Maroons Capture State Championship - 1953

Back Row: Forward: Bob MacDonald, All Valley: Ron Rupert, Guards: Tom Hiser, Lloyd Bishop and John Nickodemus
Front Row: All Valley: Denny Troester, 2nd Team All Valley: Dave Woodcock, Guard: Hub Lynch, Center: Tom Storey, Forwards: Jim LeFevre and Terry McInerney

The Maroons captured their first STATE CHAMPIONSHIP in thirty years. Coach Sam Franz's team won the right to represent the Saginaw District crown. With Rupert leading the way the Whirlwinds defeated an outclassed Michigan Lutheran Seminary team 70-48 and then, led by Woodcock, proved their superiority over arch-rival SS. Peter and Paul by defeating the West Side School 59-43. This gave the team their second district trophy in three years and advanced them into the Regionals.

In the first game of the Regionals the Maroons won over a very good Clarkston team 58-48. Lynch starred in the victory. The next evening Bob MacDonald directed the team to a 70-56 triumph over a strong Utley team from Flint. Troester set the pace as the team beat a favored Flint Sacred Heart quintet 72-59 to bag the Regional crown and another trophy.

Next the Cathedralites traveled to the Flint I.M.A. to verse St. Paul of Grosse Pointe in the Quarter-finals. Each starter scored ten or more points as Father Maher's boys down the confident Flyers of St. Paul. The victory advanced the team to the Semi-finals in Lansing. The Maroons had their toughest game of the tournament as they edged a great Hartford team 65-62 in an overtime. As the squad left the Olds Hotel for spacious Jenison Fieldhouse and the Championship game, they took with them their two unseen mascots, prayer and determination. Fortified by their two mascots and supported by hundreds of loyal students and fans, the first five played without substitution and won a thrilling 59-57 victory over a stunned Muskegon St. Mary team. The mighty mites of Sam Franz had won the Class "C" STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.