Batavia Community Urged to Support Local Youth Athlete Competing for 2026 Youth Athlete of the Year

Batavia Community Urged to Support Local Youth Athlete Competing for Youth Athlete of the Year

BATAVIA, IL — The Batavia community has a unique opportunity to rally behind one of its own. Local youth standout Lathan Friend has officially advanced to the quarter finals in the Youth Athlete of the Year competition, and local residents are being called upon to show their community support as voting, and soon final selections for semi-finalist get underway.

Friend, an 11-year-old student-athlete of Batavia, along with his teammates won the local Batavia Youth Flag Football Championship last year in 2025. Lathan was entered into the competition at the start of an energized 2026 flag football season. His passion for game is what drives him to work hard and improve his skills.  He values his teammates and the camaraderie that comes with being a part of such an amazing team. “Many evenings it feels like a scene from the sandlot as the boys gather each other on the field for a little (instead of baseball) football fun.”

Lathan embodies the dedicated spirit of Batavia athletics. "Our local youth athletes put countless hours into training, balancing their academics, and representing our city with pride- GO BULLDOGS!," said Denise Williams-Friend. "Having a Batavia athlete in the running for Youth Athlete of the Year is an achievement for our entire community. We are asking neighbors, local businesses, and sports fans alike to come together, cast their daily votes, and help spread the word."

How the Batavia Community Can Support:

• Cast Your Vote: Community members can vote online daily at

http://athleteoftheyear.org/2026/lathan-a2c7

until the poll closes on October 8, 2026.

• Spread the Word: Share the voting link across local community groups, neighborhood pages, and social media using the hashtag #BataviaProud.

• Local Business Backing: Local merchants are encouraged to display flyers or share the voting link on their digital platforms to amplify the message.