Davison and Grand Blanc would be great fits for the OAA.

Written Tuesday May 12th at 8:35 PM

I write this column remembering and honoring my teacher, my mentor, and my friend the great Pat Caputo. Caputo taught me how to write blogs and do podcasts and share my thoughts and concerns on situations.

Davison and Grand Blanc have surpassed every challenge given to them by the Saginaw Valley League. 

I'm curious to see how the Flint district area market stations like WNEM TV-5, WEYI NBC-25, WJRT ABC-12 will cover Grand Blanc and Davison if they were to come to the OAA???

Davison and Grand Blanc are the two biggest enrolled schools in Mid-Michigan. They tried to apply into the OAA in 2010 after the Big Nine dissolved but were turned down and then Grand Blanc applied again in 2018 after they were kicked out of the Kensington Lakes Activities Association, but they were turned down and joined the Saginaw Valley League.

The Saginaw Valley League has been good to both schools. Davison joined in 2010 while Grand Blanc joined in 2018. Both schools have had a lot of success and establish rivalries with the likes of Lapeer, Flint Carman-Ainsworth, Flint Powers Catholic, and Saginaw Heritage.

MIPrepZone's Matt Mowery wrote an article in March that Davison and Grand Blanc had been accepted into the OAA but he was unaware of what the process was in joining the conference. Mowery quickly edited the story and corrected it to say that the athletic directors voted to continue the process with Grand Blanc and Davison. The process is still ongoing. It still has to go through site visits and get principal approval which is standard procedure for any conference.

The OAA is not just an athletic conference, there's leadership conferences, band, choir, DECA, and theater. There are so many things this conference provides besides athletics.

The OAA has given the Cardinals and Bobcats several challenges in multiple sports since 2010.

Oxford stunned Grand Blanc (45-43 in district semifinals) and then Davison (56-52 in the district finals.) Lake Orion also got the Cardinals 70-53 in the regular season in boys basketball. Oxford and Clarkston have also given Davison fits in wrestling. Davison got Oxford (49-28 in the district finals) and got a win over Lake Orion (37-26 in regular season) however they were eliminated by Clarkston (60-50) in the regional semifinals in girls basketball. Another noticeable was Lake Orion beating Davison (4-2) in baseball in the regional finals last season.

Football has been a different can of worms for the Cardinals and Bobcats when it comes to the OAA. Anytime both schools have had success in the Saginaw Valley League then they get into the postseason they usually head south and run into an OAA opponent whether it's Clarkston, Oxford, Lake Orion, Adams, or West Bloomfield.

Davison is 2-10 against the OAA since 2010 with the majority of their losses coming at the hands of Clarkston or Oxford. They lost to West Bloomfield in the 2020 Division One State Finals. When the Cardinals had their two prior deep postseason runs besides the 2020 run, they have NOT run into an OAA school.

Grand Blanc has been a little bit better against the OAA at 5-6 since 2010 but the last two years the Bobcats have seen their season end at the hands of Clarkston including last season when the Wolves gave Grand Blanc their first loss 42-22 in the district finals.

It will be very interesting to see what the OAA does with Grand Blanc and Davison, but it would be very interesting to see what would happen if these two Genesee County rivals were to join the OAA in the future.

Tomich leaves Stoney Creek, heads back to Royal Oak Shrine.

Written Monday May 11th at 3:05 PM

Updated Tuesday May 12th at 10:17 AM

This was a shocker.

Royal Oak Shrine named Marko Tomich as their new boys basketball coach. Tomich takes over for former Bloomfield Hills assistant coach Mike Maryanski whom he was an assistant under. He leaves Stoney Creek after one season as coach of the Cougars.

Stoney Creek Athletic Director Todd Negoshian confirmed Tomich's departure to me via text message along with another very accurate source who confirmed that Tomich was heading back to Royal Oak Shrine.

The Cougars job posting was posted on Tuesday morning.

