Issuu

FALL 2021 2016

VOL. 71, NO. 1

SPI RI TUAL I TY AT

D E T RO I T

CATHOLIC

CENTRAL

HIGH

SCHOOL

Edward J. Pobur Class of ’81 (248) 476-4466

Editor in Chief: Mike Carrier ’06 Managing Editors: Tim Burke ’86 Dan Collins Jr. ’84 Janice Sharkey Ed Turek ’85

41350 Grand River Ave., Novi, MI 248.476.4466 • CadillacofNovi.com

Editors: Sharon Bowling Theresa Green Angela Hill Susan Martin Jacqueline Mruzik Rudy Seichter ’59 Contributions: Fr. Dennis Kaufmann, CSB Jake Marmul ’07 Kevin Walters

2021 Cadillac

Photography: Scott Confer Anne Ink, LLC Fr. Patrick Fulton, CSB Mike Rossi - http://MichaelRossiPhotography.com Shaun Sova ’09

ESCALADE

Design & Production: Anne Ink, LLC Detroit Catholic Central High School Administration: President - Ed Turek ’85 eturek@catholiccentral.net Principal - Rev. Patrick Fulton, CSB pfulton@catholiccentral.net The Aluminator is published three times every year by the Detroit Catholic Central Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations. Circulation: 9,250 Submissions can be emailed to: aluminator@catholiccentral.net

#1 Cadillac Dealer in the Nation!*

Submissions can be mailed to: The Aluminator Detroit Catholic Central High School 27225 Wixom Road Novi, MI 48374 To reach the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations: (248) 596-3838 Fax: (248) 596-3839

VOL. 71, NO. 1

Page 4

Fall 2021

Page 22

Page 30

In This Issue FEATURES A Message from the President Alumni News Admissions Update Alumni Association News CC Teachers - Scholastics at Catholic Central Advancement News

Spirituality at Catholic Central

2 3 6 8 14 16 20-23

Colin Whitehead ’13 - Returns to CC In Memoriam - Alumni & Extended Family

SCHOOL NEWS School Bells Sports Break Keep Up With CC Online

28 38 40

For Information: Director of Advancement Dan Collins Jr. ’84 (248) 596-3834 dcollins@catholiccentral.net Director of Development and Alumni Relations Tim Burke ’86 (248) 596-3844 tburke@catholiccentral.net Or visit us on the Web: www.catholiccentral.net On the Cover: Mr. Kevin Walters leading a Kairos retreat

A Note from the Editor Many of you tell me that you begin reading your Aluminator by looking at “Alumni News.” Please don’t forget that those are the parts that we cannot include without help from you. We need you to send us updates of your milestones and accomplishments. Your travels and other activities are also of interest to your classmates. Submissions: For inclusion in the next issue of the Aluminator, all updates, articles, and photos must be received by October 31, 2021. Email submissions to: aluminator@catholiccentral.net. You may also mail your materials to us at: The Aluminator, Detroit Catholic Central High School, 27225 Wixom Road, Novi, MI 48374. Digital photographs: Please provide the original electronic file. Digital photographs should be shot as large a size and in as high a resolution as possible for the camera used, with care being taken to get a sharp image. This yields the best printing results. Please send the raw or uncompressed original TIFF file or high-resolution JPEG as an attachment. Do not open and adjust or re-save into any other format. Photos should not be embedded into a Word document.

*Based on a 2020 GM new vehicle sales report.

24 26

ALUMNI

A Message from the

President

Dear Alumni and Friends,

Staying Connected With Your Classmates THE TECHNO ’80s 1985 - SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 1985 gathered at Brewery Becker on May 20, 2021.

At the end of each school year we ask families about their sons’ best experiences at Catholic Central. Each year, the Kairos retreats are an overwhelming favorite. The Kairos retreats get our young men away from the hustle and bustle of their daily lives and give them a chance to reflect and grow in their spirituality. It is a source of significant growth for our young men and a cornerstone of their Catholic Central experience. It wouldn’t be possible without Kevin Walters, who pours his heart and soul into Kairos each year. Kevin’s passion and leadership help make the Kairos retreats a special experience for the students. It’s also a shining example of the dedication our administration and faculty have for creating an incredible educational experience for our young men. Thank you, Kevin, for helping to make Catholic Central such a special place. Our school-wide emphasis on spirituality and faith were instrumental in guiding us through the global pandemic. Despite these challenging times, we continued to thrive:

• Our enrollment is growing, with more than 275 new students joining our brotherhood this year.

• Our endowment is growing, supporting our overall financial health and stability and allowing Catholic Central to continue to provide an elite education.

• Our campus is expanding. We completed construction on the new entrance, the Learning Commons, and the updated Learning Strategies Center. There are several exciting projects to announce in the coming months, as well.

• We also are working to grow our teacher salaries, ensuring that we continue to provide an outstanding staff to teach and guide our young men.

All these things add up to a bright future, but perhaps the brightest light on the horizon is a return to normal school conditions. We started the year with in-person classes, Masses, fans at sporting events, pep assemblies, and all of the other activities that bring our cummunity together.

Left to right: Michael Flynn ‘85, Daniel Sheehan ‘85, Daniel Logan ‘85, Ed Turek ‘85, Ron Wandzel ‘85, John Heaman ‘85, Mike Dewan ‘85, and Timothy Mailley ‘85

1988 - DR. MATT HEPBURN, a retired Army Colonel and infectious disease physician, was featured on an episode of 60 Minutes in April 2021. Matt spent several years with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), working on technology he hopes will ensure COVID-19 is the last pandemic. THE HAPPENING ’90s 1990 - DANIEL BRADLEY was promoted to the rank of Captain in the Warren Police Department in 2020. THE VIRTUAL ’00s 2002 - TONY KREUCHER and his wife, Lizeth Jaramillo, were married on June 5, 2021, by Fr. Jose Del Toro, CSB, at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Plymouth.

Your Fellow Shamrock,

A M E S S A G E F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N T • FA L L 2 0 2 1

2003 - JOE MACH and his wife, Liz, welcomed their second child, Anthony Joseph Mach, on March 30, 2021. He weighed 7 lbs., 1 oz. and measured 19-1/2 inches. Joe is a teacher and football coach at CC. 2005 - VICTOR ANSARA JR. and his wife, Chelsea, welcomed their third child, Victor Lewis Ansara III, on April 7, 2020. Victor is currently a third generation restaurateur, a member of the Ansara Concepts, Inc. executive team, and owner of Burgrz and Twin Peaks of Michigan. 2007 - JAKE MARMUL and his wife, Nicole, welcomed their second child, Rosie Barbara Marmul, on July 6, 2021. 2008 - JACOB CHRISTENSON and his wife, Kim, welcomed their second child, Nora Jay Christenson, on February 8, 2021. Nora weighed 6 lbs., 12 oz., and measured 20 inches. Jacob is currently a Senior Sales Representative at RPM. 2008 - DAVID CORDS and his wife, Whitney, welcomed their first baby, Henry David Cords, on May 10, 2021. He weighed 7 lbs., 10 oz., and measured 21 inches. Henry is also the nephew of CC Guidance Counselor, Mrs. Ashley Diehl.

I’m always excited to start a new school year, but I may be a little more excited this year than ever. I’m proud of how our students, faculty, and staff tackled the global pandemic, and I’m ecstatic to get back to normal and hope you are too!

Ed Turek ’85 President

NEWS

Left to right: Ben Kreucher ’02, Walt Kreucher ’69, Dianne Kreucher, Lizeth Jaramillo, Tony Kreucher ’02, Heather Kreucher, and John Kreucher ’06 A L U M N I N E W S • FA L L 2 0 2 1

THE VIRTUAL ’00s 2008 - ERIC SARLITTO and his wife, Kate, welcomed their daughter, Margaret Katharine Sarlitto, on April 2, 2021. THE CONNECTED ’10s 2011 - MICHAEL BIRNEY and Annie May Quiroga were married on July 11, 2020.

