Athlete of the Year 2022

2021-22

ATHLETES YEAR of the

Sarah Storey, Chippewa Hills Female Athlete of the Year Kate Langworthy and Ryan Ososki are Big Rapids’ Athletes of the Year

Bryant Calderon is Evart’s Male Athlete of the Year.

Celebrating all 2021-22 Area Athletes of the Year

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TABLE of

CONTENTS Kate Langworthy, Big Rapids........................................ 4 Ryan Ososki, Big Rapids............................................... 5 Dylan Schebil, Reed City............................................... 6 Paige Lofquist, Reed City.............................................. 7 Carmelo Lindsey, Baldwin............................................. 8 Rachael Carpenter, Baldwin.......................................... 9 Hailey Wanstead, Pine River....................................... 10 Phil Rigling, Pine River............................................... 11 Bryant Calderon, Evart.............................................. 12 Skylar Baumgardner, Evart........................................ 13 Aaron Moore, Morley Stanwood.................................. 14 Braelyn Berry, Morley Stanwood................................. 15 Eme Cornelius, Crossroads Charter Academy............... 18 Luke Roman, Crossroads Charter Academy................... 19 Eli Saathoff, Chippewa Hills........................................ 20 Sarah Storey, Chippewa Hills...................................... 22

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ATHLETE OF THE YEAR | July 2022

THE ATHLETES OF THE YEAR 2021-2022, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SUCCESS!

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2022 Big Rapids

ATHLETE YEAR

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ATHLETE OF THE YEAR | July 2022

KATE LANGWORTHY

Kate Langworthy was a key part of Big Rapids’ varsity girls basketball team.

BIG RAPIDS – Kate Langworthy is getting ready to go to Northern Michigan University to join her older sister Meghan as a cross country and track and field athlete.

But she recently finished off another impressive multi-sport season at Big Rapids and was named by the school as the 2021-22 Cardinal Female Athlete of the Year. She was in four sports as a senior.

Her final season of track and field for Big Rapids was an eventful one.

Langworthy was Central State Activities Association Gold Division runner-up in the 3,200.

Her best times were 2:44.09 in the 800; 5:52.25 in the 1,600 and 13:34.29 in the 3,200.

“She’s a hard worker and staple to our team the last four years, and a great leader,” Big Rapids girls track coach Michele Selzer said. “She has led our distance crew for the last four years, and we will miss her greatly.”

Langworthy said she enjoyed watching track team Makenna

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Three-sport career for Cardinalathlete’s four-sport athlete’s wasa exceptional final Warriors season was special one

Ratio advance to the state finals She played her first season of softball with a Cardinal team which was 14-0 in the CSAA Gold and won league and district titles.

Langworthy was a returning player on the varsity girls basketball team.

She said coming into the season driving to the basket is among her strengths. Langworthy was among the returning players from the 2020-21 season. She indicated basketball, which she’s been playing since age five, was probably her favorite sport.

“Kate Langworthy has given so much to the program and it just won’t be the same without her,” Cardinal basketball coach Jessica Haist said.

Highlights from the 2021-22 hoops season for Langworthy included the team finishing second in the conference and earning Team All-State honors Other conference honors for Langworthy was being most dedicated player (2020-2021, 2021-2022), four-year award (2021-2022) BCAM Outstanding Senior student-athlete award (2021-2022) and BCAM team academic all-state (20202021, 2021-2022) “I enjoyed having one last season with the girls I’ve grown up playing with and beating Cadillac by 30 the second time we played them,” Langworthy said.

Langworthy finished her cross country high school career in November .

Her season’s best time was 21 minutes, 38.4 seconds at the Northern Michigan cross

country championship. The following week, she placed 36th in the regional but not high enough to qualify for the state finals.

“It wasn’t really what I wanted this year but was still a good season to end on,” Langworthy an all-conference and all-area performer, said. “I’m definitely disappointed I didn’t make it (to state finals) this year.

“I sprained my ankle in September, but I only missed one race because of that. I had ankle tendinitis after that. I didn’t miss anything. It was a little less training throughout the season.”

Of her four seasons, Langworthy points to her freshman season as her best.

“The team atmosphere was the best,” she said. “My time was the best too.”

Langworthy said a major highlight of the season was watching Ryan Ososki compete at the state meet.

Langworthy and her sister will be available to run a familiar race on Sept. 10 in the Ray Helsing Invitational, hosted by Ferris at Katke Golf Course. Northern Michigan has that race on its schedule this fall. Big Rapids ran the Helsing race in the high school division while the Langworthys were Cardinals.

