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 Female Athletes at Lakeview for the Battle Creek 250:
(Alphabetical order)
Breana Ballard – Class of 2004
A standout soccer player for Lakeview, who went on to play collegiately in that sport at Michigan State University. While in high school, Ballard was a four-time all-city and three-time all-state player. She set school records for goals in a season and a career and was named Enquirer Female Athlete of the Year. Ballard was also a two-time all-city and all-conference player in basketball as well as earning honorable mention notice in All-State.
Marley Bellwood – Class of 2001
A three-sport standout in basketball, soccer and volleyball, Marley Bellwood was named to the Lakeview Hall of Fame. Bellwood was a team captain, all-city, all-league and all-state in both volleyball and soccer. She went on to compete at the next level in volleyball at Michigan State University, finishing in the top 10 all-time at the school in digs in a season and digs in a set, while also earning Academic All-Big Ten honors.
Amy Blaising – Class of 1988
A member of the Lakeview Hall of Fame, Amy Blaising was a four-sport star for the Spartans, competing in cross country, track, volleyball and basketball. She was all-city and all-conference in cross country and earned all-state honors in that sport. She set school records in the 3,200 and in relay events in track. She went on to earn four varsity levels at the next level at Notre Dame, where she was team captain and twice named all-conference.
Debbie Brevitz – Class of 1973
Competed in tennis and swimming and is a Lakeview Hall of Famer. She was a star on the Spartan’s first girls swim team and played on Lakeview’s first girls tennis team as well as the boys team. She was state runner-up in two events at the first girls state meet. Went on to join the University of Michigan women’s swim team, where she was named captain. She won 11 Big Ten championships, set four Big Ten records and was an NCAA All-American in the breaststroke and the individual medley.
Suzy Brevitz – Class of 1974
Competed in tennis and swimming and is a Lakeview Hall of Famer. Played on first girls tennis team at Lakeview. She was the leading scorer on the Spartan’s first girls swim team. All-State in three events at the first girls state meet in Michigan. Played tennis for two years and was on the swim team for three years at Michigan State University. Set four MSU swim records and was two-time Big Ten champ and an All-American her freshman year in college.
Stephanie Buckner – Class of 2002
A Lakeview Hall of Fame selection, Stephanie Buckner was a star in high school and college in women’s swimming. Was all-city and all-conference all four seasons at Lakeview. Set school record in 100 freestyle and 200 free relay. Was a four-year starter at Bowling Green University. Was Mid-American Conference champion in the 100 free and set school records at BGSU in both the 100 free and 200 free relay. In top 10 at BGSU in both 50 free and 200 free.
Jackie Campbell – Class of 1983
She was the MVP and captain of Lakeview’s only state championship volleyball team, earning all-state honors. Also a three-time all-city and all-conference pick in volleyball. In basketball, she was a three-time all-city and all-league pick as well and team MVP. She went on to be an all-conference selection at the collegiate level for a University of Texas team that went to the NCAA Final Four.
Ava Cook – Class of 2017
Ava Cook was the top selection of the Chicago Red Stars in the National Women’s Soccer League draft in 2021. The NWSL is considered the top professional women’s soccer league in the world. Cook originally went to Grand Valley State University and helped that program to four straight league titles, winning a national championship in 2019. An NCAA Division II All-American selection twice, she finished ranked third all-time in goals scored at GVSU. She played her final year at Michigan State. Also an honorable mention all-state pick in basketball at Lakeview.
Shannon Dingwall – Class of 1984
Playing basketball and volleyball, Shannon Dingwall earned all-conference and all-city honors in both. Dingwall helped Lakeview to the school’s first-ever district title in girls basketball as a team MVP and captain. In volleyball, she was all-city, all-league as well as all-state and helped the Spartans to the state finals in her senior year. Dingwall went on to become a four-year player in volleyball at the University of Louisville and a team captain, earning all-conference honors at the collegiate level.
Sarita Dotson – Class of 2013
A Lakeview Hall of Fame member, Sarita Dotson was a four-year standout in track and was a nine-time All-City Meet and conference champion and four-time all-state honoree. She went on to compete at Western Michigan University where she became a team captain, was a three-time Mid-American Conference champ as part of the 1,600 relay and was the 200 meters MAC indoor champ.
Jenny Engelhardt – Class of 1996
The Most Outstanding Performer at the All-City Track Meet her senior year, Engelhardt was a two-time state champ in the high jump as well holding the school record in that event. She also graduated with the school record in the 100 dash and was an all-state sprinter. In diving, she was a conference champ and graduated with the school record for points in the sport. At Notre Dame, she was a three-time Big East Conference champ in the high jump and set the school record for the Irish, earning NCAA All-American honors. She went on to finish seventh at the U.S. Olympic Trials in the high jump.
Maggie Farrell – Class of 2017
Maggie Farrell was Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 2017 after winning a state championship in cross country and then doubling her efforts by winning a second state title (3,200 meters) during track season. Along the way, she was also named Miss Cross Country by the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association and she earned a scholarship to run at Michigan State University. At MSU, Farrell earned All-Big Ten honors in cross country and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
Audrey Graham – Class of 2002
Audrey Graham was the Enquirer Athlete of the Year as a junior in 2001 as a two-sport star in track and basketball. A three-time all-city selection in basketball, she graduated as the program leader for points in a season (422) and points in a career (1,004), helping Lakeview post a 54-10 record over her three varsity seasons. As a senior, she earned a spot on the Class A All-State team. She verbally committed to Central Michigan University, but instead played at Kellogg Community College where she was a two-time JUCO All-American and later an all-league pick at Olivet College. In her standout junior season, she was a two-time state champ in track, winning the state title in Division 2 in the 100 hurdles and the 300 hurdles.
