The Catholic High School League (CHSL) is a school athletic conference based in

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at th ...

Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...

, led by director Victor Michaels. Most member schools are also members of the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA), the governing body for Michigan scholastic sports, except for the five schools from Toledo, which are members of the

Ohio High School Athletic Association The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) is the governing body of athletic programs for junior and senior high schools in the state of Ohio. The OHSAA governs eligibility of student athletes, resolves disputes, organizes levels of compe ...

. Unlike many similar leagues, the CHSL governs secondary, middle, and elementary sports for most of the parochial schools in the Detroit area. Most league schools are Catholic, but there are other religious denominations as well. Every school in the CHSL is a

private school Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

. In 2019, the CHSL council voted to rename the AB/ Division I/II championship to the Bishop division championship, and the CD/ Division III/IV championship to the Cardinal Division championship.

Member schools

Sports

At the high school level, the league supports sixteen girls sports and fourteen boys sports. Girls Sports:

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...

bowling Bowling is a target sport and recreational activity in which a player rolls a ball toward pins (in pin bowling) or another target (in target bowling). The term ''bowling'' usually refers to pin bowling (most commonly ten-pin bowling), though ...

cheerleading Cheerleading is an activity in which the participants (called cheerleaders) cheer for their team as a form of encouragement. It can range from chanting slogans to intense physical activity. It can be performed to motivate sports teams, to ente ...

, cross -country,

field hockey Field hockey is a team sport structured in standard hockey format, in which each team plays with ten outfield players and a goalkeeper. Teams must drive a round hockey ball by hitting it with a hockey stick towards the rival team's shooting ci ...

golf Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a course in as few strokes as possible. Golf, unlike most ball games, cannot and does not use a standardized playing area, and coping wi ...

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice hock ...

lacrosse Lacrosse is a team sport played with a lacrosse stick and a lacrosse ball. It is the oldest organized sport in North America, with its origins with the indigenous people of North America as early as the 12th century. The game was extensively ...

pom-pon A pom-pom – also spelled pom-pon, pompom or pompon – is a decorative ball or tuft of fibrous material. The term may refer to large tufts used by cheerleaders, or a small, tighter ball attached to the top of a hat, also known as a ...

ski A ski is a narrow strip of semi-rigid material worn underfoot to glide over snow. Substantially longer than wide and characteristically employed in pairs, skis are attached to ski boots with ski bindings, with either a free, lockable, or partia ...

soccer Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...

softball Softball is a game similar to baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field. Softball is played competitively at club levels, the college level, and the professional level. The game was first created in 1887 in Chicago by George Hanc ...

swimming Swimming is the self-propulsion of a person through water, or other liquid, usually for recreation, sport, exercise, or survival. Locomotion is achieved through coordinated movement of the limbs and the body to achieve hydrodynamic thrust that r ...

tennis Tennis is a racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent ( singles) or between two teams of two players each ( doubles). Each player uses a tennis racket that is strung with cord to strike a hollow rubber ball ...

, track and

volleyball Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules. It has been a part of the official program of the Summ ...

. Boys Sports:

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding tea ...

, cross-country,

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...

, track and

wrestling Wrestling is a series of combat sports involving grappling-type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. Wrestling techniques have been incorporated into martial arts, combat ...

Girls CHSL Divisions

Divisional alignments may vary from sport to sport, depending upon the number of schools participating in the sport and the enrollment of those participating schools. Listed below are typical divisional alignments for a common sport, in this case girls basketball (as of April, 2015).

Central Division

* Bloomfield Hills Marian * Dearborn Divine Child * Farmington Hills Mercy * Warren Regina

AA Division

* Allen Park Cabrini * Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard * Macomb Lutheran North * Pontiac Notre Dame Preparatory * Riverview Gabriel Richard

East Division

* Clarkston Everest Collegiate * Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood * Madison Heights Bishop Foley Catholic * Marine City Cardinal Mooney Catholic * Royal Oak Shrine Catholic * Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes * Wixom St. Catherine of Siena Academy

West Division

* Bloomfield Hills Academy of the Sacred Heart * Detroit Cristo Rey * Macomb Austin Catholic * West Bloomfield Frankel Jewish Academy

Boys CHSL Divisions

Central Division

* Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice * Detroit Catholic Central * University of Detroit Jesuit * Orchard Lake St. Mary's Preparatory * Warren De La Salle Collegiate

