MACOMB — Despite winning a combined 77 matches the past two years, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep hadn’t added to its cabinet of postseason trophies since reaching a regional final in 2022.

For a long stretch, playoff silverware felt like a given for the program considering the fact that, amongst the three state titles the Irish won in 2013, 2017 and 2021, they were district champs in all six seasons in-between.

Since nearly all of Notre Dame Prep’s seniors weren’t yet on varsity when they were freshmen, failure this week meant they could be the first class in several decades to graduate without the experience of lifting a trophy in the playoffs.

The Fighting Irish and their seniors avoided such a fate Thursday night at Lutheran North, where they defeated the host Mustangs 25-17, 22-25, 25-20, 25-11 for a D2 district title.

“We talk all the time about the legacy that was built before us and how every game we show up to play for them and the people who built this program, and I think that’s what we did tonight,” said Notre Dame Prep’s Ellie Whalen, one of the team’s five seniors, but the only one other than Samantha Broutin who was playing varsity during that regional run in 2022.

Irish classmate Grace Hannan added, “I think we started off the season rocky, and knew from the start we really had to build this program and that we were playing for our legacy. We came, we showed up and I think we all played for the team and really played our hearts out.”

When the Irish (31-14-2) won the first set by eight and were leading by four over midway into the second, it seemed as if the Mustangs have their night and season swept away on their own floor. Instead, Lutheran North evened the game at 21-11, then won four of the next five points as a hit by an Irish player sailed too far on the last one, evening the score at a set each.

“We just played better,” Mustangs head coach Paul Drdul said. “We had better offense going and made less mistakes, put more pressure on them, put it all together there. The third game was better, then obviously the wheels fell of a little bit.”

While Notre Dame Prep didn’t quite dominate the third game the way it did the last, the visitors were still in the driver’s seat throughout and led it at one point by eight (22-14). Lutheran North halved that advantage before senior Erin Eby lobbed a ball for junior hitter Nicole McDowell to smack down, winning the third set to open the floodgates.

Notre Dame Prep’s players experienced the same heartbreak as the Mustangs when eventual state champs Country Day beat the Irish on their own floor in the district final last fall.

“The past two years in districts, we’ve played some of the best teams in the state, and to be on the other side of it sucks,” Whalen said. “You kind of feel numb at that point, like, ‘How did I get here?’ I think (Lutheran North) did amazing. They played their hearts out, you could tell.”

“The seniors really just had to show down,” Hannan said. “We knew that this could have been our last game, but we had to show the underclassmen that this is worth fighting for and just bring the energy, help the underclassmen and hold them up, show them what leadership is.”

Photos of Macomb Lutheran North vs. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep in D2 volleyball district championship action

Irish head coach Betty Wroubel heaped praise on her seniors and tabbed it the best performance of the year for several. "It was when we needed it the most," she said. "I didn't know that we could stop their middles. Now, they got their fair share, but we stopped a few of them and it gave us a little bit of momentum.

"I thought we served extremely well. We didn't serve-receive so well. And our freshmen had freshmen moments, but they settled in, thank God, and we came out with it. It's nice to add a number to our record boards."

Wroubel estimated she watched 50 hours of film in preparation for Thursday's final. "I was talking to our assistants on the way over and (told them) I haven't scouted or looked ahead (to regionals) because this game, I knew it was going to be a war ... We haven't gotten over that district (hump) in a few years, so I had to give my kids everything I could give 'em."

The Mustangs (25-11) had won eight of their last nine, a good sign going forward for a team that graduates just four seniors (Gisela Hanna, Grace Tobey, Lillie Meier, Kate Neumeyer).

"We were super young last year (when we) lost four seniors, and we're a little bit older and have everybody coming back except the four seniors, so it's one of those things where we just keep growing," Drdul said. "This is our second time being in the district finals, so hopefully next year, the third time will be the charm."

ND Prep will play either North Branch or Imlay City in regionals at Yale High School on Tuesday night at 7 p.m.

Pontiac Notre Dame Prep defeated host Macomb Lutheran North in four sets to win a D2 district title Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025.