2022 Big Rapids

ATHLETE YEAR

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Montcalm and three CSAA meets; the 1,600 runner-up at conference championships, third at the Ken Bell Invitational, and third at regionals.

In the 4x800 relay, his team was first place at the Metro Health meet and third at regionals.

In the 3,200 meters, he was all-conference, and won the Michigan Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Academic Achievement Award and was the team distance MVP. Ososki said it was especially memorable “learning how to run a better 1,600 and being undefeated for most of the season for the 4x800.”

“Ryan has been the leader of the distance runners for the past three seasons,” Big Rapids coach Mike Selzer said. “Ryan is a very dedicated runner that will be continuing his career at Ferris State next fall. Ryan is an extremely hard worker who has had many successes throughout his career, including winning the 3,200 meters at the CSAA Gold league meet and placing second in the 1,600 meters at the same meet.

“Ryan also was the leadoff leg for the 4x800m relay team that placed second at the conference meet and took first at many other invites.”

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BIG RAPIDS – Ryan Ososki won’t be going too far to extend his running career to the collegiate level.

His cross country and track and field days at Big Rapids have ended and now Ososki is getting ready to run the sport at Ferris State University. But before he graduated from BRHS, Ososki was named the 202122 Big Rapids Cardinal Male Athlete of the Year.

In his fourth year of Cardinal cross country, Ososki was captain as a senior. Highlights included being first at the Ferris State Ray Helsing Meet, 30th at the Portage Invitational and having a PR of 16:44.8 at the state finals. He was the Pioneer Male runner of the year and first-team all-conference and took the team Most Dedicated Award.

“Getting to go to the state finals for one last time will always be memorable,” he said, “along with the team and friendships I made not only this year but the past four years.”

Ososki also put in four varsity seasons of track and field including the 2020 COVID year.

Distances was his specialty.

In the 1,600, he had a personal record of 4:32 in the regional, and was first at Lakeview, Wayland, Central

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2022 Reed City

ATHLETE YEAR DYLAN SCHEBIL

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Schebil shined in football and other sports

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ATHLETE OF THE YEAR | July 2022

REED CITY – Dylan Schebil made his presence known in a major way in three sports for the Reed City Coyotes during the 2021-22 season.

Football was a major sport for Schebil, who also contributed on the track and field and basketball teams.

He was named by school officials as the 2021-22 Reed City Coyote Male Athlete of the year.

In football, Schebil made a position switch this season and liked it. Schebil was tight end this season. Last year he was an offensive tackle. He said the move was his idea.

“I wanted to catch the ball,” he said. “I like it there. The key is to go get the ball and be physical.”

When it comes to running after catching the ball, “I’m all right, I think. I want to improve on my running and blocking, everything overall,” Schebil said.

In a run-oriented offense like Reed City’s, blocking skills re-

Dylan Schebil gets ready for a Reed City track practice.

main critical.

“I think it’s been effective,” he said. “If we can block, we can run up the score.”

Schebil was confident in being able to get off his feet and sustain his block well.

With Schebil and others contributing, the Coyotes won another CSAA title.

On the defensive line, Schebil had 57 tackles including 10 tackles for a loss, three sacks and two blocked kicks. He was all-regional and all-CSAA Gold first team.

He was a third-year varsity player who performed on both sides of the ball.

In basketball, Schebil was one of only three seniors on the team.

For track and field, Schebil was a solid contributor and a team leader. He was all-CSAA and league champion in the shot put and able to PR until the end of the season. He hit his PR of 46-11 in his final meet.

2022 Reed City

ATHLETE YEAR PAIGE LOFQUIST REED CITY – Reed City sports fans have been accustomed to seeing Paige Lofquist’s presence in sports events the past four years.

It won’t be the same without her.

Lofquist was a senior standout in cross country, basketball and soccer for the Coyotes. She was named by the school as the 2021-22 Reed City Coyote Female Athlete of the Year.

Lofquist was in cross country during the fall and was a state finalist and all-conference runner.

“I enjoyed my teammates and the fun bonding experiences we had together,” Lofquist said.

It was her third year in basketball and as a point guard, she played a huge role for the Coyotes. A win over Big Rapids was a major highlight. Lofquist earned all-CSAA Gold honorable mention honors.

Lofquist and fellow Reed City graduate Racquel DuBreuil are attending Kirtland Community College to continue playing basketball

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Paige Lofquist was a familiar face for Reed City sports fans “Highlights were being named team captain and the good chemistry of our team,” said Lofquist, who earned all-league and all-district honors.

“I think we improved a lot this season from when we started and to now. We have improved a huge amount,” Lofquist said late in the season. “It’s come from working together, passing and talking.”

This was her best scoring season.

