Earlier this summer, in a joint effort with USA Today Network writers across the state of Michigan, a list of the 250 greatest athletes from high school programs across the state was released.
The list included a handful from Northern Michigan, though it also felt lacking a bit. It needed to be opened up. While that list had some limits, this one did not. It stretches from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron, down to Cadillac and up to Mackinaw City.
I’ve added around 30 athletes that’ll bring many down memory lane, bringing back great teams and individuals.
Check back this week for an expanded all-time look at the greatest female athletes, as well.
Northern Michigan’s Greatest Athletes
Jay Smith, Mio
For over 45 years, the state’s leading scorer in boys basketball has been Smith. He starred at Mio-Au Sable High School, finishing his career with 2,841 points. The 1979 Michigan Mr. Basketball, Smith also set the record for points in a single season with 952. He played at Saginaw Valley and Bowling Green and has had coaching stops at CMU, Michigan, EMU and currently LSU.
Bob Carey, Charlevoix
Carey was a Rayder football, basketball and track and field star and competed in all three at Michigan State, where he earned nine letters and was a 1950 and 1951 All-American football player. He was a first round pick of the 1952 Los Angeles Rams.
Dan Majerle, Traverse City
A dominant player at Traverse City High, he finished his career averaging 37 points a game as a senior in 1982-83. His 926 points that season are fifth all-time still. He went on to star at Central Michigan, averaging 21.8 points for his career. Majerle was later the 14th overall selection in the NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns and played 14 years in the NBA.
Ryan Hayes, Traverse City (West)
A dominant three-sport standout at Traverse City West, he signed with Michigan after an all-state career as a tight end and offensive linemen. He was also the Big North player of the year in basketball and held a career ERA as a pitch of 107 in 176 innings. Started all 14 games as a senior at Michigan and has played in the NFL for five years, currently the Tennessee Titans.
Anthony Zettel, West Branch(Ogemaw Heights)
Zettel was a mountain of a player at Ogemaw Heights in football as an all-state defensive lineman. He also lettered in baseball, basketball and track as a senior in 2010 He set a then Division 2 record with a throw of 61-feet, 8-inches in the shot. He signed with Penn State for football and later six years in the NFL, including two with the Detroit Lions.
Dwain Koscielniak, Gaylord (St. Mary)
Koscielniak made his presence felt in football and baseball as a Snowbird from 1987 to 1990. In football, he rushed for 5,078 yards in his career and twice earned all-state. He rushed for a state record 529 yards against Pellston in his final game. In baseball, he ranks seventh in career homers (35), seventh in season homers (17) and seventh in season average (.629). He went on to play baseball at MSU and spent two years in the minors.
Ryan Shay, Central Lake
A Notre Dame All-American, Shay claimed four consecutive state championships in cross country from 1993 to 1996 at Central Lake. He also earned seven total state championships in track and field. Following Notre Dame, Shay tragically passed away during the 2007 Olympic Marathon Trials in New York City, collapsing from an undiagnosed heart condition.
Joey Garber, Petoskey
A two-time Michigan Mr. Golf recipient and 2010 Division 2 state champion as a senior at Petoskey, Garber went on to the University of Michigan, then Georgia, where he became an NCAA All-American. He later competed on the Web.com and Korn Ferry Tour, before earning his PGA Tour card.
Hunter Jones, Thompsonville (Benzie Central)
Jones was as dominant as a runner can be in the state, winning four consecutive state championship in cross country and six total state titles in track and field from 2019 to 2022. He was named the Michigan Gatorade Cross Country Runner of the Year and 2022 Michigan Athlete of the Year. He owns the second best cross country time ever in the state (14:46.5). He currently runs at Wake Forest.
Dominic LaJoie, Gaylord
You don’t have to be big to be a dominant athlete and Lajoie proved it. A three-time state champion wrestler at 103, 112 and 125 pounds, he was also a state-runner up at 119 pounds. Finished 52-0 as a senior in 2018 and ended his career 200-4 overall and has the most tech-fall wins (94) all time. He went on to wrestler at Cornell and Stanford.
Carl Charon, Boyne City
Charon starred as a running back at Boyne City, scoring 20 touchdowns as a senior, a year after running for a 14.5 yards-per-carry average for an undefeated Rambler football team. He held the record of 26 touchdowns in a season for decades. He went on to star at Michigan State as a defensive back from 1959 to 1961 and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills.
Trevor Huffman, Petoskey
Huffman helped lead the Northmen to some of their greatest basketball seasons ever, scoring 1,435 points in his career and being named first team all-state in 1998. He went on to a hall of fame career at Kent State, helping lead the Golden Flashes to an Elite Eight run in the 2002 NCAA Tournament. He also had a successful professional career in Europe.
