Galesburg Football Honors Aremu, Hickey as MVPs
The Silver Streaks celebrated their 4-6 season and first IHSA playoff trip since 2016 at a postseason banquet.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Football
Galesburg High School football held its postseason banquet on November 8, 2026, at The Vault at Reserve Artisan Ales, where Prosper Aremu and Grady Hickey shared Most Valuable Player honors. The team finished 4-6 after a 28-20 opening-round playoff loss to LaSalle-Peru.
Why it matters
The Silver Streaks reached the IHSA playoffs for the first time since 2016, marking a notable return to postseason competition for the program. The banquet recognized individual honors and academic achievement as the team looks toward future seasons.
The Silver Streaks finished the regular season 4-6, and their 28-20 loss to LaSalle-Peru ended their first playoff run since 2016. The source does not indicate the program's outlook for the coming season.
The players
Shawn Hickey
Shawn Hickey is the head coach of the Galesburg High School football program, who credited the seniors for building a foundation of investing in one another and the community.
Galesburg Silver Streaks
The Galesburg Silver Streaks are the football team of Galesburg High School, which competes in Illinois high school athletics under the Illinois High School Association.
The details
Head coach Shawn Hickey credited the seniors with building a foundation of investing in each other and in the community. Coaches also presented Coaches Performance Awards and Coaches Character Awards, while Antwon Walker, Derrick Curtis, Markus Duckwiler and Kevin Phillips received offensive, defensive, lineman and Iron Man honors.
Timeline
- 2016: Galesburg last previously reached the IHSA football playoffs.
- November 8, 2026: Galesburg football held its postseason banquet.
Season Trajectory
The Silver Streaks' first IHSA playoff appearance since 2016 breaks a long postseason drought and gives the program a benchmark for future seasons. Their 4-6 regular-season mark and opening-round exit place the team in the middle tier of its conference landscape.
The Silver Streaks' return to the IHSA playoffs for the first time since 2016 shows the program reaching postseason competition again after several years away. Fans following Galesburg football can look to the 2016 appearance as the most recent postseason benchmark for the team.
The takeaway
Recognizing both individual honors and academic achievement reflects the program's emphasis on community and character alongside athletic results. Looking back at the 2016 playoff season offers a useful reference point for tracking the program's progress.
Further reading
Explore more Galesburg football coverage for context on the Silver Streaks' season.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WGIL 93.7 FM - 1400 AM.
