The 2024-25 Detroit High School Sports Awards show was Monday night at The Fillmore Detroit. The show was produced with the support of Gift of Life Michigan.
More than 300 athletes from the Detroit area were honored, including the Player of the Year in 29 sports and the area’s overall winners for boys athlete of the year, girls athlete of the year, John Herrington Boys Coach of the Year, Mary Cicerone Girls Coach of the Year, boys team of the year, girls team of the year, courage award, lifetime achievement award and USA TODAY Studio IX Trailblazer Award.
NFL Hall of Famer Dwight Freeney was the guest speaker.
Here’s a list of all the award winners:
Boys Athlete of the Year, Presented by Les Stanford Chevrolet — Trey McKenney, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Preparatory School
McKenney was named the Hal Schram Mr. Basketball award winner, given to the state’s top boys basketball player, after a season in which he averaged 22.9 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists for Orchard Lake St. Mary’s. He scored 1,930 points for his high school career. McKenney will join coach Dusty May’s talented squad at the University of Michigan next season.
Girls Athlete of the Year, Presented by Les Stanford Chevrolet — Kaitlyn Pallozzi, Farmington Hills Mercy High School
Pallozzi is arguably the No. 1 softball pitcher in the country in the 2025 class and an Alabama signee. Pallozzi struck out 22 hitters in a no-hitter in April for the No. 1 Marlins, with a devastating rise ball that reaches speeds in the upper 60s to low 70s mph. This continues the dominance Pallozzi displayed in the first two starts of an epic high school career – a no-hitter in her debut and striking out all 21 batters in her follow-up. She’s also a .400 hitter.
Courage Award, Presented by Michigan Orthopedic Surgeons — Danny Holt, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice High School
Holt is a lacrosse player at Birmingham Brother Rice, and has become a formidable faceoff specialist while managing Type 1 diabetes. “He’s an incredible player, incredible faceoff kid,” coach Ajay Chawla said. “He’s got to be the best in the Midwest as far as I am concerned. He controls a lot of games for us. We don’t stay in games or win games without Danny.”
USA TODAY Studio IX Trailblazer Award — Brenda Gatlin
Gatlin began as a health and dance teacher at Detroit Northeastern in the late 1960s, and she coached girls’ basketball through the transformative passage of Title IX in 1972, fighting for equal gym time and full-court play. She went on to coach at multiple Detroit schools, including Cass Tech, where she became the first woman to lead a Class A boys basketball team to the Public School League championship. Gatlin later became an administrator, serving as department head, vice principal, and principal at various schools, always promoting the value of athletics as a pathway to education. Now the academic dean at Cranbrook Kingswood’s Horizons-Upward Bound program, she continues to mentor students.
Lifetime Achievement Award — Mick McCabe, Detroit Free Press
Mick McCabe has been a defining voice in Michigan sports journalism for over five decades. McCabe spent 55 years at the Detroit Free Press, where his dedication to high school sports earned him induction into both the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame and the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame — a rare honor shared by only a handful of writers. McCabe’s influence stretches across the state, from the Upper Peninsula to the Ohio border. His mission has always been clear: tell stories for the kids and their scrapbooks. A relentless advocate for young athletes, he never shied away from challenging those who put their interests above the students. His pioneering coverage of girls’ sports in the 1970s helped elevate female athletes, and his respected all-state teams focused on performance over hype. Beyond prep sports, McCabe covered Michigan football, the Olympics, and countless collegiate events, but his passion remained with high school athletics. The Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan now honors top players with the Mick McCabe Miss Basketball Award, cementing his legacy. More than a sportswriter, McCabe is a storyteller whose work continues to shape Michigan sports culture.
John Herrington Boys Coach of the Year — Josh Hickey, Rochester Adams High School
Hickey joined a short list of soccer coaches in state history to lead both boys and girls soccer programs to state championships, doing so in the same year. The boys team won the Division 1 title in November with a 2-0 win over Byron Center.
