5 Super Athletes With Ties To Peoria

Sports have a way of teaching invaluable life lessons — building character, fostering teamwork and strengthening the bonds within a community. In the Peoria area, these values have shaped some truly remarkable athletes from different eras, whose accomplishments continue to inspire.

Patch has teamed up with T-Mobile to spotlight five standout athletes whose achievements have left a lasting mark on our community. While this list is just a snapshot, there are countless others who have helped shape the rich sports culture in our area.

1. Elle Leonard (Basketball)

Elle Leonard (née Bielfeldt) was a standout athlete at Peoria Notre Dame High School, excelling in both basketball and volleyball. In basketball, she was a 5th team all-state selection and had several all-star game appearances. While Leonard did not go on to play basketball professionally, her time at the University of Illinois led her to meet her now-husband, NBA player Meyers Leonard. She has since expanded her resume to include entrepreneur, including serving as the founder and CEO of Level Active.

2. Amanda Adkins (Swimming)

Amanda Adkins (married name: Schneider), born in Peoria, is a former elite swimmer who competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympics in the 200-meter backstroke. A state champion and NCAA All-American, she made history by winning the 200-meter backstroke at the 1997 U.S. National Championships. Adkins represented the U.S. in international competitions, including the Pan Pacific Championships and World Championships. Since then, Adkins has become a swimming coach, both at Denison University and the age-group team Pau Hana.

3. Frank Williams (Basketball)

Frank Williams is a former professional basketball player and a Peoria native who made a significant impact at both the high school and college levels. Williams led Peoria Manual High School to two state finals appearances and was named Illinois Mr. Basketball in 1998. He went on to play for the University of Illinois, earning Big Ten Player of the Year honors and leading the Illini to the NCAA Tournament's Elite 8. Williams was drafted by the New York Knicks in the 2002 NBA Draft, later playing for the Chicago Bulls before transitioning to international teams for several more years.

4. Matthew Savoie (Figure Skating)

Matthew Savoie, a Peoria native, is an influential figure in the world of competitive figure skating. Savoie’s dedication to his sport started early, with his breakthrough at the 1997 U.S. Championships where he claimed the junior gold medal. A three-time U.S. bronze medalist, Savoie represented the United States at the World Championships and the Olympics, finishing 7th in 2006. After retiring from competitive skating, Savoie transitioned into coaching and earned a law degree.

5. Vince Cicciarelli (Soccer)

Vince Cicciarelli, a former soccer player hailing from Peoria, made a name for himself during his time at the University of Notre Dame before transferring to Saint Louis University. After college, Cicciarelli was drafted by the Columbus Crew in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft but found success in the USL with Saint Louis FC. He quickly made an impact, scoring multiple goals and earning USL Player of the Week honors. In his time with Saint Louis FC, Cicciarelli continued to showcase his talents, including becoming the first player from the team to be named to the USL Team of the Week.

This content is brought to our community in partnership with T-Mobile.