GRAND LEDGE — Detroit Country Day did the heavy lifting in the first 40 minutes, scoring three goals by halftime to beat South Haven 4-1 Saturday afternoon to win the D3 state title.

It marks the 16th state championship in program history and Country Day’s second under Steve Bossert after last lifting the D2 trophy seven seasons ago.

“On our practice jersey, we’ve got all the numbers,” Country Day senior forward Micah Zacks said. “I’m glad we got to add one.”

It looked written in the stars by the interval for the Yellowjackets, who already began to pepper South Haven senior netminder Alex Jaimes (1.20 goals per game allowed through regionals) within the opening 10 minutes. However, just after that a throw-in led to an aerial opportunity for sophomore Rye Clegg, whose header from seven or eight yards out was directed well to make it 1-0 Yellowjackets 10:31 into the game.

Philip Mateer executed a roulette away from his defender to carve a chance out for Yousef Darwich that required a low save by Jaimes less than five minutes later, but moments after Darwich knocked again and wouldn’t be denied, doubling the lead with a little less than 25 minutes to play in the half.

That ended any hopes the Rams (18-5-4) may have had of relying on their size and the abilities of Jaimes to weather the early onslaught unblemished.

“When we’ve scored early this year, then we can keep the ball away from teams, and then they have to try and get us and we can move it around them,” Bossert said. “It’s just really difficult to play against, so getting that first goal early, then another one, it was a little like the semifinal game (against Lansing Catholic) where we just kind of piled them on (from there).”

In this case, the pile-on initiative was carried out by Country Day’s senior offensive leaders, Tino Haratsaris (22 goals, 19 assists entering the final) and Zacks (15 G/14 A). Haratsaris got onto the ball to the goalkeeper’s right near the end line, then played a cutback pass for Zacks, who met the ball with a rising effort into the net that made it a three-goal affair with over 18 minutes still to play before the break.

Country Day had to wait until after intermission to continue padding its lead, but tacked on its last goal with 35:35 remaining as Haratsaris assisted Zacks in very similar fashion to the previous one.

“I just work with (assistant coach Ricardo Lopes) all year on driving to the baseline and dropping that slotback pass,” said Haratsaris, who estimated he’s played nearly 100 games with Zacks. “We work on it so much, I just know where he’s going to be, and he’s just a great striker.”

“I can’t say enough about Tino,” added Zacks. “He’s great. When I’m making a run I know he’s going to find me with the ball, and just being able to finish past a great goalie, it felt great.”

Jaimes did his best to keep it from getting too out of hand, laying out to deny Kris Bushkashi as he reached double-digit saves with still over 20 minutes remaining. Zacks nearly traded his scoring boots for the assisting hat on a ball teased behind the line to Haratsaris, but a shot off the toe of his boot swiveled wide of the post with a little over 17 minutes left.

Both attackers had a laugh when asking if there was a concerted effort to get Haratsaris a goal as time was winding down and the result all but certain.

“Yeah, I was definitely hoping (Tino) would get one,” Zacks said, “but he’s got more goals than me, so it’s alright.”

It seemed as though the best chance for South Haven would be part of a sequence just inside the final 10 minutes. A free kick where the Rams’ players were searching to get a foot to a ball rattled around among the crowd briefly before the Yellowjackets put out the fire. However, the Rams settled on a more spectacular consolation effort when, after Country Day starting goalkeeper Mitchell Hamway’s day was done, junior Jaden Bolhuis rocketed a shot from at least 35 yards distance into the opposite upper-90.

The Yellowjackets (22-2-1) began the season at the Boyne Mountain Invitational, where they suffered a 1-0 loss to Forest Hills Central. They went on and avenged the only other regular season games they didn’t win — a draw to Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and a loss to Ann Arbor Greenhills — by beating those teams back-to-back in districts (Notre Dame Prep) and regionals on their way to the summit.

