HAZEL PARK – Sometimes Julius Wilson wants the ball in his hands.

Whenever Macomb L’Anse Creuse North needed something to happen Monday, it was usually the 6-foot-2 senior guard making something happen. Whether it’s a bucket, assist, rebound or extra pass, Wilson came through in the clutch on numerous times against Orchard Lake St. Mary’s at the D Zone Showcase at Hazel Park High School.

Wilson finished the night with 12 points, nine rebounds, three steals and three assists in leading the Crusaders to a 47-40 victory over St. Mary’s, which won a Division 1 state title in 2024.

The win moved L’Anse Creuse North to 5-1 in December – not a bad start for a team that lost most of its players to graduation and transfer.   

“We don’t have a lot of guys back,” admitted Wilson. “We lost three starters to graduation and another transferred. Plus, we had some key guys off our bench that graduated, too. So, I need to step up and lead this team.”

Wilson’s defense, experience, passing and shot-making abilities was on display at Hazel Park. After his team fell behind 14-10 after the first quarter, Wilson spearheaded a team defensive effort that turned the four-point deficit into a 25-20 lead at the half.

Wilson made a multitude of hustle plays in the frame, and a pair of assists helped L’Anse Creuse North close the period with a 12-2 run. In fact, it was his quick dime that set up Preston Ellul with a wide open three-pointer from the corner with 1:30 left in the quarter that gave the Crusaders a 25-19 advantage.

“We do have a young team, but he does a good job leading us and we need him to play that way,” said L’Anse Creuse North coach Kurt Wilson, Julius’ grandfather. “But I do like the way we fought back as a team after not playing so well in the first quarter. We played with a lot more energy in the second quarter than we did in the first quarter.”

Although St. Mary’s was able to trim the LCN lead down to 25-22 with 7:38 left in the third quarter and again whittled the lead down to 29-28 with 2:16 left in the frame on a jumper from Bella Matyus, the young Eaglets could never regain the lead in the second half.

L’Anse Creuse North closed the third stanza with a 7-2 run where sophomore forward James Zipay scored six points in the spurt. Wilson also scored four points with an assist in the quarter.

In the fourth quarter, St. Mary’s did close it down to 36-32 with 7:14 to play on two free throws from Kareem Pruitt, but that was as close as the Eaglets would get. The Crusaders went on a 10-3 run with Wilson’s driving layup gave LCN its largest lead at 47-35 with 1:45 remaining in the contest.

Arber Ljajcaj, a 6-foot-8 junior forward, added eight points, six rebounds, three blocks and two assists, while Zipay twined 11 points and Ellul finished with eight points for the Crusaders.

L’Anse Creuse North finished 12-for-14 from the foul line (85.8) to overcome just shooting 40.5 percent from the floor (17-for-42). The Crusaders did outrebound OLSM 30-23.

“We didn’t bring back a whole lot, so I’m pleased with our 5-1 start,” said Coach Wilson. “We brought back Julius – he’s our only returning starter. We brought back Arber, but he was only just a sophomore last year and he is playing a lot more this season. We have mostly a new team. We do have some things to work on and things to clean up. But I do like the fact that we are winning and learning as we win.”

St. Mary’s lost its top seven players from last year, including graduation loses and transfers, and the Eaglets lack some toughness according to coach Todd Covert.

“It’s a work in progress losing a lot of kids and we had some guys come over from football (late) and they’re still getting acclimated and in (basketball) shape. But I think one thing we are lacking is toughness and I think that was one thing we struggled with today,” said Covert. “I can deal with the missed shots and things like that, but they were just reaching in at time to get a rebound and that doesn’t work. (L’Anse Creuse North) does have some great size and you need to be tough and go in there to get rebounds and we didn’t really do that.”

With competition present from several other top-10 Division 1 programs, Oxford used three first-place finishes to win Saturday’s Oakland County wrestling championships hosted by Lake Orion.

The Wildcats, who finished fifth at last year’s meet, entered sixth-place in the most recent D1 poll, one spot behind Clarkston and four spots ahead of Rochester Adams. That ended up being Saturday’s top-3, with Oxford taking the top spot by accumulating 279.5 points, followed by Clarkston with 258.5 and Adams with 216.

The hosts came fourth place with 164 points, and Catholic Central, whose best placements came courtesy of third-place finishers Adam Brannan (106) and Ryan Totten (132), finished just behind the Dragons with 159 points. Starting with Lakeland (157.5) in sixth place, Brother Rice (136.5), WL Northern (129.5), West Bloomfield (121.5) and South Lyon (120) rounded out the top-10.

Clarkston also came runner-up in 2024 (Adams ended fourth when Detroit Catholic Central, the top-ranked D1 team and three-time defending state champs, brought enough firepower to the tournament to rack up 294.5 points.

The win gave the Wildcats their third first-place trophy from the county meet in the past five years (2021, 2023).

The 126-pound weight class saw Oxford’s Gavin Lewis, who finished third-place at state last year at 113 (and won the 120 division at the county meet last winter), defeat Adams’ John David Quinlan in the final, 4-1. Landon Johnson defeated Walled Lake Northern’s Dillon Welling 10-0 to claim the championship at 138 pounds, while the 285-pound class belonged to the Wildcats’ Liam Samborski, who pinned Lakeland’s Andrew Neumann in the second period.

Altogether, Oxford had 11 medalists, including three third and fourth-place finishers each.

In the championship round of the 106-pound weight class, Clarkston’s Joey Hahn defeated Oxford’s Rocco Amaya 17-2, and at 113 pounds, Lakeland’s Cameron Schneider defeated Novi’s Ezra Krage, 14-3. In addition to Schneider, the Eagles added another gold at 120 pounds when Benjamin Rickard outpointed Troy Athens’ Derek Gonzalez, 17-4. Gonzalez was the lowest seed (eighth) to reach a final Saturday, defeating top-seeded Nazar Kadi of Stoney Creek by majority decision in the quarterfinals, then South Lyon’s Colin Fournier (a 4-seed) to reach the championship bout.

Photo gallery from the 2025 Oakland County wrestling championships

Hahn wasn't the only one from the Wolves to stand atop the podium. In the 132-pound final, Clarkston's Gavin Culloty defeated Wesley Honniss with a first-round fall, and at 150, his teammate, Nate Carter, defeated West Bloomfield's Christian Ausi by technical fall (18-2). In arguably the most dramatic win by the Wolves, or of the afternoon entirely, Ayden Mutter managed an escape with just five ticks left on the clock to defeat Novi's Anthony Madafferi by a 9-8 decision.

In the 144 division, Isaac Fandakly beat Lake Orion's Donovin Findlay by fall with 1:10 to go in the opening period.

Brother Rice's Deacon Macneill, who reached the third-place match of last year's Division 2 state finals, beat the top-seeded 157-pounder, Stephan Lezotte of Athens, with a 10-4 decision victory. The Warriors had another finalist in Emmanuel Shango, who reached the 175-pound final as a 5-seed before coming up short against Waterford Kettering's Jamari Powell, who beat him 15-6 by majority decision.

After Welling reached the finals at 138, WL Northern got its titlist in the 190-pound division when James Moore scored a pair of takedowns to help beat Trey Setter by technical fall (17-0).

