The annual event celebrating the best in high school sports may not take place this season, but the Lansing State Journal will continue its tradition of recognizing top performers in every sport from past school years.
From football to volleyball, tennis to basketball, hockey to track and field, this is a look at players of the year for the 2021-22 high school sports season.
FALL
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF YEAR
East Lansing’s Matthew Zeleke
Zeleke placed 11th in the Division 1 state finals and a winner at the Greater Lansing Championships and a regional runner-up. The best-time season for seniors was 15: 24.0.
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF YEAR
Ithaca’s Lani Bloom
The Purdue signee ended her high school cross country career by capturing a Division 3 state championship. Bloom also won a regional title with TVC and had the best time at 17: 09.3.
FOOTBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF YEAR
DeWitt’s Tyler Holtz
The Brown-bound quarterback was named to the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Dream Association and is the first team of the Press Association all-state selection. On the same subject : Nine NFL players entering winning or breaking season 2022: Steelers ‘Devin Bush, Lions’ Jeff Okudah and more. Holtz helped the Panthers to a state runner-up finish in Division 3 as he threw for 2,885 yards and 41 touchdowns and ran for 875 yards and 11 scores.
FOOTBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF YEAR
Holt’s Malachi Davis
The Toledo signee repeated as the MHSFCA Dream Team selection on the defensive line and earned AP Division 1-2 team second all-state honor. Davis got 49 tackles (15 for a loss) while attracting the attention of opponents. To see also : Miami football registration: Francis Mauigoa poses for hurricane 1 OT team expect 2023 team. He had a fumble recovery for a touchdown for the CAAC Blue runner-up Rams.
GIRLS GOLFER OF YEAR
Okemos’ Allison Cui
The senior was named to the Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association Super Team. To see also : Detroit Office of Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship ADD deadline to Open Call for artist to paint Farwell Rec Center Mural. Cui finished seventh in the Division 1 state finals while helping Okemos finish third as a team.
BOYS SOCCER PLAYER OF YEAR
Okemos’ Jack Guggemos
The Michigan State signee and forward was named the state’s Mr. Soccer winner after a season in which he breaking the Okemos single season mark for goal. The Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association all-state selection team helped the Chiefs win the CAAC Blue and Gold Cup and complete a perfect season with the Division 1 state championship. The Guggemos also earned United Soccer Coaches All-American accolades.
GIRLS SWIMMER OF YEAR
Williamston’s Gwen Eisenbeis
Eisenbeis finished as a Division 3 runner-up in the 50-yard freestyle and fifth in the 100 freestyle at the state meeting. At the CAAC Red meeting, Eisenbeis won degrees in 100 backstroke and 100 freestyle and was part of a runner-up 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay that took third.
GIRLS DIVER OF YEAR
Okemos’ Caroline Li
Li is the 2nd state runner-up in diving and also won a regional title and finished as the CAAC Blue champion.
BOYS TENNIS PLAYER OF YEAR
Okemos’ Ethan Portnoy
Sophomore earned Michigan High School Tennis Coach Association first team all-state honors in Division 2. He won the regional championship and finished as the state champion in No. 1 singles.
VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF YEAR
Lakewood’s Maradith O’Gorman
The Michigan State signee was re-Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association first team all-state group selection in Division 2. O’Gorman helped the Vikings win the GLAC title and capture district and regional championships.
WINTER
BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF YEAR
Williamston’s Mason Docks
The University of Maryland Baltimore County-bound guard was named Division 2 player of the year by the Associated Press. The first all-state selection team helped Williamston to a 27-0 season that ended with his first boys basketball state title since 1940. Docks averaged 16.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.8 steals. He scored more than 1,000 points over three seasons at Williamston.
GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF YEAR
Portland’s Ashley Bower
The Wayne State signee repeated as the Associated Press first team all-state selection in Division 2 after leading the Raiders to the CAAC White, district and regional championships. Bower averaged 19.1 points, 3.2 assists, 3.3 steals and 3.0 rebounds for Portland, which spent the entire season ranked in the top 10 in Division 2. She finished her career as Portland’s career leader in points and made 3s .
BOYS BOWLER OF YEAR
Holt’s David Schaberg
Schaberg was a Michigan High School Interscholastic Bowling Coaches Association first all-state team selection group in Division 1. He was the singles CAAC runner-up, won the singles regional title and reached the quarterfinals in the MHSAA state finals. Schaberg was among 13 boy bowlers in the country to roll a 300 this season.
