Soccer
Soccer opened the season with great optimism and higher expectations. The Warriors picked up early wins vs. Seaholm and defending state champs Catholic Central. They tied CHSL opponents UDJ and DLS and hit a rough patch in the middle of the season with injuries mounting and a tough schedule, and the team in quarantine. The Warriors began a run in the MHSAA playoffs that ended by playing for the D2 State Championship vs. Grand Rapids Christian. Our Warriors played tough but lost 1-2 in the final game. This was only the 6th state title game in Brother Rice history; the last was in 2009. The soccer team won the District and Regional titles, and Coach Price was also named District and Regional Coach of the year. We had five students named to the All-District and All-Regional teams and three All-State players, Enzo Bordgna, Josh Copeland, and Giuliani Denipoti. The JV team struggled all year to score goals and ended the season 0-12-2.
Football
Warriors opened the season with a victory on the road against the largest school in the state Dakota 35-21, followed by a win over the 3rd largest school in East Kentwood 33-0. Rice went 1-2 in the CHSL central division weeks 4-6, ended the regular season 6-3, and qualified for the MHSAA playoffs. The Warriors won the first two playoff games to earn the District Championship, the first since 2014. Rice played Mason in the Regional finals and lost on a last-second play 17-20 to finish the season 8-4. The JV team finished the season 7-0-1 and co-CHSL Divisional Champions. The freshman team won their final two games to end the season at 2-5. The football program has seen the highest participation numbers in the past nine years, with 150 students participating.
Cross Country
Cross Country numbers have gone down from past years, hovering around 14 students. Warriors competed hard all season, and many runners had PR’s. Parker Young and Liam Collins excelled as individuals as they earned All-Catholic and All-league honors.
Tennis
The tennis program reached the state championships again this season as they won the Regionals title to advance. The Warriors 2-doubles team of Sam Brockhaus & Joe Turkot finished runner up in the state championship. Warriors tennis were 6-1-3 in dual matches this season and finished 3rd in the CHSL tournament. Member earned Division 1 All-State Honors, Dimitri Moriarty 1st team singles, Patrick Cretu honorable mention, Jack Judge & Nathan Grobbel doubles honorable mention, Sam Brockhaus & Joe Turkot doubles honorable mention.
Athletic Director Jeff Calcaterra previews the Winter Programs:
Hockey
Early indications are the program is healthy with 57 students expected to participate on three teams. Highlighted games: Home games vs Marquette 11/19, Hartland 12/17, CC 1/19, Trenton 1/21, Brighton 2/16. Road games @ CC 11/24, @ Calumet & Houghton 1/14 & 1/15, Rice will host MHSAA Regionals 2/22-3/2/22
Basketball
Coming off two district titles in three seasons under Coach Palmer, there is a buzz surrounding Warrior Basketball as four highly touted juniors with a mix of talented sophomores and seniors find Warrior Basketball one of the top-ranked teams in Div. 1. Brother Rice will host all CHSL teams, CC, DLS, OLSM, UDJ, as well as DEPSA and Warren Mott. The team will open the season against defending state champs Grand Blanc on 12/6. Rice will also travel to play in Motor City Roundball Classic 12/27, Got to Get It Hoops Classic 1/8, and GRCC Mr. Basketball Classic 2/5. The internal competition is very high within the program.
Wrestling
Preseason activity has been going for about a month and has seen a rise in participation. We are looking to grow to over 25 members this year and possibly fill all weight classes for the first time in a decade. Coming off a District title in 2020 and an unfortunate COVID quarantine end last year, Brother Rice will host quads on 1/12 and 1/26 while competing in a full schedule of varsity and JV tournaments and shooting for another district title and compete for a regional title as well. Brother Rice will host the team MHSAA Districts 2/9 and Team Regionals (if qualified) 2/16.
Skiing
The initial interest numbers have seen a jump this year with 29 students from pre-season meetings and will afford Rice the possibility to compete with a JV and Varsity team, mainly underclassmen. This year’s team returns most of the roster that finished 9th in the state last season, so expectations are high. The official league racing schedule will begin in January. As of now, most students will go up north to train on weekends until the weather is suitable for skiing in our area.
Swimming
The team will return a few All-American honorees from last year. Rice will host the annual Warrior Relays and travel to Invites such as Zeeland, Oakland County, MISCA, and CHSL championships before MHSAA State Finals in March.
Bowling
Warriors Bowling will again field a team with ten students who showed interest in participating and began their season on 11/15. Marian Head Coach Dan McCleary took over the reins of the Warrior program and coaches both Rice and Marian.