“I just stepped up more from what I did in previous years when we had other seniors doing their thing,” Lofquist said. “It takes good footwork, and good passing and focusing on where to shoot it at on goal.”

The Coyotes as a team “did pretty well together and worked well together,” she said. “We mercied Mason County Central and that was a nice win for all of us.”

The weather was tough at times this season with the cold temperatures and rainy and snowy conditions. But Lofquist was impressed with how she and her teammates were able to overcome the conditions and have a good season.

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and possibly run cross country.

“I’m excited to have this opportunity to go to a smaller school and play basketball,” Lofquist said.

Lofquist anticipates being at a guard spot. She said it’s exciting “to be able to be the first people in a new program.”

For Reed City basketball last season, Lofquist was on the Pioneer Dream Team and earned All-CSAA Gold honorable mention honors. She averaged 6.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 4.0 steals per game and had a season-high 15 points vs. White Cloud.

For soccer, Reed City finished 8-4-2 overall, 3-4-1 in the CSAA and 1-2 in the tournament.

Lofquist and DuBreuil were on the first team. Lofquist had 14 goals and six assists.

“I think we improved a lot this season from when we started and to now. We have improved a huge amount,” Lofquist said late in the season. “It’s come from working together, passing and talking.”

For the spring soccer campaign, it was Lofquist’s fourth season, minus the 2020 COVID year. She was a midfielder.

2022 Baldwin

ATHLETE YEAR of the

CARMELO LINDSEY

Lindsey expanded his talents to a third sport this season

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ATHLETE OF THE YEAR | July 2022

Carmelo Lindsey (3) was quarterback for Baldwin’s football team.

BALDWIN – He’s the Baldwin Panther Male Athlete of the Year for a second straight season, but for the first time, Carmelo Lindsey is a three-sport athlete.

He was a junior this past season and Lindsey drew Pioneer Dream Team honors in football and basketball, and for the first time, track and field.

For football, Lindsey was starting quarterback the third straight season and earned All-West Michigan D League honors.

During the basketball season when he was Pioneer Player of the Year, Lindsey hit the 1,000-point career scoring mark in Baldwin’s regular season-ending win over Bear

Lake. He was all-state honorable mention, averaging 20 points, eight rebounds, five steals and 3.5 assists per game.

Lindsey crossed the 1,000-point mark against Bear Lake.

“Carmelo got his 1,000th point on his first possession in the third quarter,” Baldwin coach JJ Eads said. “Bear Lake was very gracious in letting us celebrate his special moment. We appreciated that. He ended up with 22 points.’’

Eads admitted in Lindsey’s case, it’s unusual for a junior to be at 1,000 points.

“It’s pretty cool,” Eads said. “It’s something to get that many points this early in his career.”

SJ Hossler had 18 points, followed

by Louis Jackson with 17 and Jesse Pancio with eight.

“It was a great season considering all the seniors and transfers we lost,” Eads said.

Lindsey was a major reason behind the excellent Panther basketball season. He had a triple double vs. Brethren, with 38 points, 15 rebounds and 12 steals.

“We were down 15 points in the second quarter and he helped us come back and win a key game when we were struggling,” Eads said. “He is one of our leaders that guided us to an 18-5 record despite losing four seniors that contributed a lot and three guys that transferred.

“He has been first team all-league his freshman and sophomore year, also BCAM honorable mention as well. He was AP honorable mention last year too.”

Bob Watkins coaches both football and track and was able to convince Lindsey to come out for a spring sport. Lindsey turned out to be among the area’s best long jumpers. He was third in the Division 3 regional, missing qualification for the state meet by one place. He was fourth in the conference. His personal record was 18 feet.

Lindsey was Baldwin’s male athlete of the year as determined by school officials.

2022 Baldwin

ATHLETE YEAR of the

RACHEL CARPENTER

Carpenter excelled for Baldwin in bowling and volleyball

BALDWIN – Duane Roberts coaches both volleyball and bowling at Baldwin and had the good fortune of coaching junior Rachel Carpenter in both.

It was in bowling where Carpenter drew plenty of good fortune. She finished high enough in the regional to qualify for the state meet. It was a unique season for the 2021-22 Baldwin Panther Female Athlete of the Year.

Carpenter was one of 60 bowlers who qualified for the 2022 state finals at M-66 Bowl in Battle Creek. She needed to get into the top 16 in the qualifying round to advance to the qualifying block but was 53rd with a 766.

She bowled six games with scores of 115, 120, 145, 132, 154 and 100.

“Rachel stepped up (in volleyball) and went from being a

defensive player to actually playing all the way around and filling in for a lot of players who were out due to illness,” Roberts said.