Mary Cicerone Girls Coach of the Year — Sarah Lindstrom, Northville High School
Lindstrom’s Northville volleyball squad broke through with the school’s first state title after finishing runner-up in 2022 and losing in the semis in 2023. The Mustangs knocked off Rockford in a thrilling four-setter in Division 1, finishing the season 41-2. “I feel honored to be a part of what I think was one of the best state championships I’ve seen in a while,” Lindstrom said afterward. “I think these girls are putting our sport on the map and really showing how exciting and fun women’s volleyball can be, not just for us but for the girls who are going to continue on after these guys.”
Boys Team of the Year — Detroit Cass Technical High School football
The Technicians football team went 12-2 en route to the Division 1 state championship, their first since 2016. They defeated Hudsonville, 42-20, at a raucous Ford Field for the crown and celebrated with a parade down Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit. They also defeated rival King, 30-14, for the Public School League title before their state playoff run.
Girls Team of the Year — Ann Arbor Pioneer swimming & diving
Ann Arbor Pioneer won its fifth consecutive state title in Division 1. The heavy favorites dominated the meet despite not having an individual event winner, instead showcasing supreme depth and winning the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. The Pioneer earned 386 points, well ahead of runner-up Jenison. It’s the second-longest title streak in program history behind the 2000-08 teams that won nine consecutive state finals.
Boys basketball, Presented by Gift of Life Michigan — Trey McKenney, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Preparatory School
McKenney earned the 2025 Mr. Basketball award after leading St. Mary’s as a high-volume scorer and rebounder. He is signed to play at Michigan next season.
Girls basketball, Presented by Gift of Life Michigan — Sydney Savoury, Belleville High School
Savoury established herself as one of the best players in the state, leading Belleville to the Division 1 state title as a sophomore. She averaged 27 points and seven rebounds for the Tigers, making her one of the top recruits nationally in the 2027 class.
Boys bowling — Lyman Derrick III, Wayne Memorial High School
In the state finals, Lyman rolled past the defending state champion to capture the Division 1 singles title. Lyman rolled a 490 series – his best of the season — and eclipsed 200 pins in 11 of his 14 games on state championship day. Lyman had a high game of 278 this season, averaging 193.
Girls bowling — Madeline Gazzarari, Novi High School
Maddie captured the Division 1 state singles title, rolling five 200 games throughout her eight-game run through the bracket, culminating with a dominant 430-385 victory in the final round. Maddie finishes her career as a two-time all-stater, a three-time all-conference bowler and a 4.0 student.
Gymnastics — Leah Hodge, North Farmington High School
Hodge repeated as Division 1 individual all-around champion at the state meet, winning this year with a final score of 38.325. She won the bars (9.6500) and was second in the vault (9.6750) at the state meet. Hodge also was a regional champion, finishing with a total of 38.075.
Hockey — Nolan Kaminski, Salem High School
Named Mr. Hockey and first team All-State, Kaminski scored 37 goals and had 33 assists across 25 regular-season games and 4 playoff games. He has offers from the North American Hockey League, but college plans are undecided.
Boys skiing — Broden Janczarek, Lake Orion High School
An all-state skier for all four of his high school years, Janczarek finished by placing second in the giant slalom at the Division 1 state meet. At the SEMSL meet, he won the slalom competition and finished second in the giant slalom. He also swept the giant slalom and slalom events at his regional meet.
Girls skiing — Maren Studt, Pontiac Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Studt was a consistent winner all season, and capped off the year by sweeping the giant slalom and slalom titles at the Division 2 state meet. Studt also swept both titles at the SEMSL meet, which brings together teams from all four area mountains.
Boys swimming & diving — Evan Tack, Detroit U-D Jesuit High School and Academy
Tack had a day for the ages at the Division 2 state finals. He started off by playing a role on the Cubs’ runner-up medley relay team, before returning minutes later to win the 200 individual medley with a meet-record time. Tack was later runner-up in the 100 butterfly, and concluded his day by leading off U-D’s champion 400 freestyle relay, which set a meet record. Tack has signed with Boston College.