Left to right: Kyle Cooper ‘12, Kylie Cooper, Michael Birney, Annie Birney, Michael Birney ‘11, Lisa Birney, Sean Birney ‘14, and Ryan Birney ‘19

2012 - RYAN WANDZEL and his wife, Brittany, were married on June 24, 2021, in Salisbury, Massachusetts, at The Blue Ocean Resort Center. Ryan and Brittany reside in Londonderry, New Hampshire.

2015 - NICO STANTE and his wife, Anna, welcomed their first child, Antonello Albin Stante, on April 3, 2021. He weighed 7 lbs., 7 oz. and measured 20 inches. Nello is the first grandchild for Paula and Dave Lewis ‘79. 2016 - BRADY KELLY recently graduated with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Central Florida. In fall 2020, when school resumed during the pandemic, Brady started tutoring locally over Zoom. He quickly reached capacity and started Tutor U (Tutor-u.com) to help as many struggling students as possible. You can follow Brady on Tik Tok @BradyYourTutor (1.5 million followers). RIOUX Family - Five members of the Rioux Family gathered in Oscoda, Michigan, over Memorial Day weekend.

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Ron Wandzel ‘85, Ryan Wandzel ‘12, and Ken Wandzel ‘86

Left to right: Joe Rioux ‘49, John Rioux Sr. ‘61, John Rioux Jr. ‘86, Jerry Rioux ’88, and Johnny Rioux ‘21

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A L U M N I N E W S • FA L L 2 0 2 1

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2013 - 2021

FA L L 2 0 2 1

admissions update WHAT’S NEW?

I am thrilled to be able to say that we have more than 250 incoming 9th graders and more than 15 transfers in 10th and 11th grade. In an extremely challenging environment, our overall school enrollment has grown. Last year saw us pushed into a complete revamp of our process in order to try to bring in a quality incoming class of new students. We adjusted tours, visits, events, the admissions process, and even the summer school program. The students who will walk our halls for the first time this August will bring a wealth of diverse talents to our community, and I am so proud to be able to call them Shamrocks. By far, our biggest recruiting tool continues to be the word of mouth from our current and alumni families. Thank you to all of you who encouraged a family to reach out or who brought a new family with you to something on campus. Without your help, we would have a much more difficult job! As we return to a more normal year, we are excited to bring back some of our prior process, but we are also going to take advantage of some of the improvements that we found through necessity. We have re-designed Shadow Days, added additional visit options, and will continue to offer online information nights that make the process more accessible for families who might not be able to get to campus on a weeknight. We are also very excited to welcome Tony Jones to the Admissions Office as our Community Outreach and Retention Manager. He is from Flint, Michigan, and has most recently served as the Director of High School Relations for the University of Michigan’s football program. Tony will be taking over for Kevin Glenn as Kevin transitions into his new role as the Director of Community Engagement and Diversity. We are excited to see all that Kevin is able to do in his new position and looking forward to all of the strengths Tony will bring to our office.

Our goal will always remain the same - find great young men who want to work hard and bring them to Catholic Central. With your help, we will continue to find success. Your Fellow Shamrock,

Jake Marmul ’07 - Director of Admissions and Public Relations

WELCOME MR. JONES! We’d like to welcome Mr. Tony Jones to the Admissions Office as our Community Outreach and Retention Manager! You can reach him at tjones@catholiccentral.net. 6

A D M I S S I O N S U P D AT E • FA L L 2 0 2 1

questions let us know!

Jake Marmul ’07 David Sofran admissions@catholiccentral.net

catholiccentral.net/admissions

Greetings, CC Alumni and Family. Welcome to the Fall 2021 issue of the Aluminator.

Please Pray With Us!

RECONNECTING

…Catholic Central Cares About You Submit Your Prayer Request See page 40 for details.

Jesus Christ, is the Reason for Catholic Central

The theme of this issue’s letter is reconnecting. As society emerges from almost

16th Season of the Alumni Association Basketball League (AABL) The start of the 16th season of the CC Alumni Association Basketball League (AABL) is just around the corner. If you have not already done so and are interested in playing or forming a team, please contact AABL Commissioner, Andy Slankster ’94 at aslankster@slanksterfinancial.com or (248) 470-6098.

two years of upheaval, I want to encourage you to focus on renewal and reconnecting with your family, friends, colleagues, and your faith. Like many of you, my wife and

The 2022 AABL season tips off early January 2022 and will run through mid-April

I spent several months away from the in-person celebration of Mass. As we’ve rejoined

2022. All games are played at CC. Teams must be comprised of CC alumni, fathers

the parish community, there is a sense of joy and happiness both from the Mass

of alumni, and/or current CC dads. Sign up today!

Campus Crusade Reunions Are Back! Join your CC brothers for food, fun, and fellowship and celebrate the CC brotherhood.

FALL 2021

Thursday, September 23 University of Michigan

itself and reconnecting with the families we’ve missed during the pandemic. The same

Alumni Association Mission Statement

is true as we have more in-person contact with work colleagues and with social friends and acquaintances.

The mission of the Catholic Central

Over the past few months, I attended the Alumni Dinner and All Classes Reunion,

Alumni Association is to provide

honoring Bill Hermann ’68 and Carmine Palombo ’70, and a Class of ’84 golf outing

services, benefits, and activities of

(with 24 of my classmates). It was really great seeing these fellow alumni, especially

interest to the alumni, to foster an

my classmates after the long absence. It made me reflect and appreciate once again

alumni body which is interested and involved in the affairs and functions of the school, and to provide such assistance to the school as may from time to time be requested of it.

Mary, Alma Mater, your sons of Central honor, and trusting in your goodness, we hopefully implore that by your grace we may every day prove that we are men of Mary, Alma Mater. Inspire us evermore. Mary, Alma Mater, your sons of Central honor, and proudly wear your colors, the Royal Blue and White. May valiant Blue and peerless White teach us to be men of Mary, Alma Mater. Inspire us evermore.

A L U M N I A S S O C I A T I O N • FA L L 2 0 2 1

Hope College

the foundation that CC helped me and my classmates build. We’ve moved on to careers,

Thursday, October 7

families, and different interests and hobbies. Despite that, the bonds we built so many

Central Michigan University

years ago bridge the gap of time, and we came together with a real sense of camaraderie. The standard question, “How are you?” was more enthusiastic and heartfelt. We listened more intently. The hugs and handshakes were a touch longer. Your Alumni Association is looking forward to getting back to putting on our events and

MARY, ALMA MATER

Saturday, October 2

welcoming you back to your school. Look for notifications on upcoming events at Catholic

Save the Date - All Classes Florida Reunion Saturday, March 19, 2022

Central High School, including Boys’ Bowl Weekend (September 24-26). We hope to see

Who:

many of you there! I encourage you to reconnect with the relationships you’ve built over

What: Mass - Dinner - Camaraderie - CC Fellowship

the years and to revisit some old ones. Take advantage of your place in this truly special

Where: Sharky’s on the Pier - Venice, FL

community by attending a CC event.

Thursday, October 21 Michigan State University

All Classes of CC Alumni and Family

Owned by Mike Pachota ’71 • www.SharkysOnThePier.com

Thursday, November 4 Eastern Michigan University

When: Saturday, March 19, 2022 • Noon - 4:00 p.m.

I cherish this community. Our Catholic Central family is unique and special, and I feel so blessed to be a part of it. Seek out your classmates and others in the CC family; reconnect and share the love. You will be more enriched for it.

