The Catholic High School League and the Catholic Coaches Association paid tribute to the generous, helping hand of the Michigan K of C at their 40th Hall of Fame induction with a sold-out audience at the Fern Hill Banquet Center.
Making the presentation of the league’s highest award, the Ed Lauer Person of the Year Award, CHSL director Vic Michaels noted “this is the first time we have ever presented it to an organization — and there will never be another organization more worthy in our eyes than the Michigan State Knights of Columbus.”
“This is a great honor for us,” responded K of C state secretary Ken Unterbrink. “We are committed to doing what we can helping the youth of the Archdiocese of Detroit and elsewhere, and in service to our Catholic faith.”
Acknowledging the eight student athletes who preceded him to the podium for their induction, Unterbrink said, “(This occasion) lets us know that we are making a difference.”
Michaels traced the history of the Catholic League and its relationship with charitable organizations since its establishment in 1926, particularly the Capuchin Charity Guild and the Goodfellows. The involvement of the K of C came about in 1973.
In the face of a funding crisis that threatened the existence of the Catholic League — once the largest and still the oldest high school conference in the nation — director Walt Bazylewicz approached K of C state deputy Julian Joseph, of the Allen Park Cabrini council, about sponsoring a football championship “in a big setting and bringing in bands, cheerleaders and other facets of Catholic schools along for the celebration.”
The first Prep Bowl was staged at Eastern Michigan University.
“And so it began,” said Michaels. “The Michigan State Knights of Columbus continues as the longest-running sponsor and supporter ... (the) Knights have found it in their hearts to share their funds, share their presence and share their organization.”
Unterbrink estimates that the K of C, in the past 42 years, has contributed nearly $500,000 supporting not only the Prep Bowl, now played at Ford Field, but the league’s wide-ranging lineup of 14 sports for boys, 16 for girls.
Mark Gaworecki, of the same Cabrini council, said the financial support is supplemented by members’ untold hours volunteering at the site of contests, promoting the sale of tickets, and doing whatever else is necessary.
Michaels pointed out the fraternal’s unique fundraising method dubbed “Take Five,” in which 71,000 members in 400-plus councils are solicited to give an extra $5 over their dues to benefit several designated charities. “And one of those noble causes is our Catholic League.”
He concluded: “We honor great men, with wonderful spouses supporting them, who have gone home to God and great men who continue to serve in the present day. We thank God for their loyalty to us and support from age to age.”
Don Horkey may be reached at [email protected].
Other inductees
Inductees in six other classifications were added to the Hall of Fame:
ATHLETES:
Eight athletes who excelled academically and athletically in high school and college were honored. They included:
- Caitlin Brown (Ann Arbor Fr. Gabriel Richard 2011/University of Iowa 2015) — She plans to play professional soccer in Argentina, Spain or Germany while pursuing work and study opportunities.
- Alexandra Burns (Livonia Ladywood 2011/Aquinas College 2015) — She plans to intern with the Grand Rapids Drive, a professional basketball team of the NBA Development League, and pursue sports marketing.
- Alessandra Dietz (Bloomfield Hills Marian 2011/University of Iowa 2015) — She plans to pursue sports marketing.
- Andrew Garcia-Garrison (Novi Detroit Catholic Central 2011/Bucknell University 2015) — He is newly employed as a financial advisor with Macadam in Chicago.
- Josh Herbeck (Ann Arbor Fr. Gabriel Richard 2010/West Point Academy 2014) — He is currently stationed at Fort Benning, Ga.
- Alexandra Lovell (Bloomfield Hills Marian 2011/University of Iowa) — While pursuing her doctorate in pharmacy, she is serving as fundraising and finance chair for the University of Iowa mobile clinic.
- Rachel Melcher (Bloomfield Hills Marian 2010/Madonna University 2015) — She plans to attend graduate school to study occupational therapy.
- Jake Spuller (Novi Detroit Catholic Central 2011/Air Force Academy 2015) — He plans to attend the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson AF Base to earn a master’s in computer science.
COACHES:
Five long-time coaches were inducted:
- Chris Buryta (Detroit U-D Jesuit) founded the bowling program at U-D Jesuit in 1974, and coached the sport for several years.
- Shannon Dunworth (Novi Detroit Catholic Central and Farmington Hills Mercy) has coached swimming at Mercy since 2004 and at CC since 2006. At Mercy, he has won six state titles.
- Charles Edge Jr. (Detroit Loyola) has coached softball at St. Martin de Porres and basketball at Loyola.
- Tom Mehl (Warren De La Salle) has been an assistant basketball coach at De La Salle for 20 years.
- Anthony Misfud (Dearborn Divine Child) has coached track and cross country at Divine Child since 2001, leading the Falcons to three state titles.
- Cheryl Szczodrowski (Allen Park Cabrini) coaches basketball and volleyball at Cabrini, where she has been a teacher and curriculum director since 1985.
OFFICIALS:
Bob Conway has officiated baseball, basketball and football for 22 years ... Aimee Davis has been a basketball official for 40 years.
TOM KELLY ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR:
Brian Kelly, AD at Warren De La Salle since 2004.
JAMES LEARY SCHOOL SPIRIT AWARD:
Riverview Gabriel Richard. Joseph Whalen is principal, Kris Daiek the athletic director.
BOOSTER CLUB OF THE YEAR:
Allen Park Cabrini. Fr. Joseph Mallia, pastor; James Wasukanis, principal; Dean Allen, AD.