Rounding out the championship action, South Lyon's RJ Green pinned Adams' Maxim Vostryakov with 1:12 remaining in the first period to win the 215-pound title.

TEAM SCORES: 1. Oxford, 279.5. 2. Clarkston, 258.5. 3. Rochester Adams, 216. 4. Lake Orion, 164. 5. Detroit Catholic Central, 159. 6. Lakeland, 157.5. 7. Brother Rice, 136.5. 8. WL Northern, 129.5. 9. West Bloomfield, 121.5. 10. South Lyon, 120. 11. Troy Athens, 112.5. 12. Holly, 108. 13. Novi, 105.5. 14. Bloomfield Hills, 91. 15. Stoney Creek, 87.5. 16. Rochester, 83. 17. Waterford Kettering, 76. 18. Berkley, 63.5. 19. Notre Dame Prep, 50. 20. Avondale, 49. 21. Ferndale, 48.5. 22. Royal Oak, 45.5. 23. Southfield A&T, 44. T-24. Orchard Lake St. Mary's and Troy, 43.5. 26. Birmingham Seaholm, 43. 27. South Lyon East, 30.5. 28. North Farmington, 29. 29. Waterford Mott, 28.5. 30. Brandon, 26.5. 31. Birmingham Groves, 24. T-32. Pontiac and Royal Oak Shrine, 23.5. 34. Milford, 23. 35. Farmington, 21. 36. Clarkston Everest Collegiate, 14.

Lake Orion hosted the 2025 Oakland County wrestling championships on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. Oxford beat out runner-up Clarkston and third-place Rochester Adams for its third county title in the past five years.

Senior Da’ron Mason’s huge outing helped lead Bloomfield Hills to a 75-49 win Thursday evening over Berkley.

The Wayne State commit dropped 33 points and Ryan Hunt added 21 to help the Black Hawks improve to 5-0 on the season.

The Bears fall to 1-4 on the season with the road defeat.

More boys basketball

LAKELAND 49, OXFORD 40 >> Junior Chase Carson scored a team-high 14 points and Austin Porcasi added 13 Thursday as the Eagles improved to 4-1 on Senior Night.

MADISON HEIGHTS LAMPHERE 45, BIRMINGHAM SEAHOLM 40 >> Jack Robinson had 11 points, as did Gavin Abbott, who hit the go-ahead 3-pointer that helped the Rams win their fourth in a row and improve to 5-2 on Thursday. The Maples (2-4) have nine days off before their next game at the North Farmington Holiday Extravaganza.

TROY 51, FRASER 31 >> Hayden Oriol scored 15 of his team-high 20 points in the fourth quarter of the Colts’ victory on Thursday. Will De Armit added seven points in the Colts’ win, which gives them a 5-1 record on the year.

Girls basketball

ROCHESTER 49, TROY 25 >> Rochester knocked down seven triples in the first half, including four by Kelly Cook, and the Falcons moved to 3-1 at home Thursday. Stella Marlow added 10 for Rochester, while Olivia Jasniewicz scored a team-high 13 for the Colts (3-1).

Photo gallery of Rochester vs. Troy in an OAA girls hoops crossover

MILFORD 44, LAKE FENTON 32 >> Ashlyn Lutz had three 3-pointers as part of a 30-point night and teammate Cara VanGoethem added six in a Lady Mavs (3-1) home win Thursday.

LAKELAND 50, OXFORD 43 >> Aubrin Miller poured in 28 points and Peyton Baer scored 13 to lead the Eagles (3-2) past the Wildcats (2-2) for a senior night win on Thursday.

ROCHESTER ADAMS 46, ROYAL OAK 29 >> The Highlanders improved to 2-1, while the Ravens, led by 11 points from Allie Hills and four blocks by Lydia Dickens, fell to 1-3 after Thursday's OAA crossover contest.

TROY ATHENS 43, BIRMINGHAM SEAHOLM 26 >> The Red Hawks bounced back from their first loss of the year to Lake Orion by beating the Maples at home on Thursday and improving to 3-1.

BERKLEY 48, WARREN COUSINO 33 >> Freshman forward Niqco Shoulders led with 14 points as the Bears (1-3) collected their first victory on Wednesday.

BRANDON 58, BURTON BENDLE 22 >> Junior Ella Rizzo filled the stat sheet with 21 points, six steals and rebounds each, and a handful of assists in Thursday's win. Sophomore forwarded Maddie Heverly added eight points and 10 boards and Elin Austin swiped it consistently for six steals in the home victory by the Blackhawks (2-2).

WALLED LAKE CENTRAL 49, OAK PARK 37 >> Sophomore Eleanor Heitsch finished with a game-best 17 points as the Vikings (1-3) got their first victory on the season Wednesday night. Naveah Butler, also a sophomore, scored 14 in the Knights' (1-1) road defeat.

Hockey

ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARY'S 9, GROSSE POINTE SOUTH 1 >> Emmett Pilch opened up the scoring, then Thaddeus Raynish's team-leading 14th and 15th goals were among the others for the Eaglets (8-2), who beat the Blue Devils at home on Thursday.

ROCHESTER UNITED 5, PORT HURON NORTHERN 2 >> A first-period goal by Connor Cichocki (14th of the season) and a shorthanded one by Ethan Haselhuhn ensured United (10-2) never trailed Thursday night at McMorran Arena.

RIVERVIEW GABRIEL RICHARD 8, BROTHER RICE 1 >> Logan Jardine assisted Alex Slapak for the lone goal by the Warriors (3-6) on Thursday.

NOVI 2, LIVONIA 1 >> The Wildcats outshot the Red Stallions 43-11 as Cori Hastoy and Lucas O'Brien each hit for goals in Novi's second win of the season on Wednesday.

WALLED LAKE UNITED 3, LAKES UNITED 1 >> Gavin Grondin gave Lakes (4-5) an early lead, but Brady Martel, Cooper Auten and Brady Frelich all scored in the third to seal the comeback for Walled Lake (5-4) on Wednesday evening.

DEXTER 3, DETROIT COUNTRY DAY 2 >> The Dreadnaughts handed the Yellowjackets (9-1) their first loss of the season on Wednesday in spite of goals by Michael Curis and Henry Hannibal.

TROY UNITED 11, FARMINGTON UNITED 1 >> Following a scoreless opening period on Wednesday, Farmington (4-8) got a goal from Ethan Apostolovski, then Troy (11-2) scored three in the second period to take the lead for good.

The Rochester Falcons defeated the Troy Colts 49-25 in the OAA Red/Blue crossover game played on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025 in Rochester Hills.

ALLEN PARK – It was a big Catholic League boys hoops affair on Thursday night when Cabrini welcomed in Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes for the first of two much-anticipated matchups this season.

Lakes came in having alternated wins and losses through each of their first five contests, amounting to a 2-3 start to the campaign while looking to rebound from a loss vs Bloomfield Hills Roeper their last time out.

Cabrini meanwhile is enjoying one of their better starts to a season in program history, having won their first six games by an average of just over 15 points.

It was a hard-fought, back-and-forth battle between the co-champions of the Intersectional 2 Division a year ago. The first contest of this winter’s season series ended with the host Monarchs coming out on top, 59-50, thanks to a late rallying effort.

“Well, the first half was a ton of turnovers, poor shot selections, and we just couldn’t hit free throws,” Cabrini head coach Joseph Osmulski said after the win. “In the second half, I think we only had like five turnovers at the most. Made our shots, made our free throws, played great defense.

