Each week, standout athletes across the area rise above the competition with performances that demand attention, and this week is no different. From dominant showings on the mound and explosive moments at the plate to record-setting speed on the track and clutch scoring on the soccer field, these nominees didn’t just have good games, they shaped outcomes and energized their teams. Player of the Week honors celebrate those difference-makers, and these athletes have earned their spot with performances that fans won’t soon forget.
Voting ends on 11 AM on Tuesday, April 21st!
Get your voting utensils out! Check out our Player of the Week Nominees!
Jayna Burmeister – Shelby Softball Burmeister delivered one of the most dominant performances of the week, leading Shelby in every phase of the game. She went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with 2 home runs and 7 RBI, powering the Tigers’ offense in a big win over Manistee. Just as impressive, she was nearly untouchable in the circle, allowing only one baserunner while striking out all 9 outs she recorded. Her complete control of the game on both sides makes her a standout Player of the Week nominee.
Chase Lorenz – Hart Boys Track Lorenz put on a show at the Hart & Sole Music Invitational, dominating the sprint events and leading Hart to a team championship. He captured first place in the 100 (11.31), 200 (23.76), and 400 (49.71), including a personal-best effort in the 400, and capped off his day by running a leg on the winning 1600 relay team (3:33.26). With four total event wins, Lorenz was the driving force behind Hart’s victory and one of the top overall performers of the meet.
Hestyn Stowe – Ludington Girls Soccer Stowe played a key role in powering Ludington’s offense during a strong stretch of games. She found the back of the net in a 2-1 win over Marshall at the Marshall Spring Sports Festival, then followed it up with a breakout performance, scoring 2 goals in a dominant 7-0 conference victory over Montague. Her ability to consistently generate scoring chances and finish plays helped fuel the Orioles’ attack and made her one of the week’s most impactful players.
Thanks so much for your comment—we really appreciate you following along!
Sometimes posts can appear at different times for viewers depending on the platform, so we don’t always have control over exactly when they’re seen.
To help clarify our schedule, the results from the previous week are shared on social media each Tuesday at 12:00 PM. Then, the new Player of the Week nominees and voting article are posted at 2:00 PM on Tuesdays, both on our website and across our social channels.
Thanks again for being engaged and taking part—we’re glad to have you following along!
Wow! Bot voting 100%. How does someone gain 1200 votes in an hour? Undermines the integrity of this process when ai techniques are applied to get votes. I feel for the other two worthy candidates.
Thank you for taking the time to comment, we really appreciate the feedback. We understand why that might seem surprising at first. It can definitely look unusual if you are just watching the numbers jump. In reality, we often see big spikes in votes when a school or community really rallies around a nominee. Once it gets shared across team chats and social media, a lot of people jump in at the same time.
Programs like Hart, for example, have built a strong culture around supporting their athletes and tend to mobilize quickly when they have a nominee.
Thank you for taking the time to comment, we really appreciate the feedback. We understand why that might seem surprising at first. It can definitely look unusual if you are just watching the numbers jump. In reality, we often see big spikes in votes when a school or community really rallies around a nominee. Once it gets shared across team chats and social media, a lot of people jump in at the same time.
Programs like Hart, for example, have built a strong culture around supporting their athletes and tend to mobilize quickly when they have a nominee.
Cathy
April 19, 2026 at 8:47 am
Why am I just now seeing this?
Kara Raeth
April 19, 2026 at 9:31 am
Thanks so much for your comment—we really appreciate you following along!
Sometimes posts can appear at different times for viewers depending on the platform, so we don’t always have control over exactly when they’re seen.
To help clarify our schedule, the results from the previous week are shared on social media each Tuesday at 12:00 PM. Then, the new Player of the Week nominees and voting article are posted at 2:00 PM on Tuesdays, both on our website and across our social channels.
Thanks again for being engaged and taking part—we’re glad to have you following along!
Dan Stone
April 21, 2026 at 8:13 am
Wow! Bot voting 100%. How does someone gain 1200 votes in an hour? Undermines the integrity of this process when ai techniques are applied to get votes. I feel for the other two worthy candidates.
Kara Raeth
April 22, 2026 at 6:50 am
Thank you for taking the time to comment, we really appreciate the feedback. We understand why that might seem surprising at first. It can definitely look unusual if you are just watching the numbers jump. In reality, we often see big spikes in votes when a school or community really rallies around a nominee. Once it gets shared across team chats and social media, a lot of people jump in at the same time.
Programs like Hart, for example, have built a strong culture around supporting their athletes and tend to mobilize quickly when they have a nominee.
John
April 21, 2026 at 12:36 pm
Great program but just don’t understand how you get over 2000 votes in a 24 period.
Kara Raeth
April 22, 2026 at 6:50 am
Thank you for taking the time to comment, we really appreciate the feedback. We understand why that might seem surprising at first. It can definitely look unusual if you are just watching the numbers jump. In reality, we often see big spikes in votes when a school or community really rallies around a nominee. Once it gets shared across team chats and social media, a lot of people jump in at the same time.
Programs like Hart, for example, have built a strong culture around supporting their athletes and tend to mobilize quickly when they have a nominee.