Essexville Garber senior wide receiver Ben VanSumeren has been named The Associated Press 2017 Division 5-6 high school football Player of the Year. Despite only playing at wide receiver for just over seven games, the 6-foot-3, 230-pound VanSumeren hauled in 85 passes for 1,259 yards and 13 touchdowns. He consistently tore up opposing secondaries, catching 10 or more passes and at least one touchdown in each of the last seven games after starting at quarterback the first two games and throwing for 249 yards and three TDs.
The Division 5-6 Coach of the Year is Frankenmuth's Phil Martin.
Voting was by a panel of AP member sportswriters from around the state.
