BATTLE CREEK – It is America’s 250th birthday this year. That gives us a good reason to come up with the 250 best high school athletes ever in Battle Creek. Have high school sports been around in Battle Creek since 1776? Well, no. But there have been 250 athletes who have shined in the city since high school sports did begin and the Enquirer will take this opportunity to come up with a list worthy of this banner year.
The Battle Creek Enquirer combined with other USA Today Network newspapers recently to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States with the top 250 athletes from around the state. You can see that list here, broken down by regions.
But, this is Battle Creek’s 250. We are showcasing the greatest athletes of the ‘last 250 years’ at each school in the city of Battle Creek.
So join us for this 10-part series with each chapter focusing on the top 25 male or female athletes at each of the five current traditional core city schools. Each list will be in alphabetical order, with Enquirer Readers getting to choose who should be No. 1.
VOTE: Who is the No. 1 girl from Battle Creek Central on the Battle Creek 250?
When we are done with all five schools, we will have Battle Creek’s 250.
MORE:
Battle Creek’s 250: Lakeview boys
Battle Creek’s 250: Lakeview girls
Battle Creek’s 250: Harper Creek girls
Battle Creek’s 250: Harper Creek boys
Battle Creek’s 250: Pennfield boys
Battle Creek’s 250: Pennfield girls
Battle Creek’s 250: St. Philip boys
Battle Creek’s 250: St. Philip girls
Top 25 Female Athletes at Battle Creek Central for the Battle Creek 250:
(Alphabetical order)
Veronica Armstrong – Class of 2004
A top performer in both basketball and volleyball, Veronica Armstrong used her 6-foot-1 frame to dominate in those sports. A four-year starter in basketball, she earned all-city honors for an impressive 16-5 Bearcats team her senior year. A four-year starter in volleyball as well, she was an all-city pick in that sport and went on to play collegiately at Michigan Tech University, where she was a three-time All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection and ranks in the top 10 for the Huskies in career kills with 1,132 over four seasons.
Jaime Brubaker – Class of 2003
A swimmer and softball, Jaime Brubaker was a multiple-sport standout at BCC. A three-year varsity member, she played first base and pitcher as a junior in softball, hitting .319 with 20 RBIs on a 17-win Bearcat team. As a senior in 2003, she was the ace of the most successful team in program history with a 23-16 record. Offensively, she hit .308 with 20 RBIs. In the circle, she set the program benchmark with a 0.42 ERA over 79 innings pitched, including a pair of no-hitters while earning Academic All-State status. She would go on to be on on the women’s swim team at Olivet College.
LaChel Burton – Class of 1979
The 5-foot-6 guard was a part of a 27-game winning streak between 1977-78, and as a senior averaged 9.6 points along with a city-best 5.4 assists and 2.9 steals per game. That year, she helped Battle Creek Central to a 19-2 season. Her two free throws sealed a 45-42 win over Loy Norrix in the Class A district championship – the first district title in program history. She went on to play collegiately at Division II Alabama A&M.
Lauren Frost – Class of 2004
A three-time all-city selection, Lauren Frost is among the most productive middle hitters in Battle Creek history, graduating with the record for kills and blocks. As a senior, she finished with a school single-season record 721 kills while guiding the Bearcats to a 54-17 record, matching the program benchmark for wins in a season. She went on to help Kellogg Community College win division, conference, state and regional titles before completing her collegiate career at Wayne State University.
Katrina Garfield – Class of 1996
Katrina Garfield only played two seasons of softball at Battle Creek Central, which also coincided with the two most successful seasons the program had ever had up until that point. Garfield pitched and played infield as a freshman on the 1993 Bearcat team that won nine games. The volleyball standout returned to the diamond as a senior shortstop, guiding Battle Creek Central to a then-school record 12 wins with a team-best .419 batting average along with five triples, one home run and 18 RBIs. She continued her softball career by playing two seasons at Kellogg Community College.
Kim Garrison – Class of 1996
Kim Garrison broke out in a big way with a senior season that ranks as one of the best in Bearcats’ history, graduating with the record for points in a game. Her 358 points for the 1995 season also set a school record. She also led the city in assists with 5.7 per game, and was stellar defensively with 3.9 steals per game, helping her earn Class A honorable mention All-State status. She continued her career at Kellogg Community College, where she also played softball. On the hardwood, she helped the Lady Bruins to a No. 4 national ranking, its first ever Michigan Community College Athletic Association West Division championship and an MCCAA State Tournament title. In softball at KCC, she was an NJCAA Division II All-American after posting a .570 batting average for the Lady Bruins.
