DETROIT — Seven schools were responsible for 13 of the 19 state championships claimed by the Catholic High School League in the 2024-2025 academic year.
Catholic Central won in wrestling, hockey (for a state record six years in a row), and golf.
Two-sport champs were Greenhills in boys tennis and girls tennis, Mercy in swimming and golf, Everest Collegiate in volleyball and boys golf, Lumen Christi in football and boys golf, and St. Mary’s Prep in hockey and boys golf.
The CHSL has won 564 state trophies since it joined the Michigan High School Athletic Association in 1926.
Here’s a list of the champions:
BOYS BASKETBALL – D3: Riverview Gabriel Richard
The Pioneers dominated Arts and Technology Academy of Pontiac in the second and third quarters to take the Division 3 trophy, 79-63. It is the first state championship in the Pioneers’ history and comes after a heartbreaking loss in the semifinals a year ago.
Quote: Senior guard Luke Westerdale said, “Last year, I remember saying ‘I can't believe this.’ And this year I was saying it for the best reason. That's really all there is to it. It is dead opposite on the spectrum. This is definitely one of the happiest moments of my life.”
BOYS BOWLING – D4: Allen Park Cabrini
This is Cabrini’s ninth state championship, its first in boys bowling. The other titles: baseball in 1979 and 1981, hockey back-to-back in 1994-95, girls basketball in 1976 and 1978, and girls’ two-peat in softball in 2006-07.
Quote: “These guys work their butts off. They practice hard and they show up every week. I’m proud of them,” head coach Joseph Csernai said.
BOYS FOOTBALL – D2: Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Prep
St. Mary's (11-3) erupted from a 14-13 halftime lead to defeat Byron Center, 35-19, for the Division 2 championship. It was the Eaglets’ ninth state title, the first since 2016. Darrin Jones led all rushers with 21 carries for 181 yards and two touchdowns, while Bryson Williams added 13 rushes for 109 yards and two TDs.
Quote: “This is where Orchard Lake belongs — playing games after Thanksgiving,” said third-year coach Jermaine Gonzalez.
BOYS FOOTBALL – D6: Jackson Lumen Christi
The Titans won their state-record 14th title of the MHSAA playoff era with an old-fashioned power running attack. Senior running back Kadale Williams (Toledo) rushed 27 times for a finals-record 314 yards and five touchdowns in a 56-18 victory over Lansing Catholic. Coach Herb Brogan picked up career win 421, trailing only John Herrington (443) and Al Fracassa (430).
Quote: Coach Brogan said, “We have a great tradition at Lumen Christi, and I ask the kids every year: ‘Are you going to try to live off that tradition, or are you going to add to it?’ These kids certainly added something to it.”
BOYS GOLF – D1: Novi Detroit Catholic Central
Catholic Central repeated as state Division 1 champs, its eighth in school history, seven strokes ahead of runner-up Rochester Adams. Comprising the team’s 587 total were junior Jack Whitmore (139), senior Dillon Che (146) and juniors David Krusinski and Collin Davis (each 151).
Quote: “We only cared about the team, and that is what our priority has been all season,” said new head coach Mike Fras, an assistant the past three seasons.
BOYS GOLF – D3: Jackson Lumen Christi
Lumen Christi avenged last season’s runner-up finish with a resounding 13-stroke victory in the Division 3 championship, defeating defending champion Traverse City St. Francis. Sophomore Brandon Kulka led the Titans with a 152. Senior Charlie Saunders shot 155 and sophomore Gabe Cooper shot 159.
Quote: Coach Dave Swartout said, “I was very proud of what they did and the decisions that they made. Mentally they played very well, and that was a huge difference. We talk so much about course management, and you have to know where to hit it. This is a very nice victory for them.”
BOYS GOLF – D4: Clarkston Everest Collegiate
Seniors Parker Stalcup and Will Pennanen led Everest Collegiate to its third consecutive Division 4 title (and fifth overall). Both finished under par: Pennanen at 2-under (71-71-142) and Stalcup (71-72-143) at 1-under. The Mountaineers won by 19 strokes against Calvin Christian.
Quote: Pennanen said, “We all played consistent. I don’t think it was even our best, but we did what we needed to get the win … That’s how it’s been for us. We always have confidence, we’re always prepared.”
BOYS HOCKEY – D1: Novi Detroit Catholic Central
The Shamrocks set the record for most consecutive MHSAA hockey championships, winning a sixth title in a row (and 19th in history) with a 4-1 victory over Howell. Brandon Kaleniecki, a member of CC’s 1999 and 2000 state champs, has coached the Shamrocks to seven state championships in 10 seasons.
Quote: “When I came back to be the coach here, it felt like I just belonged … I couldn’t imagine anywhere else I’d rather be coaching than right here. It really makes it very special for me.”
BOYS HOCKEY – D3: Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Prep
It’s been 17 years since the Eaglets won their last MHSAA hockey championship, but they put it all together winning the Division 3 championship with a 3-0 victory over 2024 champion Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood.
Quote: “It’s hard,” said coach Brian Klanow, who has won 404 games as St. Mary’s coach over 26 seasons. “You’ve got to go through regionals, and you certainly have to be on your game. Our team is playing its best hockey of the season right now.”
BOYS LAROSSE – D1: Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice
Facing off with Detroit Catholic Central for the 11th time in a MHSAA finals game, Rice overcame an early 3-0 deficit to defeat the Shamrocks 9-8 in overtime for its 17th Division 1 state championship. Sophomore defenseman Ben Waechter fired off a shot for the game-winner just 12 seconds into the additional period.
