CLINTON TOWNSHIP — On the eve of its centennial year, the Catholic High School League and Catholic Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame swelled by 21 new members during induction ceremonies June 8 at the Fern Hill Golf Club.
The Catholic League’s roots date back to the 1926-27 academic year. At the conclusion of the evening’s program, director Mike Evoy announced a yearlong observance will begin with a “kick off Mass” in September and wind up with a “centennial gala” in June 2027. The details of the observance will be available as the year progresses on chsl.com.
More than 1,000 individuals representing athletes, coaches, administrators, and officials have been inducted into the Hall of Fame since its inception 51 years ago. Here is this year’s lineup:
The 'Ed Lauer Person of the Year Award': Mitch Hancock
Wrestling coach at Novi Detroit Catholic Central
“At Catholic Central, the words goodness, discipline, and knowledge are more than a motto. They are a way of life,” Evoy said about Hancock. “Goodness is found in the way Mitch cares for his student-athletes. Discipline is seen in the unmatched standard of excellence he has built within the wrestling program. And knowledge is reflected in the life lessons he teaches every day: perseverance, accountability, sacrifice, and teamwork.”
Hancock won a state wrestling title his senior year at CC, then garnered All American honors at Central Michigan before returning to his alma mater in 2006, where he has turned the Shamrocks into a powerhouse, winning a dozen state championships and 81 individual state champs.
“Mitch is one of the finest leaders to coach the sport of wrestling on any level,” athletic director Aaron Babicz said. “His love for the kids and their growth as young men of faith is why our program is so successful. He commits himself to every aspect of their lives in helping them so they can be greater than they ever thought possible.”
Hancock has retired from coaching to become the first lay principal in school history. Anthony Biondo, assistant coach for the past 15 years, will succeed Hancock as head coach.
Inaugural 'Vic Michaels Coach of the Year Award': Gary Morris
Basketball coach at Farmington Hills Mercy
“Morris is a man whose life in coaching reflects so much of what Vic stood for: faith, commitment, mentorship, and love for young people,” Evoy said. Michaels, the longest-serving CHSL director, died this past December. “Gary has carried that same mission throughout his career, mentoring young women with compassion, discipline, and unwavering dedication.”
For 30 years, Morris has led programs at Dominican, Bishop Foley, and Mercy High School with excellence and integrity. Along the way, his teams captured 14 division titles, six CHSL championships, 22 district titles, and over 500 career victories.
'Tom Kelly Athletic Director of the Year Award': Ben Kerfoot
Royal Oak Shrine Catholic
Evoy said Kerfoot models sportsmanship through his relationships with his colleagues throughout the league, but especially at Bishop Foley. Separated by only four miles, the Madison Heights Bishop Foley and Shrine rivalry was becoming ugly prior to Kerfoot’s arrival nine years ago. He has transformed the rivalry into a shining example of good sportsmanship. When Bishop Foley, hosting a district championship basketball game, experienced facility issues during the game, without hesitation, Kerfoot allowed the game to be moved to Shrine despite having just completed a long day that included hosting Shrine’s own district championship game.
2026 Catholic High School League School of the Year:
Dearborn Divine Child High School
This year, the Falcons soared to incredible heights — winning a state championship in football, along with CHSL championships in cheer, boys basketball, pom, and baseball.
But, Evoy said, championships alone do not define Divine Child: “The name, ‘Divine Child,’ reminds us of the Christ Child, a symbol of love, compassion, dignity, and hope. And that spirit is alive within this school community. At Divine Child, students are not simply taught. They are cared for, believed in, and guided with the same love and purpose that Christ showed to the world.”
Pastor Fr. Robert McCabe and athletic director Rick Jakacki accepted the award.
Administrator of the Year: Brandon Malinowski
Farmington Hills Mercy
Brandon succeeded his mother, Nancy, as Mercy’s athletic director upon her retirement in 2021. He has proved to be more than capable. In the past five years, the Marlins have won league championships in bowling three times, dance once, lacrosse twice, pom-pon twice, softball four times, swimming five times, and tennis once. They have won state championships in golf three times, swimming three times, volleyball twice and ice hockey once. He was CHSL “AD of the year” in 2024.
Malinowski also serves as the chair of the league’s Women’s Coaches Association.
Coaches and officials inducted into the CHSL Hall of Fame
Coach Leon Braisted: Braisted has coached golf at Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, Bloomfield Hills Marian and Birmingham Seaholm high schools, winning nine state championships split among the three schools. He has been cited “Coach of the Year” by the Michigan Golf Coaches Association and the National Federation of High School Coaches.
Coach Drew Edson: He is the head swimming diving coach (for 10 years) for the boys at the University of Detroit Jesuit and an assistant coach (to his stepdad Mike Venos for eight years) for the girls team at Farmington Hills Mercy. Both teams have earned league and state championships under his watch.
Coach Rebecca Hendren: She is a longtime track and cross country coach, best known as assistant at Warren Regina. She also coached track at Livonia Ladywood, 14 seasons as CYO basketball coach at Warren St. Anne and cheerleading coach at Warren St. Mark.
