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.
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G.O.A.T. - Top 10 female athletes of all time at Pennfield
G.O.A.T. - Top 10 male athletes of all time at Pennfield
G.O.A.T - Top 10 female athletes of all time at St. Philip
G.O.A.T - Top 10 male athletes of all time at St. Philip
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 Harper Creek, 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 Harper Creek:
Charlie Andrews – Class of 2016
Charlie Andrews was named the Enquirer Athlete of the Year twice by the time she was a junior and might have won the award three times, if it were not for injuries her senior year. Andrews was All-City in basketball, volleyball and track and was all-state in both volleyball and track. In volleyball, she helped Harper Creek to back-to-back historic seasons, advancing to the state semifinals two years in a row. In track, she won a state title in the high jump twice and broke the school record in the 400. Upon graduation, she accepted a scholarship to run track at Michigan State University. She later went on to play volleyball at Western Michigan University.
Leigh Barea – Class of 2011
Leigh Barea made a huge impact on Harper Creek athletics in the sports of volleyball, basketball and softball. Barea received 11 varsity letters, was awarded All-City nine times, all-league eight times and was a two-time All-State selection in volleyball. A captain in all three sports, she was a member of league or district championships in all three at least once during her career. Barea went on to have a standout volleyball career at Lewis University, where she was all-conference three times and made four trips to the NCAA tournament.
Brianne Burritt – Class of 2013
A two-sport standout, Brianne Burritt played varsity all four years of high school in both basketball and softball. In basketball, Burritt was a team captain and earned team MVP honors three times. She helped her team to three league titles and two district championship crowns. She was an All-City member for four years and earned all-league three times. In softball, she was All-City and all-league all four years, helping her team to two league titles and three district championships as a two-time team captain. Burritt graduated as the school record holder in runs and stolen bases for a single season. She also holds career records in stolen bases, runs, hits and RBI. She was named Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 2013.
Kendall Latshaw – Class of 2015
A four-year varsity member in volleyball, she was the lone senior starter on Harper Creek's 2014 team that finished with a school-record 55 wins and the first state semifinal appearance in program history. She received first team All-State honors in Class B. She continued her volleyball career at Division I DePaul University. She also played No. 1 singles for the Harper Creek tennis team and was city champ her senior year.
Laurette Mallard – Class of 1983
Laurette Mallard was a two-sport standout, earning All-City and all-league honors in both basketball and track. Mallard was also all-state in track and held five school records in that sport upon graduation. Mallard went on to run track at the University of Michigan and earned all-Big Ten honors for the Wolverines.
Mary Beth Myers – Class of 1991
Mary Beth Myers was a multiple-sport standout, excelling in basketball and softball. In basketball, Myers was an All-City and all-conference selection and earned honorable mention all-state honors as she graduated as the school’s all-time leader in career points in that sport. In softball, she earned all-city, all-conference honors and was voted all-state, holding numerous school records, including career RBI, stolen bases and fielding percentage.
Payton Rice – Class of 2023
The Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 2023, Payton Rice was a three-sport standout, excelling in volleyball, basketball and soccer. A high point for Rice was helping the Beavers to the first league title in school history in soccer during her senior year, when she earned All-City honors in that sport. In volleyball, she earned all-state honors three times and was an All-City pick four times and nominated for the state's Division 2 Player of the Year award. A three-year varsity basketball player, Rice was All-City twice and academic all-conference twice. She went on to play volleyball at Albion College.
Abby Sikora – Class of 2003
Abby Sikora was a three-sport athlete at Harper Creek with much of her success coming in softball and volleyball. She went on to Adrian College and established several records while playing as a four-year starter in volleyball for the Bulldogs. Sikora was a four-year varsity player in softball, named as team captain twice and earned All-City honorable mention honors. She was also a four-year varsity player in volleyball, where she was a captain three years, All-City and all-region three years and first-team All-State as a senior.
Laurie Smith – Class of 1975
A pioneer in women's sports at Harper Creek, Smith was on the first girls basketball team at the school, and helped the Beavers to the program's first girls basketball district title. Smith held the school record for highest season scoring average with 24 points a game and was all-league and captain for two years. Smith also shined in volleyball and golf, where she earned all-league honors in both. Smith went to compete in basketball at Tarkio College and was all-league and captain for two years at the school.
Alysa Wager – Class of 2020
Alysa Wager did something that had never been done before at Harper Creek - becoming a two-time state champion in swimming in the same season. She was also a member of a district championship basketball game and was a record-breaking track standout. For all of those things, she was the Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 2020. In swimming, she won the state title in 100 breaststroke and 100 butterfly as a senior. In doing so, she set the Division 3 state meet record and a school record in the butterfly. She also set a school record in the breaststroke at the state meet. Upon graduation, she also held five other school records in swimming. In track, she was was the school record holder in the 400 and the 3,200 relay. She went on to swim at Grand Valley State University and was named captain of her squad.
Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick.
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Vote for the G.O.A.T: Who is Greatest Athlete of All Time at Harper Creek in girls sports?
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