The Catholic High School League (CHSL) is a school athletic conference based in Detroit, Michigan, led by director Victor Michaels. Most member schools are also members of the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA), the governing body for Michigan scholastic sports, except for the five schools from Toledo, which are members of the Ohio High School Athletic Association. Unlike many similar leagues, the CHSL governs secondary, middle, and elementary sports for most of the parochial schools in the Detroit area. Most league schools are Catholic, but there are other religious denominations as well. Every school in the CHSL is a private school. In 2019, the CHSL council voted to rename the AB/ Division I/II championship to the Bishop division championship, and the CD/ Division III/IV championship to the Cardinal Division championship.[citation needed]
Divisional alignments may vary from sport to sport, depending upon the number of schools participating in the sport and the enrollment of those participating schools. Listed below are typical divisional alignments for a common sport, in this case girls basketball (as of April, 2015).[2]
Central Division
Bloomfield Hills Marian
Dearborn Divine Child
Farmington Hills Mercy
Warren Regina
AA Division
Allen Park Cabrini
Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard
Macomb Lutheran North
Pontiac Notre Dame Preparatory
Riverview Gabriel Richard
East Division
Clarkston Everest Collegiate
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood
Madison Heights Bishop Foley Catholic
Marine City Cardinal Mooney Catholic
Royal Oak Shrine Catholic
Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes
Wixom St. Catherine of Siena Academy
West Division
Bloomfield Hills Academy of the Sacred Heart
Detroit Cristo Rey
Macomb Austin Catholic
West Bloomfield Frankel Jewish Academy
Boys CHSL Divisions
Divisional alignments may vary from sport to sport, depending upon the number of schools participating in the sport and the enrollment of those participating schools. Listed below are typical divisional alignments for a common sport, in this case boys basketball (as of April, 2015).[2]
Catholic Central High School, Monroe (opened in 1944), and St. Mary Academy, Monroe (opened in 1846), became St. Mary Catholic Central High School in 1986 when the two schools merged.
Current Warren Regina head coach Diane Laffey is the winningest coach in MHSAA softball history with 1,118 victories[11] through the 2015 season. She also is the third winningest head coach in MHSAA girls basketball with 619 wins as of 2015.[12]
In boys basketball, Orchard Lake St. Mary's is the state's second-winningest all-time program with 1,250 wins (as of 2009).[13]
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood has the most ever boys ice hockey state championships with seventeen (as of 2015),[14] and the most boys tennis state titles with eighteen (as of 2015).[15] Cranbrook-Kingswood also has sixteen girls tennis state championships, the most ever in that sport in Michigan history (as of 2015).[16]
Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice has won all but one boys lacrosse state championships in Division 1 since the sport started having state championships in 2005.
Notable CHSL Alumni
Names of notable alumni are listed in descending order based on their respective year of high school graduation.
Cassius Winston, Professional Basketball Player, University of Detroit Jesuit, 2016
Since CHSL girls basketball championship games began being played in 1974, and through 2016, the Bloomfield Hills Marian Mustangs have won fifteen CHSL championships,[30] the most of any school in league history.
Since CHSL softball championship games began being played in 1975, and through 2015, the Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes Lakers have won the most softball championships of any school in league history with fourteen.
The Allen Park Cabrini Monarchs have the second most softball championships with eleven, while the Warren Regina Saddlelites follow closely behind with ten championships.[35]
CHSL Softball Champions
Year
Division
Champions
2015
A-B
Warren Regina Saddlelites
C-D
Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes Lakers
2014
A-B
Farmington Hills Mercy Marlins
C-D
Wixom St. Catherine Siena Stars
2013
A-B
Farmington Hills Mercy Marlins
C-D
Royal Oak Shrine Catholic Knights
2012
A-B
Livonia Ladywood Blazers
C-D
Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard Fighting Irish
2011
A-B
Livonia Ladywood Blazers
C-D
Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes Lakers
2010
A-B
Allen Park Cabrini Monarchs
C-D
Marine City Cardinal Mooney Cardinals
2009
A-B
Allen Park Cabrini Monarchs
C-D
Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes Lakers
2008
A-B
Allen Park Cabrini Monarchs
C-D
Royal Oak Shrine Catholic Knights
2007
A-B
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep Fighting Irish
C-D
Allen Park Cabrini Monarchs
2006
A-B
Livonia Ladywood Blazers
C-D
Allen Park Cabrini Monarchs
2005
A-B
Harper Woods Regina Saddlelites
C-D
Center Line St. Clement Crusaders
2004
I
Birmingham Marian Mustangs
II
Royal Oak Shrine Catholic Knights
2003
A-B
Farmington Hills Mercy Marlins
C-D
Marine City Cardinal Mooney Cardinals
2002
A-B
Harper Woods Regina Saddlelites
C-D
Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes Lakers
2001
A-B
Farmington Hills Mercy Marlins
CD
Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes Lakers
2000
A-B
La Salle (Ont.) St. Thomas Villanova
C-D
Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes Lakers
1999
A-B
Harper Woods Regina Saddlelites
C-D
Center Line St. Clement Crusaders
1998
A-B
Harper Woods Regina Saddlelites
C-D
Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes Lakers
1997
A-B
Livonia Ladywood Blazers
C-D
Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes Lakers
1996
A-B
Harper Woods Regina Saddlelites
C-D
Center Line St. Clement Crusaders
1995
A-B
Dearborn Divine Child Falcons
C-D
Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes Lakers
1994
A-B
Dearborn Divine Child Falcons
C-D
Marine City Cardinal Mooney Cardinals
1993
A-B
Dearborn Divine Child Falcons
C-D
Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes Lakers
1992
AB
Dearborn Divine Child Falcons
C-D
Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes Lakers
1991
A-B
Farmington Hills Mercy Marlins
C-D
Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes Lakers
1990
A-B
Riverview Gabriel Richard Pioneers
C-D
Oakland Catholic Titans
1989
A-B
Harper Woods Regina Saddlelites
C-D
Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes Lakers
1988
A-B
Harper Woods Regina Saddlelites
C-D
Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes Lakers
1987
A-B
Harper Woods Regina Saddlelites
C-D
Allen Park Cabrini Monarchs
1986
A-B
Dearborn Divine Child Falsons
C-D
Pontiac Catholic Titans
1985
A-B
Harper Woods Regina Saddlelites
C-D
Allen Park Cabrini Monarchs
1984
A-B
Dearborn Divine Child Falcons
C-D
Allen Park Cabrini Monarchs
1983
A-B
Redford Bishop Borgess Spartans
C-D
Allen Park Cabrini Monarchs
1982
A-B
Harper Woods Regina Saddlelites
C-D
Allen Park Cabrini Monarchs
1981
A-B
Dearborn Divine Child Falcons
C-D
Pontiac Catholic Titans
1980
A-B
Royal Oak Shrine Catholic Knights
C-D
Grosse Pointe Woods Our Lady Star of the Sea Tunas
1979
A-B
Dearborn Divine Child Falcons
C-D
Allen Park Cabrini Monarchs
1978
A-B
Madison Heights Bishop Foley Ventures
C-D
St. Mary of Redford Rustics
1977
Redford Bishop Borgess Spartans
1976
Redford Bishop Borgess Spartans
1975
Redford Bishop Borgess Spartans
Football Championships
In 1926, Detroit Holy Redeemer and Detroit St. Leo faced each other in the first football game to determine the champion of the Detroit Parochial League (later the CHSL). Holy Redeemer won that game 14–9.
The game has been played every year since 1926 under various names, with Detroit Catholic Central winning twenty-eight football league championship games, the most of any school in league history.
Starting in 1948, the league championship game was called "The Soup Bowl", as the CapuchinSoup kitchen became the benefactor of some of the proceeds from the game.
The Soup Bowl game was always played at University of Detroit Stadium.
After the affiliation with the Capuchins ended in 1967 the game was called the "Charity Bowl" and since 1971 the "Prep Bowl".
The Prep Bowl was played at the Pontiac Silverdome and, since 2002, at Ford Field. The Prep Bowl today also involves the Detroit Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) for Catholic elementary schools as well as games within the high school divisions of the CHSL.
Prep Bowl facts:
Through 2015, the winningest high schools in Prep Bowl history, regardless of divisions, are:
Detroit St. Anthony 26, River Rouge Lady of Lourdes 21
1945
Detroit Catholic Central defeated River Rouge Lady of Lourdes
1944
Detroit Holy Redeemer 20, Detroit Catholic Central 12
1943
Detroit Catholic Central 19, Detroit St. Anthony 6
1942
Detroit Catholic Central 13, Detroit St. Theresa of Avila 0
1941
Detroit St. Theresa of Avila defeated Detroit Catholic Central
1940
Detroit St. Theresa of Avila 19, Detroit Catholic Central 13
1939
Detroit Catholic Central won championship game
1938
Detroit Catholic Central won championship game
1937
Detroit Catholic Central defeated Detroit Holy Redeemer
1936
University of Detroit High won championship game
1935
Detroit St. Theresa of Avila defeated Royal Oak St. Mary
1934
Detroit St. Theresa of Avila defeated Royal Oak St. Mary
1933
River Rouge Lady of Lourdes 19, Detroit Holy Redeemer 6
1932
Detroit St. Joseph defeated St. Mary of Redford
1931
Detroit De La Salle18, Detroit St. Anthony 0
1930
Detroit St. Joseph defeated Detroit St. Leo
1929
Detroit De La Salle 7, Detroit St. Joseph 0
1928
Detroit Holy Redeemer 20, Detroit St. Leo 0
1927
Detroit Holy Redeemer 12, Wyandotte St. Patrick 0
1926
Detroit Holy Redeemer 14, Detroit St. Leo 9
Operation Friendship
In 1947, the Detroit City League boys basketball champion and the Detroit Parochial League boys basketball champion met at Olympia Stadium in Detroit to play for the first time to determine who would wear the crown as the Detroit City Basketball Champions. The game between Detroit Miller High School and Detroit St. Joseph High School drew so much interest it sold out Olympia Stadium, with a capacity of 11,563 and in so doing established a state record for attendance at a high school basketball game.[38][39]
This was the first of what would, in later years, become known as the Operation Friendship Championship pitting the best of the Detroit Public School League against the Catholic High School League.
