BATTLE CREEK ― The B.O.B. is ready for spring sports.
The Best Of Battle Creek series in the Enquirer is being expanded this year to include the top players on girls soccer teams throughout the area.
Each week, throughout the spring, we are going to ask, “Who is the Best Of Battle Creek?” as we look at each position in girls soccer among the city/area high school teams.
Nominations for each position have come from the city/area coaches with a little information on each player. Then it will be up to the Enquirer readers to decide who is the B.O.B.
MORE: Enquirer 2026 girls soccer season outlook
Each week we will give readers choices and open our online poll for voting, with a winner decided by the following Thursday with polls closing at noon.
First up are the strikers for the city/area girls soccer teams:
Ali Bates
School: Gull Lake
Class: Senior
Why she is the best striker in the city/area: Ali Bates has established herself as one of the most complete forwards in the area, combining technical skill and relentless scoring instinct. She has seven goals and four assists so far this season. She earned all-state, all-area and all-league honors last year.
Lilamae Frank
School: Lakeview
Class: Senior
Why she is the best striker in the city/area: A captain who leads by example, Lilamae Frank is an explosive striker with raw power and speed. She has seven goals and nine assists already th is year in seven games. She earned all-state, all-area and all-league honors last year. She has committed to play at Ball State University.
Mylee Grimm
School: St. Philip/Calhoun Christian
Class: Junior
Why she is the best striker in the city/area: Mylee Grimm continues to make big impact for the program as a young junior striker, leading the team in goals scored so far this year. Last year, she finished as the team’s leading scorer with 22 goals and eight assists. Grimm earned all-area honors a year ago and is a three-year starter.
Brooklyn Hankinson
School: Harper Creek
Class: Sophomore
Why she is the best striker in the city/area: A rising prospect on a young Harper Creek team that was hit by heavy graduation losses after winning the Interstate 8 Conference and going 14-4 last year. Brooklyn Hankinson is being counted on to have a breakout sophomore season.
Victoria Murphy
School: Olivet
Class: Senior
Why she is the best striker in the city/area: A four-year starter for Olivet, Victoria Murphy has been key to the Eagles attack her entire high school career, playing both forward and midfield. She leads the team in goals this year so far with 10. Earned all-league and all-district honors last year.
Peyton Rhoades
School: Pennfield
Class: Senior
Why she is the best striker in the city/area: Splitting time between forward and midfield a year ago, Peyton Rhoades takes over as the main goal scorer for Pennfield this season and leads the Panthers in goals. She earned all-district, all-area and all-conference a year ago.
Ollie Rozell
School: Marshall
Class: Senior
Why she is the best striker in the city/area: Ollie Rozell is off to a great start to the 2026 season with eight goals and 11 assists in nine games, including two game-winning goals and four game-winning assists. She was all-conference and all-area last year as a junior.
Blanca Sanchez
School: Battle Creek Central
Class: Senior
Why she is the best striker in the city/area: According to her coach, ‘Blanca Sanchez brings relentless energy and sharp instincts to the pitch. Her work rate, competitiveness, and ability to rise in big moments make her the striker every team wishes they had leading the line.’
Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick.
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Best of Battle Creek at striker in high school girls soccer? Vote here
Reporting by Bill Broderick, Battle Creek Enquirer / Battle Creek Enquirer
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