FOOTBALL: CHSL-INTERSECTIONAL DIVISION TEAM CAPSULES 2015
2015 CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE TEAM CAPSULES
Below are the 2015 Catholic High School League football team capsules, as compiled by Dan Stickradt based on information submitted by coaches. He can be reached at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com. Follow on Twitter @LocalSportsFans.
CHSL-INTERSECTIONAL DIVISION
SCHOOL: Allen Park Cabrini
NICKNAME: Monarchs
HEAD COACH: Ken Briere, first season (17-28 overall at multiple schools)
2014 RECORD: 3-6, 3-2 CHSL-Intersectional (tied-second)
POSTSEASON IN 2014: None
KEY PLAYERS: Steven Sowa, sr. RB-DB; Andy Orr, sr. OL-DL; Jeff Flies, sr. OL-DL
NOTABLES: Only once in the past six seasons have the Monarchs seen the postseason daylight. Coach Briere inherits only four returning starters from a team that finished a middle of the pack last year. If the new players can gain a quick understanding of the new staff’s schemes, then Cabrini could climb the charts. But with five playoffs teams from last season on this year’s schedule, the Monarchs are going to have to grow up in a hurry.
SCHOOL: Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood
NICKNAME: Cranes
HEAD COACH: Joe D’Angelo, third season (8-11; 34th season overall at multiple schools, 213-85-4)
2014 RECORD: 6-4, 2-3 CHSL-Intersectional (tied-third)
POSTSEASON IN 2014: 0-1, lost in D-4 pre-district to Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy (50-8)
KEY PLAYERS: Jalen Allen, jr. RB; Tyler Santangelo, jr. QB; Christopher Smith, soph. OL-DL
NOTABLES: D’Angelo went young the past two years and saw his team go from 2-7 in 2013 to 6-4 and a postseason team in 2014. Now with a combined 12 starters back, this team should contend for a division title and postseason berth once again. Before last season, the Cranes went eight years without a postseason bid.
SCHOOL: Clarkston Everest Collegiate
NICKNAME: Mountaineers
HEAD COACH: Mike Pruchnicki, third season
2014 RECORD: 6-3, independent
POSTSEASON IN 2014: 0-1, lost in D-8 pre-district to Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes (35-0)
KEY PLAYERS: Andrew Hayosh, sr. TE-DE; Xavier Engle, sr. OL-LB; Alex Legg, jr. LB-RB; Daniel Dewitt, sr. OL-DL; Grant Burgess, soph. QB-DB
KEY LOSSES: Sam Mastermatteo, QB-DB
NOTABLES: This is an interesting tale. Everest competed in a co-op program with Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes from 2009-2012, then splintered off its solo program the past two years. The Mountaineers reached the D-8 postseason both years with a combined 13-6 ledger and bowing out with losses to WOLL. This season Everest climbs into the CHSL-Intersectional Division and will play a more rigorous regular season schedule. It should be interesting to see how the Mountaineers fare in their third season now that expectations are higher. With just over 100 students in 9-12, the Mountaineers are significantly smaller than the opposition.
SCHOOL: Macomb Lutheran North
NICKNAME: Mustangs
HEAD COACH: Ryan Wesley, fourth season (10-17)
2014 RECORD: 2-7, 0-4 CHSL-AA Division (fifth)
POSTSEASON IN 2014: None
KEY PLAYERS: Mitch Visbara, sr. SS-WR-KR; Michael Barno, sr. TE-DE-K-P; Jack Pyle, sr. RB-LB; Charles Kruse, jr. QB; Daric Craig, jr. WR-CB-KR; Ryan Pini, jr. C; Gavin McKenzie, jr. OL; Evan Finkel, jr. OL; Josh Palmer, sr. DB; Anthony Labrara, sr. DT; Logan Davis, soph. LB; Joe Karle, jr. LB; Joel Vandermeer, soph. DB
KEY LOSSES: Andy Bielecki (Wayne State); Justin Croswell (Ohio Unv.)
NOTABLES: A switch of divisions should bode well for the Mustangs, who return a combined 13 starters from last season’s two-win season.
