July 29, 2008

DES MOINES, Iowa - Incoming freshman outfielder Willie Argo (Davenport, Iowa) has been named the Male High School Athlete of the Year by the Des Moines Register, the newspaper announced Tuesday. It is Argo's second such honor, as he also earned the award from the Quad City Times on April 30. Argo is a member of the Fighting Illini's eight-man recruiting class of 2008.

Argo recently wrapped up his senior baseball campaign by leading Davenport Assumption High School to an Iowa Class 2A state title with a 4-2 win, the Knights' second state title in the last three years. That caps an incredible senior year in which he led Assumption to a 9-2 football record, earning Elite All-State honors as a running back when he rushed for 1,533 yards and broke Mississippi Athletic Conference career records for touchdowns (39) and points (234). He also broke the career scoring record.

In the winter, Argo posted a 43-1 wrestling record with his only loss coming in the state semifinal match before bouncing back to place third. Argo then qualified for the state track and field meet in four events, anchoring Assumption's 4x200 and 4x100 relays that placed second and third at the state meet, respectively, and finishing seventh in the 100 meters. For his efforts on the diamond, Argo was named captain of the Class 2A All-State team after driving in three runs and scoring three runs in three state tournament games.