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Articles by Wright Wilson
Schroeder’s second straight win leads Catholic League cross-country state meet performances
BROOKLYN — In case anyone didn’t learn last year: never, ever count out Samantha Schroeder. For the second year in a row, the veteran distance runner from Jackson Lumen Christi became a state champion, winning the MHSAA Division 3 cross-country championship race in exciting come-from-behind fashion. When she reached the two-mile point of the 5-kilometer (3.1 mile) course at Michigan International Speedway, Schroeder trailed leader Caelyn Torry of McBain by 12 seconds.
Three-peat! Warren De La Salle extends state soccer championship streak, 3-2, over St. Joseph
GRAND LEDGE — On a deep, talented, Warren De La Salle soccer team, Settimo Leone knows his role. While three-time all-state goalkeeper Dominic Balderotta shows nerves of steel, and leading scorer and “Mr. Soccer” candidate Andrew Corder lets his goals do the talking, Leone doesn’t hesitate to be the squad’s hype man. “We’ve got a lot of silent captains on the team, so there’s got to be someone to get everyone going, get everyone fired up.
Catholic High School League selects, salutes its greatest athletes in history
Top 100 male and top 100 female student-athletes honored during CHSL’s centennial-year Prep Bowl DETROIT —After being an all-American wrestler, winning two track state titles for shot put, starring in football at the University of Michigan and playing four seasons in the National Football League, there aren’t too many settings in which Mike Martin may be awestruck. But we might have found one.
At SS. Peter and Paul Jesuit Church, special events call for special Masses
Historic church's 'Blessing of the Sneakers' before marathon day a big hit with runners, priest says: 'It's really been growing' DETROIT — “Strong and faithful God, as we come together for this competition, we ask you to bless these athletes,” Fr. Gary Wright, SJ, said Oct. 17 to the congregation at SS. Peter and Paul (Jesuit) Church in downtown Detroit.
Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central readies itself to join the Catholic League
SMCC shares one last go-round with Huron League rivals RIVERVIEW —While the Catholic High School League celebrates its centennial this year, another Catholic school within Archdiocese of Detroit's boundaries has instead been busy commemorating “six decades, 207 Huron League titles and one last dance.” Historically, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central has been a Catholic League holdout, preferring to join a neighborhood conference with local public school rivals instead.
Zach Stinson returns to Free Press Marathon to win adaptive athletes division
Welcome back, Zach. Zach Stinson, 37, of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, won the adaptive athlete division in the 49th annual Detroit Free Press Marathon presented by MSU Federal Credit Union, held on Oct. 18, 2026. Stinson finished with a time of 1:12:49. He beat second-place Michael Malone by over 31 seconds. Stinson previously won in 2022, '23 and '24 but did not compete last year.
Zach Stinson returns to Free Press Marathon to win adaptive athletes division
Zach Stinson, 37, of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, won the adaptive athlete division in the 49th annual Detroit Free Press Marathon presented by MSU Federal Credit Union, held on Oct. 18, 2026. Stinson finished with a time of 1:12:49. He beat second-place Michael Malone by over 31 seconds. Stinson previously won in 2022, '23 and '24 but did not compete last year. This story will be updated.
Zach Stinson returns to Free Press Marathon to win adaptive athletes division
Zach Stinson, 37, of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, won the adaptive athlete division in the 49th annual Detroit Free Press Marathon presented by MSU Federal Credit Union, held on Oct. 18, 2026. Stinson finished with a time of 1:12:49. He beat second-place Michael Malone by over 31 seconds. Stinson previously won in 2022, '23 and '24 but did not compete last year. This story will be updated.
49th Detroit Free Press Marathon kicked off under chilly conditions
I played 5 of the best Michigan golf courses for 1st time. Here's how each looked I played 5 of the best Michigan golf courses for 1st time. Here's how each looked sports Canton couple takes the long way to happily ever after at marathon Canton couple takes the long way to happily ever after at marathon sports Post race, the longest lines weren’t for the medals or the milk or the merch. But there was a significant crowd waiting around Campus Martius seeking out meaningful photo opportunities.
St. Francis, St. Ursula successfully defend their Catholic League cross-country team titles
MILFORD TOWNSHIP — Brennan Higgins and Emerie Schmidlin know that racing in the Catholic League Championship at Kensington Metropark is probably not going to produce their best times. But the duo realized success in other ways, leading their teams to Bishop Division league titles Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 14. “It’s definitely a course that will test you mentally,” said Higgins, a junior at Toledo St. Francis de Sales.
