Around the OAA.

Monday, April 7, 2025

Sermo leaves Berkley on a high note.

Written Monday April 7th at 6:30 PM

Berkley will have a new boys basketball coach next winter.

Bears Coach Joe Sermo has stepped down after ten years coaching the program he played for and was an assistant for five years and 15 years overall with the program.

"This was a really tough decision but I'm at peace with it, I am grateful for the opportunity to lead a program that was a big part of my upbringing. Coaching basketball is a way for me to feed my inner competitive spirit but I quickly learned that there was more to just winning basketball games. The ability to impact so many young lives was what this was all about. The relationships built over the past 15 years at Berkley High School have made me a better person. Thank you to the numerous assistant coaches on my staff over the years, and the wonderful Athletic Directors (Lori, Taylor, and Matt) that I've worked under. The Athletic Trainer (Jess), Teachers, and administrators, BHS Boosters, Students, Parents, Fans, my wife, sons, and family members that have been so supportive of me. I will miss competing against the great coaches that I have the honor of being in this coaching fraternity with" Sermo said on X.

Sermo was 94-96 in his ten years coaching his Alum school.

"My goal was to leave the program in a better place when I first inherited it in 2016, I'm confident we have done just that and now Berkley Boys Basketball will be ready for the next leader to put their stamp on this wonderful, prideful program. Change is healthy. I'm excited to be in the stands as a fan and as a dad next winter rooting on Sam, Drew, and their teammates. Thank you all and God Bless" Sermo concluded on X.

"Joe it was great competing against your teams during our games. You always conduced yourself with class and your teams played hard. Best wishes moving forward and wish your sons well as they continue their high school careers" said former Farmington and Southfield Arts and Tech coach Terrance Porter on X.

Sermo went 6-18 this season falling to Royal Oak in the district semifinals. Berkley will have Ries Tuttle, AJ Green, Sam Sermo, and Drew Sermo coming back for the new coach. It will be really interesting to see who takes over the Bears next season.

I'll have my thoughts on the podcast on Tuesday.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.

Sermo tweet.

https://x.com/Berkleybball1/status/1909365715565752470

Friday, April 4, 2025

Oxford has their new Varsity Football Coach.

Written Friday April 4th at 6:04 PM

Updated Saturday April 5th at 8:44 AM

Oxford went in house with their new Varsity Football Coach.

The Wildcats named Trevor Potts as their new varsity football coach with the move confirmed by Oxford Community Schools Instagram and Facebook pages and also Wildcats assistant Athletic Director Brandon Goredl.

"Oxford football is proud and excited to announce Coach Trevor Potts as our Varsity Head Football Coach. Coach Potts will continue to uphold the culture of leading students to become great young men and to lead to program to successes on the field. Congratulations Coach Potts" the program tweeted on their X page.

Potts takes over for Coach Zack Line who went back to the NFL to be with Coach Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos.

Potts is no stranger to the Red and the Wildcats community. He was the defensive coordinator at Oxford from 2020-2024 under Line and was an assistant at Adams for 15 years learning under Coach Tony Patritto. Potts helped lead the Wildcats to the Red crown and an 21-14 postseason win at Davison last season.

Oxford will have two big returners in quarterback Jack Hendrix and running back Preston Wilder coming back. They also have program strength which should help in Potts first year as head coach along with a brutal non conference which includes Hartland (week one,) Macomb Dakota (week nine,) and that's not mentioning the Red which has Adams, Clarkston, West Bloomfield, and Lake Orion.

The transition period should be smooth with the players knowing Potts really well but he will have some of his wrinkles to the Wildcats system. It will be really interesting to see what happens.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.

X Tweet announcing the hire

https://x.com/OxfordFBall/status/1908293616432296401

Thursday, April 3, 2025

Porter steps down in Southfield.

Written Thursday April 3rd at 8:33 PM

There will be a new boys basketball coach in Southfield this winter.

Terrance Porter has stepped down at Southfield Arts and Tech after three seasons coaching the Warriors. The former Farmington Falcons coach went 20-50 in his three years with the Warriors.

The D-Zone confirmed the news.

Porter has been having a tough time with the program going 10-36 in the last two seasons. Southfield Arts and Tech has been up and down when it comes to program strength.

It will be really interesting to see who replaces Porter at Southfield Arts and Tech.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.

The D-Zone Tweet

https://x.com/TheDZoneBBall/status/1907934320242937905

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Seaholm has a new Baseball Coach.

Written Tuesday April 1st at 1:40 PM

The Maples have a new baseball coach according to the MHSAA website.

Seaholm named Steve Oshinsky their new head coach. He takes over for John Toth who stepped down after nine years coaching the program.

Toth led the Maples to a 24-11 record last season and his best season was a 26-5 record with a Division One State Regional Semifinal appearance. He was 29-48 in his seven years but 50-16 his final two years.

It will be very interesting to see what Oshinsky does with Seaholm after the success they have had recently.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.

Seaholm Baseball website MHSAA

https://www.mhsaa.com/schools/seaholm/boys/varsity/baseball/2024

Monday, March 31, 2025

Waterford Kettering has a new Boys Basketball Coach.

Written Monday March 31st at 8:38 PM

Waterford Kettering has their new boys basketball coach as they are about to enter the OAA this winter.

The Captains named Rex Walters as their new boys basketball coach.

"Big thank you to AD Shayne Hynes, Principal Ben Harwood, and Waterford district AD Alison Sartorius and the search committee for the opportunity to work with the young men at Waterford Kettering. Excited to get to work and get back on the Basketball Court" Walters said on X.

Walters takes over for Coach Steve Emert who stepped down earlier in the month. Emert went 9-81 in his four years with the Captains which also went 2-44 in the last two years.

