The Cassius Winston Era at University of Detroit Jesuit ended on a high note — and none could be higher than the Class A championship, winding up an incredible four-year run for coach Pat Donnelly’s Cubs. Winston scored 31 points against North Farmington to pace U-D Jesuit to a perfect 28-0 record and the school’s first state title.
The Michigan State commit broke into the starting lineup midway through his freshman year, honed his leadership and considerable basketball skills, and developed into the state’s top player, personified by his selection as 2016’s Mr. Basketball.
He also claimed the distinction of being the first player in Catholic League history to start on four consecutive CHSL championship teams.
Noteworthy: Winston is only the second CHSL player to be named Mr. Basketball in 38 years of the award. The other was Jon Garavaglia, of Southgate Aquinas, in 1993. He, too, went on to MSU.
U-D Jesuit was one of five state winter sports champions the CHSL can boast.
3-in-a-row: ND Prep’s cheerleaders – As freshmen who finished runner-up for a state title four years ago, seniors on this year’s squad vowed they would never have that feeling again. They kept their promise not once or twice, but three times, winning the Division 3 competitive cheerleading championship for the third year in a row. The challenge of repeating as champs has “become a mindset, and the culture of our team,” coach Beth Campbell told the media afterward.
3-in-a-row: Catholic Central’s hockey team – A new coach for the third year in a row made no difference for Novi Detroit CC, blanking Brighton, 3-0, for its third straight Division 1 championship. Coach Brandon Kaleniecki, who played on CC’s 2000 state title team, succeeded Danny Veri, who managed the 2015 champions, and Doug Itami, director of the 2014 titlists. It was the Shamrocks’ 13th state crown.
3-in-a-row: Brother Rice swimmers – Coach Mike Venos called it his toughest season ever at Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice. “We almost lost a kid to bacterial meningitis. We had some kids leave that we were expecting to come back,” he said. The less experienced squad responded to capture the Warriors’ third straight Division 1 crown by 79 points over runner-up Saline for the school’s 13th state championship in 16 finals.
Individual champs included the 200 medley relay team of sophomore Alex Margherio, senior Drew Grady, junior Jake Zalinski, and junior Jack Grady; Drew Grady in the 100 freestyle; and the 400 freestyle relay quartet of Zalinski, Margherio, juniors Mason Wilczewski and Patrick Olmsted.
3-in-a-row: Cranbrook-Kingswood swimmers – Led by a record-setting individual effort and three runner-up finishes, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood rolled to its third consecutive Division 3 state title. Senior Giorgio DelGrosso set the new Division 3 finals record with a time of 55.92 in repeating as the 100 breaststroke champion.
Hail to CC wrestling champs – Five Shamrocks won individual gold medals: junior Tyler Morland (171 pounds), junior Nick Jenkins (285), sophomore Benyamin Kamali (103), freshman Kevon Davenport (119) and freshman Cameron Amine (125). Says AD Aaron Babicz: “All are coming back next year, which is great for the school and program! Very excited.”
Hail to De La Salle swimmers – The Pilots from Warren made history at the Division 2 swimming championship: they became the first boys swim team from Macomb County to win a runner-up spot in a state swimming final, finishing just 18 points behind Dexter. Individual medalists were senior PJ Desmet in the 100 butterfly, and the 200 medley relay team of Desmet, senior Jack Kucharczyk, senior Mitch Livingston and sophomore Zach Milke.
“We cried our eyes out” – Detroit Loyola rallied from an 18-point deficit in a semi-final epic match against Flint Beecher to take the lead, 57-54, with 1:38 to play. The Bulldogs were still in front, 59-57, with five seconds to go. A desperate, off-balance 3-point shot that went into the basket a moment before the game-ending buzzer cruelly doomed their quest for a chance at the Class C championship. Loyola (21-6) lost 60-59.
“We were excited with the opportunity,” coach John Buscemi said. “In the locker room, we cried our eyes out together.”
Don Horkey may be reached at [email protected].
