2021 Division 4 Player & Coach of the Year
The 2021 Division 4 title race ended in a way that many may have expected. Once Battle Creek St. Philip won the crown in the 2020 pandemic-riddled season, it seemed like the Tigers would be tough to overcome with the…
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Continue ReadingThe 2021 Division 4 title race ended in a way that many may have expected.
Once Battle Creek St. Philip won the crown in the 2020 pandemic-riddled season, it seemed like the Tigers would be tough to overcome with the majority of the team coming back.
As it played out, St. Philip found its way to a second consecutive championship, all while sporting our pick for the 2021 D4 Player of the Year.
2021 D4 Player of the Year
Brooke Dzwik Brooke Dzwik 5'10" | OH Battle Creek St. Phil | 2022 State MI , Sr. OH Battle Creek St. Philip
All I could think about while watching Dzwik play during state finals weekend in Battle Creek was a Michael Jordan meme.
During The Last Dance documentary on Jordan and the Bulls, MJ found any and every reason to feel like he had a chip on his shoulder. At one point he uttered the phrase “and I took that personally.”
Dzwik plays with that level of intensity. She plays like her opponent has personally disrespected her, and that’s probably why she’s our Player of the Year.
It’s easy to see her athletic talents, as she makes a lot of plays look effortless, but it’s her drive to continue to be great and improve herself that truly makes her special. She’s not satisfied with just winning championships, she wants to dominate and wants to be one of the all-time greats in a storied history at St. Philip.
This past season, Dzwik had nearly 700 kills for the Tigers, finishing at 686 while hitting well over .300 on her attacks. She also led the team in aces while being among the team leaders in digs and blocks.
Dzwik has certainly etched her name in St. Philip history and will be among the names to be remembered over Division 4 lore.
Special Mention: Bethany Estell, Inter-City Baptist; Isabelle Kirkendall, Lenawee Christian; Maddie Munley, Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart.
2021 D4 Coach of the Year
Amanda McLanahan, Allen Park Inter-City Baptist
In her third season as head coach at Inter-City Baptist, McLanahan was able to lead the Chargers to Kellogg Arena and an appearance in the state semifinals for the first time in program history.
That alone is pretty impressive, but the list of teams that ICB beat along the way was even more impressive.
Starting with regional play, Inter-City Baptist topped three consecutive top-10 teams in Oakland Christian, Plymouth Christian and Ubly, to reach Battle Creek.
In the semifinals, ICB took a set from St. Philip before eventually falling in four sets.
Special Mention: Vicky Groat, Battle Creek St. Philip; Nicole Moore, Indian River Inland Lakes.