Special Year Thanks to No Specialization
August 7, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
As we embark on another sports-filled school year Monday, we can look to a recent Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central grad for the value of a school year filled with sports.
As specialization at the highs school level continues to be debated, Bryce Windham will start his college baseball career this fall at Division I Old Dominion University – after playing baseball but also football and basketball for the Falcons.
The MHSAA has long advocated athletes taking on as many sports as they have interest instead of focusing on just one in pursuit of a college scholarship – a position that’s received plenty of public backing of late, be it from stars of the U.S. women’s soccer team after their World Cup championship run or former Lansing Waverly multi-sport athlete John Smoltz during his enshrinement in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.
Enter Windham – who easily could’ve been excused for focusing on baseball, or even basketball as his dad is the St. Mary’s varsity boys coach. Instead, Bryce quarterbacked the football team to last season’s Division 6 championship – breaking Ithaca’s national-best 69-game winning streak in the Final – before being named Class C Player of the Year by The Associated Press in basketball and earning a Most Valuable Player honor at the baseball state coaches association all-star game at Comerica Park this spring.
All three of Windham's teams reached at least the MHSAA Quarterfinals.
“His participation in football and basketball helped land a Division 1 baseball scholarship to Old Dominion. They were able to see his athleticism in basketball and toughness in football, and ODU’s coach loved it,” dad and hoops coach Randy Windham said.
“He probably would’ve given up football, and that ended up his greatest memory by winning a state championship.”
Click to read about Windham’s multitude of accomplishments as reported last month by the Monroe Evening News.
Honors Abound
National coaching honors were bestowed on a trio of Michigan coaches over the summer:
- Retired Trenton ice hockey coach Mike Turner – the winningest hockey coach in MHSAA history with a record of 629-126-52 from 1974-81 and then 1995-2014 – was named National Coach of the Year in Special Sports by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association. His teams won 11 MHSAA titles and finished runner-up four times. “I was there when the MHSAA added hockey as one of their sanctioned sports and crowned their first MHSAA state championships in 1975. At that time there were 60-70 high school teams participating, and now there are 170,” Turner said. “It has been great to be a part of the advancements made in the sport of high school hockey, with more teams participating, more player development, and more opportunities that exist for players after high school.”
- Traverse City Central boys track and field and cross country coach John Lober won his second national coaching honor of the 2014-15 school year, named the NHSACA Coach of the Year for track and field to go with a previous honor earned in January from the National Federation of State High School Associations. He has coached the Traverse City Central boys track and field team since 1977 and also the boys cross country team since 1989. His 1992 track team won the Class A championship, and he has coached 17 individual MHSAA Finals champions. He was inducted into the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2006.
- Ann Arbor Pioneer assistant girls swimming and diving coach Liz Hill was named the Assistant Coach of the Year for all girls sports by the NHSACA. Hill, a former All-American at the University of Michigan and standout sprinter at Pioneer, began assisting her husband Denny Hill in 1983 before becoming his fulltime assistant a few seasons later. Together they’ve led the Pioneers girls to 15 MHSAA team titles, the last two as co-head coaches.
Michigan Mourns
Fremont and the high school athletic community statewide mourned the death July 21 of longtime coach Rich Tompkins, who led Fremont’s boys cross country teams to six MHSAA cross country championships including three and a runner-up finish during his last decade of coaching before retiring in 1997.
The Muskegon Chronicle reported that his boys and girls cross country teams and boys track and field team combined for 45 league championships, with his boys cross country team winning 116 straight duals from 1977-88. Tompkins was executive director of the Michigan High School Coaches Association for more than a decade and served on its board for more than two decades.
Click to read more from the Chronicle on Tompkins’ legacy.
Officials in the News
The Monroe County Officials Association took to the county fair to encourage passers-by to “Be the Referee” – and received 47 sign-ups from people interested in the avocation. Visitors to an MCOA booth at the fair were told in some detail what is involved with being an MHSAA official, and those who then signed up to find out more about officiating football, basketball, baseball or softball (sports the MCOA trains for and schedules) will be invited to an orientation session where they will become eligible for one of 20 complimentary registration fees for this school year.