AA Division

* Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard * Dearborn Divine Child * Detroit Loyola * Macomb Lutheran North

Intersectional 1 Division

* Allen Park Cabrini * Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood * Madison Heights Bishop Foley Catholic * Royal Oak Shrine Catholic * Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes

Intersectional 2 Division

* Clarkston Everest Catholic * Detroit Cristo Rey * Macomb Austin Catholic * Marine City Cardinal Mooney Catholic * Riverview Gabriel Richard * West Bloomfield Frankel Jewish Academy

Former League Members (closed schools)

Footnotes:

Monroe County Monroe County may refer to seventeen counties in the United States, all named for James Monroe: * Monroe County, Alabama *Monroe County, Arkansas * Monroe County, Florida * Monroe County, Georgia *Monroe County, Illinois *Monroe County, Indian ...

Catholic Central High School, Monroe (opened in 1944), and St. Mary Academy, Monroe (opened in 1846), became

St. Mary Catholic Central High School St. Mary Catholic Central High School, known colloquially as SMCC, is a Catholic, co-educational, parochial, secondary school located at 108 West Elm Avenue in Monroe, Michigan, Monroe, Michigan. SMCC is sponsored by the Catholic parishes of the ...

in 1986 when the two schools merged.

Washtenaw County Washtenaw County () is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2020 census, the population was 372,258. The county seat is Ann Arbor. The county was authorized by legislation in 1822 and organized as a county in 1826. Washtenaw ...

Ann Arbor St. Thomas High School became Father Gabriel Richard High School in 1978. Wayne County Detroit Cristo Rey High School occupies the former Detroit Holy Redeemer High School building. Our Lady of Mercy High School in Detroit moved to Farmington in 1965 and changed its name to Mercy High School that same year. Redford St. Agatha High School became St. Katharine Drexel High School in 2003. Redford Bishop Borgess High School closed in 2005 and became Redford Covenant High School which closed in 2009.

Accomplishments

Since its founding in 1926, CHSL member schools have won nearly 300 state titles (through 2015). Former Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice and Royal Oak Shrine head coach Al Fracassa holds the state record for all-time football coaching wins with 430 while Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes' former head coach Mike Boyd is third at 361 wins (all at one school), and current

Detroit Catholic Central Detroit Catholic Central High School, commonly known as Catholic Central (CC), is a private, Catholic, all-male, college preparatory high school in Novi, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1928 in Detroit, Michigan by the Archdiocese of Detroi ...

head coach Tom Mach is fourth with 348 wins (as of 2014). Current Warren Regina head coach Diane Laffey is the winningest coach in MHSAA softball history with 1,118 victories through the 2015 season. She also is the third winningest head coach in MHSAA girls basketball with 619 wins as of 2015. In boys basketball, Orchard Lake St. Mary's is the state's second-winningest all-time program with 1,250 wins (as of 2009). Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood has the most ever boys ice hockey state championships with seventeen (as of 2015), and the most boys tennis state titles with eighteen (as of 2015). Cranbrook-Kingswood also has sixteen girls tennis state championships, the most ever in that sport in Michigan history (as of 2015). Detroit St. Martin de Porres holds the record for the most state titles in boys track with fifteen (as of 2015). Madison Heights Bishop Foley holds the most girls soccer state titles in Michigan history with twelve (as of 2015). Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes has the most softball state championships in Michigan history with eight (as of 2015). Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice has won all but one boys lacrosse state championships in Division 1 since the sport started having state championships in 2005.

Notable CHSL Alumni

Names of notable alumni are listed in descending order based on their respective year of high school graduation. *

Cassius Winston Cassius Winston (born February 28, 1998) is an American professional basketball player for Bayern Munich of the German Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans. High school c ...

, Professional Basketball Player, University of Detroit Jesuit, 2016 *

Joshua Gatt Joshua Alexander Gatt (born August 29, 1991) is an American professional soccer player who currently plays for Gold Star FC. Club career Early career Born in Plymouth, Michigan, Gatt played varsity for four years at Detroit Catholic Central H ...

, Professional Soccer Player, Detroit Catholic Central, 2010 *

Allen Robinson Allen Bernard Robinson II (born August 24, 1993) is an American football wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, and ...