Max Bullough, Traverse City (St. Francis)
Bullough was a MaxPreps All-American as a senior linebacker for the Gladiators and named the Division 7 Player of the Year by the AP. He went on to an All-Big Ten career at MSU then played four seasons in the NFL, before turning to coaching. He’s currently the co-defensive coordinator at Michigan State.
Aaron Chatfield, Burt Lake (NMCA)
One of the best in MHSAA history at finding the back of the net, Chatfield ranks first in career goals with 201 and first all-time in career points with 296. He’s also sixth in goals in a season (68) and sixth in career assists (95). Chatfield went on to a collegiate career at Olivet Nazarene University.
Mark Smith, Cadillac
Smith was a standout cross country and track and field star at Cadillac High School, earning three state championships in cross country and two in track and field. He also set an MHSAA record in the 3,200 meter run in 1981 in a time of 9:11.6. He went on to a hall of fame and All-American career at Eastern Michigan University.
Toby McFarland, Petoskey
McFarland ranks among the state’s all-time best in home runs in baseball with 33 from 1987-90. He also sported a 1.11 career ERA in 158 1/3 innings. He was drafter by the Detroit Tigers out of high school and spent four years in the minors. Also held a number of PHS passing records for decades as a QB for the Northmen.
Mark Smolinski, Rogers City
A star running back at Rogers City, Smolinski went on to a hall of fame career at the University of Wyoming, where his 1959 team was also induced into the hall of fame. He went on to compete for the Baltimore Colts and New York Jets, scoring 17 touchdowns as a fullback. He later returned to Northern Michigan, taking a head coaching job at Petoskey in 1972.
Eric Behan, Petoskey
It wouldn’t be Northern Michigan without a skiing legend and Behan was that at Petoskey in the early 2000s. Behan was a five-time individual state champion on the slopes, claiming three state titles in giant slalom from 2003 to 2005 and two in slalom, in 2004 and 2005. He also helped Petoskey to two state championships as a team and a runner-up finish.
Chayse, LaJoie, Gaylord
Like his brother, Dominic, Chayse was a dominant wrestler for the Blue Devils, claiming state championships at 103 and 112 pounds, along with state-runner-up finishes at 125 and 145. He was named a high school All-American by USA Wrestling and later competed at Cornell and Stanford.
Joshua Burnham, Traverse City (Central)
One of the highest rated recruits ever out of Traverse City for football, Burnham was the No. 5 ranked linebacker in the country his senior season. He also starred at QB and led the Trojans to the state championship game his senior year. He went on to sign with Notre Dame and now competes at Indiana.
Chris Hass, Pellston
Hass helped lead the Hornets to the basketball quarterfinals as a senior. He was the Class D Player of the Year and finished his career averaging 27.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists. He averaged more than 30 points in each of his final two seasons and finished with 2,522 career points, fourth all-time. He went on to three-straight All-Patriot League seasons at Bucknell.
Joel Wilson, Petoskey
A three-sport star at Petoskey, Wilson rewrote the record books as a QB with the Northmen and earned Division 3 AP All-State. Wilson was also a star pitcher on the baseball field and all-conference basketball honors. He went on to play at CMU as an All-MAC tight end and currently plays for the Tennessee Titans in the NFL.
Roger Mason, Bellaire
An all-state baseball player at Bellaire, he also starred on the football and basketball teams with the Eagles. He later signed with Saginaw Valley State, playing all three sports at SVSU. After graduating, he earned a spot with the Detroit Tigers and pitched on the 1984 championship team. He played 10 years in the MLB.
Jake Fisher, Traverse City (West)
Fisher starred as a tight end for TC West and became a four-star recruit before graduating in 2011. He signed with the University of Oregon, became an All-PAC 12 offensive lineman and was drafted in the second round by the Bengals. He went on to play five seasons in the NFL.
Marcus Matelski, Boyne Falls
Matelski finished his career with 2,421 points scored (8th) on the hardwood. He averaged 35 points as a senior in 2016 and was named the state’s Class D Player of the year. He also set a Michigan single-season record for steals with 146 and is fourth in career steals (341). He later signed with Northern Michigan University.
Ham White, Boyne City
White shined as a sprinter and jumper for the Rambler track team in the 1930s, claiming six state championships over his career. He won three as a senior in 1933, running 10-flat in the 100, while also claiming the 220 (22.6) and long jump (22-feet, 1-inch).
Jeremy Kloss, Harbor Springs
A four-time state qualifier in cross country and three-time Division 4 state runner-up. He earned three-straight regional titles in the sport and claimed five state championships in track and field, including two in the 1,600 meters. He signed with Michigan State for track and cross country.