“Everything we put in at halftime, they executed to pull this one out.”

The sentiments from Osmulski proved to be valid after his Cabrini team found themselves trailing going into halftime and needed a huge second half to remain perfect on the season.

“I just kind of told them, ‘you know, we’re 6-0, and if you want to be 7-0 and you want to hit our goals, tonight’s a good night to do it,’” Osmulski explained. “Credit to them, they came out and took the challenge.
So that was a good thing.”

It was Lakes who came out hot early on Thursday, jumping out to a 6-0 lead that spanned over four minutes in the first quarter. Cabrini eventually caught fire themselves, ending the opening stanza with an 11-5 stretch to knot the game up at 11 all after one.

The second quarter was all Lakers, who put together their best stretch of the night with 17 points in the frame. If not for an Evan Bergdoll three-pointer at the buzzer, it would have been a near double-digit lead for the visitors, who instead settled for a 28-22 lead going into the intermission.

Coming out of the half, it was a fever dream of runs with both teams trading blow after blow.

The Bergdoll triple before halftime kick-started what was 11 unanswered for Cabrini to take a two-point lead, only for WOLL to respond with a 9-0 stretch of their own.

The Monarchs, though, countered back again with an 11-0 spurt, capping off what was a 19-point third quarter and taking a 41-37 lead into the final frame.

In the fourth, the hosts held tight to their lead, not letting their conference rivals get back in the game while extending the margin in the process en route to a seventh straight win to open the campaign.

“We played hard,” Lakes head coach  Michael Miller said. “We missed some shots late, and got a few bad breaks going the wrong way, and the game turned from one or two points to seven or eight pretty quick.

“So tough to come back from that.”

In a victorious effort, leading the way for Cabrini was senior Lander Emerick with 17 points. His fellow classmate Bergdoll finished with 14 points, while junior Noah Roman joined each of them in double figures with 11 points. That trio of Monarchs combined to sink six of the team’s eight made threes on the night.

For WOLL, senior Jack Miller and junior Lukas Tedder combined for 43 of the team’s 50 points in the loss. The former led all scorers in the contest with 23 points.

UP NEXT

Cabrini (7-0, 2-0 CHSL-Intersectional 2) will get a long break before they play host to Detroit Universal Academy on Jan 5.

It is a much-needed break for the Monarchs, says Osmulski.

“Well, first off, most of our team’s football guys,” Osmulski said. “So we need to get a nice break after the run they had. But we just got to keep the mojo going.

This is the first time the school’s ever been 7-0,” Osmulski continued. “And the boys want to win, so we just got to keep it going.”

For Lakes (2-4, 1-1 CHSL-Intersectional 2), they are going to look at bouncing back after a long break as well when they go on the road to face Clawson on Jan. 6.

For coach Miller and the Lakers, it is about finding their consistency.

“We’ve had some scratches all year long,” Miller said. “We’ve had some few good minutes here, a few good minutes there, and then we have lows where we don’t play as well. I thought today we played much better for a full game, so I think that’s going to serve as well moving forward.”

Photo gallery of Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes vs Allen Park Cabrini in a CHSL boys hoops matchup

The regular season co-champions of the Catholic League’s Intersectional 2 Division from a year ago held their first of two scheduled matchups this season Thursday night when Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes trekked down to Allen Park Cabrini.

Lakes came in having traded wins and losses through each of their first five contests, amounting to a 2-3 start to the campaign and hoping to rebound from a loss vs Bloomfield Hills Roeper their last time out.

Cabrini meanwhile is enjoying one of their better starts to a season in program history, having won their first six games by an average of just over 15 points.

A strong second half ultimately helped the hometown Monarchs rally back and remain undefeated with a 59-50 victory over the visiting Lakers.

Photo gallery is courtesy of Cory Linsner.

ROCHESTER – Nathan Schilkey believes playing Utica Eisenhower in hockey is like picking your poison.

The Eagles have pure goal scorers galore and it’s hard to just defensively key in on one.

On Saturday night, it was Schilkey’s turn to shine, as the senior forward netted the natural hat trick and the Eagles played well defensively in recording a 4-2 triumph over host Rochester United in a battle of top 10 teams at Suburban Ice Rochester.

Eisenhower is ranked seventh in Division 1 and Rochester United is ranked fifth in Division 2.   

“It’s tough that we had to (forfeit) those first five games, but we still have a lot of goals for this season,” said Schilkey, who did not play high school hockey last season. “Myself and Joey Zelenak played (AAA hockey) last season but we’ve known all of the Eisenhower guys since we were little and we decided to play with them this year as seniors. We feel like we have a very good team and a lot of guys who can put the puck into the back of the net.”

Eisenhower has not technically lost out on the ice. The Eagles (3-5-0) had their first five games – all convincing wins – stripped away due to the usage of two ineligible players on a not-so-well-known MHSAA rule.

Eisenhower has simply regrouped with three straight wins and this was the first victory over a fellow state-ranked opponent this season.

“What a great high school hockey game,” beamed Eisenhower coach David Erwin. “I mean a very large crown, the atmosphere, the band, and two very talented hockey teams. Rochester United can play. They came at us and gave us a great battle. In terms of competition, I think they are the best team we’ve played this season and we knew going in that they would be tough. They are the top team in (the Oakland Activities Association).

“I can honestly say that our boys have moved on (from the forfeits),” continued Erwin. “We have come back and won (three) straight hockey games and nothing has changed in terms of our goals. We know we haven’t lost on the ice. We still want to go 27-0 and be playing down in Plymouth (for the D-1 Final Four and USA Hockey Arena). That’s our goal. We are a little thinner right now with injuries, but we still are having guys stepping up and doing a great job.”

Eisenhower (3-5-0) never trailed and took a 1-0 lead with 10:44 left in the first period. Schilkey was left open near the net and sent the puck home following a feed from Sebastian Kolodziej.

Rochester United (10-2-0) netted an equalizer early in the second period when Nolan Hizer scored his 11th goal of the season off a breakaway pass from Dylan Turnbull with 14:31 still remaining in the frame.

Just over seven minutes later, Schilkey blasted in a wrist shot from distance off the power play with 7:07 left in the period, set up by Zelanak and Bode Farr.

The close affair saw Rochester United again tie it up with just 42 ticks remaining in the second when Zach Brennan scored his ninth of the campaign to make it 2-2. Nolan Hiser (20 assists) and Mason McCaughtry had the helpers on the game-tying goal.

Rochester United let its guard down and Eisenhower made the hosts pay.

Schilkey scored his third goal of the evening while being left alone in front of the net and tucking in the game-winner with only seven seconds remaining in the second period off feeds from Zelenak and Farr.

Eisenhower played tight defense throughout and eventually scored an insurance goal with 4:38 left in the contest. Ryan Dex made it 4-2 after picking up a steal and sending home his shot past Rochester United goaltender Levi Joler.

The Eagles picked up another strong outing from senior goaltender Connor Holmes, who recorded 29 saves in 31 chances for Eisenhower. Joler had 36 stops in 40 chances for Rochester United, which has still scored 54 goals offensively this season while conceding 29 goals.