“She started playing the middle hitter and other positions as well, including middle back. Her serves have gotten better. She had a great year.

“I am glad that she bowled and I’m waiting to see what the beginning of the year looks like.

In bowling, she went to state as finalist and was one of our first in awhile to get to state. I had other girls on the team.”

It was Carpenter’s first year of bowling.

“She took third in conference,” Roberts said. “But she took eighth in regionals to go to state.”

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2022 Pine River

ATHLETE YEAR of the

HAILEY WANSTEAD

Wanstead’s talents made Pine River a strong team in three sports

10 ATHLETE OF THE YEAR | July 2022

Hailey Wanstead (left) and Pine River teammate Madi Sparks (right) get ready for a possible rebound.

LEROY – Hailey Wanstead did basically all the right things in her career for the Pine River Bucks.

Her coaches in cross country, basketball and track and field don’t know what they will do without their graduated athlete.

Wanstead was the 2021-22 Pine River Bucks Female Athlete of the Year as determined by school officials.

Basketball was the key sport for Wanstead. Paula Justin enjoyed being Wanstead’s coach.

“Hailey was our steady the entire season,” Justin said. “She scored 20 points multiple times this season.”

Wanstead was also the team’s top scorer and rebounder and averaged 14.3 points and eight rebounds per

game.

“Hailey is a very hardworking and coachable athlete,” Justin said.

“She put a lot of personal time in (during) the offseason to improve her skills. She is also a great student and carries a 3.8 GPA.” She was named first team All-Highland Conference Wanstead recently signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Alma College.“I liked the campus and the pre-physical therapy (offering) that I wanted to study,” Wanstead said. “It was between Olivet and Alma. But I like the campus way more at Alma.”

Wanstead indicated Alma told her she would be geared toward being a shooting guard. It’s some-

what similar to the role she played at Pine River.

“This year I had to play a small forward at Pine River,” Wanstead said. “Shooting guard is definitely a better position for me.”

In cross country, Wanstead had a PR of 21 minutes, 34.3 seconds in her final race in the Division 3 regionals. In track and field, Wanstead had exceptional success in the relays. She was on the 4x400 relay team which won the Highland Conference track meet in 4:19.83.

She had a PR of 1:07.36 in the Manton Ranger Track Invitational.

2022 Pine River

ATHLETE YEAR PHIL RIGLING

Phil Rigling utilized his talents for Pine River in three sports

Phil Rigling works on an opponent during a wrestling match.

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR | July 2022 11

LEROY – Phil Rigling was a unique three-sport athlete for the Pine River Bucks during the 2021-22 season.

He was named by Pine River schools as the Bucks Male Athlete of the Year.

Rigling completed his fourth year with the Bucks in cross country during the fall season and earned Highland all-conference honors.

“I enjoyed going on long runs with my teammates,” Rigling said.

Rigling also performs in cross country and track and field for the Bucks.

He said cross country has been his favorite sport. He had a season record at the Cadillac Invitational of 18 minutes, 4.1 seconds.

It was his fourth year in wrestling. He was at 152 pounds this season. He was all-conference, and all-district champion, plus a state qualifier, academic all-state and got 100 career wins.

Rigling, at 152 pounds, had a 46-12 record. He’s a

two-time state qualifier.

He took third place at regionals and was one of eight Bucks to advance from the regionals to the state finals at Ford Field.

“I enjoyed going to the Marquette Challenge and team state finals,” he said.

Rigling was 5-0 at the Pine River Memorial Invitational and 4-0 at the Reed City Team Invitational.

“I feel it’s been a pretty good year,” he said.

Last season, Rigling went to state but didn’t place. He was hopeful of doing it this year but just fell short.

“I’ve been really good scoring points in the third period from my conditioning,” he said. “I’m been working on my neutral and getting takedowns.”

Rigling said going to the team state finals was the biggest thrill for the wrestling Bucks.

“I think we expected to go this year,” he said. “We had a lot of injuries but we all came together in the last week.”

It was his fourth year in track and field. He was in the 4x800 relay, 800 meters and 1,600 meters. He was a conference medalist in all three.

“Getting a PR in the 1,600 (4:59.87) at regionals,” was a highlight, he said.

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2022 Evart

ATHLETE YEAR of the

BRYANT CALDERON

12 ATHLETE OF THE YEAR | July 2022

Bryant Calderon (19) made his presence known on the football field for Evart.

Bryant Calderon had a strong basketball season.

Calderon was exceptional in four sports

EVART – He played four sports at Evart this past season and Bryant Calderon was a standout at each one.

