KALAMAZOO, MI –– Playoff season rolls on in Southwest Michigan.

And Kalamazoo-area athletes continue to shine.

Spring sports athletes put together another remarkable week, including stellar performances on the diamond, on the pitch, the track, the court and the course.

That means it’s time to recognize those performers appropriately with the seventh Athlete of the Week poll of the 2025 season.

There are 40 athletes to select from in this week’s poll, and it’s a loaded field of worthy candidates with spectacular individual performances.

Cast your vote for Athlete of the Week as often as you’d like until the poll closes at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 30, 2025. If you’d like to nominate an athlete for future considerations, please email stats to MLive sports reporter Matthew Ehler at mehler@mlive.com.

If you can’t find the poll, click here.

Judah McClelland, Vicksburg golf

The freshman put together one of his best performances of the season, powering the Bulldogs to the Wolverine Conference championship by earning medalist honors with a one-over 73 at Pineview Golf Course on Friday. McClelland’s round featured an incredible 15 pars.

Kalamazoo Hackett’s Marek Butkiewicz runs during the Division 4 boys race at the MHSAA Cross Country Championships at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.Devin Anderson-Torrez | danderson-torrez@mlive.com

Marek Butkiewicz, Kalamazoo Hackett track

The junior finished with four victories at the Division 4 MITCA state meet on Saturday, earning personal best times in the 800-meter (1:57.03) and 1,600-meter (4:16.59) events and helping the Irish’s 3,200-meter relay team (8:06.90) also take first.

Otsego’s Emma Hoffman runs during the Division 2 girls race at the MHSAA Cross Country Championships at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.Devin Anderson-Torrez | danderson-torrez@mlive.com

Emma Hoffman, Otsego track

The junior and Colorado commit won both the 1,600-meter (4:52.95) and 3,200-meter (10:17.08) events at the Distance Night Under the Lights meet on Saturday –– which were also both personal best times.

Kalamazoo Central’s Jeremy Dixon reacts after winning the 100m race with a time of 10.72 during the Division 1 Lower Peninsula track and field state championships at East Kentwood High School on Saturday, June 1, 2024.Julian Leshay Guadalupe | MLive.com

Jeremy Dixon, Kalamazoo Central track

The senior won both the 200-meter (22.08) and the 400-meter (48.54) dashes at Friday’s Division 1 MITCA state meet.

Matthew Bates, Centreville track

The junior won the shot put (50’3) at the Division 3 MITCA state meet, while also finishing third in the discus (143’6) in helping the Bulldogs finish eighth overall.

Riley Briggs, Vicksburg golf

The senior helped the Bulldogs capture the Wolverine Conference championship by carding a two-over 74 on Friday. Briggs’ round featured three birdies including back-to-back on holes 15 and 16 at Pineview Golf Course.

Luke Rykse, Schoolcraft golf

The senior finished seventh at last week’s Cardinal Invite, as he carded a six-over 78 to lead the Eagles to a sixth-place finish.

Chris Ogrin, Kalamazoo Hackett golf

The senior won individual medalist honors at last week’s SAC Championship, as he carded a four-over 76 that featured a one-over 37 on the front nine.

Brixton DeVries, Kalamazoo Christian golf

The sophomore helped the Comets capture the SAC Championship by finishing second with a six-over 78 at last week’s tournament. DeVries recorded a pair of birdies on the back nine.

Clara Slattery, Kalamazoo Hackett track

The sophomore picked up four personal records and a victory at Saturday’s Division 4 MITCA state meet, finishing first in the 300-meter hurdles (46.24), while also grabbing second in the 100-meter hurdles (15.02), second in the 200-meter dash (25.60) and third in the 100-meter dash (12.63).

Drew Rayman, Plainwell golf

The junior won medalist honors at the Mustang – Indian Run Invite last Monday, as he carded an impressive even-par 71 that featured an eagle on the par 5 18th hole.

Caroline Clancy, Gull Lake soccer

The sophomore scored a goal in Gull Lake’s 4-0 district quarterfinal win over Wayland last Wednesday.

Nathan Medendorp, Kalamazoo Hackett track

The junior won the 400-meter race (51.23) at the Division 4 MITCA state meet on Saturday, while also helping the Irish’s 1,600-meter relay team (3:27.55) finish first.

Byron Center’s Ashtyn Stuck (20) chases the ball alongside Gull Lake’s Ali Bates (10) during a state-ranked girls soccer game at Gull Lake High School on Friday, April 18, 2025. Gull Lake and Byron Center tied, 1-1.(Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com)

Ali Bates, Gull Lake soccer

The junior scored a goal in Gull Lake’s 4-0 district quarterfinal win over Wayland last Wednesday.

Ashton Matrau, Galesburg-Augusta baseball

The senior helped the Rams win a cross-river rivalry game against Climax-Scotts on Friday with his standout outing on the mound. Matrau shutout the Panthers over 6.2 innings, allowing just one hit and one run with five strikeouts, while also adding a hit with a run scored at the dish.

Nick Dolislager, Kalamazoo Central baseball

Dolislager led the Maroon Giants with five hits last week, including two hits with two RBI in a 7-6 victory over state-ranked Mattawan on Thursday.

Julian Pullins, Bangor baseball

Pullins helped the Vikings earn a doubleheader sweep over Ottawa Hills last Thursday, recording three hits with four RBI, four runs scored and seven stolen bases.

Drew Alexander, Centreville softball

Alexander hit a solo homer and finished with two hits in helping power Centreville’s sweep over Martin on Friday.

Tucker Tack, Delton Kellogg baseball

Tack led the Panthers to a sweep over Fennville on Friday by finishing with a team-high four hits including three RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base.