Thursday, November 6 Adrian College

It’s always a great day to be a Shamrock!

Saturday, November 11 Wayne State University Dave Brauer ’84 Alumni Association President

A L U M N I A S S O C I A T I O N • FA L L 2 0 2 1

77th BOYS’ BOWL WEEKEND Athletic Hall of Fame • Reunion Weekend • September 24-25-26, 2021 Friday, September 24 Boys’ Bowl Assembly - 9:30 a.m. Robert Santello ’58 Gymnasium Saturday, September 25 All Classes Reunion at CC - 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. $40 per person Includes: Food, Beer, Wine, Beverages Sunday, September 26 Boys’ Bowl Mass & Breakfast and Athletic Hall of Fame Inductions 9:00 a.m. Robert Santello ’58 Gymnasium *Please note NEW Mass time of 9:00 a.m. Boys’ Bowl Football Game CC vs. Brother Rice 1:00 p.m. Fr. Richard Elmer, CSB ’46 Stadium – “The Elm”

Reunions 2021 - Boys’ Bowl Weekend at Catholic Central Boys’ Bowl 2021 will be the focal point for the following classes celebrating reunions this year:

2020 marked class reunions for these classes that were moved to 2021:

2021 marks class reunions for these classes:

Class of 1945 - 75 years Class of 1950 Class of 1955 Class of 1960 Class of 1965 Class of 1970 - 50 years Class of 1975 Class of 1980

Class of 1946 - 75 years Class of 1951 Class of 1956 Class of 1961 Class of 1966 Class of 1971 - 50 years Class of 1976 Class of 1981

Class of 1985 Class of 1990 Class of 1995 - 25 years Class of 2000 Class of 2005 Class of 2010 Class of 2015

Class of 1986 Class of 1991 Class of 1996 - 25 years Class of 2001 Class of 2006 Class of 2011 Class of 2016

Register online today! www.catholiccentral.net/boysbowlweekend Questions? Contact the Office of Alumni Relations at (248) 596-3838. 10

A L U M N I A S S O C I A T I O N • FA L L 2 0 2 1

Catholic Central Athletic Hall of Fame In 2006, the Detroit Catholic Central Administration announced and recognized the first class of The Detroit Catholic Central Athletic Hall of Fame. Its purpose is to establish and maintain recognition for the rich heritage and storied tradition of academic and athletic excellence of the renowned athletic program at Detroit Catholic Central High School. The Hall of Fame acknowledges the contributions and accomplishments of the individuals and teams which have earned recognition and have provided excellent examples of Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge.

CC Athletic Hall of Fame Inductions – Classes of 2020 and 2021 Inductions will take place on Sunday, September 26, 2021, at the Gerry Di Ponio ’65 Boys’ Bowl Mass & Breakfast and during halftime of the 77th Boys’ Bowl Football Game against Central Division rival Brother Rice. All previous Athletic Hall of Fame Honorees are encouraged to attend. Rick Coratti ’69

Salvatore Cipriano

1989 Cross Country Team

Jay Snyder ’78

Tom Mach

1990 Football Team

Mike Lewis ’80

1985 Tennis Team

1995 Football Team

Stan Heath ’83

1986 Tennis Team

David Moss ’00

1988 Wrestling Team

Classes Celebrating Reunion Gatherings with more information Class of 1960 60th Reunion + 2 August 18-20, 2022 Contact: George Smrtka ’60 (248) 641-9000 • gsmrtka@aol.com

Class of 1961 60th Reunion September 24-26 Contacts: John Lombardi ’61 johnlombardi@att.net Dick Kuzma ’61 richard.kuzma23@gmail.com

Class of 1970 50th Reunion + 1 September 24-26, 2021

Nominations are now being accepted for the Class of 2022 Catholic Central Athletic Hall of Fame! The Catholic Central Athletic Hall of Fame Committee needs your help! It is now taking nominations for induction into the Class of 2022. Nominations may be submitted by alumni as well as by those who have an association with or interest in CC. Detailed information on the mission of the CC Athletic Hall of Fame, the categories that can be nominated, and to submit your nomination(s) is available on the CC Athletic Hall of Fame web page: www.catholiccentral.net/halloffame or scan the QR code.

Contact: Carmine Palombo ’70 (248) 907-3174 carminepalombo@sbcglobal.net

Class of 1971 50th Reunion September 24-26, 2021 Contacts: Dennis Noelke, CSB ’71 (248) 567-9937 dnoelke@catholiccentral.net Charlie Petoskey ’71 (248) 882-1982 cpetoskey@prosales2.com Orrin Tibbits ’71 (734) 347-2184 orrinj.tibbits@yahoo.com

Thank you for helping us continue to recognize and preserve the rich heritage and great tradition of our outstanding Detroit Catholic Central High School athletic program. A L U M N I A S S O C I A T I O N • FA L L 2 0 2 1

Legacy Reunion Mass and Luncheon After a one year hiatus, the annual Catholic Central Legacy Reunion Mass and Luncheon was held at CC on June 9, 2021. Over 155 alumni and guests were in attendance. This wonderful gathering is held in conjunction with the original June Feast of St. Basil and includes all of the classes that are 50 or more years removed from their CC graduation (1929-1971). This includes alumni from our first three school buildings on Harper Avenue, Belmont Avenue, and Outer Drive. This great day of CC camaraderie and fellowship started with Mass in the CC Chapel, followed by an informal lunch and gathering. Mass was celebrated by Fr. Bob Schikora ’65, who also was one of the founding members of the Alumni Glee Club. Some alumni from the great Classes of 1950 and 1951 attended with family and friends as they celebrated their 71st and 70th reunion years of graduation from Catholic Central. Congratulations to them on this fantastic milestone!

32nd Annual Alumni Association Dinner and

All Classes Reunion Honor Two

On Monday, May 24, 2021, Detroit Catholic Central High School awarded Mr. Bill Hermann ’68 and Mr. Carmine Palombo ’70 with the Fr. Canning F. Harrison, CSB Distinguished Alumnus Award at the 32nd Annual Alumni Dinner and All Classes Reunion. Both of these CC Men represent Mary, Alma Mater with humility and grace. This award is given each year to outstanding alumni and Basilian Fathers who have honored Mary, Alma Mater through exemplifying Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge in their personal and professional lives.

Bill is the author of two books on talent development and leadership. Giving the Gift of a Career, A Roadmap for Individually Focused Staff Development published in 2020. In 2011, he co-authored a book with his successor, Gordon Krater, called Succession Transition, A Roadmap for Seamless Transitions in Leadership. CARMINE PALOMBO ’70

The Alumni Dinner and All Classes Reunion serves as a great opportunity for classmates of all years, family, and friends of CC to gather together and share in some CC camaraderie. This year, the event took place at John Cowley and Sons Irish Restaurant and Pub. A special thank you to Greg Cowley, Mike Cowley ’80, family, and staff for hosting this great gathering. WILLIAM HERMANN ’68

Following his days at CC, Carmine went on to earn his degree in civil engineering from the University of Detroit in 1975. Carmine then began a career with the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) that lasted 43 years. He retired in 2018 as the Deputy Director of SEMCOG.

We thank all our alumni in attendance for their example and love for Mary, Alma Mater.

Carmine and his wife Debora (Gates) live in Livonia, and are the proud parents of Kristen (Mercy 2002) and Michael ’05. In addition, Carmine’s brother, Anthony ’77, and nephew, Mark LaRosa ’01, and several other cousins are also alumni of CC.

A special thank you to Fr. John Wheeler, CSB ’57 and the entire Alumni Glee Club for leading us in song during Mass.