“This was a great game, we just came up a little bit short,” admitted Rochester United assistant coach Zach Lietz, who filled in the press conference for head coach Tucker Penning. “We knew Eisenhower has three really good (goal scorers) and a very good goalie. They are a tough team, and we feel like we also have a very good team. It was a close game and knew it would be.

“I thought the atmosphere was great, and this is the type of game that we want to play in, win or lose,” continued Lietz. “It was a top 10 matchup and something that we prepared for and this was a great test for them tonight. Obviously, only one team can win and unfortunately it went their way tonight. But I thought both teams played well .Now, we are just looking forward to next week and try to get back to (winning) games.”

The loss was Rochester United’s second defeat and first against a Michigan team this season. United also lost to Toledo (Ohio) St. Francis de Sales last month and that team is ranked in the top five in Ohio rankings.

ROCHESTER HILLS – The height and length advantage Stoney Creek held over Rochester Adams translated in expected ways when the two rivals met Friday night.

Toss in the benefit the Cougars had of already playing two games compared to the fact that it was the Highlanders’ season debut, and it all helped Stoney leave Adams with a 43-32 road victory in the crossover matchup.

With the win, Stoney has nine in a row over Adams, who last beat the Cougars 43-27 on Jan. 24, 2020 at Oakland University.

It would have been the second game of the year for the Highlanders, but the cancelation of Wednesday’s game with Bloomfield Hills due to the wintery conditions eliminated a chance to get some more reps in before facing one of their city rivals.

“I won’t make any excuses for our unforced turnovers and things like that we could have done better,” Adams first-year head coach Justin Howard said. “But I would have loved to have one game under our belts so we could go to the drawing board before (this). But (Stoney’s a) great team. They’re tall, they rebound, move the ball very well.”

The Cougars, on the other hand, had the fortune of already playing two games this week — both wins — against Walled Lake Northern and Lakeland before this.

“Oh yeah, it helps,” Cougars head coach Columbus Williams said. “We went out and played a tough Northern team, which gave us a gritty win. Then we went to Lakeland and had another gritty win, and it just got us prepared for the moment and got us prepared for when they had that little rush at the end. We didn’t panic. It’s just normal basketball.”

Stoney’s lead grew to as large as 16 points in the fourth, but as Williams referenced, Adams made a late push in the final 2:30 that began with a 3-pointer by senior Nora Camaj, one of just two triples in the entire game by either team.

Two more turnovers forced by Adams led to baskets by junior London Guthrie and senior Nadia Heppner and allowed the Highlanders to get it within nine points on several occasions, but the Cougars never let it get within two possessions in the final minute.

“You gotta love rivalry games,” said Williams, indicating it played a part in the fight Adams showed to make it a game late. “I think when he called a timeout, it got his girls up, especially the seniors. We’ve been blessed to knock them off the last couple years, and I know they wanted to beat us, so they gave us a good little push there.”

The reason for so few 3-pointers? Stoney is happily to utilize its frontcourt advantage (provided by Calista, Izzy and Abby Ivezaj) against most teams, and that length led to four or five shots by Adams that were blocked or altered around the perimeter.

Howard and the Highlanders won’t see too much verticality like that in the OAA Blue this season, but regardless, it provides a good test. “Early in the year, you don’t even want to talk about moral wins, but we did a lot of positive things tonight, especially (against) a team a couple of levels above us … And I think, too, trying to change the system a little bit from last year is tough on a new coach and players that are used to moving a certain way, so I’m trying to add a little bit movement to it. Just a little more practice (needed),” he said.

Senior Faith Zoldos led the Highlanders with eight points, while classmates Raegan Jerrell and Alyssa Stephens added six. Stoney Creek senior Jadelynn Freeman led all scorers with 16, and junior teammate Samantha Fulkerson added nine in the win.

Photo gallery of Rochester Adams vs. Stoney Creek in OAA girls hoops crossover action

"We've just got to keep cleaning up on our guards," Williams said. "We've got a young point guard in Samantha, teaching her the ways. She's the next one up and we've just got to keep working with her, keep getting her to identify the defenses and where we need to go with the basketball, where to go with the hot hand, just kind of get her going."

Stoney finished third in the OAA Red last season, but should contend for the title this year with the teams it finished behind last winter, Clarkston and West Bloomfield.

"Man, it's going to be tough, but I'm excited for it," Williams said. "I think we've got a good group and we'll give it a good battle this year. That's one of our goals, to win the Red."

Adams ended last year 10-11 and right in the middle of the OAA Blue standings. It figures to be a deep, competitive division again.

"I think the expectation is, if I can get the players to run the offense, simplify it a bit, we should be able to compete in the Blue this year," said Howard, who was the program's JV coach previously. "I love what I saw tonight, now we're just going back and fixing one thing at a time."

Howard's Highlanders are back in action Monday at home against Utica. The Cougars get back on the court when they travel to Goodrich next Wednesday.

BIG RAPIDS – Ferris State’s football program, built on strong play in the trenches, has a rich history with accomplished players being nominated for — and several times winning—  the Gene Upshaw Lineman of the Year Award.

Past Bulldog recipients of the prestigious award, which is given to the top lineman in NCAA Division II football, include Austin Edwards, in 2019; Dylan Pasquali, in 2021; and Caleb Murphy, in 2022.

This season, Ferris State offensive lineman Tim Anderson has become the latest Bulldog nominated for the award as one of eight 2025 national finalists, putting him on a short list for Friday’s announcement, when it was revealed that the Rochester Adams graduate was named this year’s winner.

Anderson, a 6-foot-6 senior, 305-pound senior, didn’t hesitate in his response when asked about becoming one of the final eight for the award.

“This means a lot, and I’m super thankful, but I know I wouldn’t be there without the other guys on our offensive line,” he said. “The only reason that I’ve gotten noticed is because all five guys on our offensive line are out there and playing dominant football. I hope this shows how good our offensive line is, because it’s not just me. It’s about everyone on our offensive line and everyone on our offense working together.”

That starting lineup for “The Nasty Boys,” the name that the offensive line has embraced, includes Tim’s twin, Bob Anderson, with Dayne Arnett, Jarvis Windom and Ben Przytula. Tim shared the pride he feels in the depth the unit has developed that has helped fuel the team’s scoring punch. The Bulldogs are the nation’s leading scoring offense, averaging 53.8 points and totaling 751 points this season through 14 games.

Ferris State’s offensive numbers have contributed to the announcement of Tim as a finalist for an award named in honor of the late Gene Upshaw, who was not only an All-Pro lineman for the Oakland Raiders but also later served as the executive director of the NFL Players Association for 25 years. A former standout offensive lineman at Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M Kingsville), Upshaw was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987 in his first year of eligibility.

The Gene Upshaw Award is presented annually by the Manheim Touchdown Club.

The Bulldogs’ offensive line unit has been a big part of the Bulldogs’ offensive success.

Ferris State’s offense ranks third nationally in rushing offense, averaging 306.5 yards per game. That rushing offense also includes 63 touchdowns on 4,291 yards.

Anderson earned first-team All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors and was named the GLIAC Offensive Lineman of the Year. He further received Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-Super Region Three First-Team recognition for his gridiron play during the 2025 campaign.

Inside the Ewigleben Sports Complex walls, Anderson frequently walks past a large trophy case that includes replicas of the Gene Upshaw Award trophies won by Edwards, Pasquali and Murphy. Those honorees stand as a reminder.

