DETROIT — The intertwining of athletics and faith.
That was the central theme of Detroit Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger’s homily Sept. 3 during a special Mass marking the centennial of the Catholic High School League as 800 students, administrators, family and friends of 25 member schools gathered to celebrate at Most Holy Redeemer Church in southwest Detroit.
“Teamwork is necessary in athletics, but to also balance out the strengths and weaknesses critical to our success as human beings,” Archbishop Weisenburger said. “Every good encounter with Jesus connects people to people. He’s not calling one of us. He’s calling us together to be present for one another. We have a wonderful and powerful team. You can’t do it without a team working together.”
At the helm of a “team working together” is the coach. No one has witnessed this better than Mick McCabe, who recently retired after 55 years at the Detroit Free Press and whose exclusive beat was high school sports.
“There is a different mindset coaching in the Catholic League, than in the suburbs or even at some outstate schools,” said McCabe, a graduate of Allen Park Cabrini. “In the suburbs, if you have a good team, you coach like crazy. When you don’t, you kind of let things slide a bit. In the Catholic League, when you have a good team, you coach like crazy. When you don’t, you coach even harder or you will get embarrassed.
“Other teams are trying to keep up with Catholic League teams; it made them better. You know, back in the 1970s, the NFL was trying to keep up with the Oakland Raiders. That made everybody else better trying to keep up with them.”
To commemorate his 50th anniversary at the Free Press, McCabe published his “Golden Yearbook,” 50 years of Michigan’s best prep football and basketball players, coaches and teams.
“(Detroit Austin's) Dave DeBusschere, (Orchard Lake St. Mary’s) Jim Paciorek, (Detroit Catholic Central's) Frank Tanana, (Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice) coach Al Fracassa, these were all great,” McCabe said. “They were fantastic.”
Detroit Catholic caught up with several other Catholic League members at the Mass, who offered their thoughts on the centennial:
Duke Banta, Detroit Catholic Central's All-State quarterback, who is trying to lead the Shamrocks to a repeat state football title:
“I could not be more grateful than being in the Catholic League. I’ve been Catholic my entire life. I say the rosary before every game, to give thanks to God in everything that I do. I couldn't be more thankful in Him and be happy that He's my Lord and Savior.
“The Catholic League has just done so much for me and I couldn't be more thankful. There’s only one standard at Catholic Central and in the Catholic League, and that's just to be the best version of ourselves each and every single day until you turn into the young men that we want to be.”
Michael Kuzniar, athletic director at Allen Park Cabrini: “Our faith pushes us to be better. The example of the 100 years of the Catholic League is a testament to all the student athletes who have excelled and have served our Church outstandingly, past high school and beyond. Our faith and our love of one another and our deep concern for one another is outstanding.”
John Newsom, senior soccer player at Toledo St. Francis de Sales: “You look around and you just see the faith that’s in here and the brotherhood between all these Catholic schools. There’s nothing like it. We pray before every game. We ask St. Francis to pray for us before we go out on that field. I think it gives us that extra boost to go out and compete and have that drive to win.”
Jonah Will, senior football player, Ann Arbor Fr. Gabriel Richard: “I think that in our everyday life it’s easy to lose sight of the true meaning of why we’re doing what we’re doing. And I think all of these people together, all these athletes, it really helps to remind us what we’re doing is ultimately for God and the Catholic Church.
“I’ll be forever grateful to Father Gabriel Richard for attending to the needs of my family as a Protestant. Just being so welcomed by everybody, regardless of my differences, has really shaped the importance of being in the right direction in terms of my life.”
Beth Dannewicz and her mother Maddie, Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes: “Catholicism in general is based on tradition, so 100 years of tradition in the Catholic League and a religion based on a longstanding tradition helps establish a routine. That is the important part. In our daily life, so many things are coming and going, but our faith and the traditions surrounding that faith is something that is ever constant.”
Ed Okuniewski, principal, Brother Rice High School: “The Catholic League being 100 years old it means it is steeped in tradition, the tradition of faith, the tradition of athletic excellence, the tradition of academic excellence that permeates through the entire Catholic League and especially at Brother Rice. It’s important because it’s who we are as people. Yes, we are students and athletes, but we are Christian young men of faith, people of faith, administrators, teachers, staff of faith, and that helps out your daily life.”
Contact Don Horkey at [email protected].
