Athlete of the Week is an initiative coordinated by Athletic Directors at School Districts within our central market. The program recognizes student-athletes who have exhibited exceptional performance, leadership, and sportsmanship during the week. The commitment and positive approach demonstrated by the selected students provide a model for their peers. Weekly, representatives from Hartland, Holly, Lake Fenton, Linden, and Fenton gather to vote on the top athlete in each sport. ChoiceOne Bank is honored to sponsor this enduring tradition, which has highlighted the achievements and dedication of student-athletes for more than thirty years.

 

January 5
 

Joey Greene, Holly - Boys Ski

• In a sport which is usually decided by margins in the 100ths of a second, Joey beat the field (FLLF, FBE, Powers, and GB) by over 3 seconds combined. He is an exceptional skier!

Finley DeCuber, Holly - Girls Ski

• Finley was the fastest girl on the hill on January 7. Even with the difficult course conditions she beat the field (FLLF, FBE, Powers, and GB) of great competitors by over 1/2 second

Natalie Keen, Holly - Competitive Cheer

• Natalie is a sophomore, 3-round cheerleader who truly embodies what it means to be a varsity student-athlete. She comes to every single practice ready to work, is a member of our Student-Athlete Advisory Council, and is an outstanding student. This past week she was moved around quite a bit due to injuries and illness on the team, and she never once hesitated or complained. Instead, Natalie adjusted, learned new spots in all three rounds, and worked incredibly hard to perfect each position, all while helping another teammate perfect her former spot. Her effort, resilience, and positive attitude helped the team secure our season-high Round 1 score, which increased by 17.5 points from the previous competition!

Leo Perez-Castillo, Holly - Boys Bowling

• Leo has been a solid performer on the lanes and has shown improvement this year on his mental agility. In Saturdays match he started out with a honor score 200 in game one and had some bad breaks early in game two. Leo was able to keep his focus, reset and approach the next frame with confidence allowing him to bowl another high game in game two and average a 190 for the day. In addition to his on-lane performance, Leo is often seen communicating often with teammates, offering suggestions for adjustments, strategy recommendations and general positive reinforcement.

Lacie Morris, Holly - Girls Bowling

• Sophomore Lacie Morris has had an impressive week of bowling. On Monday, she bowled a 125, which is a 20 pins over her average, and won her point. She spent the entire practice on Friday working on her spare pickups and her hard work showed off Saturday when she won both of her points with scores of 125 and 119, helping the Bronchos get the win. Lacie is a dedicated bowler, who works hard at each practice, listens to her coaches, and is consistently improving as a bowler. She has also been instrumental in keeping the team’s spirits up during matches, always ready with a high five or fist bump. 

Alivia Brown, Fenton - Gymnastics

• Alivia is a freshman on the LFLF varsity Gymnatics team. She transferred over to LFLF this season after training previously at a different gym. Alivia has adapted quickly and graceful into the high school setting. Her hard work each week has her scores on a constant upward trend and she presents to practice each and every day with a smile on her face and with a positive attitude. This past weekend she competed all around for LFLF and her stellar performances helped the team secure a first place finish against Haslett United. Brown scored a 8.4 on vault and hopes to compete an upgraded vault in the coming meets. Her bar routine displayed her perseverance skills as she successfully competed a skill that she has been struggling with. Brown scored a 7.375 on the event, one of her highest scores and a regional qualifying score. On beam Brown landed another qualifier with her 8.025. This was her final qualifying score on the event, another great accomplishment. Floor was her last event and she did not disappoint. Brown tied her personal best with her 8.675. Alivia is a hard working student athlete who displays all of the characteristics a young athlete should have. She is certainly one to watch!

Caelen Covell, Holly - Wrestling

• 7-0 during the week. Won by fall against the #5 ranked wrestler in the state at 132.

Orin VanTichelt, Hartland - Boys Swim and Dive

• Orin has been having a strong start to the season! He is dropping time at every meet and working hard to meet all of his goals. He is currently at a 1:02.66 in the 100 back to start the 25/26 season, after ending the 24/25 season with a time of 1:07.31, dropping about 5 seconds. He achieved a personal best time in the 50 free (:24.30), 50 Back (:28.50), 100 Butterfly (1:03.48), and 200 IM (2:18.49) as well just in the beginning of the 25/26 season.

