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.
When we are done with all five schools, we will have Battle Creek’s 250.
MORE:
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 Male Athletes at Lakeview for the Battle Creek 250:
(Alphabetical order)
Larry Bentz – Class of 1980
Larry Bentz was a standout two-sport star who was named Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 1980. A team captain in both baseball and basketball teams, he earned all-state honors in both sports as well as being voted team MVP and team captain on both squads. Bentz went on to play baseball at Western Michigan University and was drafted by the Chicago White Sox.
Jake Bivens – Class of 2014
Jake Bivens was a multiple-sport standout at Lakeview, earning all-city honors in both baseball and basketball. It is in baseball that he had his most accomplishment, being drafted by the Detroit Tigers following a excellent career at the University of Michigan. He was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year for the Wolverines. In high school, Bivens was a MHSAA Dream Team selection and played in the annual East/West All-Star Game at Comerica Park. He graduated with the single-season record for hits for the Spartans.
Bob Bolten – Class of 1956
Bob ‘Sticks’ Bolten was one of the top scorers in the history of the state in basketball. Upon graduation, he owned career scoring and single season scoring records at Lakeview. He scored 50 points in a MHSAA state quarterfinal game, still a state record. Went on to Western Michigan University where he earned all-conference honors.
Jack Breslin – Class of 1939
With the Jack Breslin Student Events Center at Michigan State University named after him, Jack Breslin is one of the most well known graduates of Lakeview of all time. A standout in football, basketball and baseball, Breslin earned all-state honors in football. Played all three sports at Michigan State University and was team captain in football and baseball. Had a distinguished 38-year administration career at MSU.
Brian Criswell – Class of 1981
A three-sport star in football, baseball and basketball, named team captain two years in all three sports. Shined the most in baseball, including throwing a no-hitter with 13 strikeouts among 15 batters. Went on to play baseball at Western Michigan University and was named First-Team All-Mid-American Conference. Played professionally for five years in the Oakland Athletics organization.
Donnie Ernsberger – Class of 2014
Donnie Ernsberger was a three-sport star at Lakeview and helped Lakeview to the school’s first undefeated regular season over 20 years, reaching the postseason in back-to-back years. But that fall success was just the start of Ernsberger’s huge senior season. Ernsberger went on to earn all-city honors in basketball and qualified for the state meet in track. He would go on to earn a scholarship to play football at Western Michigan University and eventually earn a roster spot in the NFL. Ernsberger was Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 2014.
Terry Faulk – Class of 1964
Terry Faulk is a member of the Lakeview Hall of Fame and was a three-sport standout, competing in football, baseball and wrestling. Faulk was all-state in wrestling for the Spartans and went on to join the Miami University wrestling team in college. After four years at Miami, he graduated as the school-record holder in career wins and career pins. He was a two-time Mid-American Conference champion at 191 pounds. Qualified and wrestled twice in the NCAA wrestling championships.
Trip Gage – Class of 1978
At standout swimmer at the high school and collegiate level, Trip Gage is a member of the Lakeview Hall of Fame. He set five school, pool and conference records at Lakeview in the butterfly and the breaststroke and was a five-time conference champion in those events. He earned all-state honors in both the butterfly and breaststroke. He went on to be a four-year varsity member on the University of Michigan men’s swim team. He was Big Ten champion in the 100 breaststroke and was named as a U-M scholar athlete.
Alan Gibbs – Class of 1959
A member of the Lakeview Hall of Fame, competed in football, basketball and baseball, earning all-conference in all three sports. Was all-state in football where he set school records in touchdowns. Was Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 1959. Went on to play football at Western Michigan University and was all-conference and team captain.
Chick Halbert – Class of 1933
A standout in golf at Lakeview, winning two state titles in that sport for the Spartans. Went on to play golf at Michigan State University. Was the youngest ever to compete at the U.S. Open and won the 1937 Michigan Open. He beat Ben Hogan in the Texas Open. He won the PGA Championship in 1954 and was runner-up in that event two more times. Was a member of the 1949 Rider Cup team and team captain of the 1955 Rider Cup team. He is in the PGA Hall of Fame for winning 11 PGA titles.
Mark Harris – Class of 2006
Mark Harris was a standout wrestler at Lakeview, becoming a three-time state champion for the Spartans. He was also a four-time all-city champ, four-time conference champ and won district titles and regional titles three times. Harris set school records for wins in a season (54), career wins (171), pins in a season (40) and career pins (112). Harris was also ranked 12th in the country at Senior Nationals.
Jake Herbers – Class of 2015
Jake Herbers was a four-year varsity letter winner in three different sports at Lakeview. Herbers was an all-state kicker/punter for the Lakeview football team and continued that sport in college as a punter for the University of Minnesota football team. Also in the fall, Herbers found time to be the MVP of the soccer team as the Spartans’ goalie. The senior then finished up his final year at Lakeview by being an all-state baseball player. Herbers was Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 2015.
Ken Higgins – Class of 1983
Playing football, basketball and baseball, Ken Higgins was an all-around star at Lakeview. He set four school records as a wide receiver, including most career catches, yards receiving and touchdowns. He earned all-state honors his senior year, which at the time was the first receiver in the city to make an all-state team in 13 years and first Spartan to make an all-state team in football in 24 years. Named to the East-West All-Star Game. He went on to play four years of football at the University of Michigan, reaching the Rose Bowl with the Wolverines. He also was a two-time selection for all-city honors in baseball.
