Photo Credit: Traverse Record-Eagle/Jan-Michael Stump

KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Dalton Michael had an award-winning senior season at Traverse City West High School and was presented with his latest accolade, being named the Gatorade Michigan Boy's Soccer Player of the Year.

Michael is a 6-0, 160-pound midfielder and is signed with Western Michigan where he will compete for the Broncos as a freshman this upcoming fall.

In addition to the Gatorade POTY honor, Michael was the 2016 MHSAA "Mr. Soccer" and earned NSCAA High School All-American and First Team All-State honors. He is the second straight Gatorade POTY and Michigan Mr. Soccer recipient to sign with Western Michigan. Sophomore Anthony Bowie earned both prestigious honors a year ago coming out of Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central High School.

Michael scored 29 goals and passed for eight assists as a senior this past season, leading the Titans (18-3-2) to the Division I, Regional 1 tournament final. A two-time captain of the Traverse City Record Eagle Dream Team he concluded his prep soccer career with 72 goals and 26 assists.

"Dalton is a tenacious forward with size, strength and speed who is a great finisher," said Tim Storch, head coach of Alpena High. "He is a go-to-goal player and he does it well."

The Gatorade POTY award not only recognizes outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field.

Michael has maintained a 3.78 GPA in the classroom and has volunteered locally as a youth soccer coach. He will be joined at Western Michigan by his twin brother Donovan Michael, who will also compete on the Bronco soccer team.

Dalton is now a finalist for the Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year, which will be announced later this month. With his selection as Player of the Year, Michael also gets to choose a national or local youth sports organization to donate a $1,000 grant to through the Gatorade Play It Forward program.