Volleyball Set to Open State Tournament, Cross Country Teams Compete in Regional Meet
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Father Gabriel Richard Athletics closed out October with several postseason highlights, including Girls Cross Country capturing its second consecutive regional championship, Football competing in the MHSAA District Semifinals and Girls Volleyball preparing to open postseason play.
Boys Cross Country
The Boys Cross Country team finished fifth at the MHSAA Regional on Saturday (Oct. 31), narrowly missing a team berth in the State Finals.
Despite the fifth-place finish, six Irish runners qualified individually for the MHSAA Division 2 State Finals. Jonathan Rapoza ’27, John Fedewa ’29, Benjamin Kuhn ’28, Conley Poole ’27, Ellis Carmichael ’29 and Dominic Cai ’30 all advanced to compete at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday (Nov. 7).
Girls Cross Country
Girls Cross Country captured its second consecutive MHSAA Regional title on Saturday (Oct. 31), defeating Pinckney 49-52 to advance to the Division 2 State Finals.
The Irish will compete in the MHSAA Division 2 State Finals on Saturday (Nov. 7) at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. The Girls race is scheduled to begin at 2:50 pm.
Football
FGR came up short in the MHSAA District Semifinals on Friday (Oct. 30), falling 34-27 on the road to Romulus Summit Academy.
The Irish finished the season with a 5-5 overall record.
Girls Swim and Dive
Girls Swim and Dive closed out its dual-meet schedule last week, tying Cranbrook Kingswood 91-91, defeating Dearborn Divine Child for the second time this season and narrowly falling to Greenhills United.
Against Cranbrook Kingswood on Tuesday (Oct. 27), Elizabeth O’Neil ’29 and Ellie Robison ’29 finished first and second, respectively, in the 200 free, with Robison recording a personal-best time. Isabelle Gatza ’27 won the 50 free by just 0.03 seconds and also took first in the 100 fly, followed by Cece Adelman ’30 in second. Lucy Tribble ’29 and O’Neil added a 1-2 finish in the 100 free.
In the meet against Greenhills United on Thursday (Oct. 29), Robison won the 200 IM with a personal-best time. Gatza and O’Neil finished first and second in the 50 free, with O’Neil setting a personal best. Camilla Mangan ’27 and Serena Jeyaraj ’29 also recorded personal-best times in the event.
Robison and Adelman added a 1-2 finish in the 100 free, while Gatza and O’Neil both earned state-qualifying times in the 500 free. O’Neil also recorded a personal best in the event. Tribble took first in the 100 fly, while Adelman touched first in the 100 back.
The Irish also celebrated Senior Night against Greenhills United, recognizing team captains Gatza and Mangan.
FGR will now prepare for the CHSL Championships on Friday and Saturday (Nov. 13-14).
Girls Volleyball
Girls Volleyball closed out the regular season with a straight-set road victory over Adrian on Tuesday (Oct. 27), improving its overall record to 32-6-2.
Mia Keefer ’30 led the Irish offensively with 13 kills on a .545 hitting percentage and added four blocks. Mary Lynn Hendershot ’29 contributed eight kills on a .500 hitting percentage to go along with eight digs and three blocks. Courtney Dyer ’27 and Alison Oleszkowicz ’30 each added five kills.
Janie Osness ’30 dished out 36 assists, while Oleszkowicz led FGR from the service line with four aces and collected 10 digs. AnnMarie McAuliffe ’29 led the team defensively with 11 digs and added three blocks.
The Irish enter the MHSAA Division 2 State Tournament as the top seed in District 5 at Dundee High School.
FGR will open postseason play on Wednesday (Nov. 4) at 5:30 pm against the winner of Dundee and Milan, who are scheduled to meet Monday (Nov. 2).
Recaps cover Oct. 26-Nov. 1; previews cover Nov. 2-14.
View all upcoming competitions here.