On March 23rd, 2025, the Playhouse at White Lake was packed with energy, applause, and well-deserved recognition as we celebrated the CatchMark SportsNet – Player of the Year: Winter Edition banquet. The night was all about shining a light on the incredible student-athletes who gave it everything they had during this past winter season.
Winter sports come with their own challenges—icy road trips, long tournaments, and grueling training schedules—but through it all, these athletes showed up, stood out, and made their schools and communities proud. Sunday night was our chance to say thank you and congratulations.
This wasn’t just about stats (though there were some wild ones). It was about leadership, work ethic, and the kind of character that elevates everyone around you. Every nominee brought something special to the table, and every one of them deserved their moment in the spotlight.
Events like this don’t happen without support. A massive thank-you goes out to our sponsors: CatchMark Technologies, Busy Bee Cafe, Park Place Sports, iPrint Solutions, and Shoreline Restoration and Construction. Your commitment to supporting local sports means the world.
Who could forget, of course, a big shoutout to our CatchMark SportsNuts crew—the people behind the cameras and keyboards who tell these stories all season long. Shayla Hardy, Mia Milner, Jeff and Tanya Burel, Brent and Kara Raeth, Owen and Noah Raeth, Melissa King, Sarah Evans, Myles Welch, Matthew Zerfas, Ken Byard, Aaron Boyd, Hart Public Schools Media Class, and Jay Courtland—thank you for always showing up and capturing the moments that matter.
See your Player of the Year – Winter Edition Winners below! For the full nominees list, head here!
Competitive Cheer – Lorena Garcia – Reeths-Puffer
A leader on a young Rockets squad, Lorena helped guide her team to their third straight district title and an impressive eighth-place finish at the Division 2 State Finals.
Girls Bowling – Taylor Nutt – Ravenna
Taylor delivered a dominant season, making a deep run at states and helping Ravenna win the GMAA team title. She proved herself as one of the top bowlers in Michigan.
Boys Bowling – Derek Kern – Mona Shores
Derek rolled a perfect 300 at the MHSAA State Finals—his third career perfect game—and posted a jaw-dropping 1,320 pinfall. His season was nothing short of legendary.
Girls Wrestling – Kassie Sapp – Whitehall
Just a freshman, Kassie battled her way to the Division 1 state finals and finished as state runner-up. She’s already one of Michigan’s top competitors.
Boys Wrestling – Gavin Craner – Whitehall
Capping off a flawless 58-0 season, Gavin claimed back-to-back state titles and extended his winning streak to 110 straight matches. A true West Michigan wrestling great.
Girls Basketball – Jayna Burmeister – Shelby
The freshman phenom averaged 17.3 points and 12.4 rebounds per game, leading Shelby to a district finals appearance and making a huge impression on the court.
Boys Basketball – Camden Thompson – Whitehall
One of the most dominant players in the state, Camden averaged 24 points, 14.2 rebounds, and 6 assists per game while leading his team with relentless energy and heart.
To every nominee—thank you for your hard work, your heart, and the unforgettable moments you created this winter. You’ve made a lasting impact on your schools and your communities.
To the winners—this is your moment. Take it in, be proud, and keep pushing forward.
To the families, coaches, fans, and friends who packed the Playhouse and voted online—thank you. Your support is what makes nights like this possible.
Here’s to another great season in the books. We’ll see you again for the Spring Player of the Year Awards. Until then—stay tuned, stay connected, and stay proud of this incredible community.
Interested in more content from us? Check out our website catchmarksports.com, our Facebook page, or our YouTube page!
Disappointed
March 25, 2025 at 8:15 pm
Not understanding the voting process. I’ve been disappointed the last 2 years. Will not be participating anymore. If catchmark had the final 3 points, why doesnt the most qualified according to all your criteria win? Freshman over a qualified senior?
Conner Raeth
March 26, 2025 at 9:17 am
Hey Penny,
First, we have our panel voting. This is where we carefully consider each player, taking into account key criteria like team success, individual statistics, leadership qualities, and their overall impact. We then rank the players, with the top player receiving 3 points, the second 2 points, and the third 1 point. In this instance, the panel’s rankings were:
Clemence: 3 points
Burmeister: 2 points
Hovey: 1 point
Next, we open up the voting to the public! For every thousand votes a nominee receives, they earn one additional point. The final vote tallies were:
Burmeister: 6,024 votes (6 points)
Clemence: 4,302 votes (4 points)
Hovey: 1,290 votes (1 point)
Finally, we combine the panel points and the public vote points to determine the overall scores:
Burmeister: 8 points (2 panel + 6 popular)
Clemence: 7 points (3 panel + 4 popular)
Hovey: 2 points (1 panel + 1 popular)
That’s how we arrived at our winner, Jayna Burmeister. We hope this explanation helps clarify our process.
We value your votership and participation in this event, hope to continue to see you around our pages!