Adam Trautman, Elk Rapids
An all-conference quarterback in high school, graduating in 2015 from Elk Rapids. He was also an all-conference and captain on the basketball team. He signed with Dayton, was moved to tight end and became a third round pick of the New Orleans Saints. He’s currently with the Broncos in the midst of a seven-year NFL career.
Jake Flynn, Benzonia (Benzie Central)
A three-time state champion in cross country at the Class C level, Flynn was also named to the 1998 Footlocker All-Midwest team. In track and field, he was the 1999 Class C state champ in the mile and earned runner-up honors in 2000. He signed with CMU for cross country and track.
Sander Scott, Northport
Scott earned runner-up in the 1988-89 Michigan Mr. Basketball voting and helped lead Northport to a 1988 Class D state title, where he scored 39 points and added 17 rebounds. For his career, he scored 2,348 points, 11th best all-time, and later signed with CMU for hoops.
Wyatt Danilowicz, Traverse City (West)
A four-year varsity player at TC West in baseball, he was a two-time MHSBCA Dream Team honoree and rated as the No. 1 left-handed pitcher in Michigan his senior year of 2022. He signed with Louisville and went on to lead the Cardinals in innings (69) and strikeouts (84) as a senior. He was a recent 8th round draft pick by the Philadelphia Phillips.
Zach Hankins, Charlevoix
Hankins eventually grew into his 6-foot-11 frame and was a monster for the Rayders and later helped lead Ferris State to a 2018 National Championship. He was a two-time GLIAC Player of the Year and earned National Player of the Year. He transferred to Xavier and later player on the Philadelphia 76ers NBA Summer League team. He’s since had a successful pro career in Europe.
PJ Maybank III, Cheboygan
Maybank III was a recent star at Cheboygan and rated the No. 30 high school golfer in the country by Golfweek his senior season. He was also a high school All-American and earned a 2021 Michigan Division 3 state tile behind a state scoring record 135 two-day score. He signed with the University of Oklahoma, currently in his senior season.
Dwaun Anderson, Suttons Bay
The 2010-11 Michigan Mr. Basketball recipient, Anderson was a top 100 ranked player nationally and finished his career with 1,503 points scored. He was also a three-time all-state selection and signed with Michigan State. He later transfered to Wagner.
Dan Rohn, Alpena
A star on the baseball diamond for Alpena, Rohn signed with Central Michigan after graduating and was later drafted in 1977 by the Chicago Cubs, playing three years in the MLB. He’s since gone on to a successful coaching career at the AAA level, with stops in the Mariners, Giants and Twins organizations.
Nathan Chatfield, Burt Lake (NMCA)
Nathan etched his name in the MHSAA books nine times. He finished his career with 170 goals, fifth best all-time. He also had 105 career assists from 2001-04, third best all-time and ranks only behind his brother in career points (275). He went on to an All-American career at Northwood, scoring 91 goals.
John Flynn, Petoskey
A first team AP All-State recipient in 1998, Flynn helped lead the Northmen to back-to-back Class B semifinal appearances and a 1996 quarterfinal appearance with teammate Trevor Huffman. He’s the all-time leader in points at Petoskey in just three seasons with 1,747. He went on to a Hall of Fame career at Grand Valley State.
Riley Bullough, Traverse City (St. Francis)
A football standout with TC St. Francis, Bullough was one of the top ranked linebackers in the country in 2012 before signing with Michigan State University. He also earned state titles in his freshman and sophomore seasons with St. Francis. He starred for the Spartans and went on to a three-year NFL career.
Tony Byers Jr., Alpena
Byers Jr. filled his name in the Alpena hockey record books and the MHSAA record books across standout seasons from 1980-83 while playing for his Michigan Hockey Hall of Fame father. He scored 158 career goals, 10th all-time, then 143 assists, ninth all-time. He’s also fourth in career points (301) and won a state championship with the Wildcats in 1981.
Jeff Janis, Tawas
A star on the football field and basketball court at Tawas, Janis was an all-conference standout that signed with Saginaw Valley State and became an All-GLIAC star his junior and senior seasons. He was also named an AFCA Division II All-American. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers and played five years in the NFL.
Owen Jackson, Traverse City (St. Francis)
Jackson was a recent standout on the tennis courts at St. Francis, earning state championships at No. 2 singles as a sophomore and No. 3 singles as a freshman. He was also a state runner-up at No. 1 singles as a senior in 2024. He owns three 30-win seasons and 132 career victories, which rank fourth all-time in the MHSAA.
Reach Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com and follow him on X @DrewKochanny and Instagram @drewkochanny
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: 41 of the greatest high school athletes from Northern Michigan
