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 this past season. Another moment 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.

The concern of Davison and Grand Blanc coming into the conference are travel especially with the southern schools. Both are open enrollment schools. The OAA has Harper Woods which is the furthest OAA southern school and is in Wayne County. Northville is also in Wayne County. They are coming into the league along with Novi and Clawson in the 2027-2028 school year.

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.

Stoney Creek has their new Girls Basketball Coach.

Written Wednesday May 6th at 6:20 PM

The Cougars have their new girls basketball coach.

Stoney Creek has named Anne Hetzel as their new girls basketball coach. Hetzel takes over for Columbus Williams who was let go after the Rochester game during the season.

"Big news from the Creek, Stoney Creek Athletics is excited to announce Annw Hetzel as the head coach of the Women's Basketball program. Coach Hetzel brings tremendous passion, leadership and commitment to student-athletes, we are excited for the future of Stoney Creek Women's Basketball under her direction" said Athletic Director Todd Negoshian in a statement.

Negoshian took over the program after letting Williams and most of his assistants go before the postseason. He led them to the district finals falling 44-34 to Utica Eisenhower last season.

Hetzel is the 13th leading scorer at Oakland in their history. She played from 2002-2006 under Coach Becky Francis and was an assistant as for then Coach Jeff Tungate. Hetzel brings a different component to the program.

The Cougars are in the Red with Clarkston, Oxford, West Bloomfield, Rochester, and Groves. They have program strength concerns despite having Calista Ivezaj and Samantha Fulkerson coming back.

It will be very interesting to see how Hetzel handles this program especially with everything they have gone through.

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

West Bloomfield will have a new Athletic Director.

Written Wednesday May 6th at 11:35 AM

West Bloomfield will have a new athletic director this fall.

The Lakers have named Shane Hynes as their new athletic director after a very long search. Hynes will take over at West Bloomfield starting this fall. He takes over for Eric Pierce who is retiring after the end of the school year.

Pierce confirmed the news to me personally.

Hynes was the athletic director at Troy and also at Waterford Mott. He also has experience at Waterford Kettering and is a Clarkston alum. Hynes is well known in the area and OAA Nation, and this will be his fourth stop in four years.

It will be very interesting to see how Hynes adjust to Lakers nation and Pierce did a great job with West Bloomfield as an assistant principal and athletic director.

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

Royal Oak has their new Boys Basketball Coach.

Written Wednesday May 6th at 11:26 AM

The Ravens went outside the box with their new boys basketball coach.

Royal Oak named Jake Blancher as their new boys basketball coach. He takes over for Coach Aaron Smith who stepped down after the season ended. Blancher was an assistant at Utica Eisenhower under Coach Anthony Muscat last season.

Royal Oak athletic director Derrick Smith confirmed the news.

Blancher will take over a Ravens program that won their first ever district crown despite going 11-15 last season. Royal Oak fell to Macomb L'Anse Creuse North 66-57 in the regional semifinals.

The Ravens have some questions regarding program strength, but they have CJ Hairston, Andrew Fritz, Brandon Tracy, Ethan Couzens, Shane Glander, and Caiden Scott coming back next season.

Royal Oak will be in the Blue with Pontiac, Troy, Troy Athens, Seaholm, and Harper Woods next season.

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

Boys Volleyball Regionals-2026.

Written Tuesday May 5th at 8:29 AM

First round at different venues.

Regional 5 at Farmington

Walled Lake Northern at NORTH FARMINGTON

Lakeland at Milford

Birmingham Brother Rice at GROVES

CLARKSTON at FARMINGTON

Regional 6 at Lake Orion

ROCHESTER at LAKE ORION

TROY at STONEY CREEK

Utica Eisenhower at TROY ATHENS

ROCHESTER/LAKE ORION vs. ADAMS

Regional 14 at Seaholm

Warren DeLaSalle at SEAHOLM

PONTIAC at Warren Woods Tower

Warren Michigan Math and Science at Hazel Park

Warren DeLaSalle/SEAHOLM vs. AVONDALE

Regional 15 at Hope Of Detroit Academy

Detroit Caesar Chavez Academy at Romulus Summitt Academy

Hope Of Detroit Academy at Detroit Lincoln King

Dearborn Star International Academy at FERNDALE

Dearborn Star International Academy/FERNDALE vs. Dearborn Divine Child

Softball Districts-2026.

Written Sunday May 3rd at 4:24 PM

Here are the softball district matchups.

District 22 at Novi

Novi vs. Walled Lake Western

FARMINGTON vs. NORTH FARMINGTON

SAMMY THOUGHTS: This does not look like it's a strong district but until then give me the future members of the OAA to move onto the regionals.