A L U M N I A S S O C I A T I O N • FA L L 2 0 2 1

CC’s Finest

Alumni, family, and friends gathered to honor two outstanding CC alumni: Mr. Bill Hermann ‘68 and Mr. Carmine Palombo ‘70.

Furthermore, we welcomed “the rookies,” first-timers from the Classes of 1970 and 1971, who are celebrating their 51st and 50th years of graduation from Catholic Central.

After his days at CC, Bill graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Detroit with a degree in accounting. In his junior year, he started an internship at Plante Moran that led to a lifelong career at the firm. In a 40-year plus career, Bill progressed from proofreader to senior leadership positions that included serving as Plante Moran’s Managing Partner from 2001 to 2009.

Since entering the doors of CC as a freshman in the fall of 1966, Carmine has been involved with our beloved Alma Mater. Over the years, Carmine has been and can be found in the building in any number of situations. He has been an active member of the CC Alumni Association for many years as well as a past Chair of the CC Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Bill and his wife Sue (Demmer) have been blessed with three sons and a daughter, as well as nine grandchildren. Three generations of the family have continued the CC tradition, including his brother (Ed ’60), three sons (Bill ’91, Dave ’92, and Ken ’08), numerous nephews, and a grandson (Michael ’23). Bill remains engaged in the CC community through family activities and attendance at numerous school events. Bill was recognized nationally as one of the 100 most influential people in the accounting profession from 2003 through 2008 and was named one of the accounting profession’s most admired peers in 2008. Bill has spoken before business audiences on five continents about topics including leadership, staff development, culture, and growth strategies.

Furthermore, Carmine was elected a member of the CC School Board of Directors in 2013 and was voted as Chair of the CC School Board in 2019, the first non-Basilian Chair of this Board. Since his retirement, Carmine has been a volunteer in the CC Advancement Office, updating files and engaging alumni attending the various activities of the office. Carmine often shares a saying he heard and experienced firsthand, “The world is run by those who show up! Well, the CC Family shows up! It is why I continue to stay involved in the school to do what I can to ensure that this wonderful experience is available to the next generation of young men.” A L U M N I A S S O C I A T I O N • FA L L 2 0 2 1

TEACHERS

Scholastics at Catholic Central

Mrs. Leah Storm and Ms. Heather Vingsness

EARN SPECIAL RECOGNITION This past spring, Catholic Vantage Financial introduced a new program, asking parents to nominate a teacher in K-12 who has made a profound impact on their students. We are incredibly proud to announce that our own Mrs. Leah Storm and Ms. Heather Vingsness were selected as recipients. Mrs. Storm was nominated by the Murray Family, who said, “She (made an impact by...) being patient with my son during his first year at Catholic Central. Reading fiction and grammar are not in his interests. She was patient with him and provided excellent instruction. She was also kind to me (as a parent) when asking for assistance with his struggles.” Ms. Vingsness was nominated by the Ryan Family, who said, “She made physics fun. She is also the FIRST Robotics teacher, putting in hundreds of hours a year. She’s great at pushing the kids to do their best while also making it fun!” Congratulations to these two wonderful teachers for the welldeserved recognition.

Mr. Anthony Cornish Latin Teacher of the Year

Mr. Anthony Cornish was selected as the recipient of the 2021 Glenn M. Knudsvig Award for Outstanding Latin Teaching in Michigan Secondary Schools. The University of Michigan established the Outstanding Latin Teacher Award in 1981 and renamed it to honor the memory of Professor Glenn M. Knudsvig in 1999. The award is given annually to a secondarylevel Latin teacher within the State of Michigan. Recipients are selected from among nominations submitted by University of Michigan undergraduate and graduate students, Michigan Latin faculty, and instructors and administrators at the secondary and college levels. Anthony reflected on his career and the honor: “After graduating from the University of Michigan in 2003 (and spending my fair share of time in a centurion costume to recruit), I spent a brief stint in the world of finance only to return to my love affair with teaching in 2008. Since then, I’ve spent the rest of my amazing career at Detroit Catholic Central shepherding the Latin program. Every day, it is my greatest joy to instill the love of Latin and the classics into another generation. I currently live in Ypsilanti with my amazing wife, Sophia, and my four children (Elijah 13, Audrey 10, Eva 10, and Eleanor 6). I will always be grateful to the classics department at U of M for including me and taking care of me as an undergraduate.”

Mrs. Leah Storm and Ms. Heather Vingsness receiving their prizes 14

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ENDOWMENT NEWS YOUR TRUST AND CONFIDENCE It is of paramount importance that we, your Office of

To experience the new and improved giving

Advancement, gain your trust and confidence. To do

experience for yourself, simply go to our website:

that and to best serve you, we are proud to share the

www.catholiccentral.net, or even easier, you may

news of a new partnership between CC and iDonate.

Text To-Give by texting @DCCHS to 52014.

CC consummated a relationship with iDonate this past spring to process all gifts and to provide you, our devoted donors, with the most professional giving experience.

Invest in CC today and consider a monthly, recurring, perpetual gift. Gifts as little as $10 / month have a profound impact.

iDonate is the leading fundraising software provider that exists to grow nonprofits. Its digital giving system uses integrated payment applications, performance analytics, and success coaching to ensure immediate and enduring growth. Through a commitment to generosity and innovation, iDonate has become the world’s standard for donation processing technology.

A TOKEN OF OUR A PPR E C IAT I O N As a token of our thanks and appreciation, all donors who establish a new recurring gift by December 31, 2021, of at least $20 / month will receive this premium CC ¼ zip (available in sizes M - XXXL). Thank you for supporting Detroit Catholic Central High School. Every gift counts and is appreciated!

A D VA N C E M E N T N E W S • FA L L 2 0 2 1

TEXT TO GIVE

New giving option now available!

Text @DCCHS

to 52014

TDA Insurance & Financial Agency

“Our Shamrock Family Protecting Yours”

ENDOWMENT NEWS C C E N D OW M E N T T RU S T U PDAT E

HEALTH AND LIFE INSURANCE

The CC Endowment Trust Fund continues to grow and pay tribute to the lives and legacies of CC alumni, faculty, and friends.

FOR INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS

Thanks to the generosity of Mike Zemke ‘54, CC is proud to introduce the creation of the new:

Your Health Insurance Exchange Specialist

Fr. Daniel Jones ’71 Memorial Scholarship Fund

Mark Merucci, CHRS ® — Class of '87

Dan Jones was a beloved priest and proud member of the Class of 1971. Fr. Dan served

Certified HealthCare Reform Specialist

the Archdiocese of Detroit as a full-time Associate Professor at Sacred Heart Major

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Seminary and worked tirelessly on the formation faculty while training future priests. He also served as pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish (Detroit) and later as pastor

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of St. John Fisher Chapel University Parish (Auburn Hills). Mike’s gift has funded 50% of the $25,000 necessary to establish a perpetual, named fund. He would like to challenge

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the rest of the CC community to match his gift. Thanks to the generosity of the late Tom Jozwiak ‘55 and his family, CC is proud to

Thomas Jozwiak ’55 Memorial Scholarship Fund Tom Jozwiak is a CC legend, a graduate of the Air Force Academy, a member of our Athletic Hall of Fame, and considered one of the finest student-athletes to ever walk our hallowed halls. C

ENDOWMENT TRUST

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annual scholarship - awarded to a Catholic Central High School student, enrolled in good standing, with documented financial need. To invest in one of these funds, or to establish a newly-named fund, contact Dan Collins ’84, Director of Advancement at (248) 596-3834 or dcollins@catholiccentral.net.

