Top 10 Greatest Athletes of All Time in BC Central girls sports

Battle Creek Enquirer’s list of the top 10 female athletes in the last 50 years at Battle Creek Central High School. Vote for your choice for No. one

BATTLE CREEK – Who is the GOAT? Who is the Greatest Of All Time at each of the traditional city schools in Battle Creek? Or, to be more specific. Who is the greatest athlete of all time at each school?

Here at the Enquirer, in recent years, we have asked that question in regards to a specific sport, like the ‘Top 10’ football or volleyball players of all time at a certain school. But now, we are going beyond that. Who is the GOAT in terms of an all-around athlete? These might be athletes in an individual sport that didn’t show up on our lists that included team sports like baseball and softball. These are also high school stars that might have played multiple sports. They weren’t just great in one sport, they were great at everything they did.

MORE:

GOAT – Top 10 female athletes of all time at Harper Creek

GOAT – Top 10 male athletes of all time at Harper Creek

GOAT – Top 10 female athletes of all time at Lakeview

GOAT – Top 10 male athletes of all time at Lakeview

Who are the Battle Creek Enquirer 2024 Male and Female Athletes of the Year?

This is the ‘greatest’ of the Greatest Of All Time lists.

Candidates are graduates of the traditional Battle Creek city high schools. All shined throughout their high school careers and beyond.

We are limiting our list to the last 50 years – 1974-2024.

We will state our case for why each of the athletes belongs on the list with a short bio. Once we complete the top 10 list, in alphabetical order, it is then up to the Battle Creek area to vote for their No. 1 athlete There will be individuals left off these lists that some of you would argue shouldn’t be. Our poll will include write-in options and it will be interesting to see who makes that list as well.

Last is Battle Creek Central, as we have already looked at the rest of the schools in the city – picking a ‘Top 10’ male athlete list and a ‘Top 10’ female athlete list for each.

The Greatest Of All Time Top 10 Female Athletes at Battle Creek Central:

Veronica Armstrong – Class of 2004

A top performer in both basketball and volleyball, Veronica Armstrong used her 6-foot-1 frame to dominate in those sports during every time at Battle Creek Central. A four-year starter in basketball, she earned All-City honors for an impressive 16-5 Bearcats team her senior year. A four-year starter in volleyball as well, she was an All-City pick in that sport and went on to play collegiately at Michigan Tech University, where she was a three-time All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection and ranks in the top 10 for the Huskies in career kills with 1,132 over four seasons.

Carolayne ‘Cookie’ Henry – Class of 1982

A star in basketball and track, Carolayne ‘Cookie’ Henry was named Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 1982. Henry led the city in scoring and rebounding her senior year with 15 points per game and 15 rebounds. The All-City pick in basketball, Henry earned a scholarship to play women’s basketball at the University of Michigan. Henry was also named Most Outstanding Performer at the All-City Track Meet her senior year, winning the 100 and the 220, while also being on two first-place relay teams. She qualified for the state meet in track in the 800 relay.

Becky Horn – Class of 2004

A star in basketball as an All-City selection, Becky Horn became one of the best in the country in track at the collegiate level. She won two state titles in track at BCC. She went on to become a Hall of Famer at Western Michigan University in track, as she won eight individual Mid-American Conference titles and was a nine-time MAC champion in the 1,600-meter relay and 400 relay. She is the program’s only three-time All-American and finished third in the 800 run at the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Following her career for the Broncos, she advanced to the 800 finals at the 2008 United States Olympic Trials.

Shavena Jamierson, BCC – Class of 1987

Named the Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 1987, Shavena Jamierson was a two-sport standout at Battle Creek Central, starring in track and basketball. She the top city basketball player in her senior year, she averaged a double-doubles with 16.6 points per game and 14.1 rebounds and helped the Bearcats to a district title. She went on to secure a scholarship to play basketball at Virginia Tech. In track, she was named Most Outstanding Performer at the All-City Track Meet her senior year after winning the city title in the 110 and 330 hurdles three straight years. In track, she helped BCC win 30 straight dual meets and three straight league titles, as well as two regional crowns.

Lisa Larsen – Class of 1979

Lisa Larsen was an elite distance runner who became an All-American at the University of Michigan and made history by winning the Boston Marathon. She was also an Olympic qualifier in swimming and an Olympic Team alternate in track and later became a professional triathlete as well as being inducted in the Hall of Honor at the University of Michigan. In high school, she set a city record in the 800 and the mile in track and was all-state in swimming in the 200 IM and the 100 IM.

Sarah Slamer – Class of 2003

A three-sport standout, competing in volleyball, swimming and softball, Sarah Slamer went on to play two of those sports at the collegiate level. Slamer was the key player on one of the top softball teams ever at BCC, that set the record for wins in a season. In swimming, she helped BCC to a rare All-City title, the school’s first in 13 years at the time. She was a three-time All-City softball player and played that sport at Albion College. Also playing volleyball at Albion College, she set the school record in kills and was an all-league player at the collegiate level and a Hall of Fame pick for the Britons.

Nicole Standback – Class of 2003

A multiple-year captain in both cross country and track, Nicole Standback was a standout in both sports during every time at BCC. Earning all-state honors three times in track, Standback was undefeated over four years in the hurdles during league competition, setting the school record in both the 100 hurdles and the 330 hurdles. She was named Most Outstanding Performer at the All-City Track Meet every senior year. She went on to earn a scholarship at Bowling Green University, where she went on to enter her name in that school’s record books as well.

Mindy Stanley – Class of 1992

One of the top volleyball players ever at Battle Creek Central and a Hall of Famer at the collegiate level, Mindy Stanley belongs on this list, even though she only played one sport. The 6-foot-1 outside hitter was a three-time All-City pick and two-time all-state selection in Class A. She continued her volleyball career at Ball State University, where she was a three-time All-Mid- American Conference pick. She was also the recipient of the prestigious Woody Hayes National Scholar-Athlete Award. He and she were inducted into the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame.

Terri Walker – Class of 1979

Terri Walker is considered one of the top girls basketball players at the school. She helped Battle Creek Central to an undefeated regular season and the first district title in program, averaging a double-double. As a senior, she averaged an incredible 17.3 points, 17.1 rebounds, 4.0 steals and 2.2 assists per game while guiding the Bearcats to a 19-2 record and earned all-state. She also, a top track star for BCC, she set the school record in the high jump and was a city champion in the hurdles. She would go on to play basketball at Western Michigan University.

Arieonna Ware – Class of 2021

One of the best basketball players ever at the school, plus a standout on the volleyball court as well, Arieonna Ware had an exceptional four-year stint with the Bearcats. Ware was a four-time All-City pick in volleyball, earning all-league and all-region honors as well. On the basketball court, Ware was a big-time scorer with the school record for points in a game with 51. She graduated as the school’s all-time leading career scorer and rebounder in basketball and was all-state as a junior. She committed to play basketball at Purdue University-Fort Wayne after her four years of high school.

Contact Bill Broderick at [email protected]. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick.

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