The West Michigan Officials Association marked a decade of support at the start of this summer for the Visually Impaired Sports and Activity Day, sponsored by the Helen DeVos Children’s Foundation. The WMOA has contributed nearly $18,000 to the event over the last 10 years as well as taking part in the event, which includes a number of sports and other activities.
The Saginaw Athletic Officials Association sent along this photo of five members who worked 2013-14 MHSAA Finals, from left: Mark Jarlock (baseball), Tom Behmlander (softball), Scott Helmka (football), Dale Brown (softball and football) and Mark Schoenow (football). The Baseball Final was Jarlock’s first; the other officials had worked Finals in the past.
PHOTO: (Top) Monroe St. Mary quarterback Bryce Windham unloads a pass during last season's Division 6 Final win over Ithaca at Ford Field.
Preview: Historic Skate Guaranteed as 5 Seek 1st Trip to Saturday Center Ice
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 4, 2026
All three 2025 MHSAA Finals winners will return to USA Hockey Arena this weekend intending to repeat – and, in fact, Detroit Catholic Central will be playing for a sixth-straight title.
But we also will welcome five teams that have never reached a championship game in this sport – and we’re guaranteed to see at least one take the ice Saturday in Plymouth with a championship on the line.
Utica Eisenhower, Northville, Detroit U-D Jesuit, Caledonia and Traverse Bay Reps are those five teams seeking to make the season’s final day for the first time. Eisenhower and Northville will face off in a Friday Semifinal, guaranteeing the winner also celebrates that historic achievement.
Division 1 – Friday Semifinals
#1 Detroit Catholic Central (27-1-1) vs. #4 Rockford (21-8-1), 5 p.m.
#2 Utica Eisenhower (24-6) vs. #3 Northville (22-8), 7:30 p.m.
Division 2 – Thursday Semifinals
#1 Flint Powers Catholic (25-5) vs. #4 Detroit U-D Jesuit (13-15), 5 p.m.
#2 Caledonia (21-5-1) vs. #3 Livonia Stevenson (19-9-1), 7:30 p.m.
Division 3 – Friday Semifinals
#1 Houghton (23-6-1) vs. #4 Traverse Bay Reps (16-12-1), 11 a.m.
#2 Orchard Lake St. Mary's (24-4) vs. #3 Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett (25-5), 1:30 p.m.
Saturday – Finals
Division 1 – 7 p.m.
Division 2 – 11 a.m.
Division 3 – 3 p.m.
All Semifinals and Finals will be streamed live on MHSAA.tv and viewable with subscription. For information on tickets and more, go to the Ice Hockey page – and see below for a glance at all 12 contenders, listed by seed.
Division 1
#1 DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 27-1-1, No. 2
Coach: Brandon Kaleniecki, 11th season (270-33-3)
League finish: First in Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League, first in Catholic High School League
Championship history: Nineteen MHSAA titles (most recent 2024), five runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 1-0 (Quarterfinal) and 4-3 over No. 1 Howell, 5-0 over No. 6 Brighton, 6-3 over Division 2 No. 1 Flint Powers Catholic, 8-4 over Division 2 No. 8 Trenton, 3-2 (OT) and 5-2 over Division 3 No. 1 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s.
Players to watch: Sean Goff, jr. F (11 goals, 13 assists); Lucas Szmagaj, jr. F (11 goals, 16 assists); Ryan Dye, sr. D (9 goals, 25 assists), Costa Karadimas, sr. F (9 goals, 18 assists).
