2022 Cougar Honorees
An all-around athlete, Allen brought his skills to the Cougar’s football, basketball and track teams during his years at CC. It was his rebounding and scoring performance that powered the Cougars to share the City League Championship with Ottawa Hills, the eventual State Champions. Averaging 17 points and 17 rebounds per game, Allen’s efforts on the basketball court earned him a spot on the 1968 All-City, All-Area, and All-State teams.
Following his CC graduation, Allen attended St. Francis College in Loretto, Pennsylvania, the oldest Franciscan college in the United States. He was a key player on their Division I basketball team leading the team in rebounds. His teammates at St. Francis included future NBA stars Norm VanLier and Kevin Porter.
A long-time Grand Rapids area resident, Allen has lived a life of servant leadership as a past member of the Catholic Secondary Schools Board, the Catholic Human Development Board, the NAACP, the Urban League, and several Grand Rapids City Councils and Commissions.
Patty’s track and field performance in 1976 stand out as one of the most dominating athletic performances in Cougar history. During the City League dual-meet season on the cinder track at Houseman Field, she broke Catholic Central and City Conference records in both the 100 and 200-yard dash. As the season drew to a close, O’Driscoll dominated the MHSAA Regional Championship Meet by winning the 100 and 200-yard dash and running a leg in the Cougar’s 1st Place 440-yard Relay team. Patty also won the Long Jump competition, capturing her fourth 1st place medal of this prestigious event. Her performance led the Cougar girls to the Regional Championship Trophy over East Grand Rapids, West Catholic, and other area teams. At the State Championship meet the following week O’Driscoll took home medals in the 100-yard dash, the Long Jump, and the 440-Relay. Amazingly this all occurred in her sophomore year at Catholic Central.
The following year Patty battled painful health challenges which eventually required major surgery, sadly ending her athletic career. Showing she had not lost her competitive spirit, O’Driscoll completed much of her senior year academics through home-schooling and graduated with her Catholic Central class of 1978. Patty’s determination in the face of adversity is greatly admired and serves as a model of determination for all student-athletes to follow. Patti now lives in Onekama, Michigan.
Marne was a three-sport athlete in basketball, volleyball and softball during her years with the Cougars while earning All-City honors in Volleyball and Basketball.
She was a three-year starter in basketball during a very competitive period for City League teams. Her coach described her as, “highly coachable, selfless, driven and competitive and an excellent example of the quality of person that graced our programs at Catholic Central.” She was a leader on the team which won the Cougars first district and regional title in women’s basketball. Marne was elected All-City and All-Area twice and Class B All-State her senior year. The CC Varsity Head Coaches selected Marne for the 1988 Ted Sowle Award for excellence in athletics, academics, and citizenship.
Marne played at Aquinas College for one year until an injury shortened her career. Later she acquired a law degree from Indiana University and has enjoyed a successful career with United Health Group rising to become Vice-President of Marketing.
She has two children, Noah and Gabbie. Gabbie is a returning starter for the Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball program. Marne now lives in Rockford, Michigan.
Bob was the first Cougar basketball player to score more than 1000 points in his career and holds the Catholic Central records for highest average points per game and rebounds per game. As a Junior, Sherwood was the 2nd leading scorer in the City League then improved to first place his senior year as he averaged 27 points and 16 rebounds per game for the Cougars State Class A semifinals team.
Following graduation, Bob headed east to William and Mary University in Williamsburg, Virginia where he set the team single game scoring record as a freshman scoring 50 points in a game. He was team captain and averaged 21.3 points per game over his career. Sherwood remains the only player in William and Mary history to average over 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. He was elected All-Southern Conference twice, All-Virginia Big 5 on two occasions and honorary captain. He was named an honorable mention All-American. This outstanding career led to Bob’s 1997 induction into the William and Mary Hall of Fame.
He continued his career with basketball by becoming the head basketball coach at Birmingham Seaholm High School and was the first President of the Michigan High School Basketball Coaches Association.
Bob retired from coaching and started 35-year sales career in athletic foot ware and apparel. He retired from sales management with ASICS America and now lives in Destin Florida with his wife, Mary.
An outstanding athlete in two sports, Lindsay served as Team Captain for both Basketball and Lacrosse. In basketball she was All-Conference and All-Area her senior year. In Lacrosse she was four years All-Conference and All-Area. Her senior year she led her team to an 18-2 record and earned her third All-State award. Her coach said of her, “She is a fierce competitor who never backed down from any challenge. She made herself and her teammates better by pushing them in practice and on the playing field.” She finished her Cougar career by winning the Ted Sowle Award for excellence in athletics, academics, and citizenship.
Lindsay moved on to play two years of basketball and one year of lacrosse at Grand Valley and graduated from GVSU in 2015 with a degree in Communications.
She is married to Matt Vannett. They, and their children Landon and Payton, belong to St. Paul the Apostle Parish. Lindsay is employed by Farmers Insurance Corporation at their corporate location in Caledonia as a Service Operations Supervisor.
Bronson lettered multiple times in Football, Basketball, and Track during his Cougar career. His football skills produced 2,397 yards rushing and 27 touchdowns. In his senior year, Hill and the Cougars advanced to the MHSAA Championship game at Ford Field where Bronson’s 79-yard touchdown run ignited the Cougar’s second-half offense to a 27-23 victory over Williamston. Bronson was selected to the All-Conference, All-Area, and All-State teams.
On the running track in 2011, Hill closed out his high school athletic career by establishing records in both the 100 and 200 meter dash. In the Regional Championship at Houseman Field he set a new school record in the 200 with a time of 21.8 seconds. In the 100-meter dash his time of 10.42 seconds established a new school, Regional and State record.
Following graduation, Bronson Hill became an exceptional running back for Eastern Michigan University football. His 283 yards and 4 touchdowns in a game against Toledo earned him the Mid-American Conference player of the week. He lettered all four years at EMU while rushing for 2,436 yards and fifteen touchdowns. He later played in the National Football League for Arizona and Jacksonville.
Bronson and his wife Jasmine live in Huntington Beach, California. He has produced a documentary film and also written a book. Bronson plans to use both the film and book to inspire and motivate others.