It’s time again to vote for the West Michigan Conference Player of the Week, sponsored by Complete Restoration & Cleaning Services, Inc.
The nominees have been selected and the fan poll created. We need your votes.
Six fall sports athletes from the conference who stood out in competitions Oct. 9-14, 2023, have been nominated by CatchMark SportsNet.
Time for you to vote, over and over. The poll can be found at the bottom of this story after brief capsules on the nominees. The poll closes at noon Friday, Oct. 20.
Athletes are listed alphabetically:
ADAM BAIRD, Montague football
The 5-foot-11, 170-pound senior delivered a big performance when the Wildcats needed it in their 24-22 victory over Division 6 sixth-ranked Manistee on Friday at Townsend Athletic Complex. Baird ran 30 times for 201 yards and he scored all three of Montague’s touchdowns. He also made a big play defensively, recording a sack as the Mariners were moving the ball for a potential game-winning score.
EMMALEE FOX, Holton golf
The Red Devils junior earned a berth in this Friday’s and Saturday’s Division 4 golf state finals at Bedford Valley in Battle Creek by finishing second among individual qualifiers at last Tuesday’s regional. Fox shot 104 in rainy and cold conditions in the regional at Katke Golf Course. She holds the school record for an 18-hole score with a 94 this season.
KYLER FREES, Whitehall soccer and football
The senior midfielder led a scoring explosion for Whitehall’s boys soccer team in a 9-0 mercy-rule victory over visiting Newaygo in a Division 3 district opener last Wednesday. Frees recorded a hat trick in the game’s first 25 minutes. In Whitehall’s 56-0 homecoming football win over Fremont Friday, Frees made four PATs and drove some strong kickoffs in rainy conditions.
NAVEA GAUTHIER, Shelby volleyball
The 6-foot-2 junior outside hitter and Ohio State University commit put up some big numbers as the Tigers split a pair of matches against larger schools last Thursday at Cedar Springs. Gauthier totaled 48 kills, 24 digs, seven aces, and four blocks. Shelby lost to Cedar Springs (25-22, 25-27, 15-10) and beat Ionia (26-24, 25-16, 15-6).
LUKE HALL, North Muskegon tennis
The 6-foot-4 junior overcame the disappointment of having to withdraw from last Monday’s Coastal Conference tournament because of illness and rebounded in a major way three days later. Hall captured a Division 4 regional title in No. 1 singles at Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian on Thursday, earning a berth in this Friday’s and Saturday’s state finals at Hope College.
EMMA MCKINLEY, Ludington golf
The senior earned regional medalist honors for a second straight season last Tuesday at a tough St. Ives Golf Course. McKinley’s 5-over 77 was the top score in the Division 3 regional as she led Ludington to the regional championship as a team. Ludington will compete in the Division 3 state finals this Friday and Saturday at The Meadows on the campus of Grand Valley State University.