Sophie Ondovcsik, Lake Fenton - Girls Basketball

• Sophie fought through personal adversity this week and showed up strong for her team. She played hard, aggressive defense Monday night which fed her on the offensive end of the court. She hit out game winning 3-pointer against North Branch to put us ahead 32-31. She added in 4 rebounds and 5 defensive stops during Monday nights game. Friday vs Goodrich Sophie hit a 3-pointer which gave us momentum to end our first quarter. She also added in 2 defensive stops and 2 boards in our loss to Goodrich (12-58).

Jakyi Brown Abston, Fenton - Boys Basketball

• He averaged 23 points 4 rebounds 4 assist 2 steals in Fenton 2 games last week.

Robbie Smeltzer, Lake Fenton - Hockey

• Robbie, one of our captains has been a great leader on and off the ice. His work ethic and leadership has been a big part of his team leading 28 pts.

 

January 12
 

Bryce Fletemier, Hartland - Hockey

• Bryce had 6 points in 3 games this week. Scored one goal on 1/14 vs Livonia Stevenson. Scored one goal on 1/16 vs Marquette. Had a hat trick (3 goals) and an assist on 1/17 vs Novi. 

Amelia Burnett, Lake Fenton - Competitive Cheer

• Amelia is an outstanding competitive cheerleader and elite athlete who performs at a high level in all three rounds of competition. Her energy, positivity, and leadership consistently elevate those around her and set the tone for our team’s success. As a rock-solid base, a facial enthusiast and amazing tumbler - this weekend, she was an integral part of breaking two school records and helping achieve season-high scores of 220.8 in Round 1, 210.34 in Round 2, and 310.3 in Round 3. Her contributions helped secure an impressive overall score of 741.44, reflecting her dedication and impact on our program.

Mia Merrel, Lake Fenton - Girls Basketball

• Mia is a constant presence on the court for our team. She is not only our point guard, but also our teams leading rebounder; at only 5’3. She plays with heart, resilience and grit. Mia shot 63% from the floor in our game Friday vs Brandon, putting up 9 points, 10 boards, 8 defensive stops and 2 assists. In our game vs Holly, she shot 60% from the field with 10 points, 8 boards, 7 defensive stops and 2 assists. She is a difference maker on the court for us. Keep up the hard work Mia! 

Bradlee Coggins, Holly - Boys Swim and Dive

• At the County Meet over the weekend, Bradlee reached his long term goals in both Butterfly and Breaststroke. Breaking the school record previously set in 2008, Bradlee swam a 1:04.54 in his 100 breaststroke and earned his MISCA cut. Also earning a MISCA cut with a new personal best in his 100 fly, and then being a crucial role in the two second place relay teams which earned MISCA cuts, one relay also earning state cuts. Now he has new goals set and ready to break in the next five weeks. 

Riley Hummel, Holly - Wrestling

• 7-1 at girls wrestling. 1st at Fowlerville 2nd at Groves. Had a win over top 10 state ranked opponent.

Caleigh Plucinski, Holly - Girls Bowling

• Senior Caleigh Plucinski had an outstanding weekend on the lanes. At Saturday’s match against Brandon she won both her points with her scores of 159 and a 40 pin over average 192. She was also instrumental in the team’s Bakers as well as the overall win. On Sunday she competed in the Oakland County Championship tournament. She bowled a 147, 178, and 68 pin over average 220 for a 545 series. The 220 score was the 5th highest score and the 545 was 11th highest out over 100 bowlers. Her great scores along with her leadership lead the team to qualifying in 11th in the tournament. 

Addisen Ellisen, Fenton - Gymnastics

• Addisen is a new member of LFLF this year, and she is also new to gymnastics, only having prior experience when she was little. Addi has taken to gymnastics with ease, something that is very rare in this sport. She is quick to try a new skill and equally as quick to master it. Addi has a great attitude and is the first to lend a helping hand to a teammate in need. She handles stress with ease and has been a huge asset to the LFLF team. Over the weekend LFLF gymnastics traveled to the Rockford invite where Addi competed on both beam and floor. Both of her routine scores counted for the team total and helped land the team in 4th place out of 17 teams. Addi successfully competed a beam routine with two new jump series, a change that was made only a day before. Her strong composure and focus did her well and she scored an 8.0 on the event, the 3rd highest on the team and her second highest score ever on the event. On floor Addi scored a 8.675. This was the second highest score of the team and also her second highest score ever for the event. Her performances at this meet also allowed Addi to secure her spot in the regional competition on beam and floor. Addi is certainly one to watch and will no doubt leave a positive mark on the LFLF team.

