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 Sept. 18-23, 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, Sept. 29.
Athletes are listed alphabetically:
SUMMER BROUWER, Ludington cross country
The Orioles junior has been running solid times all season. In Saturday’s Cougar Falcon Invite at the Eagles Nest, she bettered all of her times. Brouwer took second in the Cougar Division with a personal-record time of 18:23.1. She finished behind Grand Rapids Christian’s Natalie VanOtteren (17:35.7) in the Cougar Division. Last Tuesday, Brouwer won the WMC Lakes Division jamboree at Whitehall (20:18.9).
NAVEA GAUTHIER, Shelby volleyball
Shelby hit its stride with a WMC Rivers Division sweep of host Ravenna last Tuesday and Gauthier set the tone. The 6-foot-2 junior, who is committed to Ohio State University, totaled 32 kills (on just 57 swings) to go with nine digs and five aces. On Thursday, Gauthier totaled 44 kills, 18 digs and six aces as the Tigers swept double-dual matches from Newaygo and host North Muksegon.
ANDY HERNANDEZ, Montague soccer
Hernandez had an unforgettable game in Montague’s 6-0 home victory over Manistee last Monday in WMC play. The senior netted five goals for the Wildcats, giving him a team-leading 13 on the season. Montague is facing a challenging week. The Wildcats visit Oakridge tonight, they host WMC first-place Fremont on Wednesday, and visit state-ranked Fruitport on Thursday.
BRITTA JOHNSON, Montague volleyball
The 5-foot-8 senior outside hitter provided a big lift off the bench as the Wildcats won on rival Whitehall’s court in four sets in a key WMC Lakes Division match last Tuesday. Johnson had 15 kills and 10 digs in the match. Montague went 2-1 in its own invite Saturday, when Johnson totaled 18 kills, 19 digs, and nine aces. On Friday, she also announced as homecoming queen.
SEAN PETTIS, Fremont cross country
The Packers senior continued his strong season by establishing a personal-best time of 15:24.1 in winning the Cougar Division of the Cougar Falcon Invite Saturday at South Christian Sports Park. It was the best time among any of the divisions at the meet. Pettis also took first place in the WMC Lakes Division jamboree last Tuesday at Whitehall with a time of 16:48.9.
DAVID SHILLINGER, Ludington football
The 5-foot-9, 155-pound senior was a big difference-maker for Ludington in its thrilling 34-31 road victory over Montague on the Wildcats’ homecoming night Friday. Shillinger made six receptions for 105 yards and two touchdowns, plus he ran the ball seven times for 58 yards and two more TDs. He scored the game-winning TD on a 29-yard run with 1:51 remaining.
