It’s Week 7 of the CatchMark SportsNet West Michigan Conference Player of the Week fan poll for 2023 spring sports.
Six spring sports athletes from the conference who stood out in competitions May 15-20 have been nominated by the CatchMark SportsNet team.
Time to get voting.
The poll can be found at the bottom of this story after brief capsules on the nominees. The poll closes at noon Friday, May 26.
Athletes are listed alphabetically:
ISAIAH ATCHISON, Montague track and field
The Wildcats junior may not look like your prototypical sprinter based on the fact that he’s 6-foot-8, but he sure covers ground in a hurry. Atchison had a big day Saturday in helping Montague capture its first boys regional track title since 1962. He won the 100-meter dash in a personal-best 11.08 seconds and took third in the 200 with a PR of 23.00. Atchison also ran anchor legs on the Wildcats’ winning 4×100 relay (45.15) and 4×200 relay (1:32.88).
TRANNON AYLOR, Whitehall track and field
The junior appears to be peaking at the right time. In Thursday’s Division 2 regional at Allendale, Aylor established a personal-best time in winning the 400-meter dash (48.97 seconds). He’ll be the No. 1 seed in that event at the MHSAA state meet June 3 at Forest Hills Eastern. At the regional, Aylor placed fifth in the 200 (23.10 PR) and he ran legs on the first-place 4×200 relay (1:29.24) and second-place 4×400 relay (3:23.45).
EMMA GILLARD, Ravenna softball
The versatile Bulldogs senior has continued her magical season. In Game 1 of a nonleague sweep at Newaygo Friday, Gillard went 3-for-3 with two home runs. In Game 2, she tossed a one-hitter with 11 strikeouts. In three games during the Blue Chip Best of Michigan showcase Saturday, Gillard went 8-for-12 with three doubles, a triple and a home run against top-notch competition. Entering this week, Gillard was batting .673 with 12 home runs and 57 RBIs to go with her 12-2 pitching record.
JESSICA JAZWINSKI, Hart track and field
The Pirates sophomore swept the 800, 1600 and 3200 and she anchored the winning 4×800-meter relay as well in leading her team to a Division 3 regional title Saturday at Manton. Jazwinski took first in the 800 run (2:19.96), she cruised to the win in the 1600 (5:01.28) and she motored to victory in the 3200 (11:22.16). Earlier in the regional meet, Jazwinski helped Hart run away with first place in the 4×800 relay (10:06.51).
SAM JOHNSON, North Muskegon soccer
The senior enjoyed a big week for the Norse, who put the finishing touches on their unbeaten West Michigan Conference season. Johnson started her week by scoring a goal in North Muskegon’s 5-0 win over Shelby. She continued her strong play with two goals and an assist in a 3-0 victory over Ludington Thursday in the CatchMark SportsNet WMC Game of the Week. Johnson capped her week with one goal and one assist in a 4-0 win over Orchard View.
EVAN MILLER, Oakridge baseball
The sophomore catcher had a nice week at the plate for the Eagles. In Tuesday’s 9-2 and 8-3 sweep of Sparta, Miller doubled and tripled in the first game and he scored three runs in the second game. During 5-4 and 2-1 losses to North Muskegon in the “Friday Night Lights” series at Marsh Field, he tripled, scored two runs and had an RBI in Game 1 and tripled with an RBI in Game 2.
