Fall sports promise excitement (with photo gallery)





By Rick Schulte

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Detroit -- As the Catholic High School Athletic League starts up its fall sports season this week, here are a few things to watch out for:

In football, Detroit Catholic Central of Novi was a perfect 14-0, sweeping through the Central Division and edging Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 7-0 for their 25th Prep Bowl championship at Ford Field. A few weeks later, CC returned downtown and won the Division 1 state title — its 10th. The Shamrocks will be solid defensively this year.

The Central Division proved its strength by getting St. Mary’s of Orchard Lake to the Division 3 state title game and DeLaSalle of Warren to the Division 2 semi-final round. Fr. Gabriel Richard in Ann Arbor captured the C-D Prep Bowl title with a 31-26 win over Notre Dame Prep of Pontiac. Both will again be teams to watch, as will Our Lady of the Lakes of Waterford and Shrine of Royal Oak.



All photos by Mr. Mack Photography


Marian, Birmingham, is the team to watch in volleyball. The Mustangs’ top player is senior outside hitter Alexandra Lovell (5-foot-11), an all-Catholic and all-state performer who has committed to the University of Iowa. She’ll team with middle hitter Alessandra Dietz (6-1, Loyola-Marymount) at the net, with outside hitters Allison Vakerics and junior Mary Henry also playing big roles.

In cross country, Divine Child will be out to defend its girls crown, while Catholic Central and Brother Rice in Birmingham are expected to lead the way among the boys teams.

The DC Falcons were successful last year with a relatively young girls team. They return senior Brittany Hayden and juniors Michelle Kerr, MacKenzie Brewis, Angelica Arriola and Anne Okonowski. There is some strong individual talent returning, too, in the form of experienced runners such as junior Sara Barron (Notre Dame Prep), senior Elizabeth Lelli (Marian, Bloomfield Hills) and junior Heather Smith (Mercy, Farmington Hills).

Among the boys, it should be a pretty wide-open race to the top. Brother Rice needs senior Garrett Bixler, junior Thomas Girardot and sophomore Torin Wile to lead the way after losing several key seniors. The same goes for Catholic Central, which has seniors Mackenzie Boyd, Andrew Garcia-Garrison and brothers Austin and John-Paul Zebrowski. Warren DeLaSalle returns a few solid runners, led by seniors Andrew Cusmano, Jake Theut and Alex Ulewicz and junior Scott Ratkowski. Divine Child also has a pair of solid juniors in Matt Mangulabnan and Nick Soter.

In boys tennis, Brother Rice won a Catholic League and state title last year and returns most of its lineup, including individual champion Jack Parks. The Warriors appear to be the team to beat, although Catholic Central returns one of the top players in the state in Joe Dube’, who went 60-2 over the last two seasons.

The addition of Cranbrook of Bloomfield Hills (a 2008 state champion) makes the top division of the Catholic League that much tougher. Cranbrook and Lutheran North of Macomb joined the Catholic league as associate members this year — meaning they will be on the league’s schedule, though they cannot play for championships.

Brother Rice also won a state title in boys soccer. Midfielder/defender Adam Gorski and sophomore Matt Harbrowsky anchor a solid defense. CC, DeLaSalle and Cranbrook will again keep the top division highly competitive.

Girls swimming promises a compelling battle among Mercy, Marian and Cranbrook. Mercy topped the Catholic League and won states last year, and should be tough again with seniors Nikki Barczak, Maria Bargardi, Taylor Steffl and juniors Sato Kakihara and Olivia Samoray. Individually, Marian junior Jaynie Pulte is a standout in the sprints.

Sacred Heart in Bloomfield Hills is a team to watch in girls golf after winning a Catholic League crown last year. Junior Sarah Dilts led the way a year ago.
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