Austin Catholic siblings set the pace in Catholic League cross-country
Siblings Cassidy, Gavin and Luke Bowers give glory to God as they lead the pack cross-country runners WATERFORD TWP. – In his first letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul uses an athletic metaphor, urging his audience to “run so as to win the prize" (1 Cor. 9:24). Two millennia later, that message resonates around the Bowers household in Macomb Township. Cassidy Bowers, a junior at Austin Catholic in Chesterfield Township, is a returning all-state cross-country runner.
Among top-flight volleyball teams, Farmington Hills Mercy stands tall
ORCHARD LAKE — Anyone hoping to unseat Farmington Hills Mercy from the list of elite volleyball programs faces a tall task. The Marlins bring an incredible pedigree: not only have they won two state championships in the past three seasons, they are two-time CHSL defending champions, ranked No. 1 in the state this fall, and 13-0-0 after Wednesday night’s four-set victory at rival Orchard Lake St. Mary.
Catholic High School League kicks off its centennial year with a special city-wide Mass
Approximately 800 students gathered in Detroit Sept. 3 to celebrate 100 years of Catholic High School League DETROIT – Kinsley Hancock is simply one member of the field hockey team at St. Catherine of Siena Academy in Wixom, but the sophomore is keenly aware of how vast a connection there has been for the area’s Catholic high school athletic programs over the past 100 years, thanks to the Catholic High School League.
Catholic Central, Divine Child, Cranbrook, Cabrini pre-season favorites in CHSL football
DETROIT — Last year, Novi Detroit Catholic Central “finished what it started” by defeating Detroit Cass Tech to win the MHSAA Division 1 state football championship. But are the Shamrocks really finished? Head coach Justin Cessante said that might not be the case with his squad.
Following in his father’s footsteps: Marc Michaels named CHSL associate director
Michaels succeeds his father, Vic Michaels, the longest-serving Catholic High School League director, who passed away in 2025 DETROIT —Was Marc Michaels destined to be a Catholic League administrator? His life history and experiences seem to indicate so. “Really, it started before I was born,” Michaels said. “I was in my mom’s stomach and was at basketball games at (Center Line) St. Clement, because my dad was a coach and athletic director and vice-principal and a history teacher.
Catholic High School League planning big events to celebrate its centennial year
Country’s largest Catholic prep sports league celebrate legendary players and teams during 2026-27 season DETROIT ─ When Catholic High School League director Mike Evoy says, “There’s a rich history here,” his statement barely scratches the surface of the country’s largest Catholic prep sports organization that came into existence in 1926.
Catholic Central, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s capture state baseball crowns
Royal Oak Shrine falls in semifinal to eventual state champ EAST LANSING ─ After Cam Swearingen caught a third-strike delivery from teammate Micky Laser – the final play of the 2025-26 prep sports season in Michigan – Swearingen soon found himself at the bottom of a dogpile made up of Novi Detroit Catholic Central teammates celebrating their MHSAA Division baseball state championship. “It was a little tight down there, I was getting a little scared.
Marian, Shrine girls soccer squads fall short in state championship matches
EAST LANSING – Nia Bordogna raised her shoulders, palms up, as if to say, “What’s going on? Wasn’t that in?” The Bloomfield Hills Marian captain had just rifled a shot toward Hudsonville Unity Christian’s net. It clanged off the bottom of the crossbar and fell to earth before the goalkeeper reached backward to smother it.
Mercy softball's strong post-season run continues into state championship contest
EAST LANSING – As far as Farmington Hills Mercy softball was concerned, this wasn’t supposed to be the year for the team to be in the spotlight. Especially after graduating most of their 2025 team, including Miss Softball winner Kaitlyn Pallozzi, bringing in different head coaches and replenishing the roster with less experienced players.
Record-breakers set pace for Catholic schools at state track final meets
Detroit Catholic Central’s Zacchaeus Brocks celebrates winning a state title in the 110-meter hurdle race May 30 at Rockford High School. Brocks had earlier set a state record in the event, but it wasn’t quite enough to push the Shamrocks to the team title. (Photos by Wright Wilson | Special to Detroit Catholic) ROCKFORD — Zacchaeus Brocks leaned across the finish line, slowed to a jog around the curve, and pointed to the heavens.
Records fall as St. Mary’s, Lutheran North, Catholic Central and St. Ursula claim CHSL track crowns
MACOMB TOWNSHIP/NOVI — The Catholic High School League’s Cardinal and Bishop Division track championship meets produced a program first, a program last, and everything in between. At the Cardinal Division meet, held May 8 at Macomb Lutheran High North, the Orchard Lake St. Mary’s girls program captured its first Catholic League track title. Lutheran North, the winning boys team, secured its final Catholic League crown before departing for the Blue Water Area Conference next school year.
