The Battle Creek Enquirer’s list of the top 10 male athletes of the last 50 years at Battle Creek Central High School. Vote for your favorite for No. 1
BATTLE CREEK – Who is the GOAT? Who is the greatest of all time at each of the traditional city schools in Battle Creek? Or more specifically, who is the greatest athlete of all time at each school?
Here at the Enquirer, we’ve asked this question in recent years in relation to a specific sport, such as the “top 10” football or volleyball players of all time at a particular school. But now we’re going beyond that. Who is the GOAT in terms of an all-around athlete? These could be athletes in an individual sport who didn’t appear on our lists of team sports like baseball and softball. These could also be high school stars who may have played multiple sports. They weren’t just great at one sport, they were great at everything they did.
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Who are the 2024 male and female athletes of the year according to the Battle Creek Enquirer?
This is the “biggest” list of all time.
The candidates are graduates of the traditional high schools in the city of Battle Creek. All have demonstrated outstanding achievement throughout their high school years and beyond.
We limit our list to the last 50 years – 1974–2024.
We will provide a brief bio on why each of the athletes belongs on the list. Once we finalize the top 10 list in alphabetical order, it will be up to the Battle Creek region to vote for their best athlete. There will be people missing from these lists that some of you feel shouldn’t be there. Our poll will also include opportunities to add names and it will be interesting to see who makes that list as well.
Last up is Battle Creek Central, as we’ve already looked at the rest of the city’s schools and created a “Top 10” list of male and female athletes for each.
The 10 Greatest Male Athletes of All Time at Battle Creek Central:
Brandon Bouyer-Randle – Class of 2016
Brandon Randle is a standout in three sports and was named the 2016 Enquirer Athlete of the Year. Randle was a standout on a division-winning football team, a key player on a district championship-winning basketball team, and qualified for the state championship in several track and field events. In football, he was named an All-American in high school and was a four-star prospect before signing with Michigan State University. He later played at Texas Tech and the University of Connecticut before signing an NFL contract as an outside linebacker.
Larry Caper Sr. – Class of 1978
When he left Battle Creek Central, Larry Caper Sr. was the school’s all-time leading runner and later held a similar ranking after his time at Western Michigan University was over. He rushed for nearly 3,000 yards in high school, earning an all-state honor. At WMU, he rushed for nearly 2,500 yards, finishing with the school’s third-highest total ever. He was also a standout track and field athlete, one of the city’s best sprinters and a member of the regional championship team. He also earned an all-state honor on the 400-meter relay.
Larry Caper II – Class of 2009
Larry Caper II broke nearly every rushing record at Battle Creek Central, including his father, Larry Caper Sr., who is also on this list of top 10 players at Battle Creek Central. Those numbers made him the 12th best running back in the country coming out of high school and a top prospect when he signed with Michigan State University. He graduated with career-best rushing yards and yards in a single game. He also set school records in track as a member of the 400-meter relay team and was an all-league player in that sport as well. After four years of football at MSU, he signed a free agent contract with the Oakland Raiders.
Robbie Crockett – Class of 1997
Robbie Crockett, one of the best running backs in the storied history of Battle Creek Central football, averaged 6.9 yards per touch and scored 18 touchdowns during his senior year, setting a then-school record of 1,603 yards in a season. He was twice selected to the All-City team and graduated with school records for points in a season, career rushing yards and rushing yards in a game. He was recruited by nearly every Division I school in the country and was twice All-State. During his senior year, he helped BCC to its first playoff appearance in 18 years. He committed to play at the University of Iowa and played four years for the Hawkeyes. Crockett was also captain of the track team and qualified for the state championships in the 400-meter relay.
Scott Cubberly – Class of 1987
A standout in football and wrestling, Scott Cubberly made an impact at the state, national and international levels in his favorite sport. In wrestling, he finished third in his state as a junior and was a favorite for a state title as a senior, but was knocked out of the postseason by an illness. He was a city champion in the 198-pound class for several seasons. He then competed in the Soviet Union on a high school all-star team. Cubberly earned a scholarship to the University of Michigan to wrestle. In football, he was All-City as a two-way lineman for the Bearcats.
Jordan Dickerson – Class of 2003
By the time he graduated, Jordan Dickerson was one of the most accomplished football players to ever attend BCC. He set the school record for most career passing yards and the single-season record. He also led the Bearcats in two consecutive undefeated regular seasons at quarterback. He was named to the state all-star high school football game and committed to play at Grand Valley State University. An athletic and hard-hitting outfielder, he was also an all-city baseball player.
Kenyon Murray – Class of 1992
As the only basketball player in city history to be named the state’s Mr. Basketball, Kenyon Murray earns a spot on this list despite being a star in a single sport. Murray was a high school All-American and the most decorated basketball player to ever play for the Bearcats. He finished with the city record for most points in a season and career. The 6-foot-6 forward helped BCC earn a spot in the USA Today Top 25 national poll in boys basketball. He played four years as a starter at the University of Iowa and was the first player in that program to score over 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 200 steals and play professionally overseas.
Antonio Postell – Class of 2018
Antonio Postell was the 2018 Enquirer Athlete of the Year. A standout player on Battle Creek Central’s football team, Postell earned All-City honors. In his four years as a Bearcat, he was also a standout wrestler, qualifying for the regional championships in his weight class. But it was his work on the track that earned him the most accolades as one of the state’s fastest runners. He was the Most Outstanding Competitor at the All-City Track Meet, qualifying for the state championships in four events and earning All-State honors. He then became a track and field athlete at Michigan State University, competing in the sprint events at the Big Ten Championships in both the indoor and outdoor seasons.
Ben Reed – Class of 2001
Ben Reed is a star of one sport and is on this list because of his accomplishments in high school and college. In his senior year, Reed finished third in the Mr. Basketball voting and was named All-State Athlete of the Year and the Enquirer’s Male Athlete of the Year. Reed finished the season fourth among all-time scorers with 1,288 points as he averaged 23.6 points per game his senior year and is among the school’s best single-season points total with 542. Reed also finished the season as the school’s leading rebounder with 698. Reed then became a star at Western Michigan University where he was named Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year and twice named to the All-MAC team, leading the Broncos to two MAC West titles and a trip to the NCAA Tournament while earning All-Conference honors. When he left WMU, he was among the Broncos’ top 10 all-time scoring leaders and No. 1 in 3-pointers made.
Dan White – Class of 2000
Dan White was an All-State player in both wrestling and track and field and was also an All-City football player. He graduated from BCC as the career record holder in wins and takedowns and was the first wrestler to achieve 100 wins during his Bearcat career. White earned state championship placings in both his senior and sophomore year, with a career best of third place. In track and field, he earned All-State honors by placing third in the pole vault. White later became a professional boxer and fought Eric “Butterbean” Esch at Wings Stadium. He was named the Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 2000.
Contact Bill Broderick at [email protected]. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick.