James Turner, Holly - Boys Bowling

• James has continues to be a critical component for the Bronchos bowlers. He is very coachable and takes instruction well. He works well with the team and understands the team structure in this format. James’ performance on the lanes has been hot and cold this year but he had a stellar performance at the Oakland County Tournament on Saturday. James bowled all three individual games and all four BAKER games. His average at the tournament was 192, 48 pins over his season league average. In addition to his performance in the individual matches, James marked in six of the eight frames he bowled for the BAKER series. It was an outstanding performance!

 

January 19
 

Brooklyn Girlmore, Lake Fenton - Competitive Cheer

• Brooklynn is being nominated for athlete of the week for her outstanding performance and leadership on the mat. She consistently brings unmatched energy, a strong voice, and confident facials in Round 1, serving as a stellar presence for the entire team. Her performance helped the team break their Round 1 school record this week with an impressive score of 228.7. Brooklynn also delivered a solid performance in Round 3, contributing to the team’s 302.5 score at their second league meet in Fenton. Her consistency, intensity, and competitive spirit continue to elevate the team each time they take the floor.

Parker Sundman, Hartland - Boys Basketball

• Parker had a huge milestone in a win against a tough Canton team (#57 on DZone top 100) as he eclipsed 1000 career points. He ended the game with 21 points. He followed that up against Brighton ((#54 on DZone top 100), who was undefeated in the league and only had 1 loss on the year. with another 21 point performance. With the two wins, it is the first double digit win streak in Livingston county since the 2004-05 season. 

Kendall Nokovich, Hartland - Girls Basketball

• Kendall had a monster game against rival Brighton on Tuesday. She scored a career high 26 points in a 73-61 victory over the Bulldogs. 

Willhelm Creasey, Holly - Boys Bowling

• Will is a senior and four year bowler with the Bronchos High School team. He is a patient and steadfast member of the team. Will isn’t typically a starter for the squad but is consistent and always a threat off the bench during matches and tournaments. Will started in our match on Saturday against Kearsley and was a huge factor in our BAKER series (and season high 211 game). Will threw a strike in all four of his BAKER frames helping to give us an early lead on Kearsley. Will continued his performance on Sunday at the Swartz Creek Singles tournament. Starting a little slow in game 1, Will quickly turned it around and bowled over his season average in the remaining three games including an honor score 203 in game three followed by another honor score 213 in game four. I nominate Will for his persistence and patience in this sport along with his coninued support of his teammates and his consistent and even-keeled performance this season!

Ellie Mydlowski, Holly - Girls Bowling

• Ellie Mydlowski is a freshman who has quickly become a solid contributor to the Broncho bowling team. Saturday, she came in to save a game, after a teammate was struggling. She then stayed in and bowled the second game. Although her scores weren’t high enough to win her points she was ready to step in and help the team. On Sunday, she completed in her first full tournament, a singles tournament. She averaged a 114 over 4 games which is 13 pins over her average. Ellie is new to the sport of bowling, but her hard work and dedication is shown every practice and match. She asks questions, listens well, and tries to improve with every throw

Mia Brown, Linden - Gymnastics

• Mia is a senior and 4th year gymnast on the LFLF varsity gymnastics team. She has been a staple in the team’s line up all four years and she brings high work ethic and determination with her to the gym each and every day. Mia is a captain of the team and the girls not only look to her for leadership, but they confide and trust in her. Recently in her gymnastics she has had some fantastic showings. The team traveled to Fowlerville last week where Mia got a personal best on bar with an 8.45. They also had a showing at the Jeanne Caruss memorial invitational where Mia was one of only two gymnasts who earned an all around spot in the line up. Mia’s all around score came out to 33.075, her highest of the season so far. Mia also had a fantastic showing on floor where she posted the team’s high score of a 9.125. This also landed her in 10th place out of over 200 gymnasts that competed that day. Mia has been putting in non stop work at practice to improve her floor routine and was proud to see it pay off. Mia also has her eyes set on making the individual state competition this year as well as leading her team to the team state finals. Her determination and grit will certainly ensure that she gives this goal everything she’s got. 

Dane Wichtman, Holly - Boys Swim and Dive

• Dane had a great meet last week. He was entered in the more distance related events and despite not wanting to swim them. However, that didn’t stop him from giving it his all and even dropping nearly a minute in his 500 freestyle. Dane’s previous best time was 8:11 and he now has a 7:26. It was great to see him push through and race to a strong finish. 