A D VA N C E M E N T N E W S • FA L L 2 0 2 1

Highland • Holly • White Lake • Waterford

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Spirituality - Kevin Walters WHAT KIND OF SCHOOL IS

t r o i t

a t ho l i c

e n t r a l

Consider • A 33-foot steel cross sends a clear message at the entrance to the campus. • “Jesus Christ is the reason for Catholic Central” is the motto that greets every person walking into the school. • The chapel is the architectural and spiritual center of the building. • Prayer begins each day, each class, each meeting, and each event.

At Detroit Catholic Central, Spirituality begins with a capital S. It is pervasive; it is welcoming; it is inclusive; it is deliberate. It is why we exist. Mr. Kevin Walters, Catholic Central’s campus minister, says that Spirituality is often seen as our best kept secret. “More than guiding these young men to have successful careers, it is our responsibility and our blessing to lead them to eternal life. More than ever, we do this in an overt way, and we do so loudly and proudly.” Mr. Walters has spent 38 years in Catholic education, the past 25 at CC as head of the theology department and campus minister. Kevin credits the success of the many aspects of the program to the support and encouragement of the Basilian Fathers. “The Basilians have fostered a whole attitude of support among the faculty and families of CC for the spiritual formation of our students.” Kevin is often guided by the mantra of Fr. McKernan, who prompted his students over and over to ask themselves, “Who is the man I seek to become?”

Yet, when people think of the many advantages of an education at CC, and someone mentions Spirituality, the reaction is often, “Oh yeah, that too.”

At the base of the Spirituality at CC are the Theology classes which are the Curriculum Framework of the United States Catholic Bishops. The most critical aspect of these classes, however, is the individual teacher who brings his/her own experience and faith journey to this curriculum. The yearly retreat days, for smaller groups of students, provides an environment in which students can become comfortable asking questions which have no easy answers. Kevin is constantly refining these experiences so they remain impactful for current students. “We must journey with our students because each of them has many other forces calling for their attention.” Kairos for upperclassmen has been deemed “life-changing” by so many alumni who have taken part in these retreats. Mr. Walters is encouraged by the collaborative efforts of the entire staff at CC who have to adjust their own programs to make these retreats happen. He is uplifted by the “holiness of his colleagues.” The staff works to make sure that CC is not just Catholic in name only.

S P I R I T U A L I T Y AT C AT H O L I C C E N T R A L • FA L L 2 0 2 1

Spirituality - Kevin Walters WHAT KIND OF SCHOOL IS

t r o i t

a t ho l i c

e n t r a l

There are many small and large outgrowths of CC Spirituality. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is promoted by many of the coaches. Ut Fidem is a program designed to help students grow in their faith throughout high school and college by small group evangelization and guided by an adult mentor. This program, developed at a Catholic high school in Iowa, was brought to CC by Ms. Angela Hill, Fr. Michael Buentello, CSB, and Kevin Walters so that our students could benefit in their own spiritual growth. This year, our first Ut Fidem group has CC teacher and alumus, Michael Fras ’85, serving as its mentor.

The presence of Fr. Dennis Kauffman, CSB at sports, Christian service, and extracurriculars is an inspiration to students and parents. The Mothers’ Club and Dads’ Club have retreats, service missions, and bible studies. The Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations sponsors Masses, Lenten programs, and retreats. Mr. Ed Turek ’85, president of Catholic Central, and Fr. Patrick Fulton, CSB, principal, work tirelessly to keep our students’ spiritual growth a priority and are extremely supportive of initiatives that promote the Spirituality of students and their families. Kevin reflected, “Jesus took people where they were in their lives. We must do the same. With all of our warts and scars and beauty, we have been invited to participate in this critically important ministry.”

Kevin continues, “The Spirituality of Catholic Central is a search process to see how and where Christ provides an answer. We look to Him and His message. And, of course, we are constantly guided by Mary, Alma Mater - She, who was the first to say, ‘Yes.’” 22

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Spirituality at CC - Fr. Dennis Kauffman, CSB I have been at Catholic Central for thirteen years, and I can honestly say that I have found the spirituality at the school to be a constant source of encouragement for the students, faculty, and staff. Living out our Baptismal promise through prayer and action is what spirituality is all about, and it is done very well at CC. Every school day there is the opportunity to take part in the celebration of Mass before school. The school day begins with the entire school united in prayer. Every class during the day begins with a prayer. There are many opportunities that have been initiated in recent years that help the students to put their spirituality into action. Students are required to do a number of hours of community service. The Kairos retreats have been a significant improvement for the spiritual life of the students. Oftentimes students will say that their Kairos experience was life-changing for them. Another new initiative is the GDK (Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge) days. Students are in small groups with members from each class. One day a month they meet to discuss issues that pertain to them as students and what they can do to improve. There is a GDK Pledge that the students recite and also have as a tag on their backpacks as well as a card they wear on their lanyards. The pledge ends with, “Teach me, O Lord. Make me a man of Catholic Central.” Are we perfect in our spirituality at CC? No, but we continue to find ways to put that spirituality into action. We always strive to improve at CC.

S P I R I T U A L I T Y AT C AT H O L I C C E N T R A L • FA L L 2 0 2 1

Colin Whitehead ’13 RETURNS TO CC

Catholic Central Alumni Owners & Management

Colin Whitehead ’13 has come home. A CC graduate, Colin has joined the Theology faculty as its newest member. After graduating from Hope College in 2017, Colin spent a year in Peru on a Fulbright Scholarship, teaching English as a foreign language in a university setting. He then headed to the University of Notre Dame, where he completed his Masters in Divinity in May of 2021. Colin said, “When I was at CC, my Theology teachers were very inspiring, and by the time I was a Junior and Senior, I thought how great it would be to come back and join this effort. Then I was off to college and further studies and experiences and that thought faded. During my work at Notre Dame, I was learning about other fields in campus ministry, the missions, and parish work. It all interested me. Then I heard about the opportunity at Catholic Central, and I remembered my old dream. So I contacted Father Fulton.” Colin further reflected, “I guess I see my work as a combination of spiritual formation, human formation, and academic formation. Yet in the end, teaching Theology at Catholic Central boils down to two ideas: forming a relationship with Jesus and teaching Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge.” 24

C O L I N W H I T E H E A D ‘ 1 3 R E T U R N S T O C C • FA L L 2 0 2 1

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The following members of the Catholic Central Family have passed from this life to the next. Please remember them in your Masses and other prayers. Our sincere condolences are extended to their loved ones. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the Mercy of God, rest in peace.

ALUMNI ROBERT F. SCARLETT ‘42 November 1, 2020. He is survived by nine children, 22 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, two greatgreat-grandchildren, and a brother, Neil ‘49. He was preceded in death by his wife and two brothers, Charles ‘43 and Thomas ‘57. JEROME M. BURNS ‘44 May 12, 2021. JAMES H. BURRESS JR. ‘46 April 21, 2021. He is survived by his wife, two children, five grandchildren, and one brother. He was preceded in death by four brothers, including Robert ‘47. DR. ALBERT F. KENNEDY ‘49 October 13, 2020. He is survived by his wife, four children, eight grandchildren, seven greatgrandchildren, and grandnephew John Greer ‘04. He was preceded in death by six brothers. JAMES T. FAHRENKOPF ‘51 April 5, 2021. He is survived by three children and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife and his brother, George ‘46. EDWARD J. PIECZKOWSKI ‘51 September 15, 2018. He is survived by several nieces and nephews, including Kenneth Donnay ‘70.

