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Lots of Fight in Pontiac Notre Dame Irish

June 7, 2012

Last week was the busiest on the MHSAA school schedule. And it was a great one for Pontiac Notre Dame Prep.

Over three days, the Fighting Irish won three District and one Regional championship, plus two more track and field individual Finals titles.

Successes were celebrated across six sports.

Thursday: Notre Dame’s boys golf team won its District, led by individual medalist Aaron Knutson; the senior shot a 71.

Friday: The boys lacrosse team won its third straight Regional title with an 11-2 win over Warren DeLaSalle in Division 2. (The Irish since have lost to Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central in a Semifinal.)

Saturday: Senior Sara Barron finished an outstanding track career by winning the 1,600-meter run with a Division 2 Finals record time of 4:51.67. She also won the 800 in 2:15.83 and teamed with Taylor Timko, Sarah LewAllen and Candice Mark to finish third in the 1,600 relay.

Timko also scored the game-winning goal as Notre Dame’s girls soccer team beat Detroit Country Day 1-0 in a Division 3 District championship game.

The Irish’s softball team beat Bloomfield Hills Lahser and Detroit Country Day by a combined score of 25-1 to win its sixth straight District title. Notre Dame had only one error on the day and didn’t give up a hit in the five-inning win over Lahser.

Finally, the girls tennis team posted its best MHSAA Finals finish to cap its best season ever. Notre Dame placed seventh in Division 4, keyed by runner-up finishes by Erin Moncrief (No. 4 singles) and Maddie Riley and Gabby Bering (No. 4 doubles). Notre Dame ended with a 10-1 dual record, losing only to eventual Division 4 champion Bloomfield Hills Academy of Sacred Heart.

PHOTO: Pontiac Notre Dame Prep’s softball team won its sixth-straight District championship Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Lynn Wroubel).

Howell players and fans celebrate their team's 5-4 overtime win over Salem on Friday at USA Hockey Arena.

Story in Photos: 2025 Ice Hockey Semifinals

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

March 7, 2025

PLYMOUTH – The 2024-25 hockey season will conclude Saturday with all three No. 1-ranked teams at the end of the regular season playing to finish the MHSAA Tournament also on top at Plymouth's USA Hockey Arena.

Division 2 will start Saturday’s MHSAA Finals at 11 a.m. with top-ranked Flint Powers Catholic (24-4) facing No. 4 Livonia Stevenson (18-8-2). Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood will play for a repeat in Division 3; the No. 5 Cranes (19-8-1) will face top-ranked Orchard Lake St. Mary's (22-5-2) at 3 p.m. The Division 1 Final will feature top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central (27-2) playing for a sixth-straight title, vs. No. 3 Howell (24-3-2), with the puck dropping at 7 p.m. to finish the day.

Hockey Weekly Action Photos captured plenty of action from the Semifinals – all photos below are by John Castine.

A Howell player works to maintain possession during Friday's 5-4 Division 1 Semifinal overtime win over Salem with Abel Dubanik (84) applying pressure.

A Howell player works to maintain possession during Friday's 5-4 Division 1 Semifinal overtime win over Salem with Abel Dubanik (84) applying pressure.

Detroit Catholic Central's Nino Suhy (2) rips a shot during his team's 8-0 Division 1 win over Sparta on Friday. He had two goals and an assist.

Detroit Catholic Central's Nino Suhy (2) rips a shot during his team's 8-0 Division 1 win over Sparta on Friday. He had two goals and an assist.

The Shamrocks' Connor Laird (15) moves the puck up ice as Sparta's Jameson Meendering (5) trails. Laird finished with a goal and an assist.

The Shamrocks' Connor Laird (15) moves the puck up ice as Sparta's Jameson Meendering (5) trails. Laird finished with a goal and an assist.

Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood and Painesdale Jeffers players work to gain possession of the puck during the Cranes' 2-1 win in Division 3 on Friday.

Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood and Painesdale Jeffers players work to gain possession of the puck during the Cranes' 2-1 win in Division 3 on Friday.

Cranbrook's Nick Timko celebrates one of his two goals with teammates GianLuca DiSalvo (9) and Cam Rocchini (10).

Cranbrook's Nick Timko celebrates one of his two goals with teammates GianLuca DiSalvo (9) and Cam Rocchini (10).

Orchard Lake St. Mary's and Alpena face off during the Eaglets' 9-1 Friday win in Division 3.

Orchard Lake St. Mary's and Alpena face off during the Eaglets' 9-1 Friday win in Division 3.

The Eaglets' Julian Johnston (9) and an Alpena player battle for possession. Johnston finished the victory with two goals and three assists. 

The Eaglets' Julian Johnston (9) and an Alpena player battle for possession. Johnston finished the victory with two goals and three assists. 

Livonia Stevenson goalie Mark Besedin deflects a shot during his team's 6-2 win over Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice in Division 2 on Thursday.

Livonia Stevenson goalie Mark Besedin deflects a shot during his team's 6-2 win over Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice in Division 2 on Thursday.

Stevenson's Tanner Champoux (6) celebrates during his team's win to reach the Division 2 Final for the first time since 2016.

Stevenson's Tanner Champoux (6) celebrates during his team's win to reach the Division 2 Final for the first time since 2016.

Flint Powers Catholic goalie Hunter Clark walls off a side of the goal as Grandville's Bennett Eisma (21) makes a run toward the crease during the Chargers' 4-3 Division 2 win Thursday.

Flint Powers Catholic goalie Hunter Clark walls off a side of the goal as Grandville's Bennett Eisma (21) makes a run toward the crease during the Chargers' 4-3 Division 2 win Thursday.

Powers' Blake Dawson controls the puck as his team advanced to play for a potential second title over the last three seasons.

Powers' Blake Dawson controls the puck as his team advanced to play for a potential second title over the last three seasons.

TOP PHOTO Howell players and fans celebrate their team's 5-4 overtime win over Salem on Friday at USA Hockey Arena.