“Every year I tell my wife that we don’t have it this year, and the first day of tryouts we always look kind of ragtaggy,” Bossert said. “Right after tryouts, we went right up to Boyne and had four games against some pretty good competition, and we played really well, were moving the ball all over the place, and it just seemed like we were going to be able to keep the ball … After we came back from the Boyne trip, I said (to my wife), ‘I think we might be pretty good.’ A couple weeks after that, I said, ‘I think we might do this.’

“We beat a ton of ranked teams all year, and had the top MPR, and it just seemed like we were going to get here. We just had to take care of business, and they did it today.”

Opposite top-ranked DCD, South Haven came into the playoffs outside the polls, but toppled a handful of top-15 sides to reach the final. Country Day beat the Rams for a pair of state championships while coached by Paul Bartoshuk (2004, 2009).

The Yellowjackets previously won it on Bossert’s watch in D2 in 2018, then were runners-up to Hudsonville Unity Christian in D3 two seasons ago.

“It feels great,” Haratsaris said. “We’ve been working at this for four years, and we knew we had the group of guys that was going to be able to get the job done. As long as we stayed close together, we were going to finish it off, and here we are, champions.”

HAZEL PARK — Following Friday night’s 41-20 defeat of East English Village Prep, Hazel Park head coach John Callahan joked that at over 10 yards per carry, maybe he’s not giving the ball enough to running back Montrell Parker.

The Vikings senior added to an already superb season stat line by dashing for 319 yards and three scores in the win, which essentially guaranteed the team’s name would be called when the Division 5 playoff field is officially announced on Sunday.

“It’s great,” Parker said of Hazel Park’s offense that’s put up at least 40 points eight times now in the past two seasons that he’s been the featured back. “Everybody can score, so it’s not like anybody can just look at one person. It’s great. Everyone’s an athlete around here.”

That includes senior teammate Lathan Chambers, who scored on both of his carries in the first quarter that ended with Hazel Park leading 14-0.

Not long after, Parker went just over half the length of the field to the house for his rushing TD of the night, and after Parker did most of the dirty work on the Vikings’ next offensive possession, Tavion Brinson scored from 2 yards out to make it 28-0 with 4:46 left in the half.

East English (2-7) did convert with a desperation pass on fourth-and-18 before junior Dominique Douglas scored from 8 yards out, and a pass by Douglas to Malachi Lowe for the 2-point conversion made it 28-8 with 45 ticks until intermission.

Anyone showed up after that would’ve thought the night belonged to the Bulldogs up until early in the fourth quarter. Their drive to start the second half lasted over eight minutes before they were forced to punt, which netted few yards, but a fumble on the first play by Hazel Park (6-3) gave it right back to East English at the Vikings 32-yard line. The Bulldogs continued to milk clock and ended up punching it in on third-and-goal from the 1-yard line on an outside run right by Kelah Thorns, though Hazel Park’s Will Eddy (six carries, 81 yards) and Malaki Randle helped stuffed the conversion attempt with 27 seconds remaining in the third quarter

At that point, the Vikings took back over. Parker broke off a 51-yard run for his second score of the night that made it 35-14 with 10:25 remaining. When the Bulldogs got it back, Terry Johnson brought down Douglas to back up East English into fourth-and-long, and Treston Battle put the first nail in the visitors’ coffin with a leaping interception near midfield. On the ensuing drive, Parker added another when he reached the end zone for a final time one play after he came a yard short on a 23-yard gain.

Douglas added a consolation TD for the Bulldogs on a 7-yard run with 1:08 left, but a Vikings’ defense somewhat overshadowed by their offense and Parker — who now has 1,776 rushing yards and 23 TDs on the year — did its job.

Hazel Park senior linebacker Gregory Crouch said it’s more privilege than pressure to match the opposite unit. “We’ve got a good defense, and a lot of our offensive guys play on defense,” he said. “We know if we get them the ball back, we can score a touchdown on one play. That’s it, simple as that.”

Photos of Hazel Park vs. Detroit East English Village Prep in football action

If not for that fumble that allowed the Bulldogs to control an entire quarter, Parker may have found himself high up in MHSAA's record books for single-game rushing yards, though it was still his second monster game in a row after carrying for 370 yards and four TDs in last week's 38-26 loss to St. Clair.

