4 months ago
KALAMAZOO, MI – High schoolhouse athletes from astir Southwest Michigan made judge to put connected a show to extremity 2025.
And that’s continued into nan caller year.
Over nan vacation break, Kalamazoo-area athletes put connected dazzling performances crossed sports specified arsenic basketball, wrestling and hockey, pinch swimming and bowling judge to beryllium successful nan operation successful nan coming weeks.
That intends it’s clip to admit each those standout athletes accordingly – pinch MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette’s first wintertime sports Athlete of nan Week canvass for nan 2025-26 season.
Fans tin cheque retired apical performances and ballot for their favourite jock until 8 a.m. connected Friday, Jan. 9.
Below are this week’s nominees.
Can’t find nan poll? Click here.
Owen Gorham, Mendon
The elder eclipsed a typical milestone successful Mendon’s 69-38 triumph complete Marcellus connected Dec. 30, reaching 1,000 points for his profession acknowledgment to his monster 24-point, 16-rebound outing. Gorham besides scored 14 points pinch 15 rebounds successful starring Mendon to a 60-58 triumph complete Galesburg-Augusta connected Friday.
Ben Johnson, Portage Central
The elder defender joined elite Portage Central institution connected Dec. 19, becoming conscionable nan 2nd subordinate successful programme history to eclipse 1,000 points successful a 75-44 triumph complete Battle Creek Lakeview. Johnson vanished pinch 11 points successful nan win.
Alexis Walther, Schoolcraft
Walther scored a game-high 19 points pinch six steals and 3 assists to lead Schoolcraft to a 53-36 triumph complete Bronson connected Friday.
Gavin Markucki, Gull Lake
The elder dropped a game-high 18 points to lead Gull Lake to a 56-47 triumph complete Oak Park connected Saturday.
Truman Brennan, Paw Paw
The elder defender had himself a stellar showing complete nan vacation break, highlighted by a 27-point outing to lead Paw Paw to a 59-57 triumph complete Grand Rapids Christian connected Dec. 22. Brennan besides scored 17 points successful a triumph complete Forest Hills Northern and 20 points successful a nonaccomplishment to Grand Rapids South Christian.
Alexis Wisniewski, Bangor
Wisniewski vanished pinch 20 points to lead Bangor to a 47-30 triumph complete Benton Harbor connected Saturday.
Donjae Gilmore-Slater, Parchment
The elder defender poured successful a game-high 29 points successful a 57-54 nonaccomplishment to Schoolcraft connected Dec. 19.
Ty’Vaughn Jackson, Kalamazoo Central
Jackson dropped a game-high 17 points to lead Kalamazoo Central to a ascendant 66-29 triumph complete Inkster American International Academy connected Dec. 27.
Noah Weaver, South Haven
The elder defender cooked for a game-high 30 points successful a 58-46 triumph complete Comstock connected Dec. 30, while besides dropped 17 points successful a 44-38 triumph complete Nappanee Northwood (IN) connected Dec. 20.
Liam Walsh, Mattawan
The elder could not beryllium stopped connected Friday, pouring successful a game-high 27 points including 4 made 3-pointers to assistance Mattawan to a 74-58 triumph complete Haslett.
Ethan Fitzpatrick, Martin
Fitzpatrick dropped a team-high 18 points pinch 5 rebounds and 3 steals to lead Martin to a 42-37 triumph complete Marcellus connected Friday.
Kylee Killeen, Gobles
The elder registered a double-double of 18 points pinch 11 rebounds to lead Gobles to a 50-40 triumph complete Holland Black River connected Dec. 19.
Ryder Gorham, Mendon
The elder earned Mendon Holiday Tournament MVP honors aft dropping a team-high 22 points pinch 9 assists and 3 steals successful starring nan Hornets to a 60-58 tourney title triumph complete Galesburg-Augusta connected Friday.
Jimmy Miller, Schoolcraft
The Wayne State perpetrate dropped 29 points successful a comeback triumph complete Parchment connected Dec. 19, followed by a monster 30-point capacity successful a triumph complete Centreville connected Dec. 23. He besides dropped 18 points successful a triumph complete Ovid-Elsie connected Saturday.
Brayden Carpenter, Three Rivers
Carpenter dropped a game-high 21 points pinch 5 assists, 4 steals and 5 rebounds to lead Three Rivers to a 69-39 triumph complete Constantine connected Saturday.
Gibson Curtis, Gobles
Curtis registered a game-high 25 points successful starring Gobles to a 59-46 triumph complete Holland Black River connected Dec. 19.
Ty Strawser, White Pigeon
The elder dropped a game-high 28 points to lead White Pigeon to a 53-43 triumph complete Hartford connected Dec. 19.
Lucy Young, Kalamazoo Hackett
The sophomore scored a game-high 22 points pinch 9 rebounds to lead Kalamazoo Hackett to a 49-29 triumph complete Lawton connected Dec. 19.
Drew Alexander, Centreville
Alexander dropped a game-high 18 points pinch 4 steals to lead Centreville to a 46-31 triumph complete Cassopolis connected Dec. 19.
Louis Smith, Three Rivers
The elder and 175-pound standout was 1 of 7 Wildcats that flexed a 5-0 grounds connected Saturday, starring Three Rivers wrestling to winning nan Three Rivers Super Duals.
Brady Penny, Kalamazoo United
Penny recorded a hattrick to lead Kalamazoo United lucky to a ascendant 8-0 triumph complete Lakeshore connected Dec. 20.
Noah Chavez, Portage United
Chavez recorded a brace of goals to lead Portage United lucky to a 6-3 triumph complete Okemos connected Dec. 19.
Bailey Allison, Lawton
Allison dropped a game-high 17 points pinch six rebounds and 5 steals to lead Lawton to a 58-28 triumph complete Watervliet connected Dec. 31.
Demetrius Bennett, Loy Norrix
Bennett scored a game-high 16 points to lead Loy Norrix to a ascendant 75-29 triumph complete Gull Lake connected Dec. 18.
Giovanni Evans, Galesburg-Augusta
Evans dropped a game-high 26 points successful Galesburg-Augusta’s 60-58 nonaccomplishment to Mendon connected Friday.
