BLOOMFIELD HILLS — “We’re working through some kinks right now.”
That was coach Ajay Chawla’s assessment of the Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice lacrosse team in the aftermath of a 9-7 victory over Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central last Saturday afternoon, March 27.
The Warriors, the defending Michigan high school state champion, opened the season with a pair of lopsided victories by a combined 28 goals, only to be rudely brought back to reality in a 17-4 shellacking by the appropriately nicknamed Cincinnati St. Xavier Bombers, the defending Division 1 champion in Ohio.
“We got a lot of guys who weren’t on the field last year,” said Chawla, in his 13th season. “They’re starting to get through their mistakes right now, making a lot of them. But we’re learning from them. We got a lot of young guys playing. They’re starting to come around. We’re starting a couple of sophomores and a freshman. They’re learning to play with each other. I think that’s a big deal.”
It was a “hat trick” day for freshman attacker Dan Skandalaris. He fired his first goal less than two minutes into the game, the second to give the Warriors a three-goal cushion at the half, and the win-clincher with 2:40 to play. He has 12 goals for the season.
Junior Joe Lee contributed two goals. Seniors Carter Tischer and Frank Balardi and sophomores Lucas Wells and Brady Balowski each had one. Sophomore Ryland Parent handled goaltender duties.
“We’re gettable right now,” Chawla said. “But we won’t be later in the season. How about that? We’re working. We’ll get it together.”
Rice dominates lacrosse
Since the Michigan High School Athletic Association sanctioned lacrosse in 2005, Brother Rice has compiled a 394-62 record under coaches Rob Ambrose (2005-2013; 185-19) and Chawla (since 2014, 209-43).
The Warriors are 290-12 against 47 Michigan high schools and 104-50 versus schools from seven other states and Canada.
Brother Rice is 148-7 against seven Catholic League opponents. The seven losses were to Novi Detroit Catholic Central. Rice is 142-5 versus other in-state schools.
Brother Rice has won 23 CHSL championships and 17 state championships.
NOTE: Prior to 2005, Brother Rice was a member of the Michigan State Lacrosse Association and won state titles in 1986, 1988-89-90, 1996-97-98, 2000-01, 2003-04, raising Rice’s championship total to 28.
Other current dominators
These winning streaks of three or more are alive on both the league and state levels:
Bloomfield Hills Marian in CHSL girls skiing, the last four years, 11 overall.
Dearborn Divine Child in CHSL girls cheerleading, the last 23 years in a row; 27 in history.
Farmington Hills Mercy in CHSL girls swimming, 58 championships: 34 in a row between 2024 and 1991 and 27 consecutive wins between 1989 and 1967. Marian won the 1990 final. The Marlins won their third state Division 2 championship in a row (14th overall).
Catholic Central in CHSL boys wrestling, 35 consecutive championships dating back to 1995. The Shamrocks have won the last five state Division 1 titles, 19 overall since 1997. In boys ice hockey, Catholic Central has won the last four CHSL trophies (11 overall) and the last seven state crowns (overall 20).
Contact Don Horkey at [email protected].
