Massey Basketball: Lily Furrow- 2026 WB6 Don Morris Award Winner

Monday, May 18, 2026

Lily Furrow- 2026 WB6 Don Morris Award Winner

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 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.

Galesburg HS 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 AD’s 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- 4x400 Relay

- Sophomore Year- Triple Jump, 300 Hurdles, 4x400 Relay

- Junior Year- Triple Jump, 100 Hurdles, 300 Hurdles, 4x400 Relay

State Medalist

- Sophomore- 4x400 Relay- 7th

- Junior- Triple Jump- 8th, 4x400 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.