Meijer State Games of Michigan Announces 2025 Athletes of the Year

Grand Rapids, Mich., December 10, 2025 – Officials with the Meijer State Games of Michigan revealed the 2025 Athletes of the Year. The four categories for the Athlete of the Year award are adult male, adult female, youth male, and youth female. The following names are the award recipients:

2025 Meijer State Games of Michigan - Athletes of the Year
Bios are included below.

- Adult Female: Sophia Sunior – Beach Wrestling – Hastings, MI

- Adult Male: Sebastian Tesch – Track & Field – New Baltimore, MI

- Youth Female: Kamille Fitzpatrick – Track & Field – Armada, MI

- Youth Male: Jackson Brown – Wrestling & Beach Wrestling – Alma, MI

2025 Meijer State Games of Michigan - Athletes of the Year - Bios

Sophia Sunior, 20, Hastings, MI – Most athletes who excel at their sport typically start at a young age, taking years to hone their craft and skills. For Sunior, she fell in love with wrestling the minute she started participating just a short three years ago. Ever since then, success has found her on the mat as she has worked tirelessly to get better. In her first year competing in high school, Sunior placed 8th at state championships in 2023. This propelled her love and drive for the sport and continued her journey into college, where she became the first female All-American in history of the Grand Valley State University Wrestling Club by placing 5th at the 2025 National Collegiate Wrestling Association Nationals. Always looking for opportunities to compete, Sunior participated in and won gold at the 2025 Summer Games Beach Wrestling event. Sunior’s passion for the sport only grows by the day, and she is eager to keep improving and inspiring other young girls to get into wrestling as well. She credits both her high school and collegiate coaches for encouraging her and is excited about the opportunity to compete post college and get involved in coaching.

Sebastian Tesch, 25, New Baltimore, MI – If you ask Tesch to summarize his athletic journey, it would be characterized by both achievement and adversity. Competing in both the hammer and weight throw, Tesch has had numerous championship levels performances and records. He is a two-time NCAA Division II All-American and three-time national qualifier in the hammer and weight throw. This has currently earned him a ranking in the top 25 performers in NCAA Division II history set at Northwood University, where he also holds the program record. Through all the success Tesch found, he had to persevere too. Tesch suffered an ACL and meniscus tear, resulting in reconstructive surgery and a year-long recovery. His passion never burned out though as Tesch continues to push himself and reach new heights. The 2025 Summer Games track and field competition was Tesch’s first competition back, quickly winning gold in hammer throw. That win has built his confidence as he continues to compete with Grand Valley State University’s team while pursuing his MBA. Following his collegiate career, Tesch will continue to pour into the sport by volunteer coaching at Grand Valley State University while training professionally with the goal of qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Tesch’s mission, on and off the field, is to honor Christ, refine his God-given strength, and inspire others to pursue their dreams while never giving up.

Kamille Fitzpatrick, 14, Armada, MI – With a passion for running, Fitzpatrick has found success on the track and beyond, even venturing into other State Games events. Fitzpatrick first started running at four years old and has been earning accolades since then, breaking eight of her middle school track records, winning a cross country regional, and earning gold in the 50 meter dash alongside bronze medals in long jump, 200 meter, and 100 meter races during the 2025 Summer Games track and field event. Most recently, she qualified for the state finals in cross country her freshman year of high school. Even with that impressive resume, Fitzpatrick finds time to participate in even more sports, most impressively skeleton and bobsled while at the Empire State Winter Games in New York, earning a 2023 Athlete of the Year award with them. Additionally, she has earned titles in both basketball and flag football, and has a passion for racing cars and karts. Sitting still is never an option for Fitzpatrick, and she is always looking for ways to improve and get better. Beyond sports, Fitzpatrick is a dedicated student, taking honors classes in high school to set herself up for success. Her passion and dedication to track and field and beyond is admirable and contagious, and commitment to the State Games movement, both in Michigan and New York, is inspiring.

Jackson Brown, 14, Alma, MI – For Brown, sports have been a way to grow and adapt in ways that would have never occurred if it were not for the mat. In the three years he has been wrestling, Brown has not only taken the wins, but the lessons, to heart. His hard work has been followed by success, often placing at major MYWAY, NUWAY, and NEMWA tournaments. Brown also competed in both the 2025 Winter Games wrestling event, earning bronze, and 2025 Summer Games beach wrestling event, earning gold. Beyond the victories, Brown has earned more than medals. Wrestling has allowed him to grow as a person and has taught him commitment, perseverance, and how to face challenges on and off the mat. It has helped him grow mentally and physically and taught me balance in life. Brown imparts these lessons on younger athletes to help mentor and guide them to be the best version of themselves possible. While not wrestling, Brown also plays football, runs his own small business, and aims to start refereeing youth wrestling tournaments. He credits his family and coaches for their support and guidance that has gotten him to where he is today and looks forward to many more years of competing.

Click here to download the press release.