, Former NFL Player, Orchard Lake St. Mary's, 2010 * Dion Sims, Former NFL Player, Orchard Lake St. Mary's, 2009 *

Ryan Riess Ryan Riess (born June 21, 1990) is an American professional poker player best known for winning the 2013 World Series of Poker Main Event. Education Riess attended Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes High School and graduated from Michigan State ...

, 2013

World Series of Poker Main Event The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is a series of poker tournaments held annually in Paradise, Nevada and, since 2004, sponsored by Caesars Entertainment. It dates its origins to 1970, when Benny Binion invited seven of the best-known poker play ...

Champion, Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes, 2008 *

Greg Pateryn Gregory Pateryn (born June 20, 1990) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fifth round, 128th overall, at the 2008 NHL Entry Draf ...

NHL The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...

Player, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 2008 * Mike Martin, NFL Player, Detroit Catholic Central, 2008 *

DJ LeMahieu David John LeMahieu (; born July 13, 1988) is an American professional baseball infielder for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Chicago Cubs and Colorado Rockies. The Cubs selected LeMahieu in the ...

MLB Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

Player, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 2007 *

Brad Galli Brad Galli (born 1989 in Detroit, Michigan) is a sports anchor and reporter for WXYZ-TV in Detroit. Career Brad Galli is a sports anchor at WXYZ-TV in Detroit, Michigan. He regularly covers the Detroit Red Wings, Tigers, Lions, Pistons, as well ...

WXYZ-TV WXYZ-TV (channel 7) is a television station in Detroit, Detroit, Michigan, United States, affiliated with American Broadcasting Company, ABC. It is owned by the E. W. Scripps Company alongside Independent station (North America), independent st ...

Sports Reporter, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 2007 *

Kalin Lucas Kalin Jay Lucas (born May 24, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for Al-Jahra SC of the Kuwaiti Division I Basketball League. He played college basketball for Michigan State University. High school career Considered a four-sta ...

, Former

NBA The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United St ...

Player, Orchard Lake St. Mary's, 2007 *

T. J. Lang Thomas John "T. J." Lang (born September 20, 1987) is a former American football guard. He played college football at Eastern Michigan and was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. Lang was a member of the ...

, NFL Player, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 2005 *

Connor Barwin Connor Alfred Barwin (born October 15, 1986) is an American football executive and former outside linebacker, currently serving as the director of player development for the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at Cincinnati, and was ...

, NFL Player, University of Detroit Jesuit, 2005 * Morgan Trent, Former NFL Player, Orchard Lake St. Mary's, 2003 * Geoff Pope, Former NFL Player, University of Detroit Jesuit, 2002 *

Braylon Edwards Braylon Jamel Edwards (born February 21, 1983) is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Michigan, earned unanimous All-American honors, and was recognize ...

, Former NFL Player, Harper Woods Bishop Gallagher, 2001 * Grant Mason, Former NFL Player, Orchard Lake St. Mary's, 2001 *

Matt Baker Matthew James Baker (born 23 December 1977) is a British television presenter. He co-presented the children's television show ''Blue Peter'' from 1999 until 2006, BBC One's ''Countryfile'' since 2009 and ''The One Show'' from 2011 to 2020, wit ...

, Retired NFL Player, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 2001 * Alex Shelley, Professional wrestler, Detroit Catholic Central, 2001 * Ben Blackwell, writer, drummer, co-founder of

Third Man Records Third Man Records is an eclectic, vinyl-focused independent record label founded and owned by Jack White, Ben Blackwell and Ben Swank. The company operates out of three locations—Nashville, Tennessee, Detroit, Michigan, and Soho, London—with ...

, Notre Dame High School (Harper Woods, Michigan), 2000 *

Klint Kesto Klint Kesto is a former member of the Michigan House of Representatives representing a district primarily consisting of Wixom and Commerce Township. Kesto has a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Michigan and a law de ...

, State Representative (Michigan), Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 1999 *

Kristen Bell Kristen Anne Bell (born July 18, 1980) is an American actress. Beginning her acting career by starring in stage productions while attending the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, she made her Broadway stage debut as Becky That ...

, Actress, Royal Oak Shrine, 1998 * Mark Campbell, Former NFL Player, Madison Heights Bishop Foley, 1994 *

Doug Brzezinski Douglas Gregory Brzezinski (born March 11, 1976) is a former American football offensive guard in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Carolina Panthers. He played college football at Boston College and was dr ...