Jenny Hayes – Class of 1978
As a member of the first Lakeview women’s volleyball team, Hayes led the Spartans to back-to-back state tournament Final Four appearances. She then played at Kellogg Community College, helping KCC earn two national championships, while being named Junior College All-American. Hayes was a two-sport standout while at KCC, playing volleyball and basketball. From KCC, she continued her athletic career at the University of Texas, where she led the team to its first national championship in 1981. She was named All-American and was inducted into the University of Texas Women’s Hall of Fame.
Wendy Ingraham – Class of 1982
Wendy Ingraham is a six-time, top 10 finisher in the world-renowned Ironman World Championships in Hawaii, proving her all-around athletic ability. In high school, she set six school records in swimming, two state records and won two state championships, earning All-American status. She went on to be a team captain on the swim team at Michigan State University, becoming a Big Ten champ and earning NCAA All-American honors.
Erica Mann – Class of 2007
A Lakeview Hall of Fame honoree, Erica Mann won back-to-back state championships in the 100-meter dash, as well as being a state champion in the 200 in 2007. Mann was also a four-time city champion in the 100 and 200 and a three-time conference champion in the 100 and 200. She ran track at Michigan State. Her collegiate career was topped with qualifying times allowing her to compete in the Big Ten Indoor and Outdoor Championships.
Melissa Nordine – Class of 1998
A standout in tennis and volleyball, Melissa Nordine decided on going to Division I DePaul, where she ended up being the team’s MVP in volleyball. A four-year starter for the volleyball team, she was All-City, all-league and earned all-state honors in that sport. In tennis, she was a city champ at No. 1 singles and No. 2 singles, as well as winning a league title. In her senior year, she was all-state in tennis, finishing as state runner-up at No. 1 singles. She was named Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 1998.
Linda Popovich – Class of 1986
Linda Popovich was named all-state in volleyball three times, as well as was selected to four all-city teams. A three-sport standout, competing in basketball and softball as well, she was named all-city in basketball. She helped Lakeview reach the state finals in Class B in volleyball. Popovich would go on to earned a scholarship to play volleyball at Bowling Green University. She was named Mid-American Conference Player of the Year and was all-conference four years at Bowling Green. She was named Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 1986.
Jennifer Price – Class of 2000
A Lakeview Hall of Fame selection, Jennifer Price was a standout in cross country and track. Price was all-city in both sports all four years with the Spartans. Set Lakeview records in track in the 400 and 1,600. Was a four-time state champ in track, winning the 800 as an individual and part of three state champion relay teams. Went to Hope College and set school records and was a three-time conference champ in college, team captain and MVP. Was NCAA Division III All-American.
Maggie Remynse – Class of 2009
A Lakeview Hall of Fame selection, Maggie Remnyse was a standout tennis player for the Spartans. Remynse was a four-time all-state player at No. 1 singles. She was ranked No. 1 in the state for three seasons and was a three-time state champ. Her senior year, she was named Michigan’s Miss Tennis, which goes to the top player in the state. A five-star recruit, Remynse played at Western Michigan University and played No. 1 singles for the Broncos.
Shelly Russell – Class of 1985
Part of the inaugural Hall of Fame class at Lakeview, Shelly Russell was a standout swimmer at the high school and collegiate level. She was a city and conference champ in the 200 and 500 freestyle. She went on to win state titles in both of those events as well. She competed at Hope College at the next level and was an eight-time NCAA Division III national champion and two-time NCAA Division III Swimmer of the Year. She went to be a national and world champ in the masters division in 1996 and 1998.
Kacy Sellers – Class of 2004
Kacy Sellers was an all-city and all-league pick in basketball, twice being named team MVP and team captain. She was a four-time all-city and all-league pick in volleyball, earning all-state honors as well as team MVP and captain honors. She earned a scholarship to play volleyball at Villanova, where she was a four-year starter, twice named team captain and team MVP. She earned First-Team All-Big East honors and is in the top 10 at Villanova for kills, blocks as well as several other categories.
Shannon Smith – Class of 1996
Shannon Smith went on to be an all-conference player in volleyball at the University of North Carolina and is among the career leaders in several categories at the school. At Lakeview, she was all-city, all-conference and all-state in volleyball. In basketball, she was a two-time team MVP in basketball and an all-state selection, graduating with the program record in career points and career rebounds.
Brazyll Watkins – Class of 2021
Brazyll Watkins was the Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 2021. Watkins finished her career at Lakeview as the all-time leading scorer in basketball, while also breaking the record for most points in the city for boys or girls basketball, ending with 1,565. Other individual records for Watkins on the basketball court include, single-season scoring, as well as the single game scoring mark for Lakeview. Watkins was a four-year varsity player and a four-time all-city and all-league selection. A two-time all-state choice as well, Watkins signed to play Division 1 college basketball at Alabama State University before transferring to Albion College. She was also named MVP of the girls track team her senior year as well as earning Most Outstanding performer at the All-City meet. She was all-state in the high jump.
Amy Yeast – Class of 1982
A member of the Lakeview Hall of Fame and Western Michigan University Hall of Fame, Amy Yeast was a standout in tennis for the Spartans, playing for both the boys and girls team. Was a city champ, conference champ, regional champ in girls tennis and finished second in the state at No. 1 singles. Was No. 1 singles at WMU for three seasons and a team captain and MVP. Was conference champ for the Broncos twice. Graduated from WMU third all-time in wins. Was named Michigan Amateur Athlete of the Year by USA Today in 1985.
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 girls 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