Quote: “Somebody asked me what I could write about — how about the heart of a team?” Warriors coach Ajay Chawla said. “They never stopped fighting, and that’s been this team all year. … They wanted it really bad. … We’re back where we want to be, where we should be, which is on top.””
BOYS SOCCER – D2: Warren De La Salle Collegiate
De La Salle (20-3-1) defeated Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, 4-1, in the MHSAA Division 2 championship game, the sixth for De La Salle but its first since 2005. Senior Josh Ross scored two goals and assisted on goals by JJ Jurczyk and Andrew Corder. Thaier Mukhtar (687-166-123) has coached the Pilots to six state titles.
Quote: “I’ve been there, I’ve done that,” coach Mukhtar said. “But my tears were for my seniors. I couldn’t be happier for them.”
BOYS SWIMMING – D2: University of Detroit Jesuit
The Cubs won the Division 2 title by scoring 305 points, 48.5 better than runner-up Byron Center. Jesuit had three individual winners: seniors Evan Tack and Patrick Mackillop, and sophomore Charlie McCuiston, as well as the 400 free relay in a meet-record time of 3:03.68.
Quote: “It was because of the way they carried themselves,” coach Drew Edson said. “It wasn’t the swimming or how many great swimmers we had in the pool. It was the attitude and the work ethic. It was amazing.”
BOYS SWIMMING – D3: Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood
Led by junior standout A.J. Farner, the Cranes made it three straight state championships and seven overall scoring 357 points ahead of runner-up Holland Christian (282.5). Farner won the 200-yard freestyle and 100 backstroke and was part of victorious 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams.
Quote: Farner said, “I had mononucleosis for the past three months. My coaches have done a really good job kind of limiting me and limiting what I’m doing. The coaches did a really good job preparing me. It went my way and better than I expected.”
BOYS TENNIS – D3: Ann Arbor Greenhills
In the Division 3 finals, Greenhills won the No. 1 singles (Teddy Staebler), No. 1 doubles (William Pearce and Kabir Rajendra), No. 2 doubles (Ajay Purohit and Charlie Rich), and No. 3 doubles (Richard Wu and Kirtan Palapattu) for its third straight championship and 15th in school history under coach Eric Gajar in his 26th year at Greenhills.
Quote: “You just sort of take care of what you can care of in your matches. Our guys really stepped up against top-level competition,” Gajar said.
BOYS WRESTLING – D1: Novi Detroit Catholic Central
The Division 1 win — 50-15 vs. Davison — marks a three-peat for the Shamrocks, where they’ve won seven of the last nine titles, and 11 of the past 16. It’s also the 11th state title for head coach Mitch Hancock.
Quote: The feeling of winning never changes. “You’d think it would. You’re so in the process throughout the year of prepping and prepping and prepping, but when it finally comes to fruition … It’s a special moment,” coach Hancock said.
GIRLS GOLF – D2: Farmington Hills Mercy
The Marlins won their third Division 2 state championship in a row (2022-23-24) and fifth in school history (1999, 2001) beating Dexter by five strokes. Seniors Maeve Casey (152) and Lila Polakowski (169) led Mercy, placing fourth and 20th, respectively. Senior Macy Morphew shot 179 and sophomore Megan Guerrera 186. Senior Emily Walker shot the team’s second-best score of the final round and her career-best 83 on the second day.
Quote: Vicky Kowalski, in her 46th year coaching the Marlins, said, “We are very fortunate to be able to do this three-peat, and it’s a great team. I've enjoyed coaching these young ladies.”
GIRLS SWIMMING – D2: Farmington Hills Mercy
It was the depth of the team that propelled the Marlins to a dominating performance in repeating as Lower Peninsula Division 2 champions. The Marlins won celebrated winners in two relays and an individual race. And when they didn’t finish first, they were placing, finishing with 375.5 points, well ahead of second-place Grosse Pointe South (255).
Quote: “There was no pressure on us at all,” coach Mike Venos said. “Just go take care of your own business and no matter what, we’re going to walk out of here successful.”
GIRLS TENNIS – D4: Ann Arbor Greenhills
Few doubted Ann Arbor Greenhills’ ability to win its fourth consecutive state tennis championship, especially with 11 of 12 players returning from last year’s title-winning squad, and seven of eight flights seeded first going into the weekend tournament. Greenhills won six of the eight flights, finishing with 38 of a possible 40 team points.
Quote: “Our motto is ‘All joy, no fear, can’t lose,’” said Greenhills coach Mark Randolph, who concluded his 31st year as a head coach and 52nd overall.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL – D4: Clarkston Everest Collegiate
The Mountaineers defeated St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake Catholic in four sets for their second-straight Division 4 Finals title. Their record of 37-0-1 was the first undefeated season for any Michigan high school volleyball team since Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard accomplished the feat in winning Class B in 2015.
Quote: Senior outside hitter Sarah Bradley (28 kills) said through tears, “I’m so sad to leave them and everyone behind. I think this season, we really played for each other, and it’s going to be so hard to leave them.”
Two other Archdiocese of Detroit high schools — not members of the CHSL — won championships: Pontiac Notre Dame Preparatory in D3 competitive cheer (second in row, seventh in history) and first-ever titles in D5 football and D3 boys soccer.
Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central won the D3 volleyball for its eighth in history.
Contact Don Horkey at [email protected].