Tomich is very familiar with the Catholic League being at Birmingham Brother Rice and was an assistant under Maryanski at Royal Oak Shrine before coming to Stoney Creek as mentioned. 

Tomich took over the program from Jeff Olind in 2025. Olind went 19-47 in his three years with the program. He went 11-11 (12-12) in his only season with the Cougars. He led them to an 82-40 win over Romeo in the first round but fell 36-29 to Adams in the district semifinals.

Whoever the new coach is will have Anthony Arlinghaus, Ernie Backos, Brosie Telegadas, Issac Papus, among others coming back. Program strength will be very interesting to keep an eye on.

The Cougars will have their third coach in six years.

What's different about this search is that Negoshian is leading the search. He was the former boys basketball coach at North Farmington and had led the Raiders to two State Championship games. He has a ton of knowledge and experience of the game. It will be very interesting to see what Negoshian does with this search.

Stoney Creek will be in the White with Bloomfield Hills, Rochester, Waterford Mott, Oxford, and Lake Orion next season.

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

Clawson looking for new Boys Basketball Coach.

Written Monday May 11th at 2:54 PM

It looks like Clawson is looking for a new boys basketball coach.

Trojans coach Tanner Beachnau has stepped down coaching the program. There is a job posting that was posted last month on ZipRecruter.

Clawson went 4-18 falling 47-30 to Madison Heights Bishop Foley in the first round last season. The Trojans should be improved in their final season in the Macomb Area Conference before heading to the OAA in the 2027-2028 school year along with Novi and Northville.

Clawson has Evan Gunel, Colton Moats, and Sean Mason coming back. Program strength will be very interesting to watch whoever the new coach takes over the program.

Whoever the new coach is will have to change the culture and mindset of the program before the Trojans head to the OAA. Clawson really struggled and weren't competitive in most of their losses last season.

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

Girls Soccer Districts-2026

Written Sunday May 10th at 11:00 AM

Updated Tuesday May 12th at 9:56 PM

Here are the girls soccer districts. This will be updated with History Now host Anthony Taormina's thoughts.

District 6 at Grand Blanc

Lapeer vs. Flushing

OXFORD vs. Flint Carman Ainsworth

Grand Blanc vs. Davison

Lapeer/Flushing vs. CLARKSTON

District 7 at Hartland

Walled Lake Northern vs. Lakeland

Milford vs. WEST BLOOMFIELD

BLOOMFIELD HILLS vs. Walled Lake Central

Walled Lake Northern/Lakeland vs. Hartland

District 8 at Northville

Novi vs. NORTH FARMINGTON

Livonia Stevenson vs. South Lyon

South Lyon East vs. FARMINGTON

Novi/NORTH FARMINGTON vs. Northville

District 13 at Royal Oak

TROY vs. SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 

SEAHOLM vs. ROYAL OAK

TROY ATHENS vs. FERNDALE

BERKLEY vs. GROVES

District 14 at Stoney Creek

Romeo vs. STONEY CREEK

Utica Eisenhower vs. Utica

ROCHESTER vs. LAKE ORION

Romeo/STONEY CREEK vs. ADAMS

District 29 at Grosse Pointe North

St. Clair Shores Lakeshore vs. Grosse Pointe North

Marysville vs. HARPER WOODS

Warren Woods Tower vs. Port Huron

St. Clair Shores Lakeshore/Grosse Pointe North vs. St. Clair

District 30 at Birmingham Marian

Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood vs. Warren Fitzgerald

AVONDALE vs. OAK PARK 

Madison Heights Lamphere vs. Center Line

Madison Heights Lamphere/Center Line vs. Birmingham Marian

District 31 at Waterford Kettering

Flint Kearsley vs. Clio

WATERFORD KETTERING vs. WATERFORD MOTT

Holly vs. North Branch

Flint Kearsley/Clio vs. Orchard Lake St. Mary's 

Boys Lacrosse Regionals-2026

Written Wednesday May 6th at 8:00 PM

Updated Saturday May 9th at 11:05 AM 

Here are the Boys lacrosse regional matchups.