Boys wrestling — Connor Bercume, Novi Detroit Catholic Central High School
The Harvard-bound wrestler closed his high school career with a third individual state title at Ford Field, a 10-2 major decision in the final, and three team state championships as well. He had a 169-18 career record while maintaining a 4.25 GPA.
Girls wrestling — Maggie Buurma, Fowlerville High School
Buurma’s win at the state finals gave her the outright claim as the first female wrestler to win four state championships under the MHSAA format. She went 38-3 for this season and finished 105-11 for her career. Buurma added the 2025 title to her previous championships won at 115 pounds as a freshman, 125 as a sophomore and 135 as a junior.
Baseball — Uli Fernsler Novi High School
Fernsler performed as one of the best pitchers in the state to finish off a four-year career at Novi that featured pitching in a Division 1 state championship win in 2023. Fernsler had a 0.32 ERA and 89 strikeouts across 42 2/3 innings, also earning the annual Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year award for 2024-25. Fernsler is committed to play baseball at Texas Christian University.
Boys golf — Dominik Dostal, Bloomfield Hills
Dostal has consistently performed as one of the top players in the state for Bloomfield Hills, who is vying for the Division 1 state championship as a team. Dostal shot a tournament-low 65 in the regional tournament at Twin Lakes Golf Club. Dostal is committed to play golf at Saginaw Valley State.
Girls lacrosse — Mary Pavlou, Detroit Country Day
Pavlou has helped lead Country Day to the state championship game each of her four years in high school, including as the team’s top goal scorer as a senior. On top of serving as Country Day’s top goal-scoring threat, Pavlou took faceoffs and dictated the pace of play from the midfield. Pavlou is committed to Johns Hopkins
Boys lacrosse — Lachlan Moffatt, Novi Detroit Catholic Central High School
Moffatt became the all-time leading goal scorer for Catholic Central lacrosse during a prolific senior season. Moffatt scored the game-winning goal for in the Catholic League championship and led the Shamrocks to the state championship to try to finish on top of Division 1 for the second consecutive year. Moffatt is committed to Villanova lacrosse.
Girls soccer — Ava Lutke, Hudsonville Unity Christian
Lutke led the Crusaders to a 20-0-2 record, clinching the No. 1 seed int he Division 2 rankings to go along with 28 goals and 27 assists. She was selected to the OK Black All-Conference and All-District teams and will attend Michigan State in the fall.
Softball — Kaitlyn Pallozzi, Farmington Hills Mercy High School
Alabama signee Pallozzi is the top softball pitcher in the 2025 class, renowned for her dominant rise ball, which reaches speeds in the upper 60s to low 70s mph. In April, she struck out 22 batters in a no-hitter for the No. 1 Marlins, adding to her remarkable high school career. She debuted with a no-hitter and followed with a flawless 21-strikeout performance. Beyond her pitching prowess, Pallozzi excels as a hitter, maintaining a .400 batting average. Her elite skills make her a rising star as she heads to Alabama.
Girls tennis — Nicole Fu, Rochester Adams High School
Fu broke through during the 2025 season to win the No. 1 singles individual state championship as a senior. Fu reached the state championship and lost during her first three years of high school, but finished her final high school year on top after beating Utica Eisenhower’s Gabby Sadowski 7-5, 6-2. Fu avenged a loss to Sadowski in the 2024 state championship. Fu will play college tennis for the U.S. Naval Academy.
Boys track and field — Will Jaiden Smith, Belleville High School
Smith came into the 2025 season determined to finish with a state championship and state record after coming up short as a junior. He won the 110 hurdles and reset the state record in the state championship race. Smith also won the 300 hurdles and was on the winning 4×100 relay team for Belleville, who won the team state championship. Smith will attend the University of South Florida to run track.