Outlook: Detroit Catholic Central opened this season with a win over Howell and then added another in the Quarterfinal to return to this weekend. The lone loss came Nov. 19 to No. 3 Hartland, and the Shamrocks also have defeated strong opponents from Ohio, Illinois and Wisconsin. Goff centers Szmagaj and Karadimas on the top line, but a second of seniors Jack Dorgan (13 goals/14 assists)-Matthew Naida (8/14)-Gabe Thompson (18/3) is similarly potent, and junior defenseman Sam Masek (10/17) has reached double-digit goals as well. Junior Nicholas Kogut (1.47 goals-against average) and senior Maxxon Sulla (0.60) have combined for 12 shutouts.
#2 UTICA EISENHOWER
Record/rank: 24-6, No. 4
Coach: David Erwin, second season (47-11)
League finish: First in Macomb Area Conference Red
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 7-1 and 10-6 over No. 10 Macomb Dakota, 4-1 over Division 2 No. 4 Byron Center, 4-2 over Division 2 No. 6 Rochester United, 4-2 over Division 2 No. 9 Mattawan, 5-2 over Division 2 No. 10 St. Clair Shores United.
Players to watch: Sawyer Hotchkiss, sr. F (20 goals, 25 assists); Bode Farr, sr. F (43 goals, 46 assists); Joseph Zelenak, sr. F (41 goals, 58 assists); Nathan Schilkey, sr. F (49 goals, 48 assists).
Outlook: Eisenhower has advanced to the Semifinals for the first time since 2006 anchored by serious scoring power especially on the top line where Farr centers Zelenak and Schilkey. Junior forward Ryan Dex (16 goals, 18 assists) is another top scorer, and junior defenseman Zach Morrison (8/21) is among blueliners adding most to the attack. Hotchkiss, Farr and senior goalie Connor Holmes (1.86 GAA) all earned all-state honorable mentions last season. The Eagles’ only loss since the start of December came to No. 7 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central.
#3 NORTHVILLE
Record/rank: 22-8, No. 5
Coach: Ryan Ossenmacher, fourth season (61-45-3)
League finish: Fourth in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 3-1 over No. 6 Brighton in Regional Final, 4-3 over Division 2 No. 4 Byron Center, 3-2 over Division 3 No. 3 Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, 5-1 over Division 3 No. 9 South Lyon Unified.
Players to watch: Tommy Marinoff, sr. F (32 goals, 19 assists); Jordan Sziraki, sr. F (11 goals, 15 assists); Lucas Goerke, sr. F (12 goals, 16 assists); Ethan Egelski, sr. F (30 goals, 19 assists).
Outlook: Northville is returning to the Semifinals for the first time since 2017, and Ossenmacher has brought the Mustangs back after they finished just 10-15-2 in his first season four years ago. The fourth place in the KLAA West requires context; Northville finished behind No. 1 Howell, No. 3 Hartland and No. 6 Brighton and then avenged their regular-season loss to the Bulldogs in the Regional Final. Marinoff made the all-state first team last season. Senior defenseman Graham Ryba also is among team leaders in assists with 14, and junior Andrea Castiglioni (1.94 GAA) and sophomore Carter Nissen (1.72) are solid in net.
#4 ROCKFORD
Record/rank: 21-8-1, No. 8
Coach: Carl Mokosak, fourth season (51-53-1)
League finish: Second in Ottawa-Kent Conference Rue
Championship history: Division 1 runner-up 2021.
Best wins: 4-0 (Regional Final) and 4-1 over No. 7 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, 5-4 (SO) over No. 5 Northville, 3-2 over Division 2 No. 3 Grandville, 5-3 over Division 2 No. 4 Byron Center.
Players to watch: Jonah Packard, sr. F (39 goals, 22 assists); Jackson Vollmer, sr. F (17 goals, 20 assists); Brody Raguckas, sr. F (16 goals, 12 assists); Chase Laverell, jr. F (8 goals, 26 assists).
Outlook: Rockford is back at the Semifinals for the first time since its runner-up finish five years ago and after ending only 10-15 a season ago. The Rams have won 12 of their last 13 games and made the impressive jump keyed by a senior-heavy offensive effort that also includes Michael Mead (11 goals, 13 assists) and Warner Korytkowski (5/20) among team statistical leaders. Rockford has scored at least five goals in nine of those 12 most recent victories and also held both Regional opponents Sparta and Forest Hills Central scoreless. Packard earned all-state honorable mention last season.