“It means a lot to be in a program that has such a great history of linemen,” said Anderson, who was a decorated athlete during his prep days at Adams. “For us, being able to carry on that tradition is important. We’re thankful to be a part of it.”

During this playoff run, led by the strong line play, Ferris State scored 65 points against Northwood (Nov. 22), 56 against Ashland (Nov. 29) and 52 against Minnesota State (Dec. 6) in three wins.

The Bulldogs were scheduled to take on Newberry in the NCAA Division II National Semifinals on Saturday, Dec. 13, at Top Taggart Field.

Pontiac Notre Dame Prep was rewarded with five selections on the 2025 Michigan Sports Writers Division 5-6 All-State football team after a second consecutive trip to Ford Field.

Three from the Irish – quarterback Sam Stowe, receiver Drake Roa, and linebacker Brody Sink – were first-team picks, while the duo of offensive lineman Jack Williams and defensive lineman Henry Ewles earned second-team nods. All five are seniors.

ND Prep’s QB1, Stowe threw for 2,761 yards and 41 touchdowns (with only five INTs), also finding the end zone with his legs four times. He’ll graduate as the program’s all-time leader in both career passing yards and TDs.

One of his favored targets, Roa finished the season with 70 catches, good for 975 yards and 16 receiving TDs. Another of them, Sink (who had over 100 receiving yards and a TD reception in the state final), earned plaudits on the defensive side of the ball for having over 100 tackles, as well as two sacks, one forced fumble and a pair of recoveries.

The 6-5, 225-pound Williams was a two-way player along the Irish fronts, as was Ewles, who ended the year with over 70 tackles (including eight in the state final), three sacks, and like Sink, a forced fumble and two recoveries.

In addition to the Irish handful, Hazel Park running back Montrell Parker was a first-team pick by writers.

Parker, a senior for a Vikings team that bowed out in the playoffs to ND Prep, carried the ball 179 times for 1,820 yards – amounting to over a first down per carry – and reached paydirt 23 times.

The Michigan Sports Writers all-state teams — formerly the Associated Press teams — are voted on by a panel of sportswriters from around the state.

 

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The 2025 Michigan Sportswriters Division 5-6 All-State football team, which was selected by a panel of sports writers from around the state.

 

DIVISON 5-6

Player of the year: Jacob Timmer, Grand Rapids West Catholic

Coach of the Year: Rob Beaudrie, Newport-Monroe Jefferson

First Team All-State

QB – Sam Stowe, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep

QB – Luke Beaudrie, Newport-Monroe Jefferson

RB – Montrell Parker, Hazel Park

RB – Ethan King, Belding

RB – Brody Corneau, Almont

RB – Galvin Albring, Ida

WR – Ezra Rowekamp, Kalamazoo United

WR – Drake Roa, Pontiac Notre Dame

WR – Jamison Pelt, Saginaw Swan Valley

WR – Evan Szalay, Flat Rock

OL – Sullivan Garvin, Allegan

OL – Matt Mazur, Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard

OL – Garrett Russell, Traverse City St. Francis

OL – Antwon Baker, Jackson Lumen Christi

OL – Luke Purvis, Frankenmuth

DL – Kenneth McClinton, Detroit Denby

DL – Andre Meade, Kent City

DL – M.J. Dailey, Montrose

DL – Corde Anderson, Whitehall

DL – Logan Evans, Richmond

DL – Calvin Marshall, Ogemaw Heights

LB – Cohen Ferqueron, Almont

LB – Jael Djouguem, Grand Rapids West Catholic

LB – Brody Sink, Pontiac Notre Dame

LB – Brayden Sweeney, Grand Rapids Catholic Central

LB – Sean Walicki, Jackson Lumen Christi

DB – Corie Kanitz, Ogemaw Heights

DB – Matthew Bacholzky, Almont

DB – Hunter Wilkinson, Kalkaska

DB – Kam Reynolds, Saginaw Swan Valley

ATH – Cash Tedford, Frankenmuth

ATH – Keegan McCue, Kalamazoo United

K – Landon Smith, Grand Rapids West Catholic

Second Team All-State

QB – Hadyn Hinkle, Michigan Center

QB – Grady Augustyn, Grand Rapids West Catholic

QB – Lleyton Hoard, Frankenmuth

RB – Kyle Greiner, Hart

RB – Jackson Malburg, Armada

WR – Austin Schwartz, Grayling

WR – Brennan Forward, Michigan Center

WR – James Milanovich, Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard

WR – JJ Hollister, Richmond

OL – Zack Williams, Pontiac Notre Dame

OL – Braxton O’Bryant, Ovid-Elsie

DL – Chris Fox, Michigan Center

DL – Henry Ewles, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep

DL – Cash Cooper, Jackson Lumen Christi

LB – Colton Goethals, Kingsley

LB – Elon Jones, Ogemaw Heights

DB – Razach Spillers, Flint Elite

Honorable Mention All-State

QB – Jackson Herder, Kalamazoo United

RB – Paul Sattler, Jackson Lumen Christi; Collin Abram, Grand Rapids West Catholic; Gavin Lewis, Kingsley; Ca’Mari Reese, Muskegon Orchard View; Kamall Hillard, Grand Rapids Catholic Central; Jack Deitsch, Reed City; Michael Reid, Detroit Central.

OL – Trevor Rawson, Kent City; Ethan Hock, Ogemaw Heights

LB – Isaac Fair, Whitmore Lake; Preston Six, Oakridge; Luke Joslyn, Caro

ATH – Griffin O’Neal, Montrose; Evan DellAngelo, Negaunee

Madison’s Nehemiah Patman, WOLL’s Jack Miller voted to D7-8 squad by Michigan Sports Writers

If you’re a fan of rivalries and parity in boys hoops, this year’s OAA White Division is the place.

It’s a league that looks a bit different than last winter, with Lake Orion and Oxford as the only holdovers. But partially by way of the fact that it includes two fewer teams this season, it figures to be quite the wide-open race for the crown.

That should leave at least a few programs believing it can be kings, including Rochester.

It’s a challenge the Falcons appear well-suited for judging by their 3-0 start. That includes a win each over a MAC Gold (St. Clair Shores Lakeview), White (Utica) and Red (Chippewa Valley) team. All of those victories have come by at least 20 points, so early results, including the most recent one, a 66-46 triumph over the Big Reds last Saturday, have been promising.

While Rochester’s first half against Chippewa Valley may have been more ho-hum, a 30-point third quarter was convincing evidence of what the Falcons can do in an eight-minute span.

The Falcons earned their seat at the table by going 13-1 in the Blue Division (the only defeat a 53-29 loss to runner-up Pontiac) to earn themselves promotion, though a portion of the foundation was laid even before that.

“I mean, it started a few years back,” Rochester head coach Nick Evola said. “A lot of these guys are three-year varsity guys, and they took their lumps early, but they’ve always competed, you know? They were a little young a few years ago, but all of that has prepped them. They have a relentless work ethic and they come out here and they love each other. They’re a tight-knit group and they play for each other. No one cares who’s got the most points.”

The eye test seems to support Evola’s claim that his squad has great balance on offense. Senior Logan Pleasant, one of those experienced returners, provided outside shooting in the Utica win, but even when Rochester’s deep ball wasn’t the bread and butter in the most recent win, the length of its forwards and the will to drive and draw fouls presented the opposition problems.