Region 3 at Hartland

1. Hartland vs. 8. Swartz Creek/Flushing

4. Bay City Central/Frankenmuth/Freeland vs. 5. Davison

2. Grand Blanc vs. 7. Brandon/Holly

3. OXFORD vs. 6. WATERFORD UNITED

 

Region 4 at Clarkston

1. LAKE ORION vs. 8. TROY ATHENS/AVONDALE

4. ADAMS vs. 5. ROCHESTER

2. CLARKSTON vs. 7. TROY

3. STONEY CREEK vs. 6. Utica Eisenhower/Utica 

 

Region 5 at Birmingham Seaholm

1. Romeo vs. 8. Chippewa Valley

4. Macomb Dakota vs. 5. Macomb L'Anse Creuse North

2. BIRMINGHAM vs. 7. St. Clair/Marine City/Marysville

3. New Baltimore Anchor Bay vs. 6. Port Huron/Port Huron Northern

 

Region 6 at Livonia Stevenson

1. Birmingham Brother Rice vs. 8. FARMINGTON UNITED

4. M1 ROYAL OAK/BERKLEY vs. 5. WEST BLOOMFIELD 

2. BLOOMFIELD HILLS vs. 7. Brownstown Woodhaven

3. Livonia United vs. 6. Detroit Cass Tech 

Baseball Districts updated.

Written Wednesday May 6th at 7:35 PM

Here are the baseball districts. This will be updated once we get the matchups.

District 20 at Livonia Stevenson

Livonia Stevenson vs. Detroit Renaissance

Livonia Stevenson/Detroit Renaissance vs. Redford Thurston

Detroit Mumford vs. FARMINGTON

 

District 23 at Warren Mott

BERKLEY vs Warren Mott

BERKLEY/Warren Mott vs ROYAL OAK

FERNDALE vs Warren Cousino

 

District 24 at Birmingham Brother Rice

NORTH FARMINGTON vs. SEAHOLM

NORTH FARMINGTON/SEAHOLM vs. Birmingham Brother Rice

GROVES vs. SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH

 

District 26 at West Bloomfield

WATERFORD KETTERING vs. BLOOMFIELD HILLS

WATERFORD MOTT vs. WEST BLOOMFIELD

 

District 27 at Troy

Utica Ford II vs. TROY

Utica Ford II/TROY vs. AVONDALE

TROY ATHENS vs. Utica

 

District 30 at Adams

LAKE ORION vs. CLARKSTON

LAKE ORION/CLARKSTON vs. ROCHESTER

ADAMS vs. STONEY CREEK

 

District 31 at Grand Blanc

OXFORD vs. Holly

OXFORD/Holly vs. Lapeer

Grand Blanc vs. Davison

 

District 54 at Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy 

HARPER WOODS vs Grosse Pointe North

Eastpointe vs Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy

Eastpointe/Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy vs St. Clair Shores South Lake

MHSAA is making big changes.

Written Wednesday May 6th at 7:25 PM

The MHSAA has made a huge change to the playoff system.

The MHSAA Representee Council announced that there will be regional seeding with the 1,4,5, and 8 being one district while the 2,3,6,7 will be in the other district for the postseason.

The eight teams in the region will be seeded based on the MPR.

The postseason point formula is used to determine the 32 teams from each division that makes the postseason. It's calculated by dividing the total playoff points earned which is based on wins, opponent's division size, and the points they earned by the number of games they played weighted by 25 percent of the opponents win percentage along with winning percentage and 50 percent for the opponents strength of schedule. The top seed in each region will be determined by playoff points.

The MHSAA Representee Council made some changes in basketball with the 40 point running clock during the first half or 30 during the second half then the running clock would continue.

In volleyball a team would be eligible for a top two seed if they play a minimum of 15 games. In Golf a student can be eligible if they play in eight matches among other things.

I'll talk about this on the podcast.

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