, Former NFL Player, Detroit Catholic Central, 1994 *

Brooke Elliott Brooke Elliott (born November 16, 1974) is an American actress and singer. She has appeared in musical theatre, including the US tours of ''Beauty and the Beast'' and ''Wicked'', and the Broadway productions of ''Taboo'' and '' The Pirate Queen'' ...

, Actress, Riverview Gabriel Richard, 1993 *

Kerry Zavagnin Kerry Zavagnin (; born July 2, 1974 in Plymouth, Michigan) is an American former Association football, soccer midfielder, who last played midfielder, defensive midfielder for the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer, and sparingly for the US ...

, Former

MLS Major League Soccer (MLS) is a men's professional soccer league sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation, which represents the sport's highest level in the United States. The league comprises 29 teams—26 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada ...

Player, Detroit Catholic Central, 1992 *

Ron Rice Ron Rice (born Charles Ronald Rice; 1935 in New York City – 1964 in Acapulco, Mexico) was an American experimental filmmaker, whose free-form style influenced experimental filmmakers in New York and California during the early 1960s. Caree ...

, NFL Player, University of Detroit Jesuit, 1991 *

Keegan-Michael Key Keegan-Michael Key (born March 22, 1971) is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. He co-created and co-starred alongside Jordan Peele in Comedy Central's sketch series ''Key & Peele'' (2012–2015) and co-starred in USA Netw ...

, Actor and Comedian, Royal Oak Shrine, 1989 * Mike Peplowski, Former

Player, Warren De La Salle, 1988 * Scott Kowalkowski, Former NFL Player, Orchard Lake St. Mary's, 1987 *

Tom Lewand Thomas J. Lewand is a Detroit-area business leader and a former executive for the Detroit Lions. The son of lawyer and Detroit economic development leader F. Thomas Lewand, Tom Lewand began his career with the Detroit Lions in 1995. By 2008, he was ...

, former

Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) North Division. The team play their home games at Ford ...

President, Royal Oak Shrine, 1987 * Craig Wolanin, Former

Player, Warren De La Salle, 1985 *

Mike Lodish Michael Timothy Lodish (born August 11, 1967) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the tenth round of the 1990 NFL Draft. ...

, Retired NFL Player, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 1985 *

Bob Kula Robert Kula (born August 24, 1967) is a former American football offensive tackle who played college football at Michigan State University and attended Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, Michigan. Kula was drafted b ...

, Retired NFL Player, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 1985 *

B. J. Armstrong Benjamin Roy "B. J." Armstrong Jr. (born September 9, 1967) is an American former professional basketball player. Armstrong won three NBA championships during his career as a point guard for the Chicago Bulls. Early life Armstrong was born in ...

, Retired

Player, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 1985 * Gus Johnson, Sportscaster, University of Detroit Jesuit, 1985 *

Mark Messner Mark W. Messner (born December 29, 1965) is a former American football player who played in the National Football League (NFL) as a linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams during the 1989 NFL season. He sustained a serious knee injury in the 1989-9 ...

, Former NFL Player, Detroit Catholic Central, 1984 * Pat Shurmur, Former NFL Head Coach, Dearborn Divine Child, 1983 *

Thaddeus McCotter Thaddeus George "Thad" McCotter (born August 22, 1965) is an American politician, radio host, and a member of the Republican Party who was the U.S. representative from from 2003 to 2012. The district at the time consisted of portions of Detroi ...

, Former U.S. Congressman, Detroit Catholic Central, 1983 *

Meg Mallon Meg Mallon (born April 14, 1963) is an American professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1987 and won 18 LPGA Tour events, including four major championships, during her career. Mallon was inducted into the World Golf Hall o ...

, Professional Golfer, Farmington Mercy, 1981 *

Tom Jankiewicz Thomas Anthony Jankiewicz (September 8, 1963 – January 23, 2013) was an American screenwriter. Jankiewicz was best known for penning the 1997 film ''Grosse Pointe Blank'', starring John Cusack, Minnie Driver, Alan Arkin, and Dan Aykroyd. ''Gross ...

Screenwriter A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based. ...

, Madison Heights Bishop Foley, 1981 *

Steve Phillips Stephen Francis Phillips (born May 18, 1963) is an American baseball analyst and former baseball executive. He served as the general manager of the New York Mets from 1997 through 2003. He worked as a baseball analyst for ESPN from 2005 until h ...