“We have multiple guys that can do multiple things — inside-out, mid-range — so it makes it tough (defending us) because everyone’s contributing and you can’t just focus on one guy,” Evola said.

One component of the frontcourt and another of the veteran bunch, senior Anthony Chirco, scored 21 points against Chippewa Valley. He’s continued to improve as both a scorer and rebounder, and he echoed Evola’s comments on the cohesiveness of the side, saying, “This class is great. We’ve been playing together for a long time and I just think it shows and helps with our chemistry a lot.”

Some of the selflessness might even be considered hereditary. Junior Nate Tandy is one of two new starters along with sophomore Ben Bissett — Luke Lower, another senior and the team’s other returner in the starting five, scored 10 on the Big Reds — a year after Tandy’s brother, Jake, was a contributor for last year’s league champs.

Nate, who equaled Chirco’s 21 points against Chippewa Valley thanks in part to nine trips to the free-throw line, only played JV as a sophomore, but Evola and the coaching staff got him part-time reps practicing then with varsity, and it seems to have, along with some driveway battles over the years with his older brother, paid dividends.

“It’s a big leap,” Tandy said. “(Being mixed in last year), it helped mentally I would say just seeing what the varsity atmosphere is like. The first two games (this season), I was getting comfortable, and then I feel like (against Chippewa Valley) was my coming out game.”

Part of the intrigue of this year’s White Division is not just the perceived equality, or the introduction of OAA newcomer Waterford Mott (2-0, 1-0), but the fact that all three Rochester schools are paired together, which makes for rivalry battles where the stakes are increased.

“Obviously, last year, there may not have been many expectations for us coming off an eight-win season, but we knew what we were capable of and we got better,” Evola said. “But I’ve told them, not only are we now in a tougher league, we’re not under the radar. People know we’re going to come to work, and we’re going to take every team’s best shots. The league’s really tough, and it’s wide-open … and I think what’s cool about the league as well, it’s not just our rival schools, but it’s Lake Orion and Oxford, so everything’s kind of close proximity. It builds more rivalry, more cross-town travel, and I think it’s exciting.”

The feeling is shared by at least one of those rivals.

“We split with (Rochester and Stoney) last year, so certainly talent-wise, we’re right there,” Adams head coach Isaiah Novak said after his own team’s game at Saturday’s MAC/OAA Showcase hosted by Rochester. “Both teams are very well-coached, even with a new coach (Stoney’s Marko Tomich) coming in, I think he’s going to do a great job. It’s great too as far as fan engagement. I think all three schools struggle at times getting students to basketball games, but anytime we play against a Rochester school, we get a packed house, so I think it’s gonna be fun for everybody involved.”

That trio, including the Falcons, will have some time to continue and improve before those battles take place. The first of them, which sees the Cougars travel to Rochester, isn’t until Jan. 9.

ROCHESTER HILLS – The banked 3-pointer by Rochester Adams senior Josiah Fazecas to close the first quarter of Saturday’s MAC/OAA Showcase game against Dakota had teammates in a frenzy and the Highlanders feeling good.

Dakota head coach Paul Tocco, whose team trailed 13-6 at that point, wasn’t quite as enthused about those opening eight minutes.

“I thought we came out lethargic and a little lazy in the first quarter,” Tocco said. “Credit to Adams, who played really hard. They moved the ball well, played disciplined basketball. We didn’t come out with our normal enthusiasm.”

The tables turned swiftly as the Cougars outscored Adams 17-2 in the second quarter, the catalyst for their 60-53 win over the Highlanders at Rochester High School.

Simply put, Tocco said his team “played Dakota basketball” in that second stanza.

Highlanders junior Cannon Flynn scored his team’s only points early in that second quarter, but he collected his third foul that subjected him to the bench for the final four minutes before halftime.

“They got up and pressured us and we couldn’t get into any of our sets, our actions,” Highlanders head coach Isaiah Novak said. “We really rely on attacking closeouts, getting into space and knocking down shots, and we had a really tough time creating advantageous situations for ourselves. Then when we did and got the open shot, they just weren’t falling for us tonight. I think we probably missed five layups in the first half. And it was hard to get those layups, right? So we just didn’t take advantage of the options we did have.”

Novak was reluctant to place too much blame on the foul trouble of his standout player and lone returning starter for his team’s struggles, though it was clear what impact he had when he was on the floor. Flynn scored 13 of his game-high 15 points in the second half of the loss.

“A lot of what we do goes through (Cannon), but in some ways, these early season challenges are a good thing,” Novak said. “There’s gonna be times throughout the season where he’s in foul trouble or something else happens and he’s got to be on the bench. Although they’re difficult when you reflect on one game, I think in the overall season, things like that can be challenges that can be good for us in the long run.”

Photos of Dakota vs. Rochester Adams in boys basketball action at the MAC/OAA Showcase

While that disparity in the second quarter didn't put the game away for the Cougars, they continued to utilize a balanced offensive effort in the third when they outscored Adams 21-13 to effectively put the game to bed.

"I've got nine seniors, and I've never coached (that many seniors) before," Tocco said. Five (start) and any one of them can play on the floor at a time. I have really good underclassmen as well, so we've got a really deep team."

One of those seniors, Tovin Williams, led Dakota with 13 points, while classmates Brayden Lee and Benji Jackson added 11 and nine, respectively. Seniors Daniel Terski and Zeke Wilson each finished with 10 for Adams.

The Cougars (2-1) also won at this event last year, beating Lake Orion as part of an 8-1 start. They finished the year just 14-10, though Tocco attributes that just as much to a difficult set of league opponents as anything. "If you look at the Red, you're looking at Warren Lincoln, back-to-back state titles. Grosse Pointe South, a very well-coached team, a lot of good pieces. Chippewa's athletic, Roseville are a really good team this year, and Port Huron Northern, they beat us last year (in districts), it was tough to beat them. So it's a tough MAC Red, and coming back (this year) it's even tougher, so we've got to get ready for that play, and that's what we're doing playing in tournaments and and against good teams like Adams right now."

As to what the Cougars can do to improve upon last year's 3-7 league mark and how they're better this go-around, he added, "We're better defensively this year in our half-court defense. We have five guys that are locked in like we were in that second quarter. And we probably want to start and finish quarters a little better, or start and finish games better. I won't say I'm not happy to win, but we didn't start well and didn't finish well (tonight)."

Novak didn't want to use the fact that his team was coming off a game against Clarkston (a 68-44 loss) on Friday night, though said it could have played into some tired legs for the Highlanders (1-1). "It's possible, but we know the challenges that come with scheduling the way we do," he said. "You're playing Clarkston and Dakota, those are two of the best teams in Macomb and Oakland County, and playing back-to-back makes it even more difficult, but I think it's an opportunity for our kids to come out and know where we're at compared to the best. It exposed our weaknesses early, and now we can identify them and work on them, hopefully correct al ot of those things before we get into the league."

Adams continues with another non-league game on Tuesday at home against Birmingham Seaholm. The Cougars resume play on Wednesday with a MAC Crossover at Utica Ford.

Dakota trailed after the opening quarter, then jumped out to a big lead by halftime and went on to beat Rochester Adams 60-53 in the MAC/OAA Showcase on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 at Rochester High School.

