The fall 2025 season at Father Gabriel Richard High School will be remembered as one of exceptional achievements. Across every field, course, pool, and court, Irish athletes delivered performances defined by resilience, teamwork, and an unwavering competitive spirit. From championship titles to program-defining moments, this season showcased the very best of FGR athletics.
Football: Prep Bowl Champions
The Irish football team capped off an extraordinary season with a Prep Bowl Championship victory, marking one of the program’s most memorable finishes in recent years. Throughout the season, players set multiple individual and team records, reflecting months of discipline, focus, and growth.
Homecoming history was made when Captain Nick Wells ’26 drilled a 49-yard field goal at Eastern Michigan University — college hash, college uprights, and college kick. His 49-yarder set a new FGR school record, cementing his name in the program’s history, and helping to secure a Homecoming Game win.
Their collective success stands as a testament to the grit and determination that defines the FGR football tradition.
Girls Swim and Dive: Making Waves in Year One
In its inaugural year, the Girls Swim and Dive team made an immediate impact on the statewide stage. Entering the MHSAA Division 3 State Finals ranked ninth, the team secured an impressive 10th-place finish among 50 schools — a remarkable accomplishment for a first-year program.
Nearly every swimmer earned a top-20 finish at States, and all three relay teams placed within the top ten, setting new school records in the process. Special recognition goes to Lucy Tribble ’29, who placed sixth in the 100-yard backstroke at the State Finals and earlier claimed first place in the CHSL 100-meter backstroke.
This season, the team broke six school records — one new record and five improvements to records set earlier this year.
Individual Records:
Ellie Robison ’29 — 100 Breaststroke (improved her own school record)
Lucy Tribble ’29 — 100 Backstroke (lowered her record by nearly 1.5 seconds)
Lucy Tribble ’29 — 200 IM
Relay Records:
200 Medley Relay: Lucy Tribble ’29, Ellie Robison ’29, Isabelle Gatza ’27, Sienna Lauffer ’26
200 Freestyle Relay: Elizabeth O’Neil ’29, Isabelle Gatza ’27, Julia Fidkowski ’29, Sienna Lauffer ’26
400 Freestyle Relay: Elizabeth O’Neil ’29, Ellie Robison ’29, Julia Fidkowski ’29, Lucy Tribble ’29
Additional highlights include:
Isabelle Gatza dropped more than a full second from her best 50 free relay split.
All relay teams posted their fastest times of the season.
Nearly every swimmer earned a personal best at the end-of-season meets.
With six school records broken, one League Champion, and multiple All-Catholic and All-League honors, the team built an inspiring foundation for the future.
Girls Cross Country: Regional Champions
The Girls Cross Country team delivered a standout season, capturing the Division 2 Regional Championship and earning a 17th-place finish at the State Finals. Their determination and unity were evident in every race.
At the 41st FGR Invitational, the Varsity team placed second out of 28 teams, led by medal-winning performances from:
Bridget Fidkowski ’27 — 7th (tied the school record with a time of 18:44.5)
Monica Lynn ’27 — 8th
Evelyn Kuhn ’26 — 13th
Ava Pfaffenbach ’27 — 25th
The Junior Varsity squad dominated as well, placing first out of 25 teams, led by:
Megan Welch ’27 — 2nd
Lucy Pfaffenbach ’29— 3rd
Sofia Dussan ’27 — 6th
The season solidified the program as a rising force in the region.
Boys Cross Country: A Tradition of Excellence Continues
The Boys Cross Country team, boasting its largest roster in recent memory with 38 runners, continued to build on its storied legacy. The team collected back-to-back invitational victories and placed in the top 10 at the prestigious Portage Invitational before finishing third at Regionals and qualifying for the State Finals, where they placed 19th overall.
This season included several historic individual achievements:
Jonathan Rapoza ’27 — 16:16 (3rd all-time at FGR)
Joseph Horn ’26 — 16:24 (tied 6th all-time)
Matthew Wright ’26 — 16:39 (10th all-time)
Team depth and improvement were on full display:
9 runners under 18:00
18 runners under 19:00
32 new personal records and 4 new season bests at the FGR Invitational
Moved from 26th to 15th in the state rankings
Ranked number one in the Region with seven athletes in the top 30
Coaches Matt Mackey ’13, Matthew Labbé ’18, Joe Westemeier ’23, and John Wright (parent of Aidan ’22, Matthew ’26, and Amber ’29) also led by example, winning the Ann Arbor Marathon Relay by 22 seconds with a time of 3:19:52.
Additional Fall Highlights
Girls Soccer: Congratulations to Coach Matheus Morozowski, who was named Midwest Regional Coach of the Year.
Volleyball: Displayed competitive energy and determination in a strong run to the District Semifinals.
Football and Volleyball Playoffs: Both programs energized the FGR community with spirited postseason performances.
Go Irish!
This fall sports season will long be remembered for its championships, record-breaking performances, and moments of pure Irish pride. Thank you to our athletes, coaches, and families for their dedication, support, and commitment to pursuing excellence. Here’s to carrying this momentum into the next season and beyond.
Faith. Character. Teamwork. Go Irish!