SCHOOL: Madison Heights Bishop Foley Catholic
NICKNAME: Ventures
HEAD COACH: Sean Cobb, third season (7-12)
2014 RECORD: 1-8, 0-5 CHSL-Intersectional (sixth)
POSTSEASON IN 2014: None
KEY PLAYERS: Joe Schmidt, jr. SL-DB; Trevor Shankin, jr. OL-DL; Michael Potter, sr. WR-DB
NOTABLES: A major rebuilding campaign was almost expected as the Ventures had little experience entering last season. The Ventures should be in better shape this time around as they try to improve upon a one-win season and a last-place finish. The Intersectional Division now had eight members and will have nine next season. There is expected to be a lot of parity.
SCHOOL: Riverview Gabriel Richard
NICKNAME: Pioneers
HEAD COACH: Thomas Michelsen, third season (12-16)
2014 RECORD: 5-5, 2-3 CHSL-Intersectional (tied-fourth)
POSTSEASON IN 2014: 0-1, lost in D-7 pre-district to Detroit Loyola (47-0)
KEY PLAYERS: Jake Lipetzky, sr. QB-FS; John Blasczak, sr. WR-CB; Jared Machnacki, sr. OT-DE
NOTABLES: Despite a middle-of-the-pack finish last season, the Pioneers did squeak into the postseason thanks to a tough regular season schedule. The strength of the entire CHSL could help again but could also be a detriment as schools could beat up on each other. With seven returning starters back on both sides of the ball be enough experience to help life Richard to the upper echelon of the league?
SCHOOL: Royal Oak Shrine Catholic
NICKNAME: Knights
HEAD COACH: John Goddard, 23rd season (145-75 at Shrine; 250-133 overall in 47 total seasons)
2014 RECORD: 8-3, 3-2 CHSL-Intersectional (tied-second)
POSTSEASON IN 2014: 1-1, lost in D-7 district finals to Detroit Loyola (47-0)
KEY PLAYERS: Asher Smith, jr. QB; Mike Miller, sr. DB; Joe Romano, sr. LB; Max Thrower, sr. TE-LB; Mike Niehaus, hr. DB-WR; Connor Gorr, soph. OL-DL
NOTABLES: The Knights have one of the longer streaks of postseason berths in the area at 12 12 consecutive years and 15 postseason appearances in 16 years, missing only in 2002. the Shrine should be Our Lady of the Lakes’ biggest challenger in the league and a team capable of winning some games in the playoffs.
SCHOOL: Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes
NICKNAME: Lakers
HEAD COACH: Josh Sawicki, third season (17-5)
2014 RECORD: 9-2, 5-0 CHSL-Intersectional (first)
POSTSEASON IN 2014: 1-1, lost in D-8 district finals to Harbor Beah (39-21)
KEY PLAYERS: Chris Cartier, sr. WR-RB; Devin Senerius, sr. WR-CB; Clay Senerius, sr. QB; Ryan Kostich, jr. RB-LB (All-State transfer from Auburn Hills Oakland Christian; 89 tackles); Liam Sutton, sr. NT-DT-OG; McLane Burtrum, sr. OG-DT; Andrew Kline, sr. WR; Gabe Nickles, jr. RB-MLB
NOTABLES: One of the more successful small-school Catholic League schools programs around, the Lakers have advanced to the postseason in 17 of the past 18 years and 23 times in 25 seasons dating back to 1990. With a roster full of dangerous threats, one valuable transfer and one of the best Class D quarterbacks around and this team has the capabilities to advance deep into November. WOLL last won a state title in 2002 and reached the Final Four an additional four times (2003-2006) since then but have not gone further than the regional finals in 10 years.
CHSL-INDEPENDENT
SCHOOL: Marine City Cardinal Mooney
NICKNAME: Cardinals
COACH: Jared Greenia
2014 RECORD: 4-5, independent
POSTSEASON IN 2014: None
NOTABLES: The Cardinals are making the change back from 8-man football to 11-man football. Much like last season, Mooney will not play a full CHSL-Intersectional schedule but will jump into the league in 2016. From 2011-2013, the Cardinals competed in 8-man football.
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