KALAMAZOO, MI – It’s on to the junior class. After MLive kicked off its spring sports stars series last week and crowned the Kalamazoo-area’s top senior, Portage Central’s Tatum Helsom, attention shifts to the junior class in selecting the most talented spring sports athlete. And it’s up for you to decide. MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette has a churned up 49 Southwest Michigan athletes to choose from in the second poll of a fun series –– the best junior spring sports athlete of the Kalamazoo-area. Spotlights will follow on the underclassmen will follow next week, but it’s all eyes on the junior class in a race to the top spot. So, who gets your vote? Cast as many votes as you’d like until the poll closes at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 5. If you can’t find the poll, click here. Kaden Jominy, Mattawan baseball Jominy, the third-rated 2026 right-handed pitcher in Michigan, is showcasing his top-shelf stuff this spring –– the junior has yet to allow an earned-run in four starts. He’s tallied 20 strikeouts to just three hits across 13 innings with a 3-0 record, while hitting .346 at the plate with a double, nine RBI, and seven walks across 34 plate appearances. Marek Butkiewicz, Kalamazoo Hackett track After setting the Division 4 boys cross country state record and capturing his first state championship last fall (15:09.7), Butkiewicz enters his junior track season hungry to win perhaps his second and third individual state titles. The junior won the 3,200-meter race and finished second in the 1,600 last season, becoming the true favorite in each of those races this season. Emma Hoffman, Otsego track After finishing runner-up at the Division 2 cross country state finals this past fall, Hoffman enters her junior track season with a ton of momentum. The All-American runner grabbed all-state honors in the 3,200-meter run at last year’s state finals and has won every single race she’s competed in this spring –– including personal bests in both the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter runs. Jackson Lam, Loy Norrix track The junior broke Loy Norrix’s 57-year school record in the 1,600-meter run (4:13.32) at last Friday’s Don Lukens Invitational and has enjoyed a steady ascension as one of the Knights’ best distance runners in recent memory. Lam’s 1,600-meter time is the fifth-fastest in the state. Drew Enright, Schoolcraft track Enright grabbed his first all-state honors in the 300-meter hurdles last season, finishing sixth at the Division 3 state finals (40.46). The junior will likely be in contention for more hardware come June. Rowan Allen, Mendon softball Allen helped the Hornets reach the Division 4 state semifinals for a second straight season in 2024 by dominating in the circle. The junior posted a 1.446 ERA and a 19-3 record in over 130 innings pitched and has a 2.287 ERA with 60 strikeouts to just 22 hits across 33.2 innings this year. At the plate, Allen is hitting a red-hot .467 with five doubles, a homer and a triple with a team-high 19 RBI and seven stolen bases. Max Vandermolen, Gull Lake golf The Louisville commit has yet to score this spring but is coming off a 2024 season in which he won a regional championship and became an all-state golfer with a ninth-place finish at the Division 2 state finals. Vandermolen is very much in the mix for Mr. Golf this season. Ben Liddell, Portage Central golf The junior helped the Mustangs finish ninth at last year’s Division 1 state finals thanks to finishing 38th with a total score of 159. Liddell has averaged 37.6 per nine holes in 10 rounds this season, which ranks 37th in the state across all divisions. Drew Rayman, Plainwell golf Rayman was an individual state qualifier for last year’s Division 2 state finals, where he finished 31st with a final score of 156. The junior is currently ranked 34th in Division 2 with an average of 38.8 per nine holes. Daisy Jackson, Gobles softball The junior is providing the power for a 6-2 Gobles team this spring, hitting a team-high four homers with 16 RBI to go along with a .480 batting average. Jackson has also pitched 15 innings, holding a 1-0 record with 12 strikeouts. Kayla Chisholm, Vicksburg softball The junior catcher is one of Vicksburg’s most talented returning players from its Division 2 state finalist team a year ago. Chisholm hit .435 with six homers and 12 doubles last season, and is hitting .500 with a team-high six home runs, eight doubles, four triples and 34 RBI this season in 77 plate appearances. Jadyn Samson, Mendon softball After a near record-breaking and all-state sophomore campaign, which included the second-most runs scored (92) in MHSAA history, Samson is back for the state-ranked Hornets in 2024. The junior is hitting .419 with six doubles, five RBI, 16 runs scored and six stolen bases. Jayden VandenAkker, Allegan track VandenAkker secured her first all-state honors in both the Division 2 100-meter (15.42) and 300-meter hurdles (46.81) last season, finishing fourth and sixth respectively. She’s already broke her personal records in both those events this season, holding the fastest Division 2 100-meter hurdle time in the state (14.96). Audrey Lingbeek, Otsego softball The Western Michigan commit and Otsego star has been sensational this spring –– most notably breaking the school record for strikeouts