Division 2
#1 FLINT POWERS CATHOLIC
Record/rank: 25-5, No. 1
Coach: Travis Perry, 20th season (411-123-20)
League finish: First in Saginaw Valley League
Championship history: Division 3 champion 2023 and 2025, seven runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 9-1 over No. 2 Livonia Stevenson, 6-0 over No. 7 Alpena, 3-1 over Division 1 No. 5 Northville, 8-0 over Division 3 No. 6 Escanaba.
Players to watch: Ayden Cook, sr. F (53 goals, 48 assists); Owen Perry, soph. F (34 goals, 53 assists); Parker Bendall, sr. F (22 goals, 43 assists); Hunter Clark, sr. G (1.85 GAA, 7 shutouts).
Outlook: The Chargers are seeking their second-straight title and third in four seasons backstopped by an all-state honorable mention goalie in Clark and scoring nearly seven goals per game. Seniors Gavin Vorwerk (20 goals, 19 assists) and Jack Johnson (11/13) and sophomores Sam Beebe (15/14) and Chase Stevens (10/15) also have reached double-digit goals, and junior defenseman Julian Meyer has 39 assists to go with seven goals from the blue line. Powers hasn’t given up a score during the postseason, defeating Fenton, Saginaw Heritage and Midland Dow by a combined 29-0. All five losses were to teams ranked among the top three in Division 1 or 3.
#2 CALEDONIA
Record/rank: 21-5-1, No. 5
Coach: Tyler Jaenicke, first season (21-5-1)
League finish: Second in O-K Rue
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 3-2 OT (Regional Final) and 4-2 over No. 4 Byron Center, 3-1 over No. 9 Mattawan in Regional Semifinal, 2-1 (OT) over No. 3 Grandville, 4-2 over Division 1 No. 6 Brighton, 5-0 over Division 1 No. 7 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, 4-2 over Division 1 No. 8 Rockford.
Players to watch: Ty Lewandowski, sr. F (17 goals, 16 assists); Sam Hoag, sr. G (1.65 GAA); Harmon Esch, sr. F (20 goals, 17 assists); Gabe Supuk, jr. D (10 goals, 13 assists).
Outlook: Caledonia has increased its win total four straight seasons and advanced to the Semifinals to the first time with a tournament run that also included a 4-3 double-overtime victory over Muskegon Mona Shores in the Quarterfinal. The Fighting Scots started a current eight-game winning streak by edging Division 3 semifinalist Traverse Bay Reps, and along the way have avenged losses to Byron Center and Mattawan. Junior Ethan Sova (17 goals, 18 assists) centers the top line, and sophomore Bryce Mitchell (10/8) is also a top scorer. Hoag made the all-state first team last season, and Lewandowski made the second team.
#3 LIVONIA STEVENSON
Record/rank: 19-9-1, No. 2
Coach: Jay Thompson, first season (19-9-1)
League finish: First in KLAA East
Championship history: Division 2 champion 2013, three runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 4-3 (Quarterfinal) and 2-1 (SO) over No. 6 Rochester United, 4-2 over No. 9 Mattawan, 5-2 over No. 8 Trenton, 4-3 over Division 1 No. 5 Northville, 6-3 over Division 1 No. 3 Hartland, 4-3 over Division 1 No. 6 Brighton, 5-3 over Division 3 No. 3 Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, 3-1 over Division 3 No. 7 Riverview Gabriel Richard.
Players to watch: Colin Stroble, sr. D (14 goals, 33 assists); Dawson Wallis, sr. D (12 goals, 28 assists); Blake Calhoun, sr. F (20 goals, 17 assists); Brendan Sise, sr. F (18 goals, 30 assists).