For his contributions in football, basketball, baseball and track and field, Calderon was the 2021-22 Evart Wildcat Male Athlete of the year as announced by school officials.

Football was Calderon’s top sport. He rushed for nearly 800 yards and averaged 7.3 yards per carry while catching 22 passes for 486 yards for 22 yards per catch and 16 touchdowns. He was first team Highland Conference running back and first team MHFSCA Division 7 All-region as well.

He helped the football Wildcats get off to a 7-1 start and make the playoffs.

“I have definitely improved on running with reading the holes and where to cut and all that,” Calderon said.

He was also an outside linebacker for the Wildcats.

“I feel I’m pretty good in where the play is going and where I need to be,” Calderon said.

He was a standout for coach Kris Morgan’s boys basketball team.

In a loss to Lake City, Calderon had 22 points, which was one of his better evenings of the season and a season high. His previous high was 18 points.

It was his second year on the basketball varsity and he definitely had his best season.

“In the beginning of the year, I felt I was more of a leader,” Calderon said, adding that defensively “I feel it’s been going pretty

good.”

Calderon was usually assigned to guard the team’s other top guard.

“I usually try to take the ball from them, but anything that helps us stop them from scoring,” he said.

In the Highland Conference for track and field, Calderon was a league champion in the 4x200 and runner-up in long jump and 4x100. He qualified for states in the 4x200 and in the long jump.

“Baseball wise, he was a dual sport kid,” Evart baseball coach Josh Johnson said. “His primary sport was track. He played in 10 games for us. When he played for us, he was an impact. We were definitely over .500 in those games. But he was always eager to learn. Baseball was a new sport to him.

“But he absorbed everything.

I said it 100 times and I don’t know to how many people but I wish I had him for four years of baseball. He’s a super good kid and just a hard worker. I would put him in the outfield. He would make it look routine. He batted leadoff when he was with us. It’s like he’s always done it. He’s just a natural.”

2022 Evart

ATHLETE YEAR of the

SKYLAR BAUMGARDNER

Skylar Baumgardner (0) comes off the field at the state finals after making a strong defensive play for Evart.

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ATHLETE OF THE YEAR | July 2022 13

EVART – Skylar Baumgardner was extremely talented in volleyball, basketball and softball.

But it was especially one play in softball, which Evart fans will remember for a long time for the 2021-22 Evart Wildcat Female Athlete of the Year, as selected by school officials.

In the Division 3 state semifinal victory, 6-1, over Grandville Calvin Christian at Michigan State University, Baumgardner, the Wildcats’ center fielder, had a sensational leaping catch deep into center field and hung onto it after diving to the ground and robbing Laura Steenstra of an extra base hit for the final putout of the top of the third.

“I didn’t know I had it until I could see it in my glove,” Baumgardner said. “I was thinking ‘I need to catch the ball so this girl doesn’t get on base.’”

Baumgardner and her teammates would fall 3-2 to Millington in extra innings in the title game but still enjoyed an extremely memorable season.

For softball, Baumgardner was an excellent defensive center fielder with a .378 average with 34 singles, six doubles,

five triples and 27 RBIs. She was all-conference, all-district and all-regional.

The Wildcats had lost in the regional finals in 2021 and were determined to go farther this season.

Baumgardner admitted after the district championship game this was “probably” the most fun team she had performed on.

The Wildcats were 14-0 in the Highland Conference and during the playoff run, Baumgardner acknowledged her championship team lived up to its expectations.

“I just feel we’re going to go farther,” Baumgardner said.

“I felt we could be district and conference champs.”

The 2-1 win over Beaverton in the regional title game was huge and followed by 3-1 wins over Kalkaska in the quarterfinals and 6-1 in the semifinals.

While Addy Gray was an AllStater as an Evart pitcher, the Wildcat bats were explosive.

“I could hit a lot better actually,” Baumgardner said, adding after a cold April, the Wildcat bats started erupting.

Baumgardner was also firstteam all-Highland Conference for both volleyball and basketball. She averaged 13.4 points and 2.7 steals per game.

She and her sister Ryenne have committed to the Kirtland Community College basketball team. The school gave both of them scholarships, Baumgardner said.

“Volleyball and basketball have been my favorites,” Skylar said. “But softball is up there.”

Baumgardner was extremely talented in three sports

2022 Morley Stanwood

ATHLETE YEAR

14 ATHLETE OF THE YEAR | July 2022

AARON MOORE

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Aaron Moore (18) was quarterback for Morley Stanwood’s football team.

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Mohawk athlete was a true three-sport leader

MORLEY – Aaron Moore was a leader in all of his sports at Morley Stanwood.

