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 basketball. 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 Male Athletes at Pennfield:
Art Clark – Class of 1993
A multiple-sport star, Art Clark shined in football, basketball and track. As an honorable mention all-state running back, he helped Pennfield to its only state title in football in 1991 as a sophomore. In his senior year, he led the Panthers to the state semifinals in football. Also an honorable mention all-stater in basketball and went on to play that sport at Kellogg Community College. He was all-state in track in the long jump, also qualifying for the state meet in the high jump. Clark was Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 1993.
Mike Clothier – Class of 1988
Mike Clothier was a three-sport standout at Pennfield, earning all-conference, All-City honors in football, wrestling and baseball. A physical offensive lineman and defensive player, he was part of undefeated 1987 football team. Clothier was also all-state in wrestling, finishing second in the state in 1988. He went on to wrestle and play football at Grand Valley State.
Scott Clothier – Class of 1992
Clothier was a three-sport standout for Pennfield, earning 10 varsity letters, playing football, baseball and wrestling. He was a member of two state championship teams with the Panthers, including the 1991 state title football squad and the 1992 state champion wrestling team. Was named All-City in football and baseball and won All-City honors in wrestling. A captain on both the football and wrestling teams, he once held the school record for most tackles on the football team.
Doug Geno – Class of 1984
A star in football and track, Doug Geno was also a standout in wrestling as an underclassman. The versatile athlete made his furthest advances in football by earning a scholarship to play that sport at Central Michigan University. Geno was all-state for a playoff football team as a two-way lineman. He went on to win the state title in the shot put as a senior at the Class C track finals. He graduated with school records in both the discus and the shot put. He was named Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 1984.
Travis May – Class of 2002
A three-sport star, Travis May earned nine varsity letters in basketball, baseball and golf. He was a member of the state semifinal baseball team as a senior and was named all-state as a senior in baseball and invited to the East/West All-Star Game. When he graduated, May held several records in baseball as both a pitcher and a hitter. He was also all-league and All-City in all three sports and advanced to the state tournament in golf. He went on to play baseball at Kellogg Community College and Western Michigan University.
Aaron Nasers – Class of 2002
Aaron Nasers won a pair of state championships in track, taking Division 3 titles in the 1,600 meters and the 800 meters as a senior. He also qualified for the state meet in the 3,200 and the 3,200 relay. He was a key performer on Pennfield’s track team that finished second in the state. In cross country, Nasers finished second in the state individually. He was also MVP of the All-City Track Meet as a senior. He earned a scholarship to compete in track and cross country at Western Michigan University. He was Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 2002.
Eric Petersen – Class of 1990
Eric Petersen was a standout in cross country, basketball and track at Pennfield. When he graduated, Petersen owned the career scoring record in basketball and single season scoring record. Was All-City three times, all-conference three times and All-State in 1990 in basketball. In track, Petersen was All-City three times, all-conference three times and finished third in the state. Was also a state qualifier in cross country.
Ryne Petersen – Class of 2021
Ryne Petersen led Pennfield to a playoff win in football, the school’s first-ever All-City title in golf and helped the Panthers reach the state finals in basketball for the first time in school history. That 2021 boys basketball team won the school’s first league title in the Interstate 8 Conference and first regional crown since 1972. Petersen graduated as the school’s all-time career scorer in basketball and was all-state. In football, he set the school record for passing yards in a single season and for touchdown passes. He was Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 2021.
Dana Sanders – Class of 1978
Dana Sanders was the first Panther to earn Enquirer Athlete of the Year honors as a standout football and track star. Only playing 14 high school varsity football games, Sanders earned all-state honors in Class B as a senior, setting a then-city record of seven touchdowns in a single game in his final outing. He also led the city in rushing and set the city record for scoring in football as a senior. In track, he was All-City champ in the 100, setting a city record in that event at the time.
Terry Tindol – Class of 1975
Playing football, basketball and track, Terry Tindol earned 10 varsity letters. He was named captain and team MVP of the football team his senior year and earned All-State honors that year, as well as All-City and all-league. He also was named all-conference and All-City in basketball two years. Tindol went on to play football at Michigan State University.
Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick.
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