Walters will have an experienced team in Jordan Jarrell, Gustas Garbenis, Haiden Bigelow, Braycen Harrington, Dylan Hamel, Josh Wagner, Jessie Redick, Brycen Land, Jack Buczek and Katim Jallow coming back.

Walters is the father of former Adams standout Gunner Walters and Clarkston standout Ace Walters.

He played at Northwestern and Kansas and played in the NBA for ten years with the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, and the Miami Heat. He coached the Detroit Pistons G-League team in Grand Rapids along with assistant coaching jobs with the New Orleans Pelicans and served as an assistant at Nevada and at Wake Forest. He was also the acting head coach for a time at Florida Atlantic and San Francisco according to MIPrepZone's Matt Mowery.

This looks to be a home run hire with Walters taking over the program. Waterford Kettering is in a long rebuild and entering a new league is going to be a challenge. It will be very interesting to see what Walters does with the Captains.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on the developing story.

Walters Tweet on X

https://x.com/CoachRexWalters/status/1906846531304456534

MIPrepZone Story.

https://www.theoaklandpress.com/2025/03/31/kettering-hires-former-college-nba-player-coach-rex-walters-as-boys-hoops-coach/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social&utm_content=tw-MIPrepZone&utm_source=twitter.com

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Way too early Football Top 24.

Written Tuesday March 26th at 10:10 AM

This is way too early for me to even think about with spring sports underway, here is the early top 24. I am including Waterford Kettering and Waterford Mott even though they are not in the OAA yet. It is spring break and these are NOT the official rankings that comes in August.

Here is the Early Top 24 for NOW.

1. Adams: Highlanders have a ton of proven experience and proven young talent to make a deep run this fall.

2. Harper Woods: Pioneers have a ton of proven offensive talent, defense is a serious concern.

3. Stoney Creek: Cougars are the most dangerous team in the OAA.

4. Clarkston: Wolves have a ton of proven offensive talent, defense is a serious concern.

5. Lake Orion: Dragons have to find their identity, if they do look out.

6. West Bloomfield: Jamal Shakespeare has to do a ton for the Lakers.

7. Oxford: Wildcats have the talent but they don't have a new coach yet.

8. North Farmington: Stone Trevino is a player to watch this fall.

9. Farmington: Falcons lost a ton but have some proven talent coming back.

10. Groves: Falcons lost a ton, have a lot of questions heading into fall.

11. Seaholm: Maples were young last season, this is a darkhorse in the White.

12. Bloomfield Hills: New Coach Scott Merchant should bring spice to the Blackhawks.

13. Rochester: Falcons have some questions heading into fall.

14. Southfield Arts and Tech: Can the Warriors make progress after a rough season???

15. Oak Park: Could this be the year the Knights put it all together???

16. Troy Athens: Could this be the year the Red Hawks put it all together???

17. Waterford Kettering: Coach Brian Barnes has done a great job with the Captains.

18. Waterford Mott: New coach means transition period which has to happen during the season.

19. Avondale: Changing systems is a serious concern for the Yellow Jackets.

20. Berkley: Coach Casey Humes needs his Bears to take the next step in his second year.

21. Ferndale: Eagles lost a ton of talent and have a new coach. Tough transition period is ahead.

22. Royal Oak: Ravens starting to develop identity, next step is a question mark.

23. Troy: Colts lost a ton of experience, will be very interesting to see who steps up.

24. Pontiac: Phoenix replacing a ton from last season.

Monday, March 24, 2025

OAA Enrollment Sheet is Out.

Written Monday March 24th at 3:11 PM

Updated Wednesday March 26th at 10:53 AM

The OAA enrollment sheet is out for the 2025-2026 school year.

Here is the enrollment sheet which is the number of students each school has heading into the 2025-2026 school year. The enrollment sheet decides who's in Divisions One, Two, and Three for all sports.

Troy 2285

Lake Orion 2140

Clarkston 2114

Troy Athens 1946

Rochester 1765

Oxford 1717

West Bloomfield 1708

Stoney Creek 1686

Bloomfield Hills 1630

Farmington 1576

Adams 1489

Royal Oak 1388

Southfield Arts and Tech 1305

Berkley 1215

North Farmington 1201

Groves 1162

Seaholm 1115

Waterford Mott 1077

Waterford Kettering 991

Avondale 960

Oak Park 905

Pontiac 770

Harper Woods 710

Ferndale 709

Ferndale University 442

Ferndale/Ferndale University combined 1151

Divisional Alignment All Sports except football 788 and up.

Division One

Lake Orion, Clarkston, Oxford, Troy, Troy Athens, Rochester, Adams, Stoney Creek, Avondale, Oak Park, Waterford Kettering, Waterford Mott, North Farmington, Farmington, Groves, Seaholm, Bloomfield Hills, West Bloomfield, Royal Oak, Southfield Arts and Tech, Berkley.

Division Two

Pontiac, Harper Woods, Ferndale, Ferndale University

Football Only

Division One: 1400 and Above.

Lake Orion, Clarkston, Oxford, Troy, Troy Athens, Rochester, Stoney Creek, Adams, Farmington, West Bloomfield, and Bloomfield Hills.

Division Two: 1020 to 1399. ^ Co-Op, & Opted Up originally Division Three.

Royal Oak, Southfield Arts and Tech, Groves, Seaholm, Berkley, North Farmington, Waterford Mott, & Oak Park, ^ Ferndale.

Division Three: 774 to 1019.

Waterford Kettering, Avondale

Division Four: 589 to 773.

Pontiac, Harper Woods.

MHSAA News Release