Girls track and field — Carrie VanNoy, Oak Park High School
VanNoy won individual state titles this year during the 2025 Division 1 Championship tournament for her performances in the 100 and 300 hurdle events. She also participated in the 4×100 and 4×200 relays for Oak Park and helped the school win its third-consecutive state championship.
Boys cross country — Ethan Powell, Northville High School
Powell has been an All-State runner for the past three seasons – the only boy to accomplish that at the Division 1 level. And it’s not an accident that his Northville team has been state champions throughout that three-year span. Powell has run his best races in the biggest meets. Last fall, Powell won seven of his 13 races, his PR of 15:18.1 ranks second on Northville’s all-time 5-kilometer record board, and he is the school’s record-holder on the track in the 3200 meters.
Girls cross country — Lucy Cook, Rochester High School
Cook is a four-time all-stater who placed among the top six in the Division 1 meet all four years. Perhaps more impressively, she is a four-time Oakland County individual champion, covering the course in under 19 minutes each time out. She is a four-time Oakland Activites Association White Division meet winner, a four-time champ at the Hanson’s Invitational and a three-time MHSAA regional champion. She will take her running talent to Michigan State University this fall.
Football defense — Alex Graham, Detroit Cass Technical High School
Graham returned to Cass Tech for his senior season after playing at IMG Academy in Florida as a junior and helped lead the Technicians to the state title. Graham split duties as the top option on offense with Sadler and played all over the secondary. He moved from cornerback to safety midseason, sparking a strong finish to the year for the defense. Graham originally committed to Colorado but flipped and signed with USC on signing day.
Football offense — Bryce Underwood, Belleville High School
Underwood, the top-rated recruit in the country, had another strong season in his final year at Belleville with a 30-to-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio, accounting for almost 3,000 yards between rushing and passing. However, he could not lead the Tigers back to Ford Field for a fourth straight Division 1 state championship appearance. Underwood originally committed to LSU but flipped in late November and made it official Dec. 4 by signing with Michigan.
Girls golf — Mia Melendez, Ann Arbor Greenhills
Melendez placed third in the Div. 4 state championship, after winning it three consecutive years prior. She made the All-State Super Team of top players in Michigan, regardless of class, all four years of high school. She was medalist eight times as a senior, including regional titles all four years. She also plays varsity soccer, and will attend Howard University.
Boys soccer — Alex Rosin, Rochester Adams High School
The Mr. Soccer Award winner, Rosin helped lead the Highlanders to their second Division 1 state championship in three years, finishing the year with 15 goals and 20 assists playing in arguably the area’s toughest league, the OAA Red. Rosin has signed to play in college for Notre Dame.
Girls swimming & diving — Elizabeth Eichbrecht, West Bloomfield High School
Eichbrecht is already a six-time individual champion at the Division 1 state meet, winning the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle each year. She holds county records in the 200, 500 and butterfly and West Bloomfield pool records in the entire spectrum of freestyle races, ranging from the 500 down to the 50. Considered the state’s top recruit, she has commitment to Big Ten power Indiana.
Boys tennis — Pierce Shaya, Bloomfield Hills
The Blackhawks senior went 23-1 and captured the individual Division 1 state title at No. 1 singles, in the process helping Bloomfield Hills win the team title. Shaya finished his career with four Division 1 state titles. He won the No. 3 singles title as a freshman, was part of a No. 1 doubles team that won the state title as a sophomore and won the state title at No. 2 singles in 2023 before moving up to No. 1 singles this past fall.
Volleyball — Campbell Flynn, Farmington Hills Mercy High School
Flynn won Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, not long after being named 2024 Miss Volleyball in Michigan. She was the catalyst of the Mercy team that won last year’s MHSAA Division 1 state title, then this season won Districts before bowing out to eventual state champion Northville. Flynn has signed to play volleyball at Nebraska.