I N M E M O R I A M • FA L L 2 0 2 1

THOMAS H. REID ‘51 March 27, 2021. He is survived by a daughter, five sons, Brian ‘77, Timothy ‘80, Patrick ‘82, and Michael ‘89, 13 grandchildren, including Joseph Casey ‘08, and a sister. He was preceded in death by his wife, a daughter, and brother-in-law, Thomas Keegan ‘47. JOHN M. FOLLMER ‘52 December 6, 2019. He is survived by his wife, three children, seven grandchildren, and four greatgrandchildren. RONALD S. PASKE (NEE PIASKOWSKI) ‘54 April 23, 2021. He is survived by his wife, four children, and five grandchildren. JAMES V. FOWLER ‘56 May 16, 2021. He is survived by two children, two grandchildren, and three great-granddaughters. He was preceded in death by a son and his brother, John ‘56. RICHARD E. HACKE ‘57 May 20, 2021. He is survived by his wife, son, four grandchildren, and a brother. JOHN M. HYDE ‘57 July 6, 2020. He is survived by his brothers, James ‘58 and Robert ‘64. He was preceded in death by his wife. DAVID A. EVANS ‘60 December 3, 2020. He is survived by five children, seven grandchildren, and a brother. He was preceded in death by his wife and a brother.

ROBERT J. MITCHELL ‘60 December 28, 2020. He is survived by his wife, four children, two grandchildren, two stepgrandchildren, one great-grandchild, and three siblings. He was preceded in death by his parents, including his father, Robert ‘39. LAWRENCE F. KOCHAN ‘61 July 2, 2015. WILLIAM J. MAHER ‘61 July 12, 2021. He is survived by three daughters and seven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife and sister. GERALD F. KUHL ‘62 March 7, 2021. He is survived by his wife, daughter, and five siblings. DANIEL R. MAHER ‘63 January 2, 2019. He is survived by his wife, two children, three grandchildren, and seven siblings. He was preceded in death by a brother. CHESTER J. TRYBUS ‘63 March 29, 2021. He is survived by his wife, two children, five grandchildren, and three brothers, including Gregory ‘65. He was preceded in death by a daughter and his brother, Thomas ‘60. THOMAS M. BRENNAN ‘64 July 16, 2020. He is survived by his wife, two children, three grandchildren, and two brothers.

JOHN F. JUSTEWICZ ‘66 May 9, 2021. He is survived by his wife, a son, three stepchildren, six grandchildren, and a brother. THOMAS M. BARRY ‘69 May 15, 2021. 2021. He is survived by his wife, daughter, grandson, and two sisters. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, John ‘40. REV. DANIEL J. JONES ‘71 May 23, 2021. He is survived by his mother, five siblings, including David ‘76, and many nieces and nephews, including Douglas Bechard ‘03 and Ryan Masel ‘03. He was preceded in death by his father. MICHAEL J. FLYNN ‘74 May 8, 2021. He is survived by three siblings. THOMAS A. ZIELINSKI ‘75 August 17, 2020. He is survived by his wife, two children, his mother, and two siblings. He was preceded in death by his father and a sister. TERRENCE P. BROWN ‘82 April 16, 2021. He is survived by his wife, a daughter, and three siblings. RICHARD L. PALER ‘83 May 8, 2021. He is survived by two sons, his parents, and brother, Gregory ‘89. He was preceded in death by his sister.

NICOLAS W. RADELT ‘06 June 1, 2021. He is survived by his wife, three children, and his parents. NICHOLAS M. SALEH (NEE SALLEY) ‘06 March 17, 2021. He is survived by his parents and sister. VLADY A. CALICE ‘12 April 27, 2021.

EXTENDED FAMILY EVELYN FAHRENKOPF - April 4, 2021. Wife of the late James ‘51. Sister-in-law of the late George ‘46. DANIEL J. KOBYLARZ - March 31, 2021. Father of Paul ‘81. JAMES LEFKO - April 6, 2021. Grandfather of Aiden Pace ‘20. GAETANA A. D. LENOX September 1, 2020. Wife of James ‘54. MARIANN LUPINACCI-KOSINSKI April 9, 2021. Mother of John ‘96 and Joseph ‘03. Daughter of Rudolph Piro ‘49. MARY McGRAW - January 4, 2021. Mother of Kevin ‘72. CHARLES F. MONROE - April 17, 2021. Father of Douglas and Christopher ‘83. MARY C. O’CONNELL - April 23, 2021. Mother of Daniel ‘86. NORMAN W. ROEGNER JR. May 27, 2021. Father of Dennis ‘71 and Jeffrey ‘84. Grandfather of Bradford ‘97 and Collin ‘99.

EILEEN M. SCARLETT - March 21, 2020. Wife of the late Robert ‘42. Sister-in law of Neil ‘49, the late Charles ‘43, and the late Thomas ‘57. DENISE M. SEBUCK - June 15, 2021. Wife of David Sebuck ‘87. Sister-in-law of Jeffrey Sebuck ‘89. AUDREY J. SUCHER - March 28, 2021. Mother of Christopher ‘87, Gregory ‘89, and Stephen ‘91. Sister of Gerald Zboch ‘60. MARY C. TALAMINI - May 30, 2021. Grandmother of Alexander Elenbaas ‘12 and Anthony Elenbaas ‘15. EVELYN J. TENBUSCH - April 22, 2021. Wife of Francis ‘53. Grandmother of Jack ‘15. Mea Culpa from Aluminator Spring 2021 MARY A. WILLIAMS - March 4, 2021. Wife of the late Ronald ‘50. Mother of John ‘80 and Michael ‘85. Sister-in-law of Dennis ‘55. Sister of Robert Barnes ‘56 and the late Rev. Joseph Barnes, CSB ‘49. Aunt of Thomas Moreau ‘74, Robert Moreau ‘75, Robert Barnes ‘78, Dennis Barnes ‘79, Joseph Moreau ‘82, and James Moreau ‘84. DR. REGINA S. WILLIAMS April 12, 2021. Mother of Peter ‘79. ROSEMARY WOODEN - October 9, 2020. Mother of Lawrence ‘84. Grandmother of the late Vlady Calice ‘12. JOHN E. YAROS - April 18, 2021. Father of Christopher ‘88 and Jonathan ‘90. Grandfather of Andrew Johnston ‘21 and Alexander Johnston ‘22. GIOVANNI ZAGO - March 12, 2021. Father of Michael ‘87.

THOMAS L. TAYLOR JR. ‘86 April 17, 2021. He is survived by his parents and sister. I N M E M O R I A M • FA L L 2 0 2 1

SCHOOL

BELLS

Current Events at Catholic Central

Class of 2021 Commencement Catholic Central’s 2021 Commencement Ceremony was held on Saturday, May 15, 2021, at Fr. Richard Elmer Stadium on the campus

Rev. Daniel L. Dillon, CSB Award Matthew Kozma ’21 Earns the Rev. Daniel L. Dillon Award

of Detroit Catholic Central High School. Matthew Kozma ’21, Matthew Kozma ’21 was recognized as the Fr. Daniel Dillon Award winner as academic Valedictorian, and Alexander Perez ’21

was named the academic

was honored as the academic Salutatorian. Michael Ramirez ’21 was recognized as the recipient of the Fr. James Whelan Award.

Valedictorian and presented

Patrick Culliton ’21 was named the recipient of the Fr. Richard Ranalletti Award for Outstanding Christian Service.

with one of Catholic Central’s most prestigious

Michael Ramirez gave the Salutatory Address, and George Nunu ’21 gave the Valedictory Address. The Dedication to Mary, Alma Mater

honors, the Rev. Daniel L.

was given by Andrew Memmer ’21.

Dillon Award.

Our best wishes and congratulations to the newest members of the Alumni Association!

The Dillon Award, named in honor of Catholic Central’s first principal, Rev. Daniel L. Dillon, CSB, is given annually to the senior with the highest cumulative grade point average over four years. At Catholic Central, Matthew was an All-State and All-American Swimmer, was the recipient of the CHSL Bernie Krzywada Scholar Athlete Award, earned Permanent Gabriel Richard Club honors, and graduated with a 4.986 GPA. He is continuing his education at the University of Notre Dame.