, Former

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...

General Manager, Warren De La Salle, 1981 *

Thomas Sugrue Thomas J. Sugrue (born 1962, Detroit, Michigan) is an American historian of the 20th-century United States at New York University. From 1991 to 2015, he was the David Boies Professor of History and Sociology at the University of Pennsylvania and ...

, Historian, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 1980 *

Denis O'Hare Denis Patrick Seamus O'Hare (born January 17, 1962) is an American actor, singer, and author noted for his award-winning performances in the plays '' Take Me Out'' and ''Sweet Charity'', as well as portraying vampire king Russell Edgington on HB ...

, Actor, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 1980 *

Brian Brennan Brian Michael Brennan (born February 15, 1962) is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the 1984 NFL Draft. He graduated from Brother Rice High School (Michigan).http://ww ...

, NFL Player, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 1980 * Mike Cox, Former Michigan Attorney General, Detroit Catholic Central, 1980 *

Andy Dillon Andrew Dillon is a Democratic Party politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. While Dillon is a Democrat, he was appointed by Governor Rick Snyder, a Republican, to be the state's treasurer. Before serving in the Cabinet, Dillon was speaker of ...

, Former Michigan Speaker of the House, Detroit Catholic Central, 1980 * Michealene Risley, Writer and Director, Madison Heights Bishop Foley, 1978 *

Jim Paciorek James Joseph Paciorek (born June 7, 1960) is an American former professional baseball player. He played first base, third base, and outfield for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He also played with the Yokohama Taiyo Whales ...

, Former

Player, Orchard Lake St. Mary's, 1978 * Brian Zahara,

Michigan Supreme Court The Michigan Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is Michigan's court of last resort and consists of seven justices. The Court is located in the Michigan Hall of Justice at 925 Ottawa Street in Lansing, the sta ...

Justice, Dearborn Divine Child, 1977 *

Bill Sheridan William Sheridan (born January 27, 1959) is an American football coach who is currently the linebackers coach for the Arlington Renegades. Sheridan was previously the defensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football L ...

, Former NFL Player, Warren De La Salle, 1977 *

Chris Hansen Christopher Edward Hansen (born September 13, 1959) is an American television journalist and YouTube personality. He is known for his work on ''Dateline NBC'', in particular the former segment ''To Catch a Predator'', which revolved around catc ...

, Former NBC Television News Reporter, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 1977 * Chris Godfrey, Former NFL Player, Warren De La Salle, 1976 *

Mike Duggan Michael Edward Duggan (born July 15, 1958) is an American lawyer, businessman, and politician serving as the 75th mayor of Detroit, Michigan since 2014. A member of the Democratic Party, Duggan previously served as the Wayne County Prosecutor ...

, Mayor of Detroit, Detroit Catholic Central, 1976 *

Mike Bouchard Michael J. Bouchard is an American politician who has served as Sheriff of Oakland County, Michigan since 1999. A member of the Republican Party, Bouchard previously served in the Michigan State Senate from 1991 to 1999, and as the Senate Majo ...

, Oakland County (Michigan) Sheriff, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 1974 * Tom LaGarde, Member of 1976 U.S. Olympic basketball team and retired

Player, Detroit Catholic Central, 1973 * Greg Collins , Actor and retired NFL Player, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 1971 *

Frank Tanana Frank Daryl Tanana (born July 3, 1953) is an American former professional baseball left-handed pitcher. In a Major League Baseball career that stretched from 1973 to 1993, he pitched for the California Angels, Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers, De ...

, Retired

Player, Detroit Catholic Central, 1971 * Joseph LoDuca, Music Composer, Warren De La Salle, 1970 *

Bill Simpson E. J. "Bill" Simpson (March 14, 1940 – December 16, 2019) was an American racecar driver, but is best known as a pioneer in the racing safety business with his company Simpson Performance Products. He left Simpson Performance in a controversy s ...

, Former NFL Player, Royal Oak Shrine, 1970 * Mike Varty, Former NFL Player, Austin Catholic Preparatory, 1970 *

Gary Danielson Gary Dennis Danielson (born September 10, 1951) is an American college football commentator and former professional American football player. Danielson was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Detroit Lions from ...

