DETROIT — In the just-concluded 99th year of the Catholic High School League, some 59 championship trophies were handed out to 22 schools in the boys and girls leagues. The girls won 32 trophies, while the boys claimed 27.
Catholic Central won CHSL wrestling championship for the 31st consecutive year. It’s been an unbroken streak of 33 years that Mercy’s swimmers have added a trophy to their collection, and 23 years that Divine Child has won the cheerleading competition.
On the other end of the championship spectrum is Cristo Rey, a Cardinal Division titlist in boys soccer, the school’s first league title in any of the 11 sports the school sponsors in its 17-year history.
The Wolves turned back Royal Oak Shrine 2-0. The first half was played during a steady downpour. Hugo Romero broke the deadlock with a goal five minutes into the second half and Heriberto Salinas added the clincher 22 minutes later.
“It’s the first time the school gets to this point and everybody’s been getting real excited for us to be in the championship, and finally we got it,” said Eloy Garita, the Wolves’ first-year head coach.
Cristo Rey (14-1-1), ranked No. 4 in Division 4, ended its season with a district championship, its first state playoff victory.
The CHSL sponsors regular-season-ending playoffs in three divisions — Bishop (for the Central Division squads), Cardinal (for AA Division) and new this year, Ste. Anne (for the Intersectional 1 and 2 teams). Which division a school competes in is generally based on enrollment and level of competitiveness. Here’s the championship breakdown:
Allen Park Cabrini: BOYS (1): Cardinal bowling. GIRLS (2): Cardinal cheer, Ste. Anna soccer (2nd in row).
Ann Arbor Fr. Gabriel Richard: BOYS (1): Cardinal lacrosse. GIRLS (3): Bishop basketball (3rd in row), Cardinal field hockey (4th in row), Cardinal track (2nd in row).
Ann Arbor Greenhills: BOYS (3): Ste. Anne baseball (2nd in row), Ste. Anne track, Cardinal golf. GIRLS (1): Ste. Anne track (3rd in row).
Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice: BOYS (1): Bishop baseball (3rd in row).
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood: GIRLS (2): Bishop lacrosse. Bishop tennis.
Bloomfield Hills Marian: GIRLS (2): Bishop skiing (4th in row), Bishop soccer
Clarkston Everest Collegiate: BOYS (1): Ste. Anne basketball (2nd in row). GIRLS (3): Ste. Anne basketball (2nd in row), Cardinal cross country, Ste. Anne volleyball (2nd in row).
Dearborn Divine Child: BOYS (1): Cardinal baseball. GIRLS (2): Bishop cheer (23rd in row), Bishop pom pon
Detroit Cristo Rey: BOYS (1): Cardinal soccer.
Detroit U of D Jesuit: BOYS (1): Bishop swimming.
Farmington Hills Mercy: GIRLS (5): Bishop bowling, Bishop dance, Bishop softball (5th in row), Bishop swimming (33rd in row), Bishop volleyball.
Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett: GIRLS (3): Bishop field hockey, Bishop ice hockey (3rd in row), Cardinal lacrosse
Jackson Lumen Christi: BOYS (4): Prep Bowl Showcase football, Cardinal bowling, Cardinal golf, Cardinal hockey
Macomb Lutheran North: BOYS (2): Cardinal football, Cardinal track (2nd in row).
Novi Detroit Catholic Central: BOYS (5): Bishop bowling, Bishop golf (4th in row), Bishop hockey (3rd in row), Bishop lacrosse (3rd in row), Bishop wrestling (31st in row).
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Prep: BOYS (2): Bishop basketball 2nd in row), Bishop skiing (2nd in row). GIRLS (1): Cardinal volleyball (3rd in row).
Riverview Gabriel Richard: BOYS (1): Cardinal basketball (2nd in row).
Royal Oak Shrine: BOYS (1): Cardinal cross country. GIRLS (2): Cardinal soccer, Ste. Anne softball.
Toledo Central Catholic: GIRLS (1): Cardinal softball (2nd in row).
Toledo St. Francis de Sales: BOYS (2): Bishop cross country (2nd in row), Bishop soccer, Bishop track.
Toledo St. Ursula Academy: GIRLS (3): Bishop cross country, Bishop golf (2nd in row), Bishop track (2nd in row).
Wixom St. Catherine of Siena: GIRLS (2): Cardinal basketball, Cardinal tennis (4th in row).
Contact Don Horkey at [email protected]