At the end of the evening, the Detroit Miller Trojans defeated the Detroit St. Joseph Blue Jays 47–34 to claim the first ever Detroit City Basketball High School Championship.
Since that game, the Detroit Public School League champions and the Detroit Catholic High School League champions have met nearly every year to determine the Detroit City Champions. In later years, the game would become known as the Operation Friendship Championship. The game has been played at University of Detroit's Calihan Hall (formerly Memorial Hall) virtually every year, although Cobo Arena in Detroit has also hosted the basketball classic.
Operation Friendship facts:
The Public School League has won 41 of the 56 Operation Friendship Championship Games played through 2016.
Since 2005, the CHSL has won six Operation Friendship championships, while the PSL has won five.
No Operation Friendship Games were played from 1969 to 1975.
1968
CHSL
Detroit Catholic Central Shamrocks 57, Detroit Murray-Wright Pilots 56
1967
PSL
Detroit Northwestern Colts 84, Detroit Visitation Eagles 65
1966
CHSL
Detroit Austin Friars 69, Detroit Northwestern Colts 68
1965
PSL
Detroit Northwestern Colts 71, Detroit Holy Redeemer Lions 55
1964
PSL
Detroit Northwestern Colts 49, Grosse Pointe St. Paul Lakers 42
1963
CHSL
Grosse Pointe St. Paul Lakers 55, Detroit Pershing Doughboys 46
1962
PSL
Detroit Eastern Indians 56, Grosse Pointe St. Paul Lakers 30
1961
PSL
Detroit Eastern Indians 56, Detroit Catholic Central Shamrocks 53
1960
PSL
Detroit Eastern Indians 69, Detroit Holy Redeemer Lions 52
1959
PSL
Detroit Eastern Indians 56, Detroit Holy Redeemer Lions 41
1958
CHSL
Detroit Austin Friars 63, Detroit Northeastern Falcons 40
1957
PSL
Detroit Northwestern Colts 42, Detroit All Saints Saints 32
1956
CHSL
Detroit St. Andrew Flyers 61, Detroit Southeastern Jungaleers 58
1955
PSL
Detroit Cass Tech Technicians 59, Royal Oak Shrine Knights 43
1954
PSL
Detroit Northwestern Colts 53, River Rouge Our Lady of Lourdes Bears 50
1953
PSL
Detroit Southwestern Prospectors 43, Wyandotte Our Lady of Mount Carmel Comets 41
No Operation Friendship Games were played from 1948 to 1952.
1947
PSL
Detroit Miller Trojans 47, Detroit St. Joseph Blue Jays 34
Goodfellow Game
The Goodfellow Game was an annual high school football game for the unofficial city of Detroit high school football championship. The game was played between the champions of the Detroit City League (later the Detroit Public School League) and the Detroit Parochial League (later the Catholic High School League). The Goodfellow Game was played every year from 1938 through 1967.[41] The Goodfellow Game was always played at Briggs/Tiger Stadium.[42][43][44][45][46][47][48]
The Goodfellow Game was played in a time before Michigan had a high school state championship playoff. As a result, the Goodfellow Game was considered one of the state's most prestigious high school football games of its time.
Goodfellow Game facts:
The Detroit Parochial League won sixteen Goodfellow Games, the Detroit City League won eleven and there were three ties in the 30 Goodfellow Games played.
The University of Detroit High Cubs played in three Goodfellows Games, all representing the Detroit City League, before joining the Detroit Parochial League in 1958.[62]
The Goodfellow Game regularly drew crowds of 40,000 spectators at its peak in the late 1950s and early 1960s.[41]
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