Matthew Kozma ’21 with Fr. Patrick Fulton, CSB 28

S C H O O L B E L L S • FA L L 2 0 2 1

Rev. James H. Whelan, CSB Award

Rev. Richard Ranalletti, CSB Award

Michael Ramirez ’21 Selected as Recipient of the Rev. James H. Whelan Award

Patrick Culliton ’21 Selected as Recipient of the Rev. Richard A. Ranalletti Award

Michael Ramirez ’21 was presented

Patrick Culliton ’21 was selected as the recipient

with one of Catholic Central’s most

of the Rev. Richard A. Ranalletti Award for

prestigious honors, the Rev. James H.

Outstanding Christian Character.

Whelan Award. The Ranalletti Award, named in honor of

The Whelan Award,

Catholic Central’s

named in honor of

eighteenth principal

Catholic Central’s

and second president,

fourth principal,

the late Rev. Richard

Rev. James H.

A. Ranalletti, CSB,

Whelan, CSB, is given annually to a senior who has excelled academically, is an outstanding athlete, and is looked upon by his peers as a Christian gentleman. Michael was a four-year member of the

was established in 2016 by CC Principal Fr. Dennis Noelke, CSB ’71 and is given annually to the senior who has demonstrated Christian character and values during his years as a student at Catholic Central as nominated by his peers.

Football program where he was awarded

The criteria for this award include:

two varsity letters, was selected to serve

• embraces and fosters Christian values

as a senior captain, and earned

• respectful and patient in his interactions

All-League honors. Michael helped lead

with others

the Shamrock Football Team to the

• demonstrates self-discipline in words and actions

CHSL and District Championships in his

• shows a willingness to be of service within the

senior season.

school community and the greater metropolitan Detroit area, beyond the school requirement

Michael was also a four-year member

• evidences compassion to others

of the Wrestling program where he

• makes responsible decisions

was awarded four varsity letters. He was a part of teams that advanced to four consecutive Division 1 State Finals

• is an example of Christian behavior and action to his peers

matches, where the Shamrocks won

During his time at Catholic Central, Patrick was

three State Championships.

a four-year member of the Band program and Student Activities, and he completed countless

Michael maintained a 3.786 GPA and

hours of community service. He maintained a 3.366

served as Senior Class President. He

GPA and is attending Michigan State University.

is continuing his academic and athletic career at Wayne State University.

Michael Ramirez ’21 with Fr. Patrick Fulton, CSB 30

S C H O O L B E L L S • FA L L 2 0 2 1

Patrick Culliton ’21 with Fr. Patrick Fulton, CSB S C H O O L B E L L S • FA L L 2 0 2 1

WORDWRIGHT Challenge Scholars The WordWright Challenge is a national reading competition for students in grades 9 through 12 that requires analytical reading of many kinds of prose and poetry. It emphasizes perceptive interpretation, sensitivity to language, and an appreciation of style. More than 64,000 students from some of the best public and private high schools in 48 states participated last year. The WordWright Challenge is useful as preparation for the verbal SAT I, the SAT II in English, and the English Advanced Placement exams in language and literature. All Detroit Catholic Central scholars in Honors English and AP English classes compete in the Challenge. Several days before each WordWright Challenge students are given a list of all the potentially difficult vocabulary words and literary terms that they will encounter in the text and the multiple-choice questions. Congratulations to our 2020-2021 WordWright Scholars: Samuel Gomez ’21 Thomas Shea ’21 David Mondrusov ’22 Will Carstens ’23 Dylan Grewe ’23 Jack Sharkey ’23 These scholars excelled in all four WordWright competitions this school year and earned the highest honors for their performances.

S C H O O L B E L L S • FA L L 2 0 2 1

Love Your Smile

Permanent Gabriel Richard Club The following members of the Class of 2021 earned Permanent Gabriel Richard Club status for their four years at CC. This distinction means that the students maintained Gabriel Richard Club status for each of the eight semesters they spent at CC. Gabriel Richard status is achieved by holding a grade point average of 3.6 or better with no mark below a “B.”

Nicholas F. Borchardt

Jack W. Leuker

Daniel J. Cachia

Kyle M. Malachowski

Grayson D. Cook

Boston I. Meisner

Henry N. Csicsila

Charles D. Mentzer

Brenden R. Cwiek

Brian A. Molchan

Samuel M. Dersa

Michael R. Morrone

Nicholas M. Dewhirst

Clay R. Moscovic

Aidan J. Dimitriou

Brendan N. Nordstrom

Joseph A. Dombkowski

George A. Nunu

Christian N. Dunaitis

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Alexander A. Perez

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Liam J. Kendall

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Michael J. Roycht

Matthew J. Kozma

Thomas H. Shea

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CC Volleyball Club is Born

Academic Team Wins State Championship

The 2020-2021 school year marked the first for the newly founded Volleyball Club. Led by CC Spanish teacher, Ms. Bridgitte Laffrey, and assisted by CC math teacher, Mrs. Allison Hodgins, the Shamrocks competed in the Michigan Boys Volleyball Conference based mostly on the west side of the state. CC traveled westward for matches against Bath, Calhoun Christian, Lansing Christian, and North Branch. Danny Turek ’21 and Garrett Levens ’22 received All-Conference Honorable Mention honors for the 2021 season, as voted by the coaches in the conference.

The Academic Team, led by Ben Herman ’98 and Christopher Gismondi ’00, entered the 2020-2021 school year with a goal to pick up where they left off before the global pandemic cut their previous season short. Even though they were unable to travel this season, the Shamrocks persevered, competed virtually against the best teams in the country, and came out successful.

STATE CHAMPIONS: 1988, 1990, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS: 1999 (NAQT), 2001 (NAQT), 2015 (PACE), 2017 (PACE)

With their 2021 NAQT State Championship, the Detroit Catholic Central Academic Team continued their tradition of serving as the model of excellence and consistency in the state of Michigan and on a national level since its founding in 1985. This marks the program’s tenth consecutive state championship. Ours is the only program in the nation to have qualified and attended every NAQT High School National Championship Tournament and PACE National Scholastic Championship.

Varsity Academic Team State Champions, left to right: Drew Laroo ’22, Michael Yousif ’22, Liam Cross ’22, and Will Carstens ’23

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Winter National Signing Day

Spring National Signing Day

On February 3, 2021, 17 senior student-athletes signed letters of intent, formally committing to continue their academic and athletic

On April 27, 2021, four senior student-athletes signed letters of intent, formally committing to continue their academic and athletic

careers at their respective colleges and universities.