Royal Oak Shrine, Ann Arbor Greenhills claim Catholic League Ste. Anne track titles
ANN ARBOR – As a college-bound track athlete with great versatility, Royal Oak Shrine senior Abenezer Cerone can end up anywhere in the lineup. But there’s generally only one place he can end up in a race: first. Cerone was a Catholic League champion in four events on Wednesday, pacing the Knights to their first Ste. Anne Division team title since 2019.
For the Marian girls’ soccer team, it’s Hammer Time
BLOOMFIELD HILLS — Does Bloomfield Hills Marian have all the tools for another soccer state championship? Well, they have a sledgehammer — and they haven’t hesitated to put it to use. The Mustangs (7-1-0 after Thursday’s match) are ranked fourth in the state, and have pounded most of their opponents this spring. After every match, the first thing coach Danny Price does is call the girls together and present a player-of-the game reward.
Ski setback can’t prevent Sacred Heart's Karakashian from excelling in sports and classroom
BLOOMFIELD HILLS — Madison Karakashian was laying in the snow at the base of a Chilean mountain, trying to process what had just happened. “Right away, I couldn’t get up, and my entire leg was in extreme pain that I couldn’t really pinpoint,” she recalled. Coming off a year that the Bloomfield Hills Academy of the Sacred Heart student was a skiing state finals qualifier, Karakashian was training in Chile in July 2024 (which is winter in the Southern Hemisphere).
Late surge lifts Lumen Christi to school’s first girls basketball state championship
EAST LANSING – When walking into the Jackson Lumen Christi fieldhouse for an athletic event, fans see 58 state championship banners lining the wall ─ plenty of them for football, cross country and golf. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But there are plans in place for Banner No. 59 to occupy a special space, high above center court – the first in school history to signify a state title for girls’ basketball.
Last-second three-pointer sinks Brother Rice’s state title hopes
EAST LANSING — You can’t get any closer than that. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice nearly knocked off top-ranked East Lansing in their MHSAA Division 1 boys basketball semi-final Friday afternoon at Michigan State University, but the defending state champs buried a three-pointer with 1.5 seconds left, taking a 55-52 victory and ending the Warriors’ season one step short of the championship game.
Lees’ eighth career title leads Catholic Central wrestlers at state finals
DETROIT — One would think, after winning 12 team state championships since 2010, capturing every Catholic League title since 1995 and having three individuals earn state titles in each of their four seasons, there wouldn’t be much more that Detroit Catholic Central wrestlers could accomplish. But senior Wyatt Lees stepped up last weekend to raise the bar even higher.
Team effort earns Catholic Central seventh straight hockey state championship
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s falls to Houghton in Division 3 final PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP — Having a roster chock full of marquee players wasn’t a fitting description for Novi Detroit Catholic Central’s hockey team this winter. The Shamrocks entered last weekend’s finals tournament at Plymouth’s U.S.A. Hockey Arena as one of only two squads without a 20-goal scorer. But no matter.
Lutheran North leaving Catholic League for Blue Water Area Conference in 2026-27- Detroit Catholic
MACOMB TOWNSHIP ─ Macomb Lutheran North, a member of the Catholic High School League since the 2010-11 school year, has decided to leave the CHSL, accepting an invitation to join the public school-based Blue Water Area Conference. The BWAC athletic directors, principals and superintendents voted to approve Lutheran North’s application and completed the process last week. The move will take effect at the start of the 2026-27 school year.
Royal Oak Shrine completes turnaround with St. Anne’s Division title - Detroit Catholic
ROCHESTER HILLS — It’s not often that a team’s first bucket is the turning point of the game, but that’s how Royal Oak Shrine basketball coach Michael Maryanski described the flow of the St. Anne Division championship contest. Shrine misfired on its first 10 shots and fell behind to Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes, 9-0, before Jaycee Foster followed up his miss by getting the rebound and sinking it with 1:05 left in the first quarter.
Dearborn Divine Child claims first Catholic League basketball crown since 1977 - Detroit Catholic
ROCHESTER HILLS — Dearborn Divine Child’s first defeat of the year came at the hands of Detroit Loyola, and the Falcons needed overtime to get by the Bulldogs in the mid-season rematch. But when it mattered most, Divine Child was in control throughout the Cardinal Division championship contest Feb. 14 at Oakland University. Divine Child’s statement 69-50 win ended nearly a half-century of hard-court frustration, as the Falcons nabbed their first Catholic League basketball championship since 1977.