He also was a true standout in his three sports of football, basketball and baseball.

Moore is the 2021-22 Morley Stanwood Male Mohawk of the Year as announced by school officials.

He was a standout in basketball and baseball and a major contributor in football.

For the basketball Mohawks, Moore was first-team All-CSAA Silver averaging nine points a game and totaling 64 assists, 20 rebounds and 21 steals. He shot 37 percent in twos and 35 percent in threes and 61 percent in free throws.

The Morley Stanwood senior is coming off a senior season as quarterback for the football team and his been a leader for the basketball squad, which battled around the .500 mark.

“We have to come out and play defense better and take care of the ball more,” he said during the season.

The Mohawks had some high moments during the winter.

“We beat Hesperia and Lakeview,” Moore said. “I had a pretty average season to be honest.”

Baseball has been his No. 1 love and he had an all-conference season as a pitcher-catcher-shortstop with an average of .353, 29 RBIs, pitching 64 innings with an ERA of 1.094, 112 strikeouts, and .935 fielding average.

Moore will now focus on being a pitcher at Aquinas College.

“I’ll probably primarily be a catcher and infielder there,” he said.

As a catcher and infielder, Moore has confidence in both his arm and glove to get the job done.

As a hitter at the next level, “I have to stay back on the ball and not be anxious at the plate but make sure I swing at good pitches,” he said Moore was a catcher, third baseman and pitcher for the Mohawks and his coach Vern Smith says “he’s strong at the plate.”

Moore was on the varsity roster four years including as a sophomore when the baseball season was canceled because of COVID. “Last season (2021) went pretty good,” Moore said. “I was pleasantly surprised. We had a couple of down moments when we committed a lot of errors. All in all, we played well as a team. I remember we won our Mohawk Classic.”

2022 Morley Stanwood

ATHLETE YEAR BRAELYN BERRY Braelyn Berry, is joined by her parents Tony and Cheryl and her sister Breanna, as she signs a letter to attend Grand Rapids CC to play volleyball.

Berry played four varsity seasons at Morley Stanwood. She was also on the basketball team and ran track in the spring.

In basketball, the Morley Stanwood senior and her teammates lost 36-33 to undefeated Kent City for the district title. The season ended for MS and Berry said goodbye to her prep basketball career.

But it was a strong 16-5 season for the Mohawks.

“We’ve been playing really well as a unit,” Berry said late in the season.

“We’ve lost to some tough teams but we’re still competitive.”

This was Berry’s fourth varsity season and she said it was her best one.

“I’m definitely scoring a lot more,” she said late in the season. “We’re a pretty balanced scoring team. I think this year I’ve become more confident in scoring.”

She averaged 11.8 points, 4.3 assists, 7.0 rebounds and 3.3 steals per game. She had 23 points vs. Kent City and earned all-CSAA Silver all-conference first-team honors.

For track, Berry specialized in the 100 and 200-meter dashes plus the 4x100 and 4x200 relays and placed second in the 100 and third in the 200 at the league meet, and was second at the regionals in the 100 and 200 and a state qualifier.

Braelyn Berry did it all in every sport

Congratulations Mohawks!

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR | July 2022 15

MORLEY – Braelyn Berry was a complete athlete and demonstrated this on the volleyball and basketball courts and in track and field.

She was a standout in all three sports and her senior season was especially impressive.

School officials named Berry the 2021-22 Morley Stanwood Mohawk Female Athlete of the Year.

Volleyball was a huge sport for the Mohawk All-Stater.

She is also a four-time Pioneer Dream Player of the Year. Berry last year announced where she’ll be playing collegiately: Grand Rapids Community College.

Berry signed her national letter during a signing ceremony at Morley Stanwood High School. She said she decided on GRCC in late November.

“After visiting their campus I felt I jelled well with their campus overall and their campus,” Berry said.

“GRCC allows me to play volleyball at a high level.”

Berry played an outside hitter at Morley Stanwood. As for her plans at Grand Rapids CC, “we haven’t really discussed that yet. One of my strengths is passing in the back row and serve receive.”

But Berry said she feels comfortable at performing at any position where the coaches put her.

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16 ATHLETE OF THE YEAR | July 2022

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The Evart Wildcats, 2022 Division 3 Area Team of the Year, were state runners-up in softball.

Chippewa Hills girls track team won its 19th straight girls conference title.

Kate Langworthy (left) finishes a distance race during the 2022 season.

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR | July 2022 17

Braelyn Berry contemplating next set during a volleyball match

2022 Crossroads Charter Academy of the

ATHLETE YEAR

18 ATHLETE OF THE YEAR | July 2022

EME CORNELIUS

BIG RAPIDS – Eme Cornelius didn’t seem to meet a sport she didn’t like.

