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These athletes didn't always make the most headlines. Or get the most likes on social media. But without these diverse Illini, some of Illinois' more notable accomplishments in the 2023-24 school year would not have been possible. Editor Scott Richey presents 10 Illini who deserve more attention than they got last year:

1. The entire women’s athletics program

What Petros Kyprianou has accomplished in his two seasons leading Illinois' track and field and cross country teams is nothing short of miraculous. To say the once-dominant Illini program — especially on the women's side — has fallen on hard times would be an understatement. The resurgence this season has put Illinois on top. Literally. The Illini women were ranked the best team in the country in January (a first for the program). A Big Ten team title, several individual conference titles and even an individual NCAA championship followed.

volleyball

Chris Tamas will eventually have to come to terms with life without Terry as Illinois' first-choice offense. But that's not something the Illini volleyball coach will have to deal with for another year, as Terry has opted to spend her fifth bonus season in Champaign. (Cue: big sigh of relief at Huff Hall). Terry's accolades last season – and there were many – don't tell the whole story. Illinois would have been completely lost without her, as she accounted for nearly 40 percent of the Illini's total offense in 2023.

3. Jada Peebles | Women's basketball

Peebles' five-year career spanned the end of the Nancy Fahey era and the beginning of Shauna Green's immediate rebuild, a career that also ended abruptly for the Illini sideline player on Jan. 14 when she tore her Achilles tendon in the Illini's blowout win at Northwestern. Peebles used that difficult moment to speak about another, revealing that she attempted suicide in October 2021, a decision she made in hopes that her story and the way she embraced her faith could help others going through their own personal struggles.

4. Hunter Heck | Men's tennis

Heck had to share some of the spotlight with doubles teammate Karlis Ozolins last season, as Illinois' top duo earned All-American status for their play together. But Heck was pretty good on his own, too. The Illini senior was named to the All-Big Ten First Team for the third consecutive year, posting a 20-13 singles record to go along with his 27-9 doubles record, which he played primarily with Ozolins. Heck finished the year ranked No. 50 nationally in singles after qualifying for the NCAA Tournament in both singles and doubles.

5. Kelly Ryono | Softball

It's been a rough spring for the Illinois softball team, which finished 7-15 and ranked 12th in the Big Ten with an overall record of 21-31, difficulties that likely kept Ryono from receiving the postseason recognition she otherwise likely would have received in her fifth and final season with the Illini. The veteran outfielder was selected to the 2023 All-Big Ten Second-Team and was just as good — and in some areas, better — this spring, batting .348 with 10 home runs, 17 doubles (a career high) and 32 RBI, and posting double-digit stolen bases.

6. Sydney Stoll | Women's Swimming and Diving

Stoll had a real breakout season this year in her third season at Illinois. The Hartland, Wisconsin native may have set a program record as a sophomore in the 2022-23 season, but she broke records last winter. Stoll broke the program record in the 100-yard butterfly and 200-yard freestyle at the Big Ten Championships in February at Purdue and then picked up two more in the 50-yard butterfly and 100-yard individual medley at the CSCAA National Invitational Championship in mid-March in Ocala, Florida.

7. Kam Garrett | Men's Track and Field

Garrett was part of the influx of jumping talent for Illinois on the men's and women's track and field teams before last season. The transfer from Kansas State got off to a strong start to the indoor season, placing second in the high jump at the Big Ten Championships, tying the Illini record of 7 feet, 3 inches. Garrett was the first Illinois athlete to reach that mark since Gail Olson set it in 1979. Garrett finished third at the Big Ten outdoor championships and also qualified for the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships.

8. Lia Howard | Football

Illinois coach Janet Rayfield had a big success recruiting Hope Breslin from Massapequa, N.Y., and returned to Long Island to sign Howard. The 5-foot-11 midfielder/forward was the Illini's most improved player as a freshman in 2022 and returned last fall to lead the team in goals (five), assists (four), points (14) and game-winning goals (two) after starting 11 times in 17 games. Howard is just not a talent on the court, either. She was heard singing the national anthem before her own games as well as at an Illini men's basketball game.

9. Casey Washington | Football

Washington developed a strong relationship with quarterback Luke Altmyer as soon as the Mississippi transfer arrived on campus in early 2023. It turned out that another transfer quarterback was Washington's key to success. The Round Rock, Texas native played in 52 career games before catching his first touchdown pass from John Paddock. In Washington's final three games, he had more catches, receiving yards and touchdowns in that stretch than in his first nine games of the season combined. His success translated into an NFL draft pick.

10. Seth Coleman | Football

Given what the 6-foot-5, 230-pound outside linebacker accomplished a year earlier in his breakthrough redshirt sophomore season, expectations were high for Coleman heading into 2023. It just took a little while for the Melbourne, Florida, native to reach those expectations. Coleman was on top form by the end of the season, recording all six of his sacks last fall in the final six games of the season. A three-sack game at Maryland kicked off his strong finish, and he was named honorable mention All-Big Ten by the league's coaches and media.