Athletic Hall of Fame

The 2014 season was an unforgettable one for the U of D Jesuit bowling 
team, known as the UDJ Keglers, who captured the Division 1 State Bowling 
Championship. At the time, it was only the fourth team state title in U of D Jesuit history.

As team captain Lloyd Lyons reflected in the 2014 Cub Annual, the championship was the culmination of a four-year journey filled with highs and lows.  A talented group of individual bowlers gradually developed into more than a team. They became a family.

Difficult losses at the 2013 and 2014 Catholic League championships became motivation, while a second-place regional finish restored the team’s confidence heading into the state finals.

They knew their success would depend on limiting mistakes and making their spares. They entered the state tournament believing they could finish on top, 
and they did.

Becoming Division 1 state champions and hanging that banner is an 
accomplishment the team will always be able to look back on with pride.

As they say, the third time can be a charm. After making it to the State Basketball finals in 2014 and 2015, the U of D Jesuit 2016 Basketball program won their first State Title finishing undefeated at 28-0. But that’s not all. They were four-peat Catholic League Champions, the #6 Nationally Ranked MaxPreps Team, Cassius Winston was named Mr. Basketball, and Coach Pat Donnelly was named National Coach of the Year.

The team was led by Cassius and returning captain Matthew Schearer with strong performances by Ike Eke, Gregory Eboigbodin, Elijah Collins and Scott Nelson in addition to exciting play from Zach Winston, Julian Dozier and Jalen Thomas. The team performed well in all 28 wins, with only five games being decided by less than ten points, those games being against Morgan Park, St. John’s, De La Salle, Detroit Renaissance, and Detroit Western.

Their induction into the Hall of Fame celebrates their athletic achievements, but Coaches Donnelly, Winston and Parrish also gave this team a lot of praise for their commitment to one another and to U of D Jesuit.

University of Detroit Jesuit 2004-2005 Varsity Hockey team is being honored with the Ring of Honor induction, recognizing their remarkable season and unforgettable playoff run. Despite finishing the regular season with a 10-13-1 record, the Cubs captivated fans in a standing-room-only crowd at the Detroit Skate Club.

In a dramatic playoff game, tied 2-2, goalie Matt Paletta ‘06 delivered an outstanding performance, keeping the Cubs’ hopes alive through two intense overtime periods. In the third overtime, defenseman Dominic Recchia ‘06 scored a goal, propelling the Cubs for the first time in program history into the Frozen Four. The team’s incredible journey to the Frozen Four was further highlighted by their recognition as one of the tournament’s top three academic teams. Their induction into the Hall of Fame celebrates not only their athletic achievements but also their dedication to excellence on and off the ice.

The 2001 MHSAA State Soccer Championship never saw the U of D Jesuit Cubs coming. The Cubs were predicted to lose practically every game throughout their run to the state championship game. The men who took to the pitch for U of D High were determined not to be denied. In the district quarterfinals, the Cubs won with an overtime goal against Dearborn. In the district final, U of D Jesuit thumped the Shamrocks from Catholic Central. The Cubs would then send Garden City packing in the final game of the regular season, before defeating Ann Arbor Pioneer on Angel’s Night.

The team had achieved several major upset victories throughout the season, including a tremendous win over Rochester Adams High School in the state championship game. The final score was 2-1 in favor of U of D Jesuit. Adams was ranked fourth in the nation at the time. Other major victories included beating Livonia Stevenson, ranked first in the state of Michigan at the time, and a shut-out victory over the Brighton Bulldogs.

The Cubs were led by All-state First Team member and Michigan Mr. Soccer award winner Ryan Alexander. Dan DePaulis merited Second Team All-state honors, while Jacob Zammit and Trevor Lyman both received Third Team All-state recognition. The Cubs finished their magical run with an impressive record of 18-6-2.

The first Saturday in June is track and field championship day in Michigan. In 1993, it was the Cubs’ championship day when they won the MHSAA Class B Track and Field Team Championship in Grand Rapids at historic Houseman Field. A week earlier U of D Jesuit avenged their narrow loss to Catholic Central at the Catholic League Championships, as well as the entire Detroit Public School league, by winning the Operation Friendship Track and Field title. Going into the state championship weekend it appeared U of D would have to find a way to upend defending state champion, Flint Beecher, who had bested the Cubs by a mere two points at the state regional track meet.

The Cubs earned their first points, as William Brooks placed third in the high hurdles with a school record tying time. Next the 4x200 meter relay of William Brooks, Jim Krol, Edzra Gibson, and Chris Polk amazed the crowd with a combination of speed and deft baton exchanges as they set a new state record of 1:28.23 in winning the event.

Chris Polk, arguably the best 400 meter runner in the state, showed why, as he easily won the event. Next William Brooks set a new school record of 38.6 seconds and placed second in the intermediate hurdles.

Despite these record performances, the Cubs still trailed Beecher with only three events left. Chris Polk and Edzra Gibson then turned the tide as they finished first and fourth respectively in the 200 meter dash. Going into the final event, the Cubs held a slim two point lead over Flint Beecher. The 4x400 meter relay team of Edzra Gibson, Kareem Dillard, William Brooks, and Chris Polk shut down Beecher’s last hope when they won the event by over 40 meters. Beecher placed a distant third. When the final scores were tallied, the Cubs had 59 points to Flint Beecher’s 53.

This marked the first state championship for the Cubs in any sport since the 1927 golf team. After being showered with ice water, a wet but elated Coach Jerry Myszkowski ‘67 reviewed the season by saying “During the course of the season we were just missing the winner’s circle. In the last two weeks of the season everything came together and we took home a big prize. Our whole training philosophy is geared for these championship meets. It worked.”
adapted from the 1993 Cub Annual