KALAMAZOO, MI – Southwest Michigan is a hot bed for top-shelf athletes, with an abundance of standout players across a variety of sports.
But who’s the best of them all?
That’s up for you to decide, as MLive has reignited a fun and engaging competition and conversation that revolves around the best athlete in the Kalamazoo-area. For the next three weeks, fans will get to vote for their favorite athlete in different grades.
This week, it’s on to the juniors, as we recognize the top junior athletes in Southwest Michigan. Fans can vote for their favorite senior fall sports athletes through 8 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 13.
We’ve collected a list of 40 candidates and now ask for your input –– it’s up for you to decide who’s the top junior in the area.
Follow along for all the nominees below.
If you can’t find the poll, click here.
Sam Schumacher, Portage Central tennis
The three-star recruit is enjoying a sensational junior season, posting a perfect 25-0 record that features a slew of straight set victories. Schumacher is coming off an all-state sophomore campaign in which he finished as a state finalist.
Caiden Caswell, Vicksburg cross country
The junior has soared to becoming one of the top runners in Division 2 this fall, as he’s recorded six victories including a first place finish at the Bulldog Invitational (15:26.2) –– which was also a personal best.
Easton Moughton, Vicksburg football
The junior quarterback has been one of the most dangerous playmakers in the Kalamazoo-area this season and is coming off a game in which he threw four TDs and threw for nearly 300 yards in a loss to Otsego.
Dewey Young, Kalamazoo Central football
The 6-foot-5, 285-pound junior offensive lineman has become one of the most talented recruits in the state –– with Power 4 offers from programs like Ohio State, Auburn, Colorado, Boston College and Florida State. The four-star prospect is the No. 3-ranked recruit in the state and the No. 16-ranked offensive tackle in the nation for the Class of 2027.
Jakari Lipsey, Loy Norrix football
The 6-foot-5, 290-pound lineman is another one of the state’s most talented recruits for 2027 –– with offers from Kansas, Michigan, North Carolina and Auburn. Lipsey is rated as the No. 7-ranked prospect in Michigan and the No. 34-ranked offensive tackle in the nation.
Jack DeVries, Schoolcraft football
The junior quarterback has soared to a sensational heights this season, powering the Eagles to a 6-1 start and a state ranking in Division 7. DeVries threw a career-high five TDs and 316 yards in a win over Galesburg-Augusta earlier this season.
Kane Morris, Portage Northern football
The speedy junior wideout is an all-state track star and has proved his worth on the gridiron this fall –– landing his first Division-I offer from Western Michigan in recent weeks. Morris balled out for a career-high five TDs and nearly 300 all-purpose yards in a win over Mattawan earlier this year.
Libby Smith, Gobles cross country
The junior currently holds the fastest time in all of Division 4 this season (17:46.8), which she earned in a third-place finish at the Bulldog Invitational last month. Smith, who finished third at the Division 4 cross country state finals last season, has seven victories so far in 2025.
Olivia Griswold, Portage Central golf
The junior is currently the No. 10-ranked golfer in Division 1, according to iWanmaker, and boasts a 38.5 scoring average per nine holes. Griswold helped Portage Central finish sixth overall at the Division 1 state finals last season, finishing 19th individually.
Ainsley Gump, Sturgis swim
Gump is currently the No. 47-ranked swimmer in the Class of 2027, according to swimcloud, and boasts six first-place finishes this season. The junior most recently took first in the 200-yard freestyle (1:59.66) at a dual meet with Marshall.
Maya Cebula, Portage Central swim
Cebula is currently the No. 55-ranked swimmer in the Class of 2027, according to swimcloud, and has five first place finishes this season. The junior most recently won the 200-yard freestyle (2:08.84) at a dual meet with Kalamazoo Central.
Kate Colosky, Portage Central volleyball
The 6-foot junior recently committed to Division-I Long Beach State and is one of the top middle blockers in the state.
Ayla Jaeger, Plainwell golf
The junior is currently the No. 7-ranked golfer in Division 2, according to iWanamaker, and boasts a 39.2 scoring average per nine holes. Jaeger earned all-state honors last season at the Division 2 state finals, as she finished tied for ninth overall (163) and helped the Trojans also place 13th.
Ezra Smith, Allegan tennis
The No. 2 singles junior holds a 28-8 record this season and has qualified for the state finals in back-to-back seasons. Smith has won his last six matches consecutively, too.
Annika Quakenbush, Otsego golf
The junior is fresh off winning the Wolverine Conference Championship and leading the Bulldogs to back-to-back conference titles thanks to her winning score of 78. Quakenbush is currently the No. 14-ranked golfer in Division 3 with a nine-hole scoring average of 41.7.
Ryan Delp, Portage Central soccer
The junior scored a goal in Portage Central’s SMAC-clinching 2-0 victory over Loy Norrix last month and has been a key piece to the Mustangs being the top-ranked team in Division 1.
Aiden McDonald, Hartford soccer
The all-state junior defender helped the Huskies win their first-ever regional title last season and has Hartford holding a 12-7-1 recording entering this year’s postseason.