"We had good practices, the kids were fired up, and I think the first half showed that," Callahan said. "The second half, they did a good job, obviously controlling the ball, and that was their game plan. We've got to get better in phases, but we got out of it healthy.

"The kid's special," Callahan added of Parker. "I mean, you think you have him and you don't. He's a little dinged up, and I think in the past he would have broken a couple of those tonight where he got caught. And that's a credit to them. Hopefully we can get him healthy and maybe he can outrun guys on a couple of those next week."

Following a pair of 4-5 campaigns in his first years with the Vikings, Callahan guided them to a 7-4 record in his third season last fall, and now has them back in the postseason once again.

"Just practice how you play," Parker responded when asked what's made Hazel Park successful under Callahan. "We always go 100 in practice, and there's great coaches on our side."

Callahan pulled from his experience to elaborate on the process, saying, "I know when I was at Loyola, it wasn't until, I believe our fifth year when the kids caught up with it and understood it. But once we got it, I think we went like, 56-4, with four state finals appearances. I think these guys here are getting it."

Hazel Park rushed for over 400 yards and gave a big boost to its playoff hopes with a 41-20 home victory over Detroit East English Village Prep on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.

Athens busted a four-game losing streak to city rival Troy High with a 27-0 shutout victory at home Friday night.

Senior receiver Jeremiah Thomas caught a 58-yard touchdown, while classmate Grayson Conrad had the other receiving TD from Red Hawks quarterback Andrew Dunlap (174 passing yards). Cainan Hanbury had 85 rushing yards, and he and Dunlap each had a rushing TD in the win.

Nathan Piggott also had four catches for 45 receiving yards for the Red Hawks (3-5, 2-4 OAA Blue). The Colts fell to 3-5 and 1-4 in the league with the loss.

More football

BLOOMFIELD HILLS BROTHER RICE 43, ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARY’S 28 >> Trailing 31-30 with 4:25 left, the Warriors took the lead with just over a minute left on a 55-yard touchdown pass from Sammy Eyde to Christian Marshall. Defensive lineman Dario Morelli put an exclamation mark on the win by scooping a fumble and returning it for a TD with just over 30 seconds left. Eyde’s other TD passes included also threw a 60-yard TD to Brock Zehnder, and he also hit Zehnder in the corner of the end zone for a score that tied the game with four seconds left in the opening half.

NOVI 19, NORTHVILLE 16 >> Aidan Cook was the star for the Wildcats as he kicked a 36-yard field goal as time expired to win it. Cook also tied the game with a 46-yarder with under six minutes remaining and earlier in the game hit one from 45 yards. Novi (2-5) got its other points off a safety and an 8-yard TD run by Anthony Madafferi (101 rushing yards) followed by Reece Pippin’s 2-point conversion rush. Northville (6-2) had some big kicks as well from Alex Baird, including a 42-yarder, while Adam Sakowski had the lone Mustangs’ score on a 6-yard run.

ALLEN PARK CABRINI 21, WATERFORD OUR LADY OF THE LAKES 6 >> The Monarchs wrapped up an unbeaten run through the CHSL Intersectional 2 Division with Friday’s home win. Matthew Nguyen led the rushing attack for the Lakers (4-4, 2-3) with 74 yards and had the lone TD that capped off a 19-play drive. Ryan Locey finished with 34 receiving yards and recorded an interception as well in Lakes’ defeat.

ST. CLAIR 38, HAZEL PARK 26 >> Montrell Parker piled up an impressive 370 rushing yards and four TDs on 29 carries, but the Vikings (5-3) couldn’t slow the opposing Saints offense on the road.

DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL 36, GRAND LEDGE 14 >> The Shamrocks leaned on senior Cedric Williams, who eclipsed 100 yards on the ground, while Joshua Peters and Connor Ryan found the end zone on runs for CC. Duke Banta threw TDs to Samson Gash and Peyton Sofran, and Jalen Montlouis picked up a fumble and ran it back for a score as well in the Shamrocks’ win.