The Cougar senior showed her talents in volleyball, bowling, soccer and track and field during her senior season.

She was named the 2021-22 Crossroads Charter Academy Female Athlete of the Year by the school.

Cornelius has been playing volleyball since the fifth grade. This was her first varsity season.

“It went pretty good,” Cornelius said. “We’re all trying to adjust to each other first.”

Cornelius proved to be an excellent server for the Cougars and had 11 in a late-season match against Baldwin.

“The key is taking a nice deep breath and just relaxing when you’re serving,” she said. “I try to get it more to where it’s empty looking.”

Cornelius also was strong in passing.

“The key is watching the ball when it comes to you,” she said. “You have to relax and let the ball come to you and not rush it.”

Cornelius was on the bowling team in the winter and with on soccer and track in the spring.

Volleyball was Corne-

lius’ favorite sport.

Cornelius was on the Pioneer’s all-area bowling team. She bowled a high game of 153 this season at regionals. Her high series for regular conference season was 247. She bowled an average of 118 this season.

Cornelius couldn’t have asked for a better season with Crossroads Charter Academy’s bowling team, which was a conference champ this season.

“Eme is a senior who has bowled on the CCA team for two years,” Cougars coach Rebecca Szpiech said. “Eme is our team cheerleader. She is very encouraging to all of her teammates. She bowled a high game of 153 this season at regionals. Her high series for regular conference season was 247. She bowled an average of 118 this season.”

Cornelius remembers her decision to come out for bowling two seasons ago. She had previously done some bowling on her own.

“My dad used to bowl all the time,” Cornelius said.

She indicated she was a better strike bower than with spares.

Cornelius’ high school bowling career has ended but she indicated she

Cornelius loved playing many sports at Crossroads

“definitely” would continue to play the sport on a recreational basis. The Big Rapids Bowling Center was CCA home lanes.

For soccer, Cornelius’ team was without its home field at Mitchell Creek Sports Complex for awhile because of flooding which caused damage to the facility. But they did return late season.

Cornelius said playing on the home field was so important for the Cougars.

“I’m very happy to be playing back on our field,” she said. “It’s a little different from over there.

It’s home. We’ve always been here, we’ve played here, practiced here. So, it was nice to be home even though we lost. It was better to lose at home than somewhere else.”

During the outdoor track and field season, Cornelius in the West Michigan D Conference meet had a personal best time in the 300-meter hurdles of 1:18.39. She also competed in the discus, long jump, 100 meters and 4x100 relay.

Volleyball, bowling, soccer and track were among Eme Cornelius’ sports.

2022 Crossroads Charter Academy of the

ATHLETE YEAR LUKE ROMAN

Luke Roman had a strong bowling season for Crossroads.

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR | July 2022 19

BIG RAPIDS – Luke Roman was a talented athlete at Crossroads Charter Academy during the 2021-22 season.

His sports included soccer, basketball and bowling. His school named him the 2021-22 Crossroads Charter Academy Male Athlete of the Year.

CCA, aided by Roman, competed in the West Michigan High School Conference individuals tournament in February, at the Baldwin Bowling Center and brought home several awards.

Boys team high series for the day was bowled by Roman, who rolled a 608 series.

Roman also bowled the team’s high game with a 177. In a win against Custer Mason County Eastern, Roman led the CCA boys with a series high game of 138 pins and the high series total pins of 231.

Also in a win over Baldwin, Roman had a 130. He also had high series for the boys team with a 241.

Roman set his goals high.

“I’d like to average a 178 or 180,” he said during the

season. “Spares are an important part of it. We’ve definitely improved.”

In basketball, along with Raj Singh, Roman was one of the top scorers for coach Rusty Fullerton’s boys team.

Roman was among the team’s tallest players at 6 feet, 4 inches, and worked to help the Cougars as much as possible on the boards.

“I also get back on defense well,” he said.

In a recent loss to Baldwin, Roman also hit a 3-point shot.

He definitely was not afraid to shoot them.

Having success with that shot, “is just repetition,” he said. “You need to get used to people closing in on you and getting comfortable with your shot.”

Singh had 32 points in one game for Crossroads while Roman had 17, including a triple.

The Cougars were very young and struggled for wins.

“The key is just improving,” Roman said during the season.

“As long as we improve...we have a very young team. So it’s not like we’re expecting much.

We’re looking to improve this next generation of our team.

Five of our guys are freshmen.”

To top it off during the 202122 season, Roman was the homecoming king while Jessica Cole was the queen.