Luke Chambers, Kalamazoo Christian soccer
The junior defender earned third team all-state honors last season after helping the Comets post a 15-4-3 record. This season, Chambers is a big part of why K-Christian is state ranked in Division 4 entering the postseason.
Max Nobis, Kalamazoo Hackett soccer
The junior forward earned all-state honorable mention last season after helping the Irish win a district title and reach the Division 4 regional championship game. Nobis has helped Hackett post a 6-6-5 record this season.
Avery Williford, Paw Paw soccer
The junior midfielder is a key piece to one of Paw Paw’s best seasons in recent memory, helping the Red Wolves to a 13-5-1 record and becoming state ranked in Division 3.
Dylan Smith, Portage Northern soccer
The junior forward is one of Northern’s top goal scorers this season, scoring a goal in the Huskies’ thrilling 4-1 overtime victory over Kalamazoo Central last week.
Lillian Locker, Kalamazoo Christian golf
The junior is the No. 23-ranked golfer in Division 4 with a nine-hole scoring average of 46.4.
Dylan Hodgman, Mattawan tennis
The two-star recruit holds a 14-4 record this season and is coming off his second straight Division 2 state finalist appearance last fall. Hodgman’s prowess last season earned him a nod on the first team all-state list.
Avery Thorp, Plainwell volleyball
The 6-foot-2 middle blocker has been a dominant force for Plainwell this season, helping the Trojans to a 19-9-1 record. Thorp was also a key piece to Plainwell winning a district title last season.
Brooklynn Brassard, Mattawan volleyball
The 5-foot-9 outside hitter has powered Mattawan to a 15-11-0 record this season, flexing a 35-inch vertical at the net.
Anna Overway, Plainwell volleyball
The 5-foot-11 outside hitter has been another big-time force for Plainwell this season, helping the Trojans to a 19-9-1 record while also being a key piece to their district championship season last year.
Brynn Swetz, Vicksburg volleyball
The 6-foot middle blocker has been a big-time difference for Vicksburg this season, as she’s recorded nearly 200 kills, over 80 digs, 40-plus aces and over 30-plus blocks for a team that holds a 23-13-1 record.
Samuel Baker, Kalamazoo Central cross country
The junior currently holds the 12th-fastest time in all of Division 1 this season (15:29.6), which he earned at the Bulldog Invitational where he took fourth overall.
Christopher Vogt, Paw Paw cross country
The junior finished eighth overall in Division 2 (16:08.6) at the Bulldog Invitational last month and has top 5 finishes in all but one of his 10 races this season. Vogt won the Allegan Invitational over the weekend (16:24.5), too.
Lane Isom, Gull Lake cross country
The junior earned all-state honors for her work done as a sophomore, and has picked up where she left off including an eighth-place finish at the Bulldog Invitational (18:01.9), which was also a new personal best.
Veyda Conley, Martin cross country
The junior is a two-time all-stater and has consistently improved her times across her career, which features a new personal best fourth-place finish (19:11.6) at the 2025 Portage Invitational last weekend.
Elias Baldwin, Decatur cross country
The junior has recorded seven top 10 finishes this season, including a personal best time of 17:06.3 in a second-place finish at the Hartford Teske Invitational last month.
Maguire Bowles, Vicksburg football
The junior wideout has been one of the most dynamic wide receivers in the Wolverine Conference this season and is coming off a game in which he caught a pair of touchdown passes and finished with 140 yards on just four receptions.
Ben Coleman, Portage Central football
The junior athlete has been one of the best defensive backs in all of Southwest Michigan this season, flexing a career-high four-interception game against Battle Creek Central earlier this year –– which tied for second all-time in single-game MHSAA history.
Zeke Andrina, Otsego football
The junior athlete caught the game-winning TD pass to lift Otsego to a thrilling 32-31 victory over Vicksburg last week and has become a dynamic piece in the Bulldogs’ high-octane offense this fall.
Brody Godfrey, Constantine football
The junior running back has been a primary piece to Constantine’s 4-2 start, often leading the way in a backfield that also features Bear Geibe and Cooper McGee.
Patrick Armock, Galesburg-Augusta football
The junior quarterback has come alive this fall, throwing four TDs and nearly 250 yards in a loss to Lawton a few weeks back. Armock also threw another pair of TDs in the Rams’ win over Saugatuck in Week 6.
Wyatt Streeter, Lawton football
The junior flexed a big-time 77-yard pick-six in Lawton’s 18-14 loss to Schoolcraft in Week 6, and has been one of Lawton’s most dynamic playmakers on both sides of the ball this season.
Maddox Wyman, Climax-Scotts football
The junior quarterback scored three different ways –– a passing TD, a rushing TD and a pick-six –– in Week 5 and followed it up with 3-TD performance in Week 6. Wyman has been a versatile playmaker in helping Climax-Scotts to a 6-1 start.
Maddix Jancasz, White Pigeon football
The junior running back rushed for 135 yards and a TD, adding four tackles and an interception in White Pigeon’s win over Union City in Week 6. Jancasz has helped the Chiefs to an unbeaten start and a state ranking in Division 8.