Note: An egregious error was made when Howell runner Jack MacGregor was left off this poll when it originally published. That error has been rectified.
The Livingston Daily will unveil the 2025-26 Livingston County Male Athlete of the Year in July.
Following are the top candidates for the award, which will be chosen by Livingston Daily sports writer Bill Khan.
It has been customary for the Male and Female Athletes of the Year to be multi-sport athletes, which rules out some of the outstanding wrestlers in the county, for instance.
Who is your choice for the county’s top male athlete? Vote early, vote often.
Dylan Edgeworth, Brighton, Sr.: Edgeworth is heading to Grand Valley State to play tight end, but made first-team all-county as a punter while making four sacks at defensive end. He became the only player in the county this school year to make the all-county first team in football and basketball after averaging 12.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and shooting 38% from 3-point range.
Danny Hampton, Howell, Sr.: Hampton was a four-year varsity player in basketball and baseball. He averaged 10.1 points and 5.4 rebounds in basketball before becoming the county’s first .500 hitter since 2011 and making the all-state Dream Team in baseball.
Brandon Lovejoy, Brighton, Sr.: Lovejoy’s primary sport was basketball, but he received his greatest postseason honors in golf. After making first-team all-county in hoops for the second time, averaging 12.4 points and hitting 38.6% of his 3-pointers, Lovejoy received all-state honorable mention in golf. He tied for medalist at regional.
Jack MacGregor, Howell, Jr.: MacGregor was the only male athlete in the county to be Athlete of the Year in two different sports, earning the honors in cross country and track and field. He broke long-standing school records in cross country and the 1,600-meter run, while breaking a 3,200 record that was set nine years ago. He made all-state in both sports, finishing second in the 3,200 in track and sixth in cross country.
Dom Nauss, Brighton, Soph.: Nauss led Livingston County in rushing with 1,489 yards, the second-highest total in school history, and scored 20 touchdowns. In wrestling, he was the state Division 1 runner-up at 190 pounds, going 40-5.
Sam Shrader, Fowlerville, Sr.: Shrader threw a school-record 20 touchdown passes, compiling 1,507 yards in nine games. He was also the Gladiators’ top basketball player, averaging team highs of 11.1 points and 6.9 rebounds. Shrader also played golf.
Preston Spisz, Hartland, Sr.: Spisz is the only athlete to make first-team all-county in football and baseball. He had 20 catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns, 31 carries for 115 yards and two touchdowns, 46 tackles, an interception and three fumble recoveries in football. He hit .370 and was second in the county with 41 runs in baseball.
Owen Zylka, Pinckney, Sr.: Zylka is a rare kid who excels in the big three sports that used to be standard for top athletes. He had 27 catches for 518 yards and seven touchdowns in football, averaged 14.2 points and 5.7 rebounds in basketball, and hit .382 while leading the county with 64 strikeouts in baseball.
Contact Bill Khan at wkhan@livingstondaily.com. Follow him on X @BillKhan
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Vote: Readers’ choice for Livingston County Male Athlete of the Year
Reporting by Bill Khan, Livingston Daily / Livingston Daily
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Bill Khan, Livingston Daily | USA TODAY Network
