Athlete of the Month: Celebrating Excellence in Local Sports Teams

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Stillwater Senior Living Male Athlete Of The Month: Senior Quarterback Jesus Atilano Will Lead Granite City Into Battle This Season

9 hours ago

GRANITE CITY - Senior quarterback Jesus Atilano is entering the 2026 football season at Granite Cit...

Midwest Members Credit Union Male Athlete Of The Month: Roxana Standout Max Autery Heads To Quincy University Baseball

August 11 2026 at 11:41 AM

ROXANA - Max Autery gave Roxana baseball a steady presence behind the plate and production throughout...

Sparklight Female Athlete Of The Month: Belle Peterbaugh Caps Jersey Career With Record Sprint Season

August 7 2026 at 5:19 PM

JERSEYVILLE - Belle Peterbaugh turned her senior track season at Jersey Community High School in...

Altonized Community Federal Credit Union Male Athlete Of The Month: Aiden Roberts Emerges As Southwestern Wrestling Bright Spot

August 7 2026 at 2:53 PM

PIASA - Aiden Roberts, a Southwestern football and wrestling athlete, made significant improvement...

Eardley Agency LLC Male Athlete Of The Month: Ryan Howard Jr. Emerges As Key Redbird After Strong Winter and Summer

August 7 2026 at 10:53 AM

ALTON - Ryan Howard Jr. is expected to be a key piece for Alton High’s boys basketball program...

The Eardley Agency Female Athlete Of Month For Redbirds: Alton High’s Olivia Williams Closes Season With Key Finish

August 7 2026 at 10:15 AM

ALTON — Alton High’s Olivia Williams turned in a notable performance at the IHSA 3A sectional...

Byron, Carlson, Petri & Kalb Male Athlete Of The Month: Martin Builds Momentum With Productive Spring For Griffins

August 6 2026 at 10:40 AM

GLEN CARBON - Father McGivney Catholic sophomore right fielder Paddington Martin drew praise from...

Midwest Members Credit Union Male Athlete Of The Month: Owen Timmins Highlights Leadership and Resilience Behind Hockey Rise

August 5 2026 at 3:25 PM

EAST ALTON/WOOD RIVER - As a senior hockey player, Owen Timmins of East Alton-Wood River is recognized...

Byron, Carlson, Petri & Kalb Male Athlete Of The Month: McGivney Star Isaac Wendler Caps Standout Season With All-State Selection

August 4 2026 at 11:01 AM

GLEN CARBON - Father McGivney Catholic High School's Isaac Wendler joined Omar Avalos as Griffins...

Midwest Members Credit Union Male Athlete Of The Month: Coach Wheaton Praises Max Autery’s Leadership Behind Plate

July 30 2026 at 1:29 PM

ROXANA - Roxana head baseball coach Jerry Wheaton said Max Autery, a four-year starter for the Shells,...

BJ's Printables Female Athlete Of The Month: Knights Cross Country/Track Runner Moira Krueger Builds Momentum

July 30 2026 at 11:33 AM

EDWARDSVILLE — Moira Krueger, an incoming junior at Metro East Lutheran High School, was named...

Tucker's Automotive Repair & Tire Male Athlete Of The Month: Marquette's William Waters Shines After Dominant Tennis Run

July 30 2026 at 10:38 AM

ALTON — Marquette Catholic High School freshman William Waters is recognized as a Tucker's Automotiv...

Stillwater Senior Living Female Athlete Of Month For Granite City: Pirates' Natalie Jones Enjoys Successful SWISA Meet

July 29 2026 at 4:17 PM

EDWARDSVILLE - Natalie Jones of the Granite City Paddlers Swim Club enjoyed success in the Southwestern...

Eardley Agency Female Athlete Of The Month: Justice Haynes Was Top-Notch Sprinter/Basketball Player For Alton High Girls

July 24 2026 at 4:16 PM

ALTON - Justice Haynes played a key role for the Alton High girls track and field team during the...

Spencer Homes Male Athlete Of The Month For The Tigers: Brandon Wong Tallied More Than 100 High School Tennis Wins

July 23 2026 at 3:36 PM

EDWARDSVILLE - Brandon Wong will continue his tennis career at Illinois Wesleyan University after...

Altonized Community Federal Credit Union Male Athlete Of The Month: Kaden Matuska Develops Into Strong Hurdler, Sprinter, For Piasa Birds

July 23 2026 at 10:30 AM

PIASA - Kaden Matuska of Southwestern won Macoupin County championships in the 110-meter high...

Spencer Homes Female Athlete Of The Month For The Tigers: Roosevelt Lands Edwardsville Standout Mia Semith

July 23 2026 at 10:02 AM

EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville High School basketball player Mia Semith has signed to play at Roosevelt...

Spencer Homes Female Athlete Of The Month For Tigers: Girls Softball Player Lily Stone To Continue Athletic Career At Wabash Valley

July 22 2026 at 1:36 PM

EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville High School senior Lily Stone signed in mid-April, 2026, to play softball...

Midwest Members Credit Union Female Athlete Of The Month: Ellie Beachum Rises Among Top St. Louis Area Pitchers

July 22 2026 at 11:10 AM

WOOD RIVER - Ellie Beachum emerged as one of the top girls softball pitchers in the St. Louis region...

Altonized Community Federal Credit Union: Piasa Birds Girls Softball Leader Josie Hagen Powers Deep Regional Push

July 22 2026 at 10:45 AM

PIASA - Josie Hagen closed her senior softball season at Southwestern High School with a .467 batting...

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.