Aidan Bishop ’21

University of Detroit Mercy

Lacrosse

Connor Jaisle ’21

St. Clair County Comm. College

Baseball

Connor Dewan ’21

John Browning ’21

Trine University

Wrestling

Jack Leuker ’21

University of Chicago

Soccer

Christian Dunaitis ’21 Hope College

Adam Christie ’21

Lawrence Tech University

Soccer

Josh Liike ’21

University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lacrosse

Sam Dersa ’21

Saginaw Valley State University

Football

Connor McKee ’21

Hope College

Baseball

Joseph Per ’21

Saginaw Valley State University

Golf

Joey Dombkowski ’21 Wayne State University

Swim & Dive

Brandon Falk ’21

Adrian College

Tennis

Michael Ramirez ’21 Wayne State University

Football

Joshua Gage ’21

Calvin College

Lacrosse

Jack Stephens ’21

Adrian College

Rugby

Joshua Getz ’21

Kalamazoo College

Baseball

Gavin Willard ’21

Siena Heights University

Football

Bruno Guberinich ’21 Central Michigan University

S C H O O L B E L L S • FA L L 2 0 2 1

Albion College

Football, Track & Field

Chad Ewing ’21

Kalamazoo College

Soccer

Swim & Dive

Dallas Fisher ’21

Hope College

Swim & Dive

Football

S C H O O L B E L L S • FA L L 2 0 2 1

SPORTS

BREAK

Keeping Up with Catholic Central Athletes

Baseball

Detroit Free Press Team of the Year: Catholic Central Hockey

The Varsity Baseball Team, led by first-year Head Coach Ryan

The Catholic Central Hockey Team was named the Team of the Year at the 2021 Detroit High School Sports Awards hosted by

Rogowski ’02, finished the season with a 16-19 overall record.

the Detroit Free Press. The Shamrocks, led by Coach Brandon Kaleniecki ’00, survived a season unlike any other to capture

Despite the record, the Shamrocks battled through a daunting

the Division 1 State Championship. To make it even more impressive, the season was saved when the JV Blue Hockey Team won

Catholic League schedule and qualified for the CHSL semifinals.

two playoff games, including the Regional Championship, after the majority of varsity players were sidelined for COVID protocols.

In the postseason, CC won the District Championship by defeating

CC finished the season with an 18-1 record. Additionally, longtime goalie coach, Tom Nugent ’78, was named the Division 1

South Lyon East and Novi. The team advanced to the Regional

Assistant Coach of the Year by the Michigan High School Hockey Coaches Association.

Championship game where they fell 7-5 to the eventual State Finalist, Portage Central.

2021 Varsity Baseball Team

Golf - State Finalist The Varsity Golf Team, led by Coach Mike Anderson, finished in 2nd Place at both the Oakland County and Catholic League Championships. The Shamrocks qualified for the State Finals after finishing in 3rd Place at the Regional Championship. At the State Championship at Michigan State University’s Forest Akers West, the Shamrocks put together two great days and finished 2nd in the State.

Lacrosse

2021 Varsity Golf Team

The Varsity Lacrosse Team, led by Coach Dave Wilson ’88, finished with an 11-6 overall record. The Shamrocks won their seventh consecutive Regional Championship over Macomb Dakota and 2021 Varsity Hockey Team - Division 1 State Champions

earned a quarterfinal victory over Midland. Their season ended with a loss to Hartland in the semifinals. The team earned 1st Team Academic All-State honors from the Lacrosse Coaches Association.

Baseball

Additionally, Brian Molchan ’21 won the CHSL Mike Jolly Scholar Athlete Award.

2021 Varsity Lacrosse Team

Rugby - State Finalist

All-League Josh Getz ’21 Connor McKee ’21

The Rugby Team, led by first-year Head Coach Ian Ronayne ’08, finished the season with a 9-5 overall record. Early in the spring, the Shamrocks traveled to Ohio to face tough competition in preparation for the MYRA league schedule. The season was filled with ups and downs as a young roster worked to improve with each week. In the end, CC advanced to the State Championship match before falling to Birmingham United. The future is bright for the CC Rugby program.

2021 Varsity Rugby Team

The Varsity Track & Field Team, led by long-time Coach Tony Magni, record and took 3rd overall at the Catholic League Championship.

Lacrosse

The Shamrocks also finished 10th at the Oakland County

All-American Cal Taulbee ’23

Championship and 6th at the State Regional Championship. Both Connor Dewan ’21 and Tim Giese ’21 qualified for the State

S P O R T S B R E A K • FA L L 2 0 2 1

Golf

All-State Honorable Mention Jack Guerrera ’21 Joey Per ’21

finished in a 1st Place tie in the division with a 4-1 dual meet

All- District Trae Cassidy ’23 Ian Dixon ’21 Josh Getz ’21 Connor McKee ’21

All-State Neil Zhu ’22

Track & Field

Finals and earned All-Catholic and All-State honors.

All-Catholic Ian Dixon ’21

2021 Varsity Track & Field Team

1st Team All-State Aidan Bishop ’21 Josh Liike ’21 Cal Taulbee ’23

eSports Wins Spring 2021 Rocket League State Championship This past spring, the Shamrocks eSports team, specifically

2nd Team All-State Brian Molchan ’21

Brandon Falk ’21 and Billy Ward ’22, won the 2021 Rocket League

3rd Team All-State Josh Gage ’21 Will Jewell ’22

Portage Central High School, and Divine Child High School.

Academic All-State Brian Molchan ’21 Billy Morphew ’22 Tommy Shea ’21 Brady Wasen ’23

assisted by Jason Robson, compete in three competitions each Fall,

Track & Field

by Psyonix (it’s “soccer with cars”). It features a competitive game

All-State Connor Dewan ’21 - 7th Place Discus Tim Giese ’21 - 5th Place 300 Meter Hurdles All-Catholic Connor Dewan ’21 Tim Giese ’21

State Championship, defeating East Grand Rapids High School,

Catholic Central Esports teams, coached by Stephen Juncaj ’18 and Winter, and Spring: Overwatch, Valorant, and Rocket League. Rocket League is a fantastical sport-based video game, developed mode based on teamwork and outmaneuvering opponents. Players work with their team to advance the ball down the field, and score goals in their opponents’ net. Rocket League is a technical game which involves both high-level dexterity and fast-paced gameplay. While one of the most welcoming elements of the game is its accessibility and familiarity with a traditional sport (soccer), the best players are highly advanced and have fine-tuned their mechanics. S P O R T S B R E A K • FA L L 2 0 2 1

Keep Up With CC Online Prayer and Special Need Requests This year we introduced a web page on the CC website for everyone in the CC family to submit prayer and special need requests. To submit Prayer and Special Need Requests, please log in to myCC from our homepage at www.catholiccentral.net. Once logged in, navigate to the “Resources” tab and click the box that says “Prayer Request Form.” This will take you to a secure form where you may submit your request to be posted to the CC website. Prayers and special need requests are typically posted within 24 hours to our CC website. If you are having any trouble logging in or it is your first time, please watch the video on our home page explaining how to log in. To view the Prayer and Special Need Requests web page, go to www.catholiccentral.net/pray. Or you may go to www.catholiccentral.net and click “Campus Ministry” then “Prayer Request”. All prayer and special need requests are welcome. Over the last few years, Catholic Central’s presence online has been growing steadily. Stay connected to CC through these official web and social media pages.

www.catholiccentral.net

FACEBOOK: Detroit Catholic Central Alumni Association Catholic Central Admissions

Calendar of Events https://www.catholiccentral.net/page/ news--calendar/school-calendar

Sports Schedules https://www.catholiccentral.net/page/ news--calendar/athletic-calendar or call the Athletic Office at (248) 596-3830.

LINKEDIN: Detroit Catholic Central Alumni Association

TWITTER: @DCCAlumniOffice @DCCShamrocks @DCCAdmissions @DETROITCCAD

Aluminator Submissions Send your comments, questions, or items for inclusion in a future Aluminator to aluminator@catholiccentral.net. We look forward to hearing from you! 40

K E E P U P W I T H C C O N L I N E • FA L L 2 0 2 1

Detroit Catholic Central High School The Aluminator 27225 Wixom Road Novi, MI 48374

Scan to view past issues www.catholiccentral.net/aluminator

77th BOYS’ BOWL WEEKEND SEPTEMBER 24-25-26, 2021 Homecoming • Athletic Hall of Fame • Reunion Weekend

Sunday, September 26 Boys’ Bowl Mass & Breakfast & Athletic Hall of Fame Inductions 9:00 a.m. 77th Annual Football Game - CC vs. Brother Rice 1:00 p.m.