Roman posted memorable season at Crossroads

2022 Chippewa Hills

ATHLETE YEAR ELI SAATHOFF

REMUS – Eli Saathoff had quite a senior sports season for the Chippewa Hills Warriors.

With that in mind, it seems only appropriate the school name him the 2021-22 Warrior Male Athlete of the Year.

Saathoff played football and basketball for coach Mark Pelong in both sports. He played baseball for coach Ben Wright.

“Eli Saathoff is a tremendous young man with an incredible future,” Wright said. “This was the first year that he decided to

play baseball and he played a key role in our successes. I’m not a stat kind of coach, and what Eli brought to the team each day cannot be measured. He has an infectious smile, incredible drive and the desire to see everyone around him succeed.

“Having not played baseball for a period of time, he knew he would struggle to start. But his work ethic and ability to be coachable are as good as I’ve ever had...and I’ve done this a long time. He was and will continue to be a benefit to

of the

Chippewa senior Three-sport athlete’sHills career for made unique contributions Warriors was exceptional to three teams

any team he is a part of.”

Saathoff was a placekicker and linebacker in football. He booted three extra points. He usually executed the squib kickoff.

This was his first year as a kicker.

“I’ve had a long background in soccer, so kicking has always come natural to me,” Saathoff said.

He played one year of soccer at Chippewa Hills plus six seasons with the American Youth Soccer Organization.

“It’s probably more difficult to

kick a football,” Saathoff said.

“It depends on where you hit the ball.”

He spent plenty of time working on his placekicking.

Saathoff played four years of basketball including two on varsity. He usually played forward.

This was his first baseball season and his first time in a spring sport.

“I had a few friends playing and my brother (Gage) wanted me to come out,” Saathoff said. “It was really fun, actually.”

He played right field for

Eli Saathoff inbounds a pass for Chippewa Hills at Little Caesar’s Arena during the basketball season.

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Saathoff will miss Chippewa Hills athletics.

“It was an enjoyable four years,” he said.

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the Warriors.

Saathoff’s favorite sport was basketball, he said.

Looking ahead, Saathoff will attend Olivet College and will continue to be a kicker for football.

He went there for academics but

2022 Chippewa Hills

ATHLETE YEAR SARAH STOREY

22 ATHLETE OF THE YEAR | July 2022

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Three-sport athlete’s career for Sarah was quite the Storey Warriorsatwas exceptional Chippewa Hills

REMUS – Sarah Storey ended a glittering four-year running career at Chippewa Hills in impressive style.

The Warriors sent two runners to the state track and field finals including Storey who went in the 1,600 run, where she would place 18th with a time of 5:19.68. Storey also won four events in the conference championship, winning the 400-, 800-, and 1600-meter runs, while also winning in the 4x400 relay.

She ends her career being named All-State for both cross country and track and field, Academic All-State, All Region/State Qualifier, and first team all-conference in track and field alongside cross country.

“Her drive, work ethic, and composure will lead her to impressive things beyond the scope of high school athletics. We will miss her and look forward to seeing what she accomplishes,” Warrior coach Zach Hatfield said.

Storey was named by Chippewa Hills as its 2021-22 Warrior Female Athlete of the Year.

She played a huge role in the

team’s drive to Chippewa Hills’ 19th straight conference championship in track and field.

Storey has announced she will be running at Central Michigan University. She said she’ll get some scholarship money. Earlier this year, she signed a letter of intent with the Chippewas.

“It just felt like home,” she said.

“The coaches are super great over there.”

She will do both cross and track at the Division I school.

College track is “something I’ve been working at,” Storey said.

She also thought about Michigan State and Grand Valley a little bit.

“But Central was definitely my choice,” Storey said, adding she’s looking forward to reuniting at Central Michigan with a former Chippewa Hills standout, Natalie Newcombe.

Hatfield has coached Storey in both cross country and track and field.

“Outside of being one of the best distance runners in the state and the best in our area, she is one of our best runners of all time,” Hatfield said. “However these athletic

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accomplishments pale in comparison to the mark she has left on the sport and the young athletes behind her. Sarah is everything you ask for in the best students and athletes.”

“I think it’s all about the team,” Storey said of Chippewa Hills’ team success. “They just make it happen. I definitely think our team is smaller than we’ve been in the past. But we definitely have the quality.”

To qualify for the state meet in the 1,600, she took third at the regionals with a qualifying time of 5:16.61.

“This season has been a good experience overall,” she said.

The 4x400 relay was a great experience for Storey and her best relay, she added.

Sarah Storey of Chippewa Hills relaxes after a cross country meet.

Sarah Storey was a major force for Chippewa Hills the last four seasons in the relay races.

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