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

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 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.

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G.O.A.T. - 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 Male Athletes at Battle Creek Central:

Brandon Bouyer-Randle – Class of 2016

A three-sport standout, Brandon Randle was named Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 2016. Randle was a standout on a division-winning football team, a key role player on a district-championship basketball team and qualified for the state meet in multiple events in track. In football, he was named as a high school All-American 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 all-time leading rusher at the school and later held a similar ranking after his days were done at Western Michigan University. He had nearly 3,000 yards rushing in high school, earning all-state honors. He also had almost 2,500 yards rushing at WMU, graduating with the third-highest total ever at the school. Also a standout in track, he was among the top sprinters in the city and was a member of regional championship team. He also earned all-state honors in the 400 relay.

Larry Caper II – Class of 2009

Larry Caper II shattered nearly all the rushing records at Battle Creek Central, including those formerly held by his father Larry Caper Sr., also on this list of the Top 10 Players at Battle Creek Central. Those numbers made him the No. 12-ranked running back in the country when he left high school and a top prospect as he signed with Michigan State University. He graduated as the career leader in rushing yards and for yards in a single game. He also set school records on the track as a member of the 400 relay team and was all-league 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

One of the greatest running backs in the long history of Battle Creek Central football, Robbie Crockett averaged 6.9 yards every time he touched the ball his senior year with 18 touchdowns and a then-single season school record of 1,603 yards. A two-time All-City pick, he also graduated with school records of points in a season, career rushing yards and rushing yards in a game. Recruited by nearly every Division I school in the country, he was all-state twice. His senior year, he helped BCC to its first playoff game in 18 years. Committed to play at University of Iowa and played four years for the  Hawkeyes. Also a captain on the track team, Crockett qualified for the state meet in the 400 relay.

Scott Cubberly – Class of 1987

A standout in football and wrestling, Scott Cubberly made an impact in his top sport at the state-level as well as nationally and internationally. In wrestling, he finished third in the state as a junior and was a favorite for a state title as a senior, but was knocked out of the  postseason due to illness. He was city champ multiple seasons at 198 pounds. He went on to compete with a high school All-Star team in the Soviet Union. Cubberly earned a scholarship to wrestle at the University of Michigan. In football, he was All-City as a two-way lineman for the Bearcats.

Jordan Dickerson – Class of 2003

At the time of his graduation, Jordan Dickerson was one of the more accomplished football players ever at BCC. He set the school record for career yards passing as well as the single-season record. He also quarterbacked the Bearcats to back-to-back undefeated regular seasons. He was named to the state’s All-Star high school football game and signed to play at Grand Valley State University. He was also an All-City baseball player as an athletic and hard-hitting outfielder.

Kenyon Murray  - Class of 1992

As the only basketball player in city history to be named Mr. Basketball for the state, Kenyon Murray earns a spot on this list despite being a one-sport star. Murray was a high school All-American and the most awarded basketball player ever to play for the Bearcats. He graduated with the city record for points in a season and for a career. The 6-foot-6 forward helped BCC get ranked in the USA Today Top 25 boys basketball national poll. He went on to be a four-year starter at the University of Iowa, becoming the first player in that program to have over 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 200 steals and played professionally overseas.

Antonio Postell – Class of 2018

Antonio Postell was the Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 2018. As a standout on the Battle Creek Central football team, Postell earned All-City honors. Over his four years as a Bearcat, he was also a standout wrestler, qualifying for regionals in his weight class. But it was his work on the track that earned him the most accolades as one of the fastest runners in the state. He was the Most Outstanding Performer at the All-City Track Meet. He qualified for the state meet in four events and earned all-state honors. He went on to run track at Michigan State University and competed in the sprint events in the Big Ten Championships in both the indoor and outdoor season.

Ben Reed – Class of 2001

As a one-sport star, Ben Reed makes this list due to his accomplishments in high school and college. Reed finished third in the Mr. Basketball voting his senior year as he was all-state and Enquirer Athlete of the Year. Reed graduated fourth on the all-time career scoring list with 1,288 points as he had a monster senior year where he averaged 23.6 points per game and is among the school’s leader for points in a single season with 542. Reed also graduated as the school’s career leader in rebounds as well with 698. Reed went on to star at Western Michigan University where he was Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year, a two-time All-MAC selection and led the Broncos to two MAC West titles and a trip to the NCAA tourney, earning all-conference honors. When he left WMU, he was in the top 10 in scoring all-time with the Broncos and No. 1 in 3-pointers made.

Dan White – Class of 2000

Dan White was all-state in both wrestling and track and was an All-City football player as well. He graduated from BCC as the career record holder in wins and takedowns, and was the first wrestler ever to get 100 wins during a Bearcat career. White placed in the state in both his senior and junior year, finishing with a high of third place. In track, he earned all-state honors by taking third in the pole vault. White later became a professional boxer and famously fought Eric ‘Butterbean’ Esch at Wings Stadium. He was named Enquirer Athlete of the Year in 2000.

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

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Top 10 Greatest Athletes of All Time in BC Central boys sports