Evan Massey is a regular contributor to WGIL. He is the former girls basketball coach at Galesburg High School, retired as one of the most successful coaches in Illinois history. He writes history features and a weekly Time Capsule column for WGIL.
The highest award given to an athlete by the Western Big 6 Conference is the Don Morris Award. The award honors an athlete who participated in multiple sports, and has received honors in the school, community, and athletics.
Each of the WB6 schools nominate a male athlete and a female athlete. The WB6 principals and athletic directors selected one female athlete and one male athlete for the honor.
In a vote of the WB6 Conference’s athletic directors, Galesburg’s Lily Furrow was selected the female winner of the Don Morris Award. Lily has had a highly successful athletic career in swimming, basketball, and track.
WATCH THE CEREMONY ON YOUTUBE:
Lily will join Galesburg’s Morning News at 8:35 a.m. Tuesday, May 19. Tune in live at 93.7 FM/1400 AM WGIL, or live-streamed at wgil.com or the WGIL app.
Galesburg High School nominated Demitrius Watson as the male athlete for the Morris Award. Watson had an outstanding career in football, basketball, and track. He participated in all three sports for four years. The WB6 ADs chose Kyle Weinzieri of Geneseo as the male winner of the Morris Award. Kyle had an outstanding career in football, wrestling, and baseball.
The Don Morris Award was first presented in 1984. Lily Furrow is the 11th GHS athlete to receive the award in the 44 years that it has been presented.
GHS Athletic Director Nick Young described the significance of the Don Morris Award, and of Lily’s achievements.
“In my opinion the significance of the Don Morris Award is huge. I think it’s the ultimate compliment in sport when a competitor, or in this case competing schools, recognize your contributions both in and out of the arena of competition.”
“Lily has excelled in both areas. She puts in a ton of work that people don’t necessarily always see. She’s constantly trying to improve herself as an athlete, all while dedicating herself in the classroom and giving what time she has left to service. Her contributions as a Silver Streak make her the ideal candidate for this award.”
Lily Furrow’s achievements
Swimming
All-Conference — 4 years
State Qualifier — 4 years
Individual Conference Champion — 8 times (plus multiple relay championships)
WB6 Swimming MVP — sophomore & junior years
Sectional Champion — 3 times
GHS Record Holder — 100 fly, 400 free relay
Team Captain
Academic All-Conference
NISCA Academic All-American
Basketball
All-Conference (Honorable Mention)
Academic All-Conference
Team Captain
Regional Champions — 2 times
Track
State Qualifier — 3 years (senior year TBD)
— Freshman year: 4×400 relay
— Sophomore year: triple jump, 300 hurdles, 4×400 relay
— Junior year: triple jump, 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 4×400 relay
State Medalist
— Sophomore: 4×400 relay, 7th
— Junior: triple jump, 8th; 4×400 relay, 5th
Academic All-Conference
Other honors & activities
Project Graduation
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
National Honor Society
Spanish National Honor Society
Principal Scholar
Future plans
Attend University of South Dakota to continue her academic and swimming career.
What her coaches say about Lily
Ray VanHootegem — Swimming
Lily has great character and work ethic. It is very rare that you have an athlete that excels in 3 sports and goes to top of the IHSA in all 3.
Lily is likely in the top 3 in the history of Galesburg High School girls swimming. She was a great teammate and one of the hardest workers in practice. She made everyone on the team feel welcome and a part of the team.
I know Lily will excel to another level in college swimming.
Jody Chapman — Track
Lily leads our team with her work ethic and determination. She demonstrates on the daily basis what it takes to be the best you can be.
She has a natural instinct on when to make moves on the track. She could probably do any event. If she was not swimming in college she could be on the track team and I would not be surprised if she finds a way to triple jump in college. She is a great example for our young athletes to follow.
Lexi Demott — Basketball
Lily is going to be successful everywhere she goes. Lily is someone who enjoys the challenges and the grind that comes with being successful. I am excited to watch her continue to excel and see what success she has at the collegiate level.
Don Morris Award
2025 winners of the Morris Award
2025 — Madison Austin, Sterling 2025 — Carson Olson, Galesburg
Galesburg’s past winners
2025 — Carson Olson — Golf, Swimming, Tennis
2022 — Jeremiah Morris — Football, Wrestling, Track
2016 — Shayli Florine — Volleyball, Basketball, Track
2013 — Travon Diggins — Football, Basketball, Track
2009 — Greg Whittle — Cross Country, Swimming, Track
2006 — David Anderson — Football, Swimming, Track
2001 — Caricia Andrews — Volleyball, Cheer, Track
1998 — Patrick Hanlon — Football, Basketball, Baseball
1993 — Ann Henderson — Volleyball, Basketball, Softball
1991 — Cammi Heimann — Volleyball, Basketball, Softball
1984 — Debbie Roberts — Volleyball, Basketball, Softball
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