Fall sports 2023 are well underway for West Michigan Conference student-athletes.
Time to launch the CatchMark SportsNet West Michigan Conference Player of the Week fan poll. Complete Restoration & Cleaning Services, Inc. is title sponsor for Player of the Week.
Six fall sports athletes from the conference who stood out in competitions Sept. 4-9, 2023, have been nominated by CatchMark SportsNet.
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, Sept. 15.
Athletes are listed alphabetically:
ALYSON ENNS, Hart cross country
The Pirates senior finished with the top time in the Leanna Wolf Geers Invitational Thursday at Riverside Park in Scottville. Enns’ time of 18 minutes, 56.56 seconds was 13 seconds better than runner-up Summer Brower of Ludington. The all-state performer in cross country and track also ran a strong time in Benzie Central’s Pete Moss Invite on Aug. 26, turning in an 18:55.7.
EMMA MCKINLEY, Ludington golf
The Orioles senior all-stater posted a solid score on a tough course in winning medalist honors Tuesday at a regional preview of St. Ives in Stanwood. McKinley shot a 4-over 76 to win by three strokes over Nadia Zerlaut of Grant. McKinley shot 38 on the front nine and the back nine, including a run of nine straight pars on holes 3-11. She birdied Nos. 17 and 18.
CHAZ MILLER, Fremont soccer
Miller had a big week for the Packers, who posted three shutouts and remained unbeaten on the season at 8-0-1. In a 6-0 victory Thursday at Orchard View, the senior had one goal and two assists. In 7-0 and 8-0 wins over Grant and Newaygo, respectively, in the Newaygo County Soccer Championship Saturday in Newaygo, Miller had two goals and an assist in the first game and one goal in the second game.
PAUL OLSON, Montague football
The 6-foot-2, 180-pound senior has enjoyed an explosive start to his season. In Friday’s 33-8 victory at Orchard View Friday in a West Michigan Conference Lakes Division opener, Olson converted four receptions into 179 receiving yards and two touchdowns, including an 86-yarder in the first quarter and 76-yarder in the fourth quarter. He also notched four solo tackles from his defensive back spot.
KYLE STRATTON, Whitehall football
The 5-foot-9, 175-pound senior proved a dynamic dual-threat quarterback again in Friday’s 56-28 nonleague victory over visiting Hastings. Stratton completed 12 of 16 passes for 239 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. He also ran 12 times for a game-high 136 yards and a TD. On defense, he notched two solo tackles and two assists. On one play, he longsnapped the ball and made the tackle.
MADDY VAARA, Ludington volleyball
The Orioles got on a roll last week and Vaara was a big reason why. The 6-foot outside hitter totaled three aces, 13 digs, four assists, and 29 kills in three Ludington victories Saturday at the Spring Lake Quad. In three wins Thursday at the Big Rapids Quad, Vaara finished with three aces, four digs, 27 kills, and four blocks. In a straight-set victory Tuesday vs. Manistee, she had one ace, two digs, one assist, and 18 kills.