Coach Ben Madero: He is a longtime track and cross country coach (for over 20 years) at Riverview Gabriel Richard, winning league boys cross country titles in 2007 and 2015, boys regional in 2007, 2021 and 2025, and girls regional in 2014. Madero also coached at Detroit Holy Redeemer for 10 years and at Allen Park Cabrini for three years.
Coach Steve Royce: He has been boys golf coach at Ann Arbor Fr. Gabriel Richard since 1997 and the girls team since 2006. He has won 13 league boys titles and one by the girls.
Coach Randy Williams: He has coached track and cross country at Divine Child for 18 years. The girls won a state title in 2024 as well as a pair of CHSL track trophies and one in cross country. Williams has coached over 30 all-state athletes in track, 18 in cross country and three state champions.
Official Jim McAndrews: He coached basketball for 10 seasons at Marine City Cardinal Mooney (two league titles), then switched to officiating for the past 15 years. He has officiated numerous CHSL and state championship games. McAndrews has a reputation for being fair-handed and efficient.
Athletes inducted into the CHSL Hall of Fame
Ava Brizard (Bloomfield Hills Marian, North Carolina State University): At Marian, she led the Mustangs to a pair of state championships. She was the 2021 “Miss Volleyball Award” recipient, a two-time Michigan “Gatorade Player of the Year” and first team All American. At North Carolina State, Brizard finished among the top five in kills per set, top 10 in career kills, and second team All Atlantic Coast Conference. She has one more season of eligibility in beach volleyball, which she intends to use at the University of Southern California while pursuing a master’s degree in entrepreneurship and innovations.
Lucas Cross (Clarkston Everest Collegiate, Franciscan University): At Everest, he led the Mountaineers to three district, three regional, and one state finalist finish. He was first team all-state in 2019, 2020, and 2021. At Franciscan, Cross was the second all-time leading scorer and seventh all-time in the Presidents Athletic Conference. He was the team’s leading goal-scorer in the last three seasons and the Offensive Player of the Year in 2023. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business management at Franciscan.
Greta Gidley (Farmington Hills Mercy, Hope College): At Mercy, she was instrumental in leading the Marlins to two team titles, winning three individual events, including setting a new Mercy record and a new CHSL record for the 50 freestyle. At Hope College, Gidley won an NCAA Division III national championship in the 200 individual medley as well as swimming on two national runner-up relay teams. She holds the league record for the 100-yard breaststroke and two relays. Gridley graduated with a degree in elementary education and is planning on teaching in the Holland area.
Derek Gilcher (Novi Detroit Catholic Central, Indiana University): At Catholic Central, he was a three-time state champion and wrestled on four state championship teams. At Indiana, Gilcher was a two-time NCAA national championship qualifier and was ranked as high as No. 9 nationally in his weight class, winning over 80 matches in his college career. He was Academic Big 10 four times and twice All American scholar. He earned a degree in comprehensive design and is currently working as a project engineer at a construction firm.
Amina Robinson (Farmington Hills Mercy, George Washington University): At Mercy, in volleyball she was a three-time letter winner and helped the Marlins win both a state championship and a Catholic League championship. At George Washington, she was the team captain her senior year and started all 31 matches at libero. She received the university’s prestigious Student-Athlete Leadership Award. She is planning to obtain a master’s degree in public health and apply to med school to become a physician’s assistant.
Allen Robinson II (Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Prep, Penn State University): At St. Mary’s, he was a vital member of the Eaglets’ 2010 football team that played in the state championship final at Ford Field. He also competed in basketball and track. At Penn State, he played three seasons, leading the Big Ten in both pass receptions and yardage. In his junior year, he was named an All American. Robinson played 11 seasons in the National Football League for the Jaguars, Bears, Rams, Steelers and Lions, catching 560 passes for more than 7,000 yards and 43 touchdowns. He resides in New Jersey, where he is pursuing NFL agent certification.
Grace Rotter (Bloomfield Hills Marian, Slippery Rock College): At Marian, she was a two-sport athlete earning four letters apiece in both lacrosse and basketball as well as all league honors in each sport. At Slippery Rock, Rotter excels in lacrosse. After two seasons, she ranks in the top 10 in five categories. She has a year of eligibility remaining at Slippery Rock and is hoping to get a master’s degree in business to go along with a bachelor’s degree in social work and a minor in psychology.
Sarah Sylvester (Bloomfield Hills Marian, Texas Christian University): At Marian, she played a prominent role on two state volleyball champions and on two Catholic League champions and was a finalist for the “Miss Volleyball Award.” At Texas Christian, Sylvester was one of the best middle blockers in program history. She holds the record for most blocks in three-set matches and second in all time total blocks. She was the Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Week on three occasions and has earned All-Academic Honors, too. Sylvester earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and is working on a master’s degree in supply chain management.
Grace Zdankiewicz (Warren Regina, Xavier University): At Regina, she was a two-time individual Catholic League and regional cross country champion. She was a four-time all-state runner and three-time all-county. At Xavier, Zdankiewicz ran cross country and track, garnering top 10 finishes in the Big East Conference for the 3,000-meter steeplechase, the 4x800-meter relay and the distance medley relay. She was a multi-time Big East Academic Team honoree. She has earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and will remain at Xavier for her fifth year of eligibility and pursue a master’s degree.
Contact Don Horkey at [email protected].