Scenes during the Don Lukens Invitational on Friday, April 25, 2025 from Kalamazoo Loy Norrix in Kalamazoo, Mich.Matthew Ehler | MLive.com

Libby Smith, Gobles track

The sophomore won the 3,200-meter race (11:18.93, personal record) and grabbed second in the 1,600-meter (5:16.05) at the Division 4 MITCA state meet on Saturday.

Jenna Bradford, Decatur softball

Bradford helped the Raiders earn a sweep over Marcellus last week, as she finished with five hits including a double and a triple with five RBI and four runs scored.

Carter Bell, Gobles baseball

The senior powered Gobles’ sweep over Bloomingdale on Thursday thanks to his two-way prowess, which included five innings of one-run ball on the mound with nine strikeouts, while adding four hits with a triple, three RBI and three runs scored at the dish.

Kylee Killeen, Gobles softball

The junior paced Gobles’ dominant sweep over Bloomingdale on Thursday thanks to her six hits including four doubles, eight RBI and seven runs scored.

CJ Bennecke, Gull Lake baseball

Bennecke tossed a complete game gem with seven strikeouts to just two walks, allowing one run (zero earned) and three hits across seven innings in a 3-1 victory over Loy Norrix last week.

Tyler Brand, Kalamazoo Hackett baseball

Brand helped the Irish salvage a split with Watervliet last week, as he recorded a trio of hits including a double with four RBI and two runs scored.

Scenes during a high school softball game between Kalamazoo Central and Mattawan on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 from Kalamazoo Central High School in Kalamazoo, Mich.Matthew Ehler | MLive.com

Kendle Ivy, Kalamazoo Central softball

The junior threw a complete game gem with 10 strikeouts to just one walk, helping the Maroon Giants earn a sweep over Parchment on Thursday. Ivy allowed just two runs and four hits across her seven innings and added a double at the dish as well.

Scenes during a high school baseball doubleheader between Kalamazoo Hackett and Kalamazoo Christian on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 from Kalamazoo Christian High School in Kalamazoo, Mich.Matthew Ehler | MLive.com

Mario Moralez, Kalamazoo Christian baseball

The senior threw a complete game gem with 10 strikeouts to just one walk, helping the Comets earn a sweep over Centreville last week. Moralez allowed one run (zero earned) and three hits across seven innings, while leading the Comets with a pair of hits and two walks at the dish.

Abram Coffey, Marcellus baseball

The sophomore came up clutch to lift Marcellus to a Southwest 10 Conference championship last week, as he recorded a game-sealing strikeout in the Wildcats’ 5-4 win over Decatur in what turned out to be an eventual sweep. Coffey started his day with a complete game gem that featured 10 strikeouts and no walks, scattering four hits and one run across seven innings in a 2-1 win.

Scenes during a high school baseball doubleheader between Portage Northern and Mattawan at Mattawan High School on Thursday, May 8, 2025 in Mattawan, Michigan.Matthew Ehler | MLive.com

Tyson Stratton, Mattawan baseball

The senior catcher paced the Wildcats with seven hits including two triples with five RBI, six runs scored, two walks and two stolen bases in seven games last week.

Mendon’s Cienna Nightingale (5) catches the ball at first base during the Division 4 championship softball game on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

Cienna Nightingale, Mendon softball

Nightingale powered the Hornets to a sweep over Kalamazoo Christian on Friday, as she finished with four hits including two doubles and a homer in the nightcap.

Aliya Edson, Paw Paw softball

Edson paced the Red Wolves with three hits including a double and a homer with two RBI and three runs scored in a split with Dowagiac last week.

Maverick Johnson, Paw Paw baseball

Johnson led the Red Wolves’ offense with a team-high seven hits last week, finishing with six singles, a triple, four RBI and three runs scored in three games.

Sydney Schero, Portage Central softball

Schero led the Mustangs with a team-high eight hits, adding three RBI in three games last week.

Val DeVries, Schoolcraft softball

The freshman phenom hit a red-hot .750 at the plate last week, finishing with a team-high 12 hits including three doubles and two triples with eight RBI and six runs scored in four games played.

Ty Goddard, Schoolcraft baseball

The sophomore turned in a six-inning shutout gem with nine strikeouts, allowing no walks and just two hits in a 9-0 win over Bridgman on Friday. Goddard also finished with five hits to help the Eagles record sweeps over Bridgman and Centreville.

Jennaya Decker, Three Rivers softball

The senior helped Three Rivers extend its winning streak to eight games by recording two stellar outings in the circle, finishing with 14 strikeouts to just one earned run across 11 innings pitched. Decker also recorded seven hits with a homer and two RBI at the plate.

Sam Oberlee, Loy Norrix baseball

Oberlee shutout Portage Northern over six innings on the mound on Friday, finishing with a strikeout to just two walks and four hits in a 10-0 win.

Drake Henderson, Vicksburg baseball

Henderson helped Vicksburg stay hot by tossing a complete game shutout with two strikeouts, as he surrendered just three hits in a 4-0 win over St. Joseph last Monday.

Maddox Rosalin, Vicksburg baseball

Rosalin helped Vicksburg stay hot by finishing with six hits and 10 RBI at the plate, adding five runs scored and three stolen bases in three games played.

Vicksburg’s Emily Zemitans (23) throws a ball back in bounds after chasing it down during the MHSAA Division 2 softball state championship game on Saturday, June 15, 2024 at Michigan State University’s Secchia Stadium in East Lansing. Gaylord won 3-2 over Vicksburg in overtime.Jake May | jmay2@mlive.com

Emily Zemitans, Vicksburg softball

The senior powered Vicksburg to a sweep over Lakeshore on Monday, as she finished with two homers and four total hits with five RBI, six runs scored and a stolen base in the pair of victories.