Kayla Freeman – Class of 2013
A three-time all-city selection, Freeman was the senior centerpiece on a 6-13 team her final year with the Bearcats. The do-everything forward/guard also earned all-league honors as she averaged a double-double with 14.2 points per game and 11.2 rebounds and she finished with nearly 750 points in her career, earning All-State honorable mention honors as a senior. Freeman went on to play at Kellogg Community College and Trine University.
Carolayne ‘Cookie’ Henry – Class of 1982
A star in basketball and track, Carolayne ‘Cookie’ Henry was named Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 1982. Henry led the city in scoring and rebounding her senior year with 15 points per game and 15 rebounds. The all-city pick in basketball, Henry earned a scholarship to play women’s basketball at the University of Michigan. Henry was also named Most Outstanding Performer at the All-City Track Meet her senior year, winning the 100 and the 220, while also being on two first-place relay teams. She qualified for the state meet in track in the 800 relay.
A’Mya Hodges – Class of 2025
A 1,000-point scorer in basketball, A’Mya Hodges was a four-year standout for Battle Creek Central. Often the main focus of the defense on young Bearcat teams, Hodges could score from outside on the drive as a four-time all-city pick and all-league selection. Hodges was also a star sprinter for the BCC girls track team and all-city performer on several relay teams.
Becky Horn – Class of 2004
A star in basketball as an all-city selection, Becky Horn became one of the best in the country in track at the collegiate level. She won two state titles in track at BCC. She went on to become a Hall of Famer at Western Michigan University in track, as she won eight individual Mid-American Conference titles and was a nine-time MAC champion in the 1,600-meter relay and 400 relay. She is the program’s only three-time All-American and finished third in the 800 run at the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Following her career for the Broncos, she advanced to the 800 finals at the 2008 United States Olympic Trials.
Madisonn Jackson – Class of 2015
One of the top volleyball players at Battle Creek Central, Madisonn Jackson was also an all-city basketball player. Jackson was a two-time all-city pick in volleyball and two-time captain, showing the ability to lead the team in kills, blocks and digs. In basketball, the 5-foot, 9-inch forward could score from outside and in the pain, picked as captain for that team as well.
Shavena Jamierson – Class of 1987
Named the Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 1987, Shavena Jamierson was a two-sport standout at Battle Creek Central, starring in track and basketball. The top city basketball player in her senior year, averaging a double-doubles and helped the Bearcats to a district title. She went on to secure a scholarship to play basketball at Virginia Tech. In track, she was named Most Outstanding Performer at the All-City Track Meet her senior year after winning the city title in the 110 and 330 hurdles three straight years and was part of two regional championship teams.
Lisa Larsen – Class of 1979
Lisa Larsen was an elite distance runner who became an All-American at the University of Michigan and made history by winning the Boston Marathon. She was also an Olympic qualifier in swimming and an Olympic Team alternate in track and later became a professional triathlete as well as being inducted in the Hall of Honor at the University of Michigan. In high school, she set a city record in the 800 and the mile in track and was all-state in swimming in the 200 IM and the 100 IM.
Linda McTague – Class of 1975
A member of the Battle Creek Central Hall of Fame, Linda McTague was a standout in softball, basketball and volleyball for the Bearcats. She was a captain and MVP of the softball team. She went on to earn a scholarship to play softball and volleyball at Florida International University. She later played volleyball on the Air Force team at the international level. She served in the Air Force for 28 years and became a Brigadier General.
Kandis Orns – Class of 2020
A multiple-sport standout, Kandis Orns was an all-city and all-league pick in both soccer and girls basketball during her time with Battle Creek Central. The 5-foot-10 senior forward helped BCC contend for a division title in soccer the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference. Signed to play soccer in college at Davenport University. In basketball, Orns helped BCC to its best season in a decade at 19-5 at the time and leading the team to its first district title in 33 years.
Lauren Riddle – Class of 1999
A three-time all-city selection, she helped the Bearcats reach the 1998 Class A State Quarterfinals as a junior. She took on a greater role in her senior campaign, showing her versatility by leading the team in both kills and digs while guiding Battle Creek Central to its third consecutive city title and picking up all-state honors along the way. She went on to play two seasons at Grand Valley State University, helping the Lakers win the 2000 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title while qualifying for the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time in program history.