GIRLS BOWLER OF YEAR
Holt’s Angelita Mireles
The senior is an all-state team selection in Division 1 by the Michigan Interscholastic High School Bowling Coaches Association. Mireles finished third in regional singles and also helped the Rams win the team’s regional championship
COMPETITIVE CHEER ATHLETE OF YEAR
Lakewood’s Hokulani Ka’alakea
Ka’alakea was selected the first all-state team in Division 3 by the Competitive Cheer Coaches Association of Michigan. He is one of the key leaders for the Vikings, who reached the state finals for the first time since 2018.
GYMNAST OF YEAR
Grand Ledge’s Alaina Yaney
Junior was runner-up in Division 1 in the individual state finals and played a role in Grand Ledge finishing as a runner-up in the team state finals. He is the runner-up all in the regional meeting and got the second-highest all-around score among Division 1 competitors this season. Yaney also helped Grand Ledge win a regional degree.
HOCKEY PLAYER OF YEAR
Capital City Capitals’ Logan Dunham
Senior defense is a huge part of Capital’s success and received the South Central High School Hockey League Central first team award. He had five goals and seven assists while posting heavy minutes and helping Capitals win the regional title.
BOYS SWIMMER OF YEAR
Mason’s Liam Boomer
The senior was the state runner-up in the 100-yard butterfly and placed third in 100 backstrokes in the Division 3 state finals. He was also part of the 200 and 400 freestyle relays that finished 10th. He won 200 IM and 100 backstrokes and was part of the 200 and 400 freestyle relays at the CAAC Red meet.
BOYS DIVER OF YEAR
Haslett’s Gryffin Porter
Porter finished fourth in the Division 3 state finals, won the regional title and was the CAAC Blue diving champion.
WRESTLER OF YEAR
St. Johns’ Jacob Brya
The senior captured the third state title of his high school career, winning the 140-pound weight class in Division 2. The Northern Illinois signee finished the season unbeaten as he helped St. Louis.
SPRING
BASEBALL PLAYER OF YEAR
Olivet’s Ramsey Bousseau
The junior is the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association Division 2 all-state second team selection and is a key cog in the 31-3 season for the GLAC Eagles champions. The shortstop and pitcher hit .431 with 16 doubles and had 27 RBIs, 31 steals and scored 44 runs. On the mound, Bousseau was 10-1 with a 0.67 earned run average and struck out 101.
BOYS GOLFER OF YEAR
East Lansing’s Drew Miller
The sophomore was named to the Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association Super Team. He tied for second in the Division 1 state final and helped the Trojans place 10th as a team. Miller is a runner-up in the regional and CAAC Open and overall champion in the CAAC Blue.
BOYS LACROSSE PLAYER OF YEAR
Haslett’s Tyler Littleton
Seniors led the Vikings to the CAAC title and Division 2 regional crown. He was named the third team of all states as a striker by the Michigan High School Lacrosse Association.
GIRLS LACROSSE PLAYER OF YEAR
DeWitt’s Caleigh Randall
The senior was an all-state Division 2 first team selection by the Michigan Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association and one of the top scorers in the area. He helped the Panthers to CAAC with a regional title and a Division 2 second straight semifinal appearance.
GIRLS SOCCER PLAYER OF YEAR
Williamston’s Liz Bellinger
The senior was the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association’s Dream Team selection and received the all-state first team award in Division 3. Bellinger helped Williamston capture his first state title this spring. He finished with seven goals and 22 assistants for the CAAC Red Hornets champions.
SOFTBALL PLAYER OF YEAR
Owosso’s Macy Irelan
The Kent State signee was named Miss Softball Pitcher by the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association and the first all-state team in Division 2. Irelan went 31-7 with a 1.43 ERA and had 414 strikeouts and batted .551 with eight home runs and. 60 RBI. He helped the Trojans to share the Flint Metro League co-Stars title and the district championship.
GIRLS TENNIS PLAYER OF YEAR
Mason’s Emma Chrome
Seniors reach the No. 1 singles semifinal. Chrome 22-1 with the only loss this spring to state champion Lizzie Novak of Mattawan.
BOYS TRACK ATHLETE OF YEAR
Carson City-Crystal’s Zane Forist
Seniors have the highest scores in the state in both discus and shot put and are repeated as Division 4 state champions in both events. The Michigan signee had a throw above 67 feet, 8 inches on the shot put this spring and 200-4 on the discus. He was named Gatorade player of the year in that country.
GIRLS TRACK ATHLETE OF YEAR
Ithaca’s Lani Bloom
Senior and Purdue long distance runners have the fastest regional times at 800, 1,600 and 3,200 this spring. Bloom finished as the Division 3 state champion at 800 and 1,600. He got the best time in the season 2: 11.86 in the 800 and 4: 49.60 in the 1,600.
Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.