, Former NFL Player, Dearborn Divine Child, 1969 * Peter Leonard, Author, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 1969 *

David M. Lawson David M. Lawson (born January 11, 1951) is a Senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Education and career Born in Detroit, Michigan, Lawson graduated from Brother Rice High ...

United States Federal Judge In the United States, federal judges are judges who serve on courts established under Article Three of the U.S. Constitution. They include the chief justice and the associate justices of the U.S. Supreme Court, the circuit judges of the U.S. ...

, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 1969 * Paul Seymour, Former NFL Player, Royal Oak Shrine, 1968 * Richard Tarnas, Author, University of Detroit Jesuit, 1968 * Lawrence Joseph,

Poet A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator ( thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems (oral or writte ...

, University of Detroit Jesuit, 1966 * J. Richard Fredericks, Former U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 1964 *

Gerald McGowan Gerald Stephen "Gerry" McGowan (born September 3, 1946 Birmingham, Michigan) is an American lawyer, wireless industry entrepreneur, and diplomat. He was appointed United States Ambassador to Portugal on November 10, 1997, and was sworn in by Vice ...

, Former U.S. Ambassador to Portugal, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 1964 * Bob King,

United Auto Workers The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, better known as the United Auto Workers (UAW), is an American labor union that represents workers in the United States (including Puerto Rico ...

President, University of Detroit Jesuit, 1964 * Jim Seymour, Former NFL Player, Royal Oak Shrine, 1964 *

James Tocco James Tocco (born 1943) is an American concert pianist. He is the youngest of thirteen children born to Vincenzo and Rose Tocco, both Sicilian immigrants. Early life Born of Sicilian immigrant parents in Detroit, Michigan, Tocco's love of music ...

, internationally-known concert pianist, Austin Catholic Preparatory School, 1961. * William "Bill" Chmielewski, Former ABA Player, Detroit Holy Redeemer, 1960 * William B. Fitzgerald, Jr., Majority Leader of the

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

, Michigan Legislature. Austin Catholic Preparatory School, 1960 *

Michael Moriarty Michael Moriarty (born April 5, 1941) is an American-Canadian actor and jazz musician. He received an Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award for his first acting role on American television as a Nazi SS officer in the 1978 mini-series ''Holocaust'' ...

, Actor, University of Detroit Jesuit, 1959 * Michael Cavanagh,

Justice, University of Detroit Jesuit, 1958 *

Dave DeBusschere David Albert DeBusschere (October 16, 1940 – May 14, 2003) was an American professional National Basketball Association (NBA) player and coach and Major League Baseball (MLB) player. He played for the Chicago White Sox of MLB in 1962 and 1963 a ...

, player for the

Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...

Detroit Pistons The Detroit Pistons are an American professional basketball team based in Detroit. The Pistons compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division and play their home games at Li ...

, and

New York Knicks The New York Knickerbockers, shortened and more commonly referred to as the New York Knicks, are an American professional basketball team based in the New York City borough of Manhattan. The Knicks compete in the National Basketball Associat ...

, Austin Catholic Preparatory School, 1958 * L. Brooks Patterson,

Oakland County, Michigan Oakland County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the metropolitan Detroit area, located northwest of the city. As of the 2020 Census, its population was 1,274,395, making it the second-most populous county in Michigan, b ...

Executive Executive ( exe., exec., execu.) may refer to: Role or title * Executive, a senior management role in an organization ** Chief executive officer (CEO), one of the highest-ranking corporate officers (executives) or administrators ** Executive dir ...

, University of Detroit Jesuit, 1957 *

Bruce Maher Bruce David Maher (July 25, 1937 – July 6, 2018) was an American football safety in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions and New York Giants. He played college football at the University of Detroit Mercy and was drafted in the 1 ...

, Former NFL Player, University of Detroit Jesuit, 1955 *

Greg Marx Gregory Allen Marx (July 18, 1950 – October 5, 2018) was an American football defensive end who played one season with the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Falcons in the second round of the 1973 NFL ...

, Former NFL Player, Detroit Catholic Central, 1968 * J.P. McCarthy, WJR Radio Personality, Warren De La Salle, 1950 *

Adam Maida Adam Joseph Maida (born March 18, 1930) is an American cardinal prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. Maida served as the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit in Michigan from 1990 to 2009, and was elevated to cardinal in 1994. Maida prev ...

