Fidkowski Sets School Record, Boys Soccer Advances in MHSAA Districts
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Father Gabriel Richard Athletics continued postseason competition across several sports last week, highlighted by a school-record performance from Cross Country’s Bridget Fidkowski, Boys Soccer advancing in the MHSAA District Tournament and Girls Swim and Dive turning in a strong week in the pool.
Cross Country
The teams hosted the 42nd Father Gabriel Richard XC Invitational at Hudson Mills Metropark on Saturday (Oct. 17), with the boys’ team placing second.
On the girls’ side, Bridget Fidkowski ’27 continued a standout week after earning All-Catholic and All-Academic honors at the CHSL Bishop Division Championship on Wednesday (Oct. 14). Fidkowski finished third overall Saturday with a time of 18:31.2, setting a new FGR Girls Cross Country 5K record. Her performance broke the previous mark of 18:44.5 set by Claire McNally ’18 in 2017 on the same course.
Fidkowski’s third-place finish helped the Irish place fourth out of 27 teams. Mary Hickey ’30 also earned a medal with an eighth-place finish, while Ava Pfaffenbach ’27, Rose Buonerba ’27, Megan Welch ’27 and Lucy Pfaffenbach ’29 provided strong pack running for FGR.
Girls Field Hockey
FGR defeated Northville 4-1 in the first round of the MHSAA Regional on Thursday (Oct. 15).
Today (Oct. 20), the Irish will play Ann Arbor Greenhills in the Regional Quarterfinal at Greenhills. The match is scheduled to start at 4:30 pm.
Football
Football narrowly fell on the road to University of Detroit Jesuit, 21-19, on Friday (Oct. 16).
This week, the Irish will close out the regular season at home on Friday (Oct. 23) against Detroit Country Day for Senior Night. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 pm. FGR will host its annual Middle School Football Night, welcoming local middle school students for the game.
Girls Golf
Girls Golf finished 15th at the MHSAA Division 3 State Finals, posting a 411 in the opening round and a 422 in the second round for a two-day total of 833.
The Irish closed out a remarkable season highlighted by the school’s first regional title in either boys or girls golf.
Boys Soccer
Boys Soccer closed out the regular season with a 3-1 victory over Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central on Monday (Oct. 12), finishing the regular season with an 11-5-3 record.
The Irish opened MHSAA District play Friday (Oct. 16) with a 3-0 victory over Dearborn Heights Star International Academy. Payson Bryant recorded a hat trick for FGR, with Thomas Baldante ’29 and Carlos Viveros Sanchez ’28 adding assists.
FGR will face Detroit Frontier International in the District Semifinal today (Oct. 20) at Livonia Clarenceville. The match is scheduled to begin at 6:30 pm, with the winner advancing to Thursday’s District Final.
Girls Swim and Dive
Girls Swim and Dive competed twice last week, beginning Thursday (Oct. 15) against Ann Arbor Skyline and Bedford. The Irish fell to Skyline and defeated Bedford, taking first in the medley relay and second in both freestyle relays.
Julia Fidkowski ’29 won the 500 free with a personal-best time of 5:36.25, earning her fourth state-qualifying time of the season. Ellie Robison ’29 placed second in both of her individual events, setting a personal best in the 200 IM and a season best in the 100 breast. Sophia Jeyaraj ’28 also recorded personal-best times in both the 50 and 100 free.
FGR returned to action Saturday (Oct. 17) and battled Dexter to a 90-90 tie. The Irish won all three relays and four of eight individual events.
Elizabeth O’Neil ’29 won a pair of close races, taking the 100 free by 0.03 seconds before anchoring FGR’s 200 free relay to a victory by just 0.10 seconds. Lucy Tribble ’29 won the 200 free and 100 fly with season-best times, while Cece Adelman ’30 touched first in the 100 back.
Fidkowski placed second in the 200 IM and 100 back with season-best performances, while Isabelle Gatza ’27 took second in the 50 free and Robison finished runner-up in the 500 free and 100 breast.
Third-place finishes came from Zoe Bartram ’29 in the 200 IM, Adelman in the 50 free, Gatza in the 100 fly and Anastasia Mangan ’29 in the 100 breast. Mekenzie Mackmiller ’29 also placed third in diving with a season-best score of 125.5 over six dives.
Maria Obudzinski ’29 added a personal best in the 100 free, while Jeyaraj matched her personal best in the 50 free.
Boys Tennis
The Irish will compete in the MHSAA State Finals on Wednesday and Thursday (Oct. 21-22) at the Midland Tennis Center.
Girls Volleyball
FGR celebrated Senior Night with a straight-set victory over Royal Oak Shrine on Tuesday (Oct. 13), improving to 27-4-2 on the season.
The Irish totaled 33 kills while hitting .373 as a team. Courtney Dyer ’27 led the offense with 12 kills on a 66.7 percent hitting percentage and added eight digs. Mary Lynn Hendershot ’29 and Mia Keefer ’30 each contributed five kills.
Janie Osness ’30 dished out 23 assists to go along with seven digs and four aces. Alison Oleszkowicz ’30 served five aces and collected nine digs, while Rylee Burke ’28 led FGR defensively with 11 digs.
Recaps cover Oct. 12-18; previews cover Oct. 19-26.
View all upcoming competitions here.