Outlook: Stevenson won its first Regional title since 2023 and is making its first Semifinal trip since its most recent runner-up season in 2016, with Thompson leading the way after formerly serving as an assistant coach for a decade and then the last three seasons as an assistant at Northville. Stroble made the all-state first team last season and Wallis earned honorable mention, and they give the Spartans a high-powered top defense pair to go with an attack that also includes seniors Garrett Teahan (11 goals/19 assists) and Tyler Breitbach (10/8). The win over Hartland on Jan. 14 started a current 10-3-1 run.
#4 DETROIT U-D JESUIT
Record/rank: 13-15, unranked
Coach: Domenic Recchia, second season (19-36)
League finish: Fourth in MIHL South
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 4-3 (OT) over No. 8 Trenton in Quarterfinal, 3-1 over Dexter in Semifinal, 2-1 (SO) over Huron Valley United, 3-1 over Marysville.
Players to watch: Zack Barringer, sr. F (10 goals, 10 assists); Teo Mosera, jr. F (12 goals, 9 assists); Carter Gogate, sr. F (10 goals, 14 assists); Brody Contat, sr. F (8 goals, 12 assists).
Outlook: Jesuit is making its second trip to the Semifinals in four seasons, improving from 6-21 just a year ago and after starting this playoff run with a 6-3 victory over Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice. Of the team’s 14 losses, 10 came to opponents ranked in their divisions’ respective top 10s at the end of the regular season. The Cubs have only five seniors, and junior forward Will Balasia (10 goals, 5 assists) is another top scorer and centers the second line. Recchia played at Jesuit and returned as a varsity assistant in 2013 and then became junior varsity head coach before taking over the program.
Division 3
#1 HOUGHTON
Record/rank: 23-6-1, No. 2
Coach: Micah Stipech, third season (65-17-3)
League finish: Does not play in a conference.
Championship history: Class B-C-D champion 1982, five runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 4-0 (Quarterfinal) and 6-0 over No. 4 Marquette, 9-1 (Regional Final), 3-1 and 5-1 over No. 5 Calumet, 5-0 (Regional Semifinal) over Hancock, 10-5 over No. 3 Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett, 4-1 and 4-1 over No. 10 Painesdale Jeffers, 6-5 (OT) over No. 7 Riverview Gabriel Richard, 5-4 over Division 2 No. 8 Trenton, 2-0 over Division 2 No. 9 Mattawan, 4-1 over Division 2 No. 3 Grandville, 5-1 over Division 1 No. 7 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, 6-1 over Division 1 No. 6 Brighton, 2-1 (OT) over Division 1 No. 3 Hartland.
Players to watch: Connor Arko, sr. F (24 goals, 34 assists); Noah Maillette, sr. F (28 goals, 21 assists); Jack Sayen, sr. F (15 goals, 19 assists); Gunner Gullstrand, soph. F (13 goals, 15 assists).
Outlook: Houghton is about as tested as they come heading into this weekend, with five of the six losses also to ranked opponents and the sixth coming to rival Hancock two weeks before the Gremlins avenged to the start the postseason. Houghton last finished Division 3 runner-up in 2019 and reached the Semifinals most recently in 2023. Arko made the all-state second team last season. Gullstrand centers a second line of two more top scorers, sophomore Braden Kari (11 goals/15 assists) and junior Brody Donnelly (18/17).
#2 ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARY’S
Record/rank: 24-4, No. 1
Coach: Brian Klanow, 27th season (426-220-39)
League finish: Third in MIHL North
Championship history: Four MHSAA titles (most recent 2025), two runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 3-1 over No. 9 South Lyon Unified in Regional Final, 9-1 and 5-1 over No. 7 Riverview Gabriel Richard, 5-3 over Division 1 No. 3 Hartland, 8-3 over Division 1 No. 6 Brighton, 7-4 over Division 2 No. 2 Livonia Stevenson, 7-2 over Division 2 No. 1 Flint Powers Catholic, 10-2 over Division 2 No. 8 Trenton.