BIRMINGHAM GROVES 42, AUBURN HILLS AVONDALE 14 >> Quarterback LeVelle Shannon combined for almost 300 yards and five total touchdowns, including a pair of passing TDs to Carter Anderson, as Groves improved to 5-3 on the year. The Yellow Jackets dropped to 1-7 with the defeat.

LAKE ORION 14, OAK PARK 13 >> After the Dragons scored a pair of TDs in the opening quarter, they had to fend off a second-half comeback to pick up their first victory of the season. The Knights, who fell to 3-5, were led on the ground by Devin Young (64 yards) and junior Tre Hawkins had a rushing TD for Oak Park.

CLARKSTON EVEREST COLLEGIATE 28, ROYAL OAK SHRINE CATHOLIC 7 >> Following a 1-3 start, the Mountaineers collected their fourth straight win and fifth of the fall at home on Friday. Andrew Gaglio ran for 100 yards and a score, Dominic Walker rushed for 93 yards and a pair of TDs, and Cameron Tong also found the end zone in the Everest triumph. For Shrine (5-3), senior quarterback Jack Tisko passed for 170 yards and also ran for 33 yards and a TD, and Owen Wisniewski caught a handful of balls for 100 yards.

WALLED LAKE NORTHERN 46, WATERFORD KETTERING 0 >> After just one win in the past three seasons combined, the Knights got their third win of the year on Friday as Reid Widmer ran for over 100 yards and a pair of TDs.

CLARKSTON 49, FARMINGTON 7 >> The second half went by fast with all the points between the Wolves and Falcons scored by halftime. Griffin and Lukas Boman each ran for a pair of TDs, Hank Hornung rushed for a 37-yard score and Aidan O’Neill kicked a pair of field goals (46 and 22 yards) for the Wolves (7-1). Farmington is now 6-2 on the year.

WEST BLOOMFIELD 37, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 0 >> The Lakers piled up over 250 yards rushing as Obi Duru led with 86 yards and a score, Kam Hall had 73 yards and two TDs and Jamal Shakespear also kept it four times for 51 yards. Shannon Rochon caught a 52-yard TD from Shakespear and Will Espy also ran for a score in West Bloomfield’s sixth win of the year.

Two goals in the final 20 minutes proved to be just a consolation for Royal Oak Shrine, who fell 4-2 to Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett in the CHSL Cardinal Division Championship on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 at Oakland University.

Detroit Catholic Central scored two in the opening 10 minutes, then added another pair of goals on the other side of the break to defeat Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood 4-0 in the CHSL Bishop Division Championship on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 at Oakland University.

Waterford Mott football dropped from 2-0 back to .500 with a change in its initial result from opening weekend.

The Michigan High School Athletic Association required the Waterford School District to forfeit the Corsairs game on Aug. 28 according to a release by the district on Tuesday.

It stated that the WSD discovered that it was provided false residency information to both its athletic and enrollment offices regarding one of its players.

“Unfortunately, the district was made aware of this falsification after the student had played in the Waterford Mott vs. Walled Lake Northern football game,” the release stated.

Committed to CMU as a WR, Mott QB Geno Seets filling his predecessor’s shoes admirably

That game was originally a 45-0 home victory in favor of the Corsairs, who had looked off to back-to-back wins to start the year after pulling out a 28-27 win over Milford in Week 2.

Tuesday's release from Mott assistant athletic director Shane Hynes via district stated that WSD notified MHSAA immediately, is fully cooperating with the investigation and is appealing the decision. It concluded, "We believe our students and athletic programs should not be penalized for the falsified actions of a third party. WSD is committed to upholding the integrity of our academic and athletic programs and will work with the MHSAA to resolve this matter."

The Corsairs will hope that regardless of the appeal's result, it won't impact postseason eligibility. When asked about the importance of starting with wins knowing its next pair of games would be against formidable opponents in Walled Lake Western and Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, Mott first-year head coach Tra'Jan Seay said, "We wanted to start out hot. We know who we have the next few weeks. We're just taking it one week at a time and doing what we can do."