Catholic High School League appoints Mike Evoy as new director - Detroit Catholic
Longtime CHSL associate director assumes top role, succeeding Vic Michaels, 71, who died unexpectedly in December 2025 DETROIT — Mike Evoy, who has served as the Catholic High School League’s associate director since November 2009, was named as the league's director this week. Evoy succeeds Vic Michaels, 71, who directed the league for 23 years until his sudden and unexpected passing in December.
Catholic High School League introduces Detroit Country Day School as newest member - Detroit Catholic
BEVERLY HILLS – Even while guiding one of the state’s most successful athletic programs as an independent academic institution, Detroit Country Day School Athletic Director Dan MacLean looked favorably upon the Catholic High School League. It turns out that the feeling is mutual. The Catholic High School League’s Executive Board unanimously voted to accept Country Day’s membership application to the CHSL on Tuesday, Feb. 10.
Catholic League basketball playoffs get underway with Shrine's win over Greenhills - Detroit Catholic
ROYAL OAK — Taking a school trip to New York City is a great opportunity, a memory-maker and a way to get the adrenaline flowing. But it also can also pose a great distraction when it comes to the routine of a sports team. That’s what Royal Oak Shrine’s boys basketball team was up against for the first round of the Catholic League championship tournament.
Loyola’s Champion bowls 300 game in Catholic League competition - Detroit Catholic
MADISON HEIGHTS — A senior at Detroit Loyola can take pride in setting a school record that cannot be broken. Cody Champion bowled a perfect game Jan. 29 during the Bulldogs’ 21-9 victory over Madison Heights Bishop Foley at Astro Lanes. It’s the first 300 score in school history, according to coach and athletic director Dennis Morey. “It’s been a long run,” Champion said. “I could have done it multiple times (before), but I was always one strike away or two strikes away.
Basketball brotherhood lifts Loyola to the top of the standings - Detroit Catholic
ANN ARBOR – You won’t detect the most important aspect of Detroit Loyola’s basketball team from the scorebook. However, it shows up all across the final results. “The brotherhood is great,” said Jai’Ron Foster, who’s been on the team for over three seasons now. “It’s amazing that you could wake up every day and know that you can call someone your brother. You can actually call 13 guys your brother.
Win or lose, Brother Rice brings intrigue to Catholic League basketball this winter - Detroit Catholic
FARMINGTON HILLS — How was your Christmas vacation? For coach Rick Palmer and the Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice basketball team, it was hit and miss. The Warriors — among the Catholic League favorites and the top teams in the state — have had a mixed bag of results throughout the 2025 portion of their schedule. To start things off, Brother Rice opened its campaign with blowout wins over Ferndale, University of Detroit Jesuit, Plymouth, Warren De La Salle and River Rouge.
Lumen Christi girls basketball responding well to high-profile coaching shift - Detroit Catholic
BELLEVILLE — For years and years, Jackson Lumen Christi’s girls basketball program had been pretty nondescript. But the Titans have been on the upswing lately, winning 19 games last season and reaching the MHSAA Division 3 state quarterfinals, where they were edged by eventual state champion Ypsilanti Arbor Prep, 31-28. It was just a few weeks after the season when the Titans made their next upward move, and a surprising one at that.
Catholic Central edges Toledo St. Francis to win CHSL hockey title - Detroit Catholic
FRASER — While Novi Detroit Catholic Central’s hockey program is stocked deep with talent, it usually means there are several players under the radar, waiting for their opportunity to shine. Patience had paid off for Lucas Szmagaj, who has finally earned his moment in the spotlight. Although the junior forward saw limited ice time in only eight games last season — notching just one goal — he came up big Saturday in the Catholic League Bishop Division championship game.
Catholic Central football ‘finishes’ season strong to win first state championship since 2009 - Detroit Catholic
Catholic High School League claims four state championships at Ford Field DETROIT – The Detroit Catholic Central football team’s mantra of “Finish what we started” definitely resonated with Benny Eziuka – just not in the way he might have predicted. The Virginia Tech commit ─ who’s also notable as a heavyweight wrestler ─ achieved a defensive lineman’s dream when he saw the football floating toward him late in the MHSAA Division 1 state championship game, a 42-19 victory over Detroit Cass Tech.