Players to watch: Thaddeus Raynish, jr. F (20 goals, 13 assists); Dominic Pizzo, sr. F (20 goals, 19 assists); Diezel Cariera, sr. D (7 goals, 24 assists); Charlie Roberts, sr. F (28 goals, 23 assists).
Outlook: The reigning champion has been building toward a potential repeat, riding a 13-game winning streak with its only losses to Detroit Catholic Central (twice), Howell and Cranbrook. Roberts and Raynish have been among the team’s leading scorers multiple seasons, and Raynish made the all-state first team a year ago. Eight players this winter have scored at least 11 goals, and 13 have at least 10 assists. Senior Matthew Mourad (11 goals/16 assists)-junior Emmett Pilch (12/13)-sophomore Matthew Boyda (11/16) are a potent second line, and junior Daniel Ramos (12/16) and senior John Brown (11/16) also are double-digit scorers with sophomore Brandon Kondrat (9/17) needing one more goal to join the group.
#3 GROSSE POINTE WOODS UNIVERSITY LIGGETT
Record/rank: 25-5, No. 8
Coach: Colin Smith, fifth season (91-40-2)
League finish: Second in Metro League East, first in CHSL Cardinal Tournament
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2012).
Best wins: 2-0 over No. 3 Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood in Regional Final, 3-2 (Quarterfinal), 6-3 and 4-2 over Dearborn Divine Child, 5-2 and 5-4 over Division 1 No. 10 Macomb Dakota, 5-3 over Division 2 No. 1 Flint Powers Catholic.
Players to watch: Landen Maltby, sr. C (15 goals, 11 assists); Griffin Marchal, sr. RW (29 goals, 39 assists); Luke Slanec, jr. C (18 goals, 39 assists); Nick Gould, sr. LW (43 goals, 34 assists).
Outlook: Liggett won its first Regional title since 2020 and will play at the Semifinals for the first time since its most recent championship season of 2012. The Knights advanced by winning their fourth matchup this season with Metro League East champ Divine Child, which had defeated Liggett 18 days earlier. Liggett opened this postseason with a 3-2 double-overtime win over Warren De La Salle Collegiate. Junior left wing Johnny Secco (10 goals/14 assists) and senior defenseman Ryan Cordaro (5/20) also are among top contributors to the attack.
#4 TRAVERSE BAY REPS
Record/rank: 16-12-1, unranked
Coach: Mike Matteucci, eighth season (136-72-7)
League finish: Does not play in a conference.
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 3-1 over Petoskey in Regional Final, 3-0 over Warren De La Salle Collegiate, 5-2 and 2-1 over Traverse City Central.
Players to watch: Tyler Boynton-Fisher, sr. G (1.53 GAA, 6 shutouts); Carter Denoyer, sr. F (5 goals, 20 assists); Thatcher Beaudoin, jr. F (20 goals, 7 assists); Eddie Walter, sr. F (17 goals, 16 assists).
Outlook: The Reps won their first Regional title since 2023 and will be returning to the Semifinals for the first time since 2019, and after finishing 12-15 a year ago. The impressive rise really took hold in early December, as the Reps began rebounding from a 2-6 start that included three overtime or shootout defeats. They are 10-2-1 since mid-January, that tie coming against Division 2 No. 4 Byron Center, and the Regional Final win over the Northmen avenged a regular-season loss. Boynton-Fisher earned all-state honorable mention last season, and junior Joel Ziecina (7 goals/17 assists) and sophomore Chase Kent (5/11) are the top defensive pair in front of him.
PHOTOS (Top) Houghton's Ian Hembroff (18) deflects the puck away from goalie Cooper Flachs and Marquette's Evan Mattila during the Gremlins’ Quarterfinal win Saturday. (Middle) Garrett Teahan (12) and Brendan Sise (16) lead a rush during Stevenson’s win over Livonia Red on Jan. 3. (Houghton/Marquette photo by Cara Kamps. Stevenson/Livonia Red photo by Douglas Bargerstock.)