, Former Cardinal Archbishop Emeritus of Detroit, Orchard Lake St. Mary's, 1948 * Thomas E. Brennan, Former Chief Justice of the

Detroit Catholic Central, 1947 *

Manuel Moroun Manuel "Matty" Moroun (June 5, 1927 – July 12, 2020) was an American billionaire businessman, most notable as the owner of the Ambassador Bridge international crossing connecting Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario. The bridge, which Moro ...

, Transportation Magnate, University of Detroit Jesuit, 1945 * Elmore Leonard, Former

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and

screenwriter A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based. ...

, University of Detroit Jesuit, 1943 *

John McCabe John McCabe may refer to: *John McCabe (composer) (1939–2015), British composer and classical pianist *John McCabe (writer) (1920–2005), Shakespearean scholar and biographer *Christopher John McCabe Christopher John McCabe (born 20 Oc ...

, Author, University of Detroit Jesuit, 1938 *

Vince Banonis Vincent Joseph Banonis (April 9, 1921 – October 23, 2010) was an American football player. He played college football at the University of Detroit Mercy where he was selected as a first-team All-American in 1940. He also played in the National ...

, Former NFL Player, Detroit Catholic Central, 1938 * Andy Farkas, Former NFL Player, University of Detroit Jesuit, 1934 * George D. O'Brien, Former U.S. Congressman, University of Detroit Jesuit, 1917 * Louis C. Rabaut, Former U.S. Congressman, University of Detroit Jesuit, 1905

Girls' Basketball Championships

Girls' basketball championship facts: *Since CHSL girls basketball championship games began being played in 1974, and through 2016, the Bloomfield Hills Marian Mustangs have won fifteen CHSL championships, the most of any school in league history. *The Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes Lakers are second in league history with seven CHSL championships. *The Livonia Ladywood Blazers, the Farmington Hills Mercy Marlins and the Detroit St. Martin de Porres Eagles are all tied for third with six championships each.

Softball Championships

Softball championship facts: *Since CHSL softball championship games began being played in 1975, and through 2015, the Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes Lakers have won the most softball championships of any school in league history with fourteen. * The Allen Park Cabrini Monarchs have the second most softball championships with eleven, while the Warren Regina Saddlelites follow closely behind with ten championships.

Football Championships

In 1926, Detroit Holy Redeemer and Detroit St. Leo faced each other in the first football game to determine the champion of the Detroit Parochial League (later the CHSL). Holy Redeemer won that game 14-9. The game has been played every year since 1926 under various names, with

winning twenty-eight football league championship games, the most of any school in league history. Starting in 1948, the league championship game was called "The Soup Bowl", as the Capuchin

Soup kitchen A soup kitchen, food kitchen, or meal center, is a place where food is offered to the Hunger, hungry usually for free or sometimes at a below-market price (such as via coin donations upon visiting). Frequently located in lower-income neighborhoo ...

became the benefactor of some of the proceeds from the game. The Soup Bowl game was always played at

University of Detroit Stadium University of Detroit Stadium, also known as U of D Stadium, Titan Stadium, or Dinan Field, was an outdoor athletic stadium in the north central United States, located on the campus of the University of Detroit in Detroit, Michigan. The stadium ...

. After the affiliation with the Capuchins ended in 1967 the game was called the "Charity Bowl" and since 1971 the "Prep Bowl". The Prep Bowl was played at the

Pontiac Silverdome The Pontiac Silverdome (also known simply as the Silverdome) was a stadium in Pontiac, Michigan. It opened in 1975 and sat on 199 acres (51 ha) of land. When the stadium opened, it featured a fiberglass fabric roof held up by air pressure, ...

and, since 2002, at

Ford Field Ford Field is a domed American football stadium located in Downtown Detroit. It primarily serves as the home of the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL), as well as the annual Quick Lane Bowl college football bowl game, state champ ...

. The Prep Bowl today also involves the Detroit Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) for Catholic elementary schools as well as games within the high school divisions of the CHSL. Prep Bowl facts: Through 2015, the winningest high schools in Prep Bowl history, regardless of divisions, are: * Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (twenty-three A-B Division, Central-AA Division and Wildcard wins) *

(twenty A-B Division, Central-AA Division and Wildcard wins) * Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes (fourteen C-D Division and Wildcard wins) For all Prep Bowl high school football game results, click here Soup Bowl Fact: * St. Mary of Redford won the most Soup Bowl games (7) followed by Grosse Pointe St. Ambrose (5). Parochial League Football Championship Facts: * From 1926 to 1947,

won the most league football championships (6) followed by Detroit Holy Redeemer (4) and Detroit St. Theresa of Avila (4).

