad-City Sports Hall of Fame and the St. Ambrose University Hall of Fame.
The award that bears his name was created in his memory to honor student-athletes in the Western Big 6 Conference that excel in multiple sports, school and community activities.
Criteria for the Don Morris Memorial Award:
Nominees must be a senior
No athlete shall be nominated that does not have a minimum 2.5GPA on a 4.0 scale
Must be a multi-sport athlete
Awards earned in the school, community, conference and state will be considered when deciding the winners
Each conference school may nominate one (1) boy and one (1) girl with selections made by the principal and athletic director.
Female Don Morris Multi-Sport
Award Winners
1984 Deb Roberts Galesburg
1985 Cammy Bergren Alleman
1986 Heide Hutchinson Moline
1987 Lisa Moore Moline
1988 Kris Sorenson Moline
1989 Stacy Paller Moline
1990 Kris Braet Rock Island
1991 Cammi Heimann Galesburg
1992 Johnna Heberling Moline
1993 Anne Henderson Galesburg
1994 Laurel Darren United Township
1995 Eloise Peterson Rock Island
1996 Becky Peterson Quincy
1997 Jenny DeSmet Alleman
1998 Ruth Kipping Quincy
1999 Emily Buchanan United Township
2000 Natalie Circello Alleman
2001 Caricia Andrews Galesburg
2002 Jill Steffens Moline
2003 Carmin Green Rock Island
2004 Laura Westensee Rock Island
2005 Jessica Sedam Alleman
2006 Kara Nelson Moline
2007 Mia Mayberry Rock Island
2008 Rachel Medina United Township
2009 Alyssa Busch United Township
2010 Courtney Ledezma United Township
2011 Marquisha Harris Moline
2012 Shamell Mangrum Rock Island
2013 Alora Esparza United Township
2014 Anna Wetherell Alleman
2015 Izzy Anderson Alleman
2016 Shayli Florine Galesburg
2017 Brittni LaFountaine United Township
2018 Ryleigh O’Brien United Township
2019 Brandi LaFountaine United Township AND Megan Pittington Moline
2020 Keeli Frerich Geneseo
2021 Breelyn Borum Sterling
2022 Alisande Rapps Geneseo
2023 Annie Wirth Geneseo
Male Don Morris Multi-Sport
Award Winners
1984 Chuck VerSchoore Alleman
1985 Dan Smaha Moline
1986 Pryce Boeye Rock Island
1987 Jeff Skillet United Township
1988 Brian Williams United Township
1989 Chris Palmer United Township
1990 Kevin Skillet United Township
1991 Steve Wilson Rock Island
1992 Dan Knucky Alleman
1993 Amos Johnson Rock Island
1994 Al Esparza Alleman
1995 Kai Killam United Township
1996 Anthony Molina Moline
1997 Ryan Wood Alleman
1998 Patrick Hanlon Galesburg
1999 Chris Davies Moline
2000 Bryce Palar Rock Island
2001 Patrick Anders Quincy
2002 Ben Sacco United Township
2003 Dillon Smith Rock Island
2004 Alex Douglas Quincy
2005 Kevin Ryan Moline
2006 David Anderson Galesburg
2007 Stephen McGough Moline
2008 Vince Ewald Alleman
2009 Greg Whittle Galesburg
2010 Thomas Lindauer Moline
2011 Brett Busch United Township
2012 Patrick Ewald Alleman
2013 Sean Wetherell Alleman
2014 Trey Sigel Rock Island
2015 Andrew Brill Moline
2016 Kyler Yodts Alleman
2017 Alek Jacobs Rock Island
2018 Ben Ellis Rock Island
2019 Jirehl Brock Quincy
2020 Cooper Willman Sterling
2021 Jack Patting Alleman
2022 Jeremiah Morris Galesburg
2023 Kael Ryan Sterling