In dramatic fashion, Mercy claims another state swimming championship - Detroit Catholic
YPSILANTI — Farmington Hills Mercy has now won the swimming state championship meet 14 times, but it’s safe to say that none of those past titles produced as many thrills as the Marlins’ latest, which they earned last Saturday at Eastern Michigan University. Mercy entered the meet’s final event, the 400 freestyle relay, trailing top-ranked Grosse Pointe South by four points.
Divine Child swimmer Ella Dziobak seeks fourth straight state title - Detroit Catholic
WATERFORD — In Catholic League swimming circles, it might be easy to overlook Ella Dziobak. She doesn’t swim for one of the traditional powerhouse schools such as Farmington Hills Mercy, Bloomfield Hills Marian or Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood. However, the Dearborn Divine Child senior has been able to earn serious accolades, both around the league and on a statewide level. This weekend, Dziobak has a chance do something that has rarely been accomplished.
Notre Dame Prep wins state finals rematch over Frankenmuth - Detroit Catholic
PONTIAC – His players were on the field celebrating, but a few steps away, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep coach Pat Fox said there’s nothing good in it for him when his team beats Frankenmuth. “It’s the hardest week I’ve had. It’s just hard. I don’t like playing against them; I’m sure (Frankenmuth coach) Phil (Martin) doesn’t like it either,” Fighting Irish coach Pat Fox said. “Last year, there were a lot of reasons why we won, and it was difficult. Everyone knows where I live.
Schroeder’s state title highlights Catholic schools’ performances at cross-country finals - Detroit Catholic
BROOKLYN — While winning the past two seasons’ Catholic League cross-country championship races by a full minute has been nice for Samantha Schroeder, there’s nothing that gets her adrenaline going like having to chase down someone in front of her. Although that hasn’t happened very often, that was how she won the MHSAA Division 3 individual cross-country championship Nov. 1 at Michigan International Speedway. “It was really exciting,” she said, moments after crossing the finish line.
Goal accomplished: Warren De La Salle repeats as state soccer champions - Detroit Catholic
Thirty Catholic League soccer players receive all-state recognition GRAND LEDGE — There are people who are all talk, no action. And then there is Jimmy Spicuzzi. The Warren De La Salle senior midfielder took the pitch in the MHSAA Division 2 state championship soccer game and quickly found he was an easy target of the nearby Hudsonville Unity Christian student fan section, which rode him mercilessly.
Warren De La Salle wins wild football state playoff opener, 56-34, over Warren Fitzgerald - Detroit Catholic
14 of 16 area Catholic teams advance with first-round victories WARREN – On the surface, it might appear that Warren De La Salle limped into the MHSAA football postseason field with a subpar record. However, the Pilots emphatically proved they belong among the playoff field with a dominant first-round win. De La Salle ─ seeded fourth in its district ─ knocked off top-seeded Warren Fitzgerald in a contest chock full of big plays, 56-34.
Brother Rice bounce back highlights field of football playoff qualifiers - Detroit Catholic
CHSL boasts 14 state playoff qualifiers, along with two other Catholic non-league teams BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — Football season continues for 16 area Catholic and affiliated high schools that qualified for the state playoffs. But a young Birmingham Brother Rice squad has been in playoff mode for several weeks now. “It’s exciting to still be playing,” head coach Aaron Marshall said. “We’ve had a great three weeks to finish the season.
V.I.’s Hairston wins handcycle division to honor teammate
DETROIT — When Andrew Hairston rolled across the finish line of the 48th annual Detroit Free Press Marathon on Sunday and finally coasted to a stop 100 meters later up Woodward Avenue, he couldn’t help but get a little emotional. It wasn’t because he was totally spent after rolling his handcycle over the 26.2-mile route, or it wasn’t because he claimed his first victory in the Adaptive Athletes Division.
26.2 miles and thousands of stories: Tales from 48th Detroit marathon race day
As the 48th annual Detroit Free Press Marathon presented by MSU Federal Credit Union kicked off around 7 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19, the marathon's announcer cited a relevant proverb: "If you cannot find joy in the rain, then you will have less joy and the same amount of rain," he said. Advertisement And there was plenty of rain to go around in Detroit and Canada as a crowd of thousands of runners glided over the pavement and waterlogged their shoes.
26.2 miles and thousands of stories: Tales from 48th Detroit marathon race day
JC Reindl, Liam Rappleye, Wright Wilson, Brad Emons, Matthew Auchincloss Detroit Free Press As the 48th annual Detroit Free Press Marathon presented by MSU Federal Credit Union kicked off around 7 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19, the marathon's announcer cited a relevant proverb: "If you cannot find joy in the rain, then you will have less joy and the same amount of rain," he said.
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