BATTLE CREEK - Who is the G.O.A.T? Who is the Greatest Of All Time at each of the traditional city schools in Battle Creek? Or, to be more specific. Who is the greatest athlete of all time at each school?
Here at the Enquirer, in recent years, we have asked that question in regards to a specific sport, like the ‘Top 10’ football or volleyball players of all time at a certain school. But now, we are going beyond that. Who is the G.O.A.T in terms of an all-around athlete? These might be athletes in an individual sport that didn’t show up on our lists that included team sports like baseball and softball. These are also high school stars that might have played multiple sports. They weren’t just great in one sport, they were great at everything they did.
Who are the Battle Creek Enquirer 2024 Male and Female Athletes of the Year?
This is the ‘greatest’ of the Greatest Of All Time lists.
Candidates are graduates of the traditional Battle Creek city high schools. All shined throughout their high school careers and beyond.
We are limiting our list to the last 50 years – 1974-2024.
We will state our case for why each of the athletes belongs on the list with a short bio. Once we complete the top 10 list, in alphabetical order, it is then up to the Battle Creek area to vote for their No. 1 athlete. There will be individuals left off these lists that some of you would argue shouldn’t be. Our poll will include write-in options and it will be interesting to see who makes that list as well.
Next is Pennfield, before we head to the rest of the schools in the city – picking a ‘Top 10’ male athlete list and a ‘Top 10’ female athlete list for each.
The Greatest Of All Time Top 10 Female Athletes at Pennfield:
Emma Fishnick – Class of 2011
Emma Fishnick was the Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 2011. She was All-City and all-league in three sports – volleyball, basketball and track. In volleyball, she helped Pennfield to a league title. In basketball, she led the city in scoring as well as steals and assists. In track, she was All-City all four years of high school and qualified for the state meet in three events. She broke school records in the 300 hurdles, 400 dash and 800 relay. She went on to run track at Central Michigan University.
Amanda Fowler – Class of 2002
Amanda Fowler was a standout volleyball player, helping her team to a sparkling 68-3-1 record her senior year and a No. 2 ranking in the state, earning All-State honors. She went on to earn a scholarship in volleyball at the Division I level at Oakland University. She was also an All-City basketball player. She was named Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 2002.
Angie Glenn – Class of 1981
Angie Glenn was a three-sport standout and was part of a loaded class at Pennfield that were part of multiple state championship teams as the five starters on the basketball and volleyball teams shared the Enquirer Athlete of the Year award in 1981. Glenn graduated as the school’s all-time leader in career points in basketball and was a two-time city scoring and rebounding champ. An all-stater in basketball and volleyball. She was part of the Panthers’ 1980 state championship basketball team and the 1979 and 1981 state title volleyball team.
Brooke Hudson – Class of 1996
Booke Hudson was a standout on the Pennfield volleyball team, going on to play at West Virginia University and earning all-league honors at the college level. She was an all-state volleyball player twice that helped Pennfield to three straight city titles. Overall, she was a three-sport standout, also competing in basketball and track. In basketball, she was also All-City and graduated in the top 10 in school history in scoring and rebounding. In track, she set a school record as part of the 1,600 relay team.
Mary Kay Jenkins – Class of 1983
Mary Kay Jenkins was part of state championships teams at Pennfield in volleyball and basketball. She was a key member of the Panthers' 1980 Class C state championship basketball team as a sophomore, while also helping the volleyball team claim the 1981 Class C state titles. She was also a member of Pennfield's Class C state runner-up volleyball teams in 1982 and 1983. A three-time All-City and All-State selection, she signed to play at the University of Wisconsin. She shared the Enquirer Athlete of the Year Award in 1981.
Jill Johnson – Class of 1988
Jill Johnson was named Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 1988, sharing the honor with her teammate Stephanie Marx. Johnson was an All-City selection in three sports her senior year. She was a standout and earned all-state honors for a league championship volleyball team for Pennfield, that won 50 games and advanced to the state finals in Class C. She was a captain and standout shortstop on the softball team that set a school record for wins. Overall, she earned All-City and all-league honors in three sports as a junior and a senior in volleyball, basketball and softball.
Shelly Jones – Class of 1990
Shelly Jones was named Enquirer Athlete of the Year as a junior in 1989. During that season, she led the city in scoring in basketball and in rebounding and led the Panthers to two straight district titles and league crowns. When she graduated, she owned four school records in basketball and earned all-state honors twice. Also a standout in softball, Jones helped Pennfield to two conference championships as well, including a 26-4 record her junior year. Overall, she was a three-sport standout at Pennfield, earning a combined seven varsity letters in basketball, softball and volleyball.
Becky Neglia – Class of 1995
Becky Neglia helped Pennfield to a No. 1 ranking in volleyball her senior year as the team went 61-3-2 and won a league title. The two-time all-state honoree, she went on to play volleyball at Kent State, where she graduated among the school’s all-time career leaders in kills, and was named to that college’s Hall of Fame. Was named Enquirer Athlete of the Year as a junior, when she helped Pennfield to a city title in volleyball. Also a standout in basketball, Neglia was All-City in that sport and graduated as among the career leaders in career points and earned All-State honors.
Kaye Stevens, Pennfield – Class of 1979
Kaye Stevens helped Pennfield to a Class B state championship in volleyball in 1979. She was also a high scorer on a Pennfield district title team in basketball. She was All-City and all-conference twice in both volleyball and basketball. In track, she was all-state twice, and she won three events as a senior at the All-City track meet and set city records in the high jump, 110 hurdles and 220 hurdles. She was named Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 1979.
Julie Wogoman – Class of 1981
Julie Wogoman was part of state championship teams at Pennfield in volleyball and basketball. She was a key member of Pennfield's 1979 Class B state championship volleyball team and was the leader of the Panthers when they were Class C runner-up in 1980 and state champions in 1981. A two-time All-City selection, she finished her high school career with a 131-13 record. She committed to the University of Miami and later played at Ole Miss. She was a top scorer as well on the basketball team. Wogoman was also a four-year starter on the softball team and double-figure scorer and rebounder on the basketball squad. Overall, she was a four-sport standout, also playing softball and running track. She shared the Enquirer Athlete of the Year Award in 1981.
Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick.
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