Ka-Leah Ryan – Class of 2015
Playing for a short time at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and earning NJCAA All-American honors, Ryan became a key outside shooting threat at Kentucky State University during her college basketball career. In high school, Ka-Leah Ryan was one of the strongest offensive players in the area her senior year as the guard scored 24 points per game, to go along with six rebounds, five steals and three assists per contest. Ryan earned all-league honors and was an all-state honorable mention.
Kristin Slamer – Class of 2003
Part of a dynamic sister combination, the Slamer twins were multiple-sport standouts at Battle Creek Central. Slamer earned 10 varsity letters, competing in swimming, volleyball and soccer. Was all-city and a captain in each sport. Went on to be an all-league and captain at the next level, playing volleyball at Albion College. Is a member of the Albion College Hall of Fame and Battle Creek Central Hall of Fame.
Sarah Slamer – Class of 2003
A three-sport standout, competing in volleyball, swimming and softball, Sarah Slamer went on to play two of those sports at the collegiate level. Slamer was the key player on one of the top softball teams ever at BCC, that set the record for wins in a season. In swimming, she helped BCC to a rare all-city title, the school’s first in 13 years at the time. She was a three-time all-city softball player and played that sport at Albion College. Also playing volleyball at Albion College, she set the school record in kills and was an all-league player at the collegiate level and a Hall of Fame pick for the Britons.
Nicole Standback – Class of 2003
A multiple-year captain in both cross country and track, Nicole Standback was a standout in both sports during her time at BCC. Earning all-state honors three times in track, Standback was undefeated over four years in the hurdles during league competition, setting the school record in both the 100 hurdles and the 330 hurdles. She was named Most Outstanding Performer at the All-City Track Meet her senior year. She went on to earn a scholarship at Bowling Green University, where she went on to enter her name in that school’s record books as well.
Jaime Stanley – Class of 1998
A four-year starter and three-time all-city selection, Jaime Stanley led Battle Creek Central to three consecutive Class A district championships. As a senior, she was the catalyst for the team that won the program’s first regional title during a 50-win season, finishing the year with 623 kills, 375 digs, 123 aces and 146 blocks. She went on to play four years at Ball State University. In 1999 she helped the Cardinals win the MAC title and concluded her career with two MAC titles and two appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
Mindy Stanley – Class of 1992
One of the top volleyball players ever at Battle Creek Central and a Hall of Famer at the collegiate level, Mindy Stanley belongs on this list, even though she only played one sport. The 6-foot-1 outside hitter was a three-time all-city pick and two-time all-state selection in Class A. She continued her volleyball career at Ball State University, where she was a three-time All-Mid-American Conference pick. She was also the recipient of the prestigious Woody Hayes National Scholar-Athlete Award. And was inducted into the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame.
Terri Walker – Class of 1979
Terri Walker is considered one of the top girls basketball players at the school. She helped Battle Creek Central to an undefeated regular season and the first district title in program, averaging a double-double. As a senior, she averaged an incredible 17.3 points, 17.1 rebounds, 4.0 steals and 2.2 assists per game while guiding the Bearcats to a 19-2 record and earned all-state. Also, a top track star for BCC, setting the school record in the high jump and was a city champ in the hurdles. She would go on to play basketball at Western Michigan University.
Arieonna Ware – Class of 2021
One of the best basketball players ever at the school, plus a standout on the volleyball court as well, Arieonna Ware had an exceptional four-year stint with the Bearcats. Ware was a four-time all-city pick in volleyball, earning all-league and all-region honors as well. On the basketball court, Ware was a big-time scorer with the school record for points in a game with 51. She graduated as the school’s all-time leading career scorer and rebounder in basketball and was all-state as a junior. She committed to play basketball at Purdue University-Fort Wayne after her four years of high school.
Tonya Wilkins – Class of 1993
Wilkins was a double-double machine in her time with the Bearcats. A 5-foot-10 forward, she was a three-time all-city honoree. As a junior, she averaged a team-best 9.5 points, 12.7 rebounds and 2.6 steals per contest. She took her game to another level as a senior, averaging a double-double with a city-best 16 points and 11 rebounds while dishing out 3.5 assists and recording 2.3 steals per game in guiding Battle Creek Central to a 15-6 season. After receiving All-State honorable mention status in Class A, she went on to play four years at Division II Alabama A&M.
Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick.
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Top 250 athletes in Battle Creek. Which BC Central girls made the list?
Reporting by Bill Broderick, Battle Creek Enquirer / Battle Creek Enquirer
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By Bill Broderick, Battle Creek Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
