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Vote for the G.O.A.T: Who is the Greatest Athlete of All Time at St. Philip in boys sports

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Vote for the G.O.A.T: Who is the Greatest Athlete of All Time at St. Philip in boys sports

Battle Creek Enquirer’s list of the top 10 male athletes in the last 50 years at St. Philip High School. Vote for your choice for No. 1

BATTLE CREEK – Who is the G.O.A.T? 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 G.O.A.T 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 basketball. 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.

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.

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

We are starting from the smallest school in the city and moving up from there – picking a ‘Top 10’ male athlete list and a ‘Top 10’ female athlete list.

The Greatest Of All Time Top 10 Male Athletes at St. Philip:

J.P. Bauman – Class of 1999

Bauman had one of the most productive hitting seasons ever in baseball at St. Philip, putting him high on this list. The 1999 graduate hit a school-record .610 his senior season, which is still among the all-time best marks in the state of Michigan, earning All-City and All-State honors. Bauman blossomed at the next level, where he set records at the University of Chicago. As a senior he helped St. Philip to the school’s only All-City Tournament championship in baseball. Also a standout football and basketball player.

Brayden Darr – Class of 2016

Darr had a monster senior year in football as he helped St. Philip to an undefeated regular season, a spot in the state finals in 8-man football and a league championship. Darr, the centerpiece on a 12-1 team, finished with 774 yards rushing and added 620 yards receiving from his running back spot in nine games in the regular season and had 28 total touchdowns, earning all-league honors. Darr also was a standout from his linebacker position with 82 tackles.

Conor Gausselin – Class of 2020

Throughout his four-year standout career, Gausselin earned postseason honors in no less than four sports. Gausselin was the star quarterback on the football team, a record-breaking all-state basketball player and a district championship baseball player and state meet-qualifying golfer. He set the school record for career scoring in basketball. After graduation, he went on to play baseball and basketball at Aquinas College. He was named Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 2020.

Tim Hayes – Class of 1986

A winner in nearly every sport he played, the all-around athlete had one of the more decorated careers in St. Philip history. Along with quarterbacking the St. Philip football team to a state championship, he was also one of the top players on a Tiger team that advanced to the state quarterfinals in basketball. Also a standout on the Tiger baseball team. He was named Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 1986. He originally signed to play football at Air Force and eventually ended his college career at Northwood Institute. He was named Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 1986.

Tim Hutson – Class of 1984

Tim Hutson was one of the top all-around athletes for St. Philip in the 1980s, starring in football, basketball and baseball. However, Hutson really came in to his own as one of the best baseball players ever at the school with his play in college as a hitting star at Notre Dame. When he was done at Notre Dame, Hutson had set the record for home runs in a season with 18, adding 74 RBIs and hitting .380 during his senior season with the Irish. Hutson was undrafted, but signed a free agent contract with Milwaukee after college.

Mike Leifeld – Class of 2003

A standout in several sports at St. Philip, Leifeld was all-state in three sports – football, basketball and baseball. He left the Tiger program as the school’s all-time career scorer in basketball. When he graduated, Leifeld set the school and city record in football for receptions. All-City and all-league in baseball as well. He played football and baseball at Kalamazoo College, and set all-time records in baseball for hitting at Kalamazoo College. He was named Battle Creek Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 2003.

Tim Miller – Class of 1982

Miller was on one of the top distance runners ever at St. Philip. Miller was the Class D state champion in cross country twice. He also won the 3,200 meter run at the Class D state track championships his senior year. In the city, he was All-City champ in cross country and won the 3,200 in track. After graduation, he committed to run track and cross country at the University of Michigan. He was named Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 1982.

Chris Riley – Class of 2010

Graduating in the top five in all-time scoring in basketball, Riley was the key performer on a 2010 team that was one of the most successful in history at the school as it set a then-school record with 23 wins and was ranked No. 2 in the state at one point during the regular season as the squad went 19-1. A three-year starter, the 6-foot-3 forward had 18 points per game his senior year and went on to play at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Also an athletic receiver and defensive end on the St. Philip football team, earning All-City honors as a senior.

Andy Sohlich – Class of 2006

The most accomplished college player ever to come out of St. Philip, Sohlich was a standout at Division II Western New Mexico State. In high school, Sohlich graduated as St. Philip’s career scoring leader with 1,374 points, averaging 27 points and 10.5 rebounds per game his senior season.

George Starring – Class of 1975

Starring was the quarterback for the Class C state championship football team in 1974, helping the Tigers to their first 9-0 season in school history. He earned all-state honors in football for that team. He also was the leading scorer in the city in basketball for the 1974-75 season. He was named Enquirer Athlete of the Year his senior season.

Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick.

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