Help us decide the top male and female high school athletes from the Gaylord area for the 2025-26 school year.
Meet the candidates from Gaylord, St. Mary and Johannesburg-Lewiston, then vote below for your choice for the top athlete. Polls will stay open until the end of July.
Nora Bethuy, Gaylord – Bethuy was the GHT softball player of the year, hitting .395 with 39 RBIs and 50 runs. She was also 10-7 with 105 strikeouts.
Addison McDonald, Gaylord – McDonald led GHS volleyball in kills and GHS basketball with 9.8 points per game.
Ella Cherwinski, Gaylord – Cherwinski was a top basketball player (4.3 points, 2.3 rebounds) and one of the top goal scorers for GHS girls soccer.
Lillian Mason, Gaylord – Mason set a new school record in pole vault (11 feet, 3 inches) and qualified for states in the 100-meter, 200-meter and 4×100-meter relay.
Emery Lawes, JoBurg – Lawes, just a sophomore, led JL basketball at 14.4 points per game and hit .443 with 38 RBIs and 46 runs scored for JL softball.
Mady Peppin, JoBurg – Peppin was the area volleyball player of the year, leading JL with 445 kills and 49 blocks while hitting .400 with 36 RBIs and 46 runs scored for JL softball. She is also the starting goalie for a Grand Rapids-based hockey team that won a state championship.
Ashlynn Burke, JoBurg – JL’s top softball player, Burke hit .542 with 61 runs scored and 42 RBIs from the plate and went 12-6 with 93 strikeouts in 94 innings pitched.
Kaylee Jeffers, Gaylord St. Mary – Jeffers averaged 15.5 points, 5.3 steals, 3.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists, winning the Ski Valley Player of the Year.
Payton Glasby, Gaylord St. Mary – Glasby was arguably GSM’s best athlete in three sports, leading GSM volleyball in kills, GSM basketball in points (17.2) and rebounds (7.7) and GSM softball in batting average (.476).
Contact GHT Sports Editor Dylan Jespersen at Djespersen@gaylordheraldtimes.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @dylanjespersen, and Instagram, @dylanjespersen
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Vote for the Gaylord Herald Times Female Athlete of the Year, 2025-26
Reporting by Dylan Jespersen, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dylan Jespersen, The Petoskey News-Review | USA TODAY Network