District 23 at Seaholm

WEST BLOOMFIELD vs. SEAHOLM

BERKLEY vs. GROVES

SAMMY THOUGHTS: This is an all OAA district. This should be a fun district, going with West Bloomfield to move to the regionals.

District 24 at Ferndale

FERNDALE vs. Detroit Mumford

SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH vs. Detroit Renaissance

SAMMY THOUGHTS: This is not a very strong district, so give me Detroit Renaissance.

District 29 at Clarkston

CLARKSTON vs. LAKE ORION

OXFORD vs. WATERFORD KETTERING

SAMMY THOUGHTS: This is a very interesting district. Lake Orion and Clarkston split their season series but whoever wins their matchup should win the district. Lake Orion looks more battle tested and should move onto the regionals.

District 30 at Adams

BLOOMFIELD HILLS vs. AVONDALE

ADAMS vs. WATERFORD MOTT

SAMMY THOUGHTS: This is shaping up to be a very interesting district final between Bloomfield Hills and Adams. Bloomfield Hills has been battle tested but Adams is at home, in the end take the home team.

District 31 at Stoney Creek

STONEY CREEK vs. Romeo

ROCHESTER vs. Utica Eisenhower

SAMMY THOUGHTS: This is going to be a tough district for the Rochester schools. Romeo is state ranked and has been dominate as has Utica Eisenhower. This could be Romeo's time to make it to the regionals.

District 32 at Utica

ROYAL OAK vs. Utica

TROY ATHENS vs. TROY

SAMMY THOUGHTS: This is a very interesting district. Utica should be favored with home field but Troy Athens is a very interesting team. Troy Athens is more than capable of winning this district but when in doubt go with the home team and that's Utica.

Groves has their new Girls Basketball Coach.

Written Sunday May 1st at 11:53 AM

The Falcons have their new girls basketball coach.

Groves named Joya Puryear as their new head coach. Puryear takes over for Jessica Duleba who was let go after the season.

The MHSAA website confirmed the hire.

Duleba led the Falcons to their first district championship since 2021 but fell in the regional semifinals to Wayne Memorial.

Puryear is an Oakland University graduate and was an assistant at Detroit Renaissance and also under Duleba last season.

Puryear will have a ton of experience in Harlem Simpson, Sophie Schwanik, Sofia Acuna, Molly Frederiksen, Miah Richert, Mallory Killian, Lily McClendon, Julie Audebeau, Genevieve Meihn, Cece Cardenas, and Charlie Gress coming back. Program strength is something to watch with the Falcons especially after the senior class leaves next season.

Groves will be in the Red with Oxford, Rochester, Clarkston, West Bloomfield, and Stoney Creek this winter.

There shouldn't be much of a transition period with Puryear as she was an assistant as mentioned and she connects well with the players. It will be very interesting to see what happens

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

Groves MHSAA page

https://www.mhsaa.com/schools/groves/girls/varsity/basketball/2026-27

Girls Lacrosse Regionals-2026

Written Sunday May 3rd at 11:38 AM

Here are the girls lacrosse regional matchups.

Region Two @ Northville

Ann Arbor Huron vs FARMINGTON

Winner gets Brighton

Plymouth vs WEST BLOOMFIELD

Winner gets Plymouth Salem

Plymouth Canton vs NOVI

Winner gets South Lyon

Livonia Stevenson vs Ann Arbor Pioneer

Winner gets NORTHVILLE

Region Three @ Troy Athens

BLOOMFIELD HILLS vs Detroit Cass Tech

Winner gets BIRMINGHAM

TROY vs Utica/Utica Ford II/Sterling Heights Stevenson

Winner gets TROY ATHENS

Chippewa Valley/Macomb Dakota vs St. Clair Shores

Winner gets Grosse Pointe South

Grosse Pointe North vs Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood

Winner gets M-1

Region Four @ Grand Blanc

Midland Unified vs Grand Blanc

Winner gets LAKE ORION

East Lansing vs CLARKSTON

Winner gets Howell

White Lake vs ROCHESTER

Winner gets Hartland

WATERFORD vs Walled Lake

Lansing Holt vs Utica Eisenhower

Region Seven @ Stoney Creek

AVONDALE vs Holly/Brandon

Winner gets Birmingham Detroit Country Day

ADAMS vs Warren Regina

Winner gets STONEY CREEK

Grosse Pointe University Liggett vs Pontiac Notre Dame Prep

Winner gets Birmingham Marian

Lapeer vs Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart

Winner gets OXFORD