Nate Huffman – Class of 1993
Nate Huffman played on one of Lakeview’s most successful basketball teams ever, which went 22-2, as he had 60 blocked shots his senior season. However, it was after high school that the 7-foot-1 center really blossomed. Huffman was a standout at Lansing Community College and earned a scholarship to play at Central Michigan University, where he was an All-Mid-American Conference basketball player, finishing in the top 10 of many of that school’s single-season records. From there he became an international basketball star and was named the ‘Best Player in Europe’ in 2000 and 2001 while playing professionally in Israel for Maccabi Tel Aviv. Late in his career he reached his dream goal of signing with an NBA team, joining the Toronto Raptors before injuries cut short his pro career.
Devan Kline – Class of 2006
Devan Kline was a three-sport star at Lakeview, having standout seasons in baseball, basketball and football. In baseball, Kline was all-state and a member of the state’s Dream Team his senior year as the pitcher set the school record for ERA in a season at .045. Kline was also all-city and all-conference three times. He went on to pitch at Central Michigan University and became a part of the San Francisco Giants farm system as a professional. In basketball, Kline graduated as Lakeview’s second leading career scorer all-time. Kline also earned all-city honors in football and was Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 2006.
David Labrecque – Class of 1980
A three-sport standout, David Labrecque was a star in football, baseball and wrestling. Earned all-city and all-league honors in football and was team captain. Was a city, conference and regional champ in wrestling and was team MVP and team captain. Graduated as the school record holder in wins in a season in wrestling. Went to play three years of football at Olivet University and was a four-year member of the Olivet wrestling team. Was team captain in wrestling at Olivet, team MVP and was a conference champ. Went on to be an All-American in Division III. Is a member of the Olivet University Hall of Fame.
Buzz McNally – Class of 1956
A member of the inaugural class of the Lakeview Hall of Fame, Buzz McNally starred in football, basketball and baseball. Was all-state and a high school All-American in football. Was a member of Lakeview 1956 Final Four basketball team. Went on to compete in football, baseball and track at Olivet college. Was team captain and team MVP at Ferris State University in football.
David Mills – Class of 2006
David Mills was a standout baseball player at Lakeview, later becoming one of the top players in the Notre Dame baseball program at the college level. In high school, Mills was all-state twice and was named to the Detroit Free Press Dream Team his senior year. He set Lakeview records for hits in a season (51), runs in a season (51), strikeouts in a season (103) and career wins (28). At Notre Dame, Mills was a four-year varsity player and earned First-Team All-Big East honors in 2008. He is listed in the top three in three pitching categories in the Notre Dame record book.
Joe Parker – Class of 1983
Joe Parker was a standout swimmer at Lakeview and was inducted into the inaugural class of the Lakeview Hall of Fame. Parker was a five-time state champion in swimming and high school All-American. Went on to swim at University of Michigan where he was team captain and a Big Ten champion. Set two U-M school records and was won a gold medal at the 1987 World Games.
Bill Slack – Class of 1992
Competed in football, basketball and baseball and is Lakeview Hall of Famer. Was all-conference and team captain in football. Finished as all-conference and all-state in football. Was all-conference, all-state and team MVP in basketball. Only Lakeview athlete to play in two state all-star games, being named in football and baseball. Was a three-year varsity member at the next level in basketball at Central Michigan University. Finished second nationally in 3-point field goals. Went on to play basketball professionally in Europe.
Jeff Sovern – Class of 1969
A member of the Lakeview Hall of Fame, Jeff Sovern was a three-sport standout for the Spartans in football, basketball and baseball. A team captain in both baseball and basketball. Sovern had his most success on the baseball diamond where he earned a scholarship to play at Central Michigan University and was named a team captain. Sovern played professionally in the Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds system. Return to Lakeview and led the Spartans baseball team to a state title.
Matt Thompson – Class of 2008
A Lakeview Hall of Fame inductee for his exploits in golf, Matt Thompson was the season scoring leader all four years at Lakeview, earning all-state three years in golf. Thompson won two state titles, setting a state scoring record as a junior. As a senior, he also helped Lakeview win a state title in Division II. After graduating from Lakeview, Thompson attended the University of Michigan where he earned four varsity letters. Thompson helped his team advance to NCAA Championships twice and held the U-M record of 72.79 for career scoring average.
Kirstan VanderSluis – Class of 1980
A member of the Lakeview Hall of Fame as a standout swimmer for the Spartans, Kirstan VanderSluis went on to star at the University of Michigan. VanderSluis was a city champ and five-time conference champ at Lakeview and earned all-state honors in the freestyle. He graduated with five school records at Lakeview. Went on to be a two-time team captain on the University of Michigan men’s swimming and diving team. He earned All-Big Ten and All-American honors for the Wolverines.
John Vann – Class of 2015
A standout swimmer at Lakeview, John Vann was a three-time state champ for the Spartans. Vann won the 100 butterfly three straight years and was also a three-time all-state finisher in the 200 freestyle. Earned all-state honor 10 times with Lakeview. Was named Michigan’s Swimmer of the Year his senior season. Was named MVP three times with Lakeview. Went on to swim at Florida State University and was named team captain.
Clay Youngquist – Class of 2010
Clay Youngquist was named Michigan High School Swimmer of the Year as a senior and was Enquirer Athlete of the Year. He was a five-time state champ and set five state records, posting 20 All-American times at the high school level. A four-year letter winner at the University of Texas, Youngquist was an eight-time Big 12 Conference champ and a two-time NCAA champ, posting 11 NCAA All-American times. A member of the USA Swimming National Team, he won two gold medals and a silver at the 2015 World University Games.
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 boys made the list from Lakeview?
Reporting by Bill Broderick, Battle Creek Enquirer / Battle Creek Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Bill Broderick, Battle Creek Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