Ferris State right tackle Tim Anderson, a Rochester Adams graduate, was named a finalist Friday for the 2025 Gene Upshaw Award, given yearly to the best lineman in NCAA Division II football.

The 6-foot-6, 305-pound Anderson — named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference’s Offensive Lineman of the Year — is among eight finalists, two from each region, for the award named after the Oakland Raider Hall of Famer, and former executive director of the NFL Players Association.

Along with his twin brother, Bob, Anderson leads a Ferris State offensive line — nicknamed The Nasty Boys — that has helped the Bulldogs to the No. 1 scoring (699 points, 53.9 per game) and total offenses (518.5 yards per game) in NCAA Division II, ranking third in rushing (3,984 yards, 306.5 per game) and fewest sacks allowed (eight total, 0.62 per game) entering this weekend’s play.

Anderson also earned first-team all-GLIAC (second time) and all-region honors.

Ferris (14-0), which has won Division II national titles in 2021, 2022 and 2024, is headed to the semifinals of the D2 playoffs, after beating Minnesota State, 52-29, on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs ran for 307 yards as a team — and five touchdowns — and allowed no sacks on the afternoon.

The Upshaw Award is voted on by D-II sports information directors across the country. The winner of the award, given out by the Manheim Touchdown Club, will be announced on Dec. 12.

The other seven finalists, pared down from a group of 29 nominees, include: Kutztown OT Ryan Schernecke, Wingate OG Will Hart, Catawba OT Avery Swinton, Ashland DE Michael Shimek, Central Washington center Slade Edwards and Harding OT Jake Mitchell.

Previous winners include three Ferris players — Caleb Murphy (2022), Dylan Pasquali (2021) and Austin Edwards (2019) — three from Grand Valley — Matt Judon (2015, West Bloomfield HS grad), Brandon Barnes (2007) and Mike McFadden (2005, 2006) — and one from Wayne State — Joe Long (2011).

When Pontiac Notre Dame Prep senior quarterback Sam Stowe’s injury prevented him from finishing last weekend’s D5 state championship, it gave those unfamiliar with the Irish a chance to see one of the other cannons at the team’s disposal.

Fellow senior Drake Roa, one of Stowe’s most-preferred targets this season, let it rip for another, classmate Brody Sink, for a 60-yard touchdown reception on the first play of the fourth quarter of the 42-14 loss to Grand Rapids West Catholic.

It’s not the first time the pair have played pass and catch this year, either. The Irish opted for some trickery in the first quarter of their Week 3 loss against Gibraltar Carlson and Roa found Sink on a crossing route for a 35-yard gain.

Baseball knowers are aware of the arm that Roa has. Earlier in the fall, he committed as a shortstop to Michigan.

But Irish head coach Pat Fox has had the scouting report long before most, and indicated that at one point, it looked like it would be Roa, not Stowe, who would lead offensive coordinator Jason Whalen’s unit.

“Initially when (Drake) and Sam came in, we thought Sam was going to be a tight end and Drake was gonna quarterback,” Fox said.

“After about two weeks, we figured out that’s probably not how it’s gonna roll.”

It worked out pretty well for both. Stowe led the Irish to the state title in his first year as starter in 2024, completing over 71% of his passes for 2,751 passing yards and 37 passing touchdowns (to go with seven rushing TDs).

This season, Stowe tossed over 40 TDs, with Roa hauling in 16 scores as he also accounted for nearly 1,000 of Stowe’s passing yards.

The injury suffered late in the first half at Ford Field marked an unfortunate ending to a brilliant two-year run for Stowe.

“Sam’s a tremendous quarterback, so fantastic of a young man,” Fox said. “It was hard to see him get hurt. He wanted to come back in and he couldn’t. We couldn’t let him come back in. We didn’t want to put him at risk, and he’s going to be shooting 3-balls in two weeks playing basketball.”

West Catholic head coach Landon Grove was very complimentary of Notre Dame Prep’s QB1, too, saying, “I don’t know how Sam Stowe doesn’t have a scholarship somewhere. He’s one of the better quarterbacks we’d seen on film. He’s a fantastic player and it was a testament to our defense (how we) defended him.”

Fox was choked up once or twice when elaborating on the legacy that this year’s senior team has left considering how far he’s watched them come, or perhaps more appropriately, watched them grow.

“I remember Sam whipping off his sweater and dancing at the Christmas concert and his sister tackling him trying to get it back on him when he was four years old,” Fox said. “I’ve known Brody since he was in fifth grade. Anthony Tartaglia, Ben Liparoto, Jack Williams, and Logan Tuttle, I’ve known all of them since they were little boys, little teeny kids.”

Fox has boasted about being one of Oakland County’s winningest programs over the past seven years, and the senior class specifically helped ND Prep compile a 39-9 record over the last four seasons, including that coveted title win last year over Frankenmuth, who Fox admitted he was glad not to face again in the final.

“My sophomore season, we had a great team,” Sink said following the championship loss. “We had a great quarterback, some great players, and we ended up losing to a really good Corunna team. But I knew. Because we have a strong senior class, I didn’t hang my head. I knew we’d come back the next year. We had a great senior class last year, and at the beginning of last year we started rolling, and I was like, ‘This is going to be something special the next two seasons.’ We stayed the course and it was a very special past two years.”

Asked whether the next generation of Irish who witnessed this group accomplish all it did might be more inclined to dream big, Fox responded, “You would hope they do. But every group is different. Every challenge is great. We have great kids.”

Replacing the current bunch becomes Fox’s next task, but one he knows won’t come easy.

“We’ve got five juniors,” Fox said. “We’ve got work to do.”

It’s not a bold statement to say Kayla Nwabueze is a special talent.

The Bloomfield Hills senior showed that time and again during the 2025 season.

But, just how special a talent was she?

The more people you ask, the more that say Nwabueze is one of the all-time elite players the state has ever seen.

Farmington Hills Mercy coach Loretta Vogel has been on the sidelines for nearly 50 years and she said she’d put Nwabueze up there with anyone.

“She’s a fabulous young lady, and as an attack, I would put her up there in the top,” Vogel said when asked where Nwabueze ranks among the state’s all-time greats. “She got that team (Bloomfield Hills to the finals). I mean, they kept giving her the ball, and if I were the setter, I’d be doing the same thing. I don’t mean to belittle her other players, but sometimes if you really want to win big, you have to go to a go-to player and make them stop you. I think for me, after all these years of coaching, she is right up there, one of those top 10s for me. That’s a lot of years, a lot of girls I’ve seen, like the Carli Snyders, the Jess (Mruzik)s, a lot of people like that. She’s right there.”

The praise for Nwabueze, a Harvard commit, is understandable considering the senior year she put together, leading the Black Hawks to their first state finals appearance before losing to Mercy in four sets.

Nwabueze finished with 751 kills in 2025 while hitting .372 as an outside hitter. She also had 358 digs, making a commitment to being one of the top defenders for her team as well.

For her four-year career at Bloomfield Hills, Nwabueze put up numbers that will be hard for anyone to ever match. She had 2,217 kills, 1,127 digs, 396 blocks, and 179 aces.

Beyond the stats, Nwabueze’s teammates and coaches praised her leadership skills for helping change the program’s mentality.

