Mahti Gwilly named Macomb County Player of the Year

Utica High School senior first to receive award since 1971.

Anna Brown and Sofia Crook • December 19, 2025

An inside look with senior Janell Walters as she questions Macomb County Player of the Year senior Mahti Gwilly to find out more about his feelings towards the achievement and being the first one to win the award since 1971, 54 years ago.

Senior Mahti Gwilly received the Macomb County Player of the Year award at the All-County football banquet in Chesterfield, Michigan on Dec. 8. With the statistics provided, Gwilly was able to help lead his team to the MHSAA [Michigan High school Athletic Association] Division 1 Playoffs. Ultimately, the team finished with a record of 7-3.

Gwilly explained he needed a solid support system before he could win this award.

“It took hard work, trusting my teammates, my coaches, the people around me and believing in myself,” Gwilly said. “I felt like I had a great performance this season and that was all due to the people around me.”

According to an interview done by speech class student senior Janell Walters, Gwilly expresses gratitude for the award.

“I feel honored, I’m glad I was able to win this,” Gwilly said. “I’m really thankful for my teammates who helped me along the way.”

As Gwilly marks the start of his legacy, he remains appreciative of the fact that he was able to make an impact at Utica. If you’d like to know more about Gwilly’s football statistics from this past fall season, please refer to the infographic and video above.

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About the Contributors

Anna Brown, Editor-in-Chief

Anna Brown is a senior, and this is her third year on the Arrow newspaper staff. She’s returning as this year’s Co-Editor-in-Chief with Kara Boice and is continuing the popular Photo of the Day series @uhsarrow. In her free time, she enjoys taking photos; you may see her out on the field as she captures most of Utica’s sports, events, clubs, and more. She also continues to deepen her understanding in the journalistic field by attending the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association’s Student Media Leadership Workshop in the spring, and the journalism camp over the summer. This summer, she won the Award of Excellence in the Level Up: Leadership for Student Media class for being “Next Level” with Kara Boice. She is an inducted member of the Quill and Scroll: the National Honor Society for High School Journalist. She can’t wait to see what this year holds!

Sofia Crook, Copy Editor

Sofia Crook is a senior and a Copy Editor for the Arrow newspaper. She enjoys reporting on school-wide events and clubs. When she’s not reporting, Sofia spends her time connecting with local organizations as the President of Utica High School’s Chapter of the National Honor Society and also enjoys spending time with her friends. As it’s her first year in a publication, Sofia hopes to improve her reporting skills and share her current knowledge with others!