in a game (19) in a complete game gem against Wyoming last Thursday. Lingbeek owns a 2.333 ERA with 66 strikeouts to just 15 walks across 36 innings and is hitting .419 with seven extra base hits and 13 RBI at the dish for the 11-6 Bulldogs. Kendle Ivy, Kalamazoo Central softball The junior hit a sizzling .504 with 18 doubles, five triples and four homers last year, while adding 53 RBI –– all team highs. This season, she’s helping lead K-Central’s 14-1 start by hitting .489 with nine doubles, a homer and a triple with 23 RBI, while holding a sparkling 7-0 record with a 1.750 ERA and 28 strikeouts across 32 innings in the circle. Cami VanderMeeden, Paw Paw softball The Western Michigan commit is enjoying a major power surge at the plate this season, a big reason why Paw Paw is off to a stellar 14-1 start. VanderMeeden has hit 10 four-baggers through 15 games with a team-high 28 RBI, adding six doubles and a .460 batting average across 60 plate appearances. The junior has also pitched in seven games, flexing a 2.333 ERA with 30 strikeouts over 24 innings. Isabelle Horvath, Bangor softball The junior has been nearly unhittable in the circle for the 12-2 Vikings this spring, holding a 0.646 ERA with an eye-popping 156 strikeouts to just nine walks over 65 innings. Horvath has recorded eight shutouts in 2025, including back-to-back five-inning, 14-strikeout no-hitters to start the season. At the plate, Horvath is hitting .463 with 10 doubles, two homers and 24 RBI. Kylee Killeen, Gobles softball The junior is hitting .500 with seven doubles, a triple and a homer for the 6-2 Tigers, adding 17 runs scored and eight stolen bases. In the circle, Killeen has a 4.103 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 29 innings. Davarion Phillips, Loy Norrix track The junior holds the fifth-farthest long jump (22-feet, 8.25-inches) in the state this season, which was accomplished during last week’s Don Lukens Invitational. London Hoffmaster, Three Rivers softball The Western Michigan commit and junior midfielder put together a sensational sophomore season in 2024, hitting .438 with 11 four-baggers, 13 doubles and a team-high 60 RBI, while adding 43 runs scored and an impressive 1.277 OPS. Hoffmaster, a middle infielder, also recorded a .885 fielding percentage with five double plays. Kiki Johnson, Portage Northern softball The junior led Portage Northern in nearly every statistical category last season, hitting for a batting average north of .400 and finishing with over 20 extra base hits, along with over 30 runs scored and over 30 RBI. A Madonna University commit, Johnson also posted a .944 fielding percentage. This season, she’s hitting .379 with five doubles, a triple and a homer with 13 RB and 12 runs scored. Cassidy Parmelee, Mattawan soccer The Xavier commit is one of the more dynamic offensive players in the area, providing a punch at forward and in the midfield for Wildcat coach Ann Ponicki. The junior scored nine goals and handed out 11 assists for Mattawan last year, helping the Wildcats stay in contention for a SMAC championship throughout the season. Alayna Eldred, Plainwell soccer One of the more budding young soccer players in the area, all signs point toward Eldred enjoying a breakout campaign in 2025. After pairing with star graduated forward Kayla Baar for the past two seasons, the junior now is the team’s top scoring threat –– she already recorded a hattrick against Rockford this season. The junior forward scored 17 goals and added seven assists for the Trojans last year, something that earned her Division 2 third team all-state honors. Eldred scored a hattrick against Hudsonville earlier this season. Constantine Taylor, Otsego soccer The junior is one of many Otsego standouts to look out for this spring, as she scored nine goals and added three assists to propel the Bulldogs to 15 wins last season. Taylor, a speedy and powerful center back, earned all-state honorable mention status in 2024. Addison Sziede, Schoolcraft soccer The junior scored 18 goals and added 12 assists in helping Schoolcraft to a winning season in 2024, while also earning Division 4 second-team all-state honors. Ireland Ashley, Allegan soccer Despite missing six games due to a head injury last year, the junior still managed to score 11 goals and add eight assists in helping the Tigers maintain a state ranking in Division 3. Madeline Chappa, Loy Norrix soccer The junior midfielder just committed to IU Indianapolis this week and will be one of the Knights’ top players on the pitch this spring. Chappa earned Division 1 all-state honorable mention honors for her talents last season. Charlye Reiner, Gull Lake soccer The junior midfielder has been a part of a strong wave of underclassmen that have produced for head coach Jeff Corstange this spring. Claire Pierce, Portage Central soccer The junior has solidified a role in the midfield and helped the Mustangs get off to a strong 8-2-0 start this spring. Bella Carr, Gull Lake soccer The junior goalkeeper has been outstanding in net this season, flexing a 0.58 goals against average including seven shutouts for the 10-1-1 Blue Devils. Gull Lake is currently ranked fourth in Division 2, and Carr has been instrumental in maintain that status. Jacob Bosma, South Haven baseball A second team MLive Dream Team selection last season, Bosma made a name for himself