LIVONIA — Ho hum. The Catholic League’s February Frenzy of winter sports championships got off to an expected start: Dearborn Divine Child won the competitive cheerleading title for the 11th year in a row, and Novi Detroit Catholic Central kept its headlock on the wrestling championship for the 19th straight year.
The question: should anyone but the heavy favorites bother to show up for the remaining championship battles in boys and girls skiing, boys and girls hockey, boys and girls bowling, boys and girls basketball, or boys swimming?
The answer: Of course they should. The can-do human spirit loves the thrill of competition — even against huge odds — and maybe, just maybe, pulling off an upset. As a bonus, they find out a lot about themselves in the process.
Coach Amber Genevich’s Falcons couldn’t relax against a spirited Pontiac Notre Dame Prep squad, winning the Bishop Division trophy by 23 points, slimmer by a dozen points from the margin of victory a year ago against the Fighting Irish.
No one was more elated or excited about winning than Nancy Burgess, coach of Everest Collegiate. “A year ago,” she said, “I was happy to be here. This year I wanted to win.”
The Mountaineers, who graduated their first senior class last spring, beat Wixom St. Catherine of Siena Academy — which will have its first class of grads next year — for the Cardinal Division crown by a mere 12 points. It was Everest’s first CHSL trophy in any sport.
But while CHSL Director Vic Michaels notes that the league’s cheerleading competition at 38 years is the longest in the state, he has to be concerned that only five schools participated this year, the event’s smallest lineup.
TEAM SCORES: Cardinal Division — Everest Collegiate 656.98, St. Catherine 644.8. Bishop Division — Divine Child 765.72, Notre Dame 742.80, Livonia Ladywood 659.
The Shamrocks methodically went about their business for the wrestling title at Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice. CC took six firsts and seven seconds.
TEAM SCORES: 1.) Catholic Central 297; 2.) Warren De La Salle 192.5; 3.) Detroit U-D Jesuit 124; 4.) Brother Rice 115; 5.) Divine Child 106; 6.) Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 77; 7.) Notre Dame Prep 56.5; 8.) Detroit Loyola 18; 9.) Madison Heights Bishop Foley 13.
INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS: 103 pounds – Tommy Herrmann (CC); 112 – Parker O’Brien (CC); 119 – Cole Moscovic (CC); 125 – Josh Tesarz (BR); 139 – Greg Johnson (CC); 135 – John Schuele (BR); 140 – Kevin Hart (DC); 145 – Tim McCotter (CC); 152 – Andrew Napieraj (BR); 160 – Shon Powell (BR); 171 – Brandon Mattinen (DLS); 189 – Jimmy Russell (CC); 215 – Joe Schudt (DLS); 285 – Richie Roberts (DLS).
Here’s the rest of the CHSL championship schedule:
Monday, Feb. 11: Boys and girls ski championships at Alpine Valley, Waterford. Brother Rice and Marian, who have neighboring campuses in Bloomfield Hills, are defending champs.
Saturday, Feb. 16: Girls hockey at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s ice arena, 5 p.m. Farmington Hills Mercy is defending champ.
Saturday, Feb. 16: Boys and girls bowling at Oak Lanes, Westland.
Sunday, Feb. 17: Girls basketball championship at University of Detroit Mercy’s Calihan Hall, 1 p.m. Divine Child is the defending A-B titlist. Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes will be out win its third C-D crown in the last four years.
Sunday, Feb. 24: Boys basketball championship at Detroit Mercy, 1 p.m. Warren De La Salle will be seeking its fourth straight A-B title, but it might have to go through U-D Jesuit, who beat the Pilots twice in the regular season. Detroit Loyola is the favorite for the C-D crown.
Saturday, March 2: Boys swimming championship at Livonia Recreation Center. Brother Rice has won this event 21 years in a row. Need more be said?
To be determined: The date and place for the boys hockey championship. Michaels is waiting for word if the event can be held at the Joe Louis Arena. CC won last year’s Division trophy.
Don Horkey is a freelance writer from Shelby Township.