Keagan Myers, Fenton - Hockey

• Keagan is the backbone of our hockey team and our top defenseman. He scored his first career hat trick (3 goals) against Port Huron in the Chelsea showcase this weekend and helped the Griffins get a big win 9-2.

 

January 26
 

Paige Sadler, Lake Fenton - Competitive Cheer

• Paige Sadler is a truly deserving athlete that should earn athlete of the week. This goes to an athlete who truly sets the standard. With unmatched skills, on-point flexibility, and incredible energy, she brings her best every time she steps out. This week, she worked especially hard to stay positive and lead by example—uplifting teammates, showing kindness, and helping grow a strong, positive team culture. Her leadership helped fuel great performances, earning team scores of 217 in Round One, 205.1 in Round Two, and 286.5 in Round Three. Well deserved! 🌟

Lucy Weber, Fenton - Girls Basketball

• Lucy Weber had a great week for Fenton Girls' Basketball. She scored 36 points, had 22 rebounds, 6 steals, and 3 assists in key games for the Tigers. Lucy is a go-getter on and off the floor. As a team captain she always shows natural leadership qualities and is a positive force for everyone in the gym.

Roeynn Robers, Lake Fenton - Gymnastics

• Roeynn is a new member of the LFLF gymnastics team this year. She quickly became a key member of the team and is relied on by all to keep the fun in practice. Roeynn can usually be found cheering everyone up, laughing off a mistake, and all the while working hard. She has consistently gotten better and better each week, and especially this last month has really settled into her routines and set PR after PR for herself. This last week LFLF took on Huron Valley in a dual conference meet. Roeynn competed on all four events and set a PR on 2 of 4. Her 8.7 on vault was one PR and her 8.025 on bar was another. Roeynn has a great attitude, doesn't back down from a challenge, supports her teammates, and is always coachable. 

Easton Lapham, Linden - Hockey

• Easton is a senior captain and a great leader on and off the ice. He had a big goal this weekend against the FNV Griffins that brought his season total to 25 points. His effort, hard work and leadership is a big reason for the teams successes this season.

Blake Adams, Holly - Wrestling

• 7-0 this week with 3 by fall.

Jayden Kenney, Holly - Boys Basketball

• Holly Senior, Jayden Kenney, is finally getting healthy. After a broken foot sidelined the 7-footer for most of the summer, he received his release to return to full participation on November 12th, 2025, just in time for the first day of basketball. As he progressed to once again be a full-time player, he was again sidelined with a viral infection. This past week, Jayden was finally able average 24 minutes of game time, helping the Holly varsity boys to consecutive wins over Owosso and Fenton. Kenney scored a season high 21 points in Friday's win over Fenton which included the game tying basket with 1.3 seconds left to send the game to overtime. This week, he also garnered 18 rebounds, 6 blocked shots, 2 assists and was a team-leading +22 on the +/- scale. 

Johanna VanSickle, Holly - Girls Bowling

• Johanna VanSickle competed in the Dragon Singles tournament on Sunday. Top 32 bowlers moved on to the elimination round. Johanna qualified 19th with a 468 series. In the first round of match play she defeated her 4 opponents to move on the top 16. In the top 16 round she bowled her high game of the day, 167 to move on to the elite 8. In the elite 8 she stayed strong, but missed moving on by a few pins. Johanna is an excellent teammate, always leading in cheering her team on. At practice she works hard every time, learning from her mistakes to be a better bowler. 

Kolton Balcom, Holly - Boys Bowling

• Kolton is dedicated to his academics and his sports. He is always challenging himself and focused on success. This week he had three strikes and a spare in his four BAKER frames against Owosso then won his individual match point, bowling over his season average. Kolton is inquisitive and competitive when it comes to bowling and continues to be dependable for the mostly senior team in his sophomore year.

Nick Ray, Hartland - Boys Swim and Dive

• Nick has had an outstanding season so far, entering this season with clear goals and consistently exceeding them. He was one of 5 athletes who qualified to compete at the MISCA Championship meet this past weekend at Calvin University, and one of 3 to qualify in an individual event. At the championship meet, Nick swam in our Medley Relay (1:46.63) and the 100 breaststroke (1:07.05). Nick has also achieved multiple personal best times this season, including 50 Freestyle (:25.94), 200 Freestyle (2:07.40), 50 Breaststroke (:30.41), 100 Breaststroke (1:06.92), and 200 IM (2:20.45).