by tossing a complete game no-hitter that featured a season-high 17 strikeouts in a win over Allegan last spring. The junior finished last season with a 6-3 record on the mound, including 87 strikeouts and a 1.52 ERA. Haylen Buell, Martin baseball The two-way Martin star has been as advertised this spring, hitting .429 with two doubles, four runs scored and eight stolen bases, while shining as the Clippers’ top pitcher, too. Buell holds a 1.135 ERA with 26 strikeouts to just three walks across 12.1 innings pitched. Brayden Crites, Mendon baseball Crites hit a sweltering .509 in 2024 with 15 singles, eight doubles, four triples and a homer, along with 30 RBI, 29 runs and 17 stolen bases. He’d enjoy a 7-2 record on the mound with a team-high 72 strikeouts, along with a 2.812 ERA and a .135 batting average against. Jackson Herder, Kalamazoo Christian baseball The junior has been one of the Comets’ standout two-way stars this spring, hitting .391 with five RBI, six runs scored, eight walks and five stolen bases, while dominating on the mound. Herder holds a 1.875 ERA with 15 strikeouts to just three walks across 18.2 innings pitched, flexing a 3-0 record for the 12-3 state-ranked Comets. Jacob Palmatier, Gull Lake baseball The junior has become the Blue Devils’ go-to pitcher this spring, logging a 3.128 ERA with 12 strikeouts and a 2-0 record across 15.2 innings. Palmatier has also hit .571 in 12 plate appearances with six RBI and five runs scored. Max Markham, Gull Lake baseball The junior infielder has been Gull Lake’s leading hitter this spring, racking up 18 total hits including five doubles and a triple with five RBI, 10 runs scored and four stolen bases. He’s also pitched in four games and hasn’t allowed a run yet, tallying eight strikeouts to just one walk in eight innings. Liam Walsh, Mattawan baseball The junior right-hander has been one of Mattawan’s best pitchers this year, logging the most innings (18) on the team and holding a stellar 1.556 ERA. Walsh most recently pitched a five-hit, one-run complete game gem against Lakeshore last week in a 4-1 Wildcat win. Andrew Hampton, Plainwell baseball The junior infielder is off to a sizzling start this spring, hitting .611 with seven doubles and two triples, while adding 10 RBI, 19 runs scored and 13 stolen bases. Hampton has also logged 11 innings on the mound, flexing a 4.455 ERA with 17 strikeouts to just four walks. Evan McIntyre, Portage Northern baseball The junior outfielder has stepped up to be one of Portage Northern’s leading hitters this season, as he’s hitting .360 with four doubles and six RBI, while adding 11 runs scored, seven walks and a .950 fielding percentage. Mason Hoenle, Kalamazoo Central baseball The junior right-hander has been K-Central’s best pitcher so far this season, shining with a 1.667 ERA and 17 strikeouts across 21 innings pitched. Hoenle threw a six-inning one-hit shutout with four strikeouts in a 10-0 win over Big Rapids earlier this month. Carter Dzwik, Climax-Scotts baseball Dzwik has been the Panthers’ go-to pitcher this spring, posting a stellar 0.840 ERA with 17 strikeouts to just four walks in 8.1 innings pitched. The junio is also hitting .333 with three doubles in 20 plate appearances. Rowan Bradford, Decatur baseball Bradford has been a big contributor for a 12-3 Decatur squad this season, especially on the mound, where he’s holding a 2.739 ERA with 30 strikeouts across 15.1 innings. The junior is also hitting .368 with four doubles, a triple and 15 RBI at the plate, adding nine stolen bases. Max Gerl, Kalamazoo Hackett baseball The junior has stepped up his game to become one of Hackett’s leading hitters this spring, as he boasts a .432 batting average with a team-high 16 hits including two triples, nine RBI and 10 runs scored with four stolen bases. Ava Fellings, Kalamazoo Central softball Fellings has put in the work at the dish this spring, hitting .467 with six doubles, two triples and a homer, adding 19 RBI, 19 runs scored and four stolen bases for the 14-1 Maroon Giants. Allison Howes, Kalamazoo Christian softball Howes has been one of the Comets’ leading hitters this spring backed by a .436 average with two doubles, seven RBI and 13 runs scored. The junior has also pitched in five games and has a stellar 1.953 ERA with 10 strikeouts across 14.1 innings. Remi Dempsey, Paw Paw baseball Dempsey has stepped up and shined on the mound for the 14-4 Red Wolves, posting a team-high 1.750 ERA with 19 strikeouts across 16 innings pitched. Dempsey is also hitting .312 with three doubles and 14 RBI at the dish. Emily Wisniewski, Bangor softball The junior leads the Vikings with a .560 batting average and 28 total hits including three doubles, a triple and a homer, while adding 32 runs scored and 14 stolen bases across 65 plate appearances. Addy Fales, Allegan tennis The No. 1 singles junior has posted a 12-1 record to start the season, including four straight set victories over the past week-plus. Fales is a returning first team all-stater from last season. Adelie Chen, Portage Central tennis The No. 3 singles junior is undefeated in 2025, posting a 16-0 record including victories over Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central and Forest Hills Northern as of late. Chen has also defeated players from East Grand Rapids, Grand Haven, Okemos and Forest Hills Eastern.