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.

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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

  • 2024 Clair Hulke Alleman

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

  • 2024 Lucas Austin Sterling AND A.J. Weller Geneseo