With the high school sports season behind us, it’s time to look back.
This is the fifth poll in a series the Journal Star is rolling out this summer, asking readers to select various superlatives across the 2025-26 season — including top teams, coaches, plus male and female athletes.
It’s time to name the Peoria-area high school Boys Coach of the Year. Head to pjstar.com/sports to vote. The poll closes at noon Thursday. Information about the nominees is below.
If you have a nominee for next week’s Girls Coach of the Year honor, email us at sports@pjstar.com or tag us on X @pjstarsports. Last week, Morton two-sport star Claire Ceresa was named the fans’ choice for 2026 Journal Star Girls Athlete of the Year.
Tanner Benedict, El Paso-Gridley football
The Titans (12-1) made program history in 2025 under Benedict. EP-G played in its first-ever state semifinal as a consolidation, but also had its first undefeated regular season, winning the Heart of Illinois Conference-Large Division at 5-0. Despite losing to eventual state champion Wilmington in the November semifinals, El Paso-Gridley averaged 36.8 points a game, scoring 35 points or more eight times. But the Titans’ defense was extra special in giving up 11 points a game, while pitching four shutouts and 10 times allowing 15 points or less. Sophomore Cha’von Maxon (wide receiver) and junior Owen Adams (linebacker) were Journal Star All-Area selections.
Eddie Betson, Tremont baseball
Tremont (39-2) won the Class 1A state championship in convincing fashion, winning its 25th game in a row by run-ruling Putnam County in the title game. This was the first time Tremont had hoisted a baseball state championship trophy. Betson got dominant pitching from Valparisao signee Andrew Dawson and Kansas signee Chase Rhodes, while relying on a potent offense behind Dawson, Griffin Meeker and Josh Papenhause that averaged nearly 10 runs a game. During their seven-game run to the state championship, Tremont outscored its postseason opponents 61-11, including double-digit runs in three games.
Chad Clift, Washington soccer
The Panthers put together a record-setting season on the pitch. Washington finished as the Class 2A state runner-up, falling to Chicago De La Salle in penalty kicks in November. That was the first boys soccer state finals appearance for the Panthers. Clift saw his squad finish with a 29-2-1 record, coming just one win short of tying the state’s single-season win mark. John Clift’s first-half goal in the title match tied the game at 1-1. Before the title match loss, Washington had won 14 in row and had outscored opponents, 55-4. Isaac Retz was named Journal Star Player of the Year, with Hudson Scrivner, John Clift, Truman Lenover and Ollie Wettstein earning all-area honors.
Dan Garske, Washington golf
The Panthers added another state trophy to the golf case, with a Class 2A second-place finish to go with a 2012 Class 2A state third-place finish. A fifth-score tiebreaker with Normal U-High had Washington hoisting a runner-up trophy in November. Garske headed into retirement with senior Gavin Schreurs as the fourth-place overall finisher. The Bradley University signee led a group that featured junior Court Bohanan (tied for 11th), senior Dom Yocum (T31), junior Aiden Foster (T51) and Gage Garrison (T65). Washington was a regional champion and won the Mid-Illini Conference Tournament. Schreurs was named to the six-member Journal Star All-Area team.
Marvin Jordan, Manual basketball
The Rams (25-9) added another state championship to its legendary Illinois hoops status, winning the Class 2A state title in dramatic fashion in March. Manual beat No. 2 Quincy Notre Dame 60-55 to claim the program’s first title in 29 years and sixth overall. Jordan saw his team rally from down six to outscore QND 16-6 in the third quarter. Manual, which ended the season on an 11-game win streak, also brought home their ongoing, record-setting 18th state trophy in their state-best 25th state finals appearance. Josh Humbles was named the Journal Star Small-School Player of the Year along with Jaquan Brown and Reggie Postlewaite earning All-Area honors.
Olivia Morris, Eureka cross country
The Hornets ended a 22-year drought without a state championship, winning the program’s first-ever Class 1A state title and sixth overall. Eureka beat out fellow state power Elmwood/Brimfield on the historic three-mile Detweiller Park course in November. This came after Eureka was the state third-place finisher at the 2024 state finals meet. Morris saw senior Gavin Stalter (23rd) claim all-state honors, while Landon Wurmnest (45th), Davin Dingledine (52nd), Adam Perry (55th) and Timothy Rogers (60th) rounded out Eureka’s top-five finishers. Eureka won the Heart of Illinois Conference Meet, picked up a regional title and finished second at the sectional.
Matt Plummer, East Peoria baseball
The Raiders made program history in 2026. East Peoria (28-14) made a run to the Class 3A state finals, finishing as the state third-place finishers. This team joins the 1974 squad (single-class state runner-up) as the only two that brought home state trophies. Plummer utilized a strong senior lineup led by Illinois State signee and Journal Star Baseball Player of the Year RJ Duncheon, Northern Illinois commit Jackson Ahrens, Auggie Lohnes and Dalton Oakman, who was out for baseball for the first time since eighth grade. EP didn’t have an easy road to the state finals, needing to beat three Mid-Illini Conference foes in Washington (regional title), Metamora (sectional semifinal) and Dunlap (sectional final).
Sheridan Ray, Metamora track & field
The Redbirds peaked at the perfect time, winning the program’s first-ever state championship in May. Metamora (46 points) outdistanced itself from runner-up Cahokia (39 points) at the Class 2A state finals meet. Ray saw two events win state titles — the 4×200-meter relay team (1 minute, 27.08 seconds) and Zach Born in the 800-meter run (1:51.18). The Redbirds also scored points in the 4×100 relay (fourth), 100 (Jaiduan Cranford, fourth), 110 hurdles (Paul Reason, seventh), 200 (Kylan McMillen, eighth), 4×400 relay (sixth), shot put (AJ Ioerger, ninth) and discus (Ioerger, sixth). Cranford was named Journal Star Track Athlete of the Year, and Born made the All-Area team.
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Vote now for Peoria Journal Star Boys Coach of the Year for 2025-26