“The leadership that Kayla has shown, from what I’ve only seen a year, the first day stepping in the gym, you can see the culture and the energy of all the players that were there,” first-year Bloomfield Hills coach Brian Kim said. “That was something that, even from day one for us, it was all about volleyball, and everybody was there to work hard. Everybody was there to have fun. It just made it extremely fun to come in and coach these athletes, every one of these athletes, every single day.”

Sophomore outside Allison Stakoe, who was second on the team in kills this past season, said Nwabueze has been a real mentor for her these last two years.

“Kayla has taught me so much about volleyball, mentally and emotionally and physically, about just staying in the game,” Stakoe said. “She’s really taught me so much these last few seasons. It’s terrible to see her leave, but I’m so excited to watch her at Harvard. I’m going to be rooting for her all the time. She’s just such an amazing player all around. She’s always there to empower you, and be in your corner, and always there to pump you up whenever you’re down.”

Junior setter Brynn Wilcox has had the pleasure of being the one to set Nwabueze these last three years. Wilcox knows that she got an opportunity to work with an elite talent.

“She’s, honestly, one of a kind. There’s nobody else in the country like Kayla,” Wilcox said. “She has the ability to lead each player in such a different way, and she knows exactly what each of her teammates needs. There’s nobody like that, and Harvard’s getting the best player. It’s going to be tough next year without her, but I know that her impact and her leadership, from her being a freshman all the way to now, has helped shape this program, and it’ll continue to live on even when she’s across the country.”

Nwabueze had her pick of the litter when it came to playing at the next level, but put an emphasis on her academics when choosing to play for Harvard.

Vogel believes the Ivy League is getting a player unlike anything it has ever seen.

“She will do really well in college. I know she’s going to Harvard. The academic portion is really big for her, but she could put that whole conference into the NCAA playoffs every year. I’m not kidding. I’ll put money on that,” Vogel said emphatically. “She will dominate, she will. She’s going to dominate there.”

Trailing Grosse Pointe South by four points, Farmington Hills Mercy edged out the Blue Devils in the last event of Saturday’s D2 girls swimming and diving state finals in Ypsilanti to be crowned champs for the third year in a row.

The foursome of Avery Tack, Campbell Shore, Lyla Collins and Ella Hafner — none of which are graduating following this season — slipped past GP South by a little over a second with a time of 3:26.05 in the 400-meter relay. That gave Mercy 337 points to South’s 335.

It secured the sixth title under head coach Michael Venos, including the second three-peat. The Marlins’ previously won a handful of titles in a row (2007-10 in D2, 2011 in D1) under former coach Shannon Dunworth. The win also marked Mercy’s 14th championship overall.

The schools from Birmingham came in just behind the Mercy-GP South tandem. Seaholm came third place with 260.5 points, followed by Groves with 155.5. Berkley took eighth with 96 and South Lyon East came in ninth with 94 to round out the top-10.

Beyond that, Royal Oak finished 11th (74 points), Rochester Adams ended 12th (69), South Lyon was 15th (47), Walled Lake Northern finished 17th (27), North Farmington took 23rd (19) and Holly finished 26th (13).

GP South beat out Seaholm (Leah Isaksen, Payton Garn, Layla Stephens, Madailein Howard; 1:46.96) and Groves to win the 200 medley relay and jump out in front to start the day at Eastern Michigan. In the 200 free relay, the Blue Devils won again, just barely defeating Mercy’s same quartet by 31-hundredths of a second.

Elsewhere, the Marlins made headway when Hafner (1:47.53) came runner-up in the 200 free to Adrienne Schadler (1:46.85) of Ann Arbor Skyline as both surpassed the former D2 record held by Marian’s Mollie Pulte. Tack, who took second in the 200 IM as a sophomore, won it this time around with a time of 2:04.64.

Hafner set a new D2 record in the 500 free with her prelim time of 4:49.74, but a mark of 4:49.90 in the finals was only good for second as Schadler raised the bar with a winning time of 4:48.50.

West Bloomfield’s Eichbrecht wraps career in record-breaking fashion at D1 swim and dive finals

South Lyon senior Emma Klotz was just two-hundredths away from winning the 50 free event a year after Whitney Handworth of GP South, who again took first, beat Klotz out by three-hundredths. However, Klotz got her revenge in the 100 free, banking the Lions 20 points with her time of 50.70 that beat out runner-up Handwork (50.92).

Seaholm's Isaksen was just the winner of the consolation final in the 100 backstroke last fall as a sophomore, but showed off her improvement and came second this year by finishing with in 56.83. Her teammate, freshman Payton Garn, shared the spoils with Groves' Livvy Kamp as both split first-place honors in the 100 breaststroke with their finals times of 1:02.76.

Additionally, Rochester Adams junior Morgan Rea scored 431.75 points to handily win the diving competition.

Berkley senior Tessa Moleski was the victor in both the 50 and 100-yard paralympic freestyle.

Division 3 at Holland Aquatic Center

Bloomfield Hills Marian finished runner-up for the second year in a row, ending Saturday's finals with 228 points compared to the 373 scored by winner East Grand Rapids.

Cranbrook-Kingswood, who took second in 2023, finished sixth place this year with 134 points, and Country Day was seventh with 116. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep ended 24th place with 16 points, and Bishop Foley came 30th with six points -- five of those earned by sophomore Avery Wood in the 100 breaststroke.

EGR won all three relays. The Pioneers set a new D3 record of 1:44.65 in the 200 medley, which saw the Yellowjackets (Quinn Norlander, Jill Heller, Allie Schwartz, Lauren Clark) end just behind them in a time of 1:48.55. Marian (Cece Grace, Lila Soloman, Peyton Rehbine, Catherine Howe) was runner-up to EGR in the 200 free relay. The Mustangs finished that one ahead of Country Day (1:39.33) with a mark of 1:37.43.

Country Day's Norlander, a third-place finisher in two individual events as a sophomore last season, ended only behind Wayland's Laney Wolf as she came second in the 100 freestyle in a time of 51.32. Additionally, Norlander shaved almost three seconds off her finals time from 2024 in the 100 backstroke. Her second-place mark of 54.77 was only second-best to Camryn Siegers, who set a new D3 record (53.37).

In the 500 free, Marian junior Stella Glorio (5:10.58) only trailed repeat winner Ella Dziobak of Divine Child as no one came close to her finish of 4:56.20. The Mustangs also scored 16 points with Soloman's third-place finish in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.06).

All of the Irish's points derived from freshman Anna Caudill's third-place finish in diving (369 points).

Saline quarterback Tommy Carr, the grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, has switched his college commitment to the Wolverines.

He had been committed to Miami of Ohio.

Carr (6-foot-3, 195 pounds) is ranked a three-star prospect by 247Sports. He is ranked the No. 7 player overall in Michigan in 2026 and the No. 29 quarterback nationally in the 2026 recruiting class.

Saline’s run in the Michigan high school football playoffs ended Friday night with a 42-28 loss to Detroit Cass Tech in a Division 1 regional final. Carr led Saline to a 10-2 record this season, passing for 2,797 yards and 37 touchdowns

Carr is the younger brother of Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr and the son of former Michigan QB Jason Carr.

Michigan’s 2026 recruiting class has 25 commitments and is ranked No. 10 nationally by 247Sports.