After a week of incredible community support and a spring season filled with unforgettable performances, the 2025–26 CatchMark SportsNet Spring Player of the Year winners have officially been crowned.
These awards are about more than statistics. They celebrate the athletes who gave everything they had to their teams, delivered in the biggest moments, led by example, and represented their schools and communities with pride throughout the season. Across baseball, softball, girls soccer, boys golf, and boys and girls track & field, this year’s finalists showcased the very best of West Michigan high school athletics.
From state championships and record-breaking performances to conference titles, historic accomplishments, and unforgettable postseason runs, every finalist earned their place among the area’s elite. That is what makes this recognition so meaningful. Player of the Year is about honoring not only outstanding talent, but also the dedication, leadership, and impact these student-athletes had throughout the spring season.
Voting opened on June 23 and remained live for seven days, giving fans, families, coaches, teammates, and communities an opportunity to recognize these exceptional athletes. Winners were determined through a combination of panel rankings and public voting, creating a process that values both expert evaluation and the voices of the communities who supported these athletes all season long.
At the heart of it all, these awards celebrate local high school sports and the athletes who inspired their teammates, energized their communities, and created lasting memories throughout an incredible spring season..
Baseball Player of the Year
Dylan May – Ravenna
May authored one of the most dominant pitching seasons in area history while leading Ravenna to a conference championship. The senior finished a perfect 10-0 with a microscopic 0.46 ERA and 116 strikeouts, throwing eight complete-game shutouts and three no-hitters. He also rewrote the Ravenna record book, setting school records for single-season strikeouts, single-season ERA, and career strikeouts. At the plate, he remained a key contributor with a .349 batting average, 28 hits, 21 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases, making him one of the area’s premier two-way players.
Softball Player of the Year
Emily Postema – Ravenna
Postema played a pivotal role in Ravenna’s conference championship season and run to the Division 3 State Semifinals. The standout catcher produced one of the area’s most impressive offensive seasons, batting .585 with 72 hits, 74 RBIs, 14 doubles, 14 triples, four home runs, and 45 stolen bases. Behind the plate, she posted an outstanding .996 fielding percentage, providing elite defense, leadership, and consistency for one of Michigan’s top teams.
Girls Soccer Player of the Year
Monroe Wilde – Ravenna
Wilde concluded one of the most remarkable goalkeeping careers in Michigan high school history. The Ravenna senior captain surpassed 530 career saves, finishing her career fourth all-time in MHSAA history. Her ability to consistently make game-changing saves, organize the defense, and keep Ravenna competitive against top competition made her one of the state’s premier goalkeepers and a deserving Player of the Year.
Boys Golf Player of the Year
Alec Rodenbeck – Ludington
Rodenbeck led Ludington to a Lakes Division championship while establishing himself as one of the area’s most consistent golfers. He posted a 9.964 iWR, recorded 75 birdies and 359 pars, and earned multiple medalist honors throughout the season, highlighted by a 71 (-1) at the Shelby Tiger Invitational and a 34 (-2) at Oakridge. His steady play and leadership helped make Ludington one of the region’s top teams.
Girls Track & Field Player of the Year
Aurora Pelham – Ravenna
Pelham proved to be one of the area’s most versatile athletes, contributing in sprints, jumps, and relay events throughout the season. She posted personal bests of 12.42 in the 100-meter dash and 17′ 0.5″ in the long jump while helping Ravenna excel in multiple relay events. Her versatility and ability to consistently score across several disciplines made her one of the region’s most valuable competitors.
Boys Track & Field Player of the Year
Chase Lorenz – Hart
Lorenz established himself as one of West Michigan’s fastest athletes with outstanding performances in three sprint events. He recorded season-best times of 10.71 in the 100-meter dash, 21.68 in the 200-meter dash, and 49.10 in the 400-meter dash while qualifying for the Division 3 State Finals. His combination of speed, versatility, and consistency made him one of the area’s most dynamic track athletes.
Thank You
A special thank you to our presenting sponsor, CatchMark Technologies, for helping make this recognition possible and for continuing to support local high school athletics throughout West Michigan.
We also want to thank our incredible SportsNuts volunteers and contributors whose dedication throughout the season helped bring these athletes’ stories to life: Mia Milner, Brent and Kara Raeth, Owen Raeth, Noah Raeth, Melissa King, Sarah Evans, Myleigh Wright, Jay Courtland, and Bill O’Connell.
Congratulations to all of our finalists and winners on an outstanding spring season. Your hard work, perseverance, and dedication made this one of the most memorable years yet.
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