Operation Friendship

In 1947, the Detroit City League boys basketball champion and the Detroit Parochial League boys basketball champion met at

Olympia Stadium Detroit Olympia, also known as Olympia Stadium, was a multi-purpose arena in Detroit. Nicknamed "The Old Red Barn", it was best known as the home of the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL) from its opening in 1927 to 1979. Histo ...

to play for the first time to determine who would wear the crown as the Detroit City Basketball Champions. The game between Detroit Miller High School and Detroit St. Joseph High School drew so much interest it sold out Olympia Stadium, with a capacity of 11,563 and in so doing established a state record for attendance at a high school basketball game. This was the first of what would, in later years, become known as the Operation Friendship Championship pitting the best of the

Detroit Public School League The Detroit Public School League (PSL) is a high school conference based in the city of Detroit, Michigan and is governed by Detroit Public Schools Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) is a school district that covers all of the c ...

against the Catholic High School League. At the end of the evening, the Detroit Miller Trojans defeated the Detroit St. Joseph Blue Jays 47-34 to claim the first ever Detroit City Basketball High School Championship. Since that game, the Detroit Public School League champions and the Detroit Catholic High School League champions have met nearly every year to determine the Detroit City Champions. In later years, the game would become known as the Operation Friendship Championship. The game has been played at University of Detroit's

Calihan Hall Calihan Hall is a 7,917-seat multi-purpose arena in Detroit. It is home to the University of Detroit Mercy Titans basketball team. The arena opened in 1952. The building was dedicated on May 25, 1952 as the Memorial Building. The first basketbal ...

(formerly Memorial Hall) virtually every year, although

Cobo Arena Huntington Place (formerly known as Cobo Hall, Cobo Center, and briefly as TCF Center) is a convention center in Downtown Detroit, owned by the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA) and operated by ASM Global. Located at 1 Was ...

in Detroit has also hosted the basketball classic. Operation Friendship facts: *The Public School League has won 41 of the 56 Operation Friendship Championship Games played through 2016. *Since 2005, the CHSL has won six Operation Friendship championships, while the PSL has won five. * Detroit Southwestern has won the most Operation Friendship championship games with nine, followed by Detroit Northwestern with five and Detroit Eastern/Detroit King with five. Orchard Lake St. Mary's Prep has won three Operation Friendship championship games, the most among CHSL schools.

Goodfellow Game

The Goodfellow Game was an annual high school football game for the unofficial city of

high school football championship. The game was played between the champions of the Detroit City League (later the

) and the Detroit Parochial League (later the Catholic High School League). The Goodfellow Game was played every year from 1938 through 1967. The Goodfellow Game was always played at Briggs/ Tiger Stadium. The Goodfellow Game was played in a time before Michigan had a high school state championship playoff. As a result, the Goodfellow Game was considered one of the state's most prestigious high school football games of its time. Goodfellow Game facts: * The Detroit Parochial League won sixteen Goodfellow Games, the Detroit City League won eleven and there were three ties in the 30 Goodfellow Games played. *The Detroit Denby Tars played in the most Goodfellow Games of any school with nine. The Detroit St. Mary of Redford Rustics played in seven Goodfellow Games, the most among Detroit Parochial League schools. *The Grosse Pointe St. Ambrose Cavaliers and the Detroit Catholic Central Shamrocks won the most Goodfellow Games with five each. The Detroit Denby Tars won four Goodfellow Games, the most among Detroit City League schools. * The Grosse Pointe St. Ambrose Cavaliers had the most Goodfellow Game shutouts with three, while the Detroit Denby Tars had the most tied Goodfellow Games with two. *The University of Detroit High Cubs played in three Goodfellows Games, all representing the Detroit City League, before joining the Detroit Parochial League in 1958. *The Goodfellow Game regularly drew crowds of 40,000 spectators at its peak in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

References

{{Reflist, 30em

External links

Catholic High School League

Michigan high school sports conferences High school sports conferences and leagues in the United States Catholic sports organizations Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit