2023 Cougar Honorees

Casimir Polkowski excelled in Football, Basketball, and Track while attending Catholic Central as World War II raged around the world. Graduating in 1946, Casey earned football All-City and All-State honors for the Cougars as a lineman and in 1970 was named to the Grand Rapids Press Quarter-Century Football Team. In Track & Field Casey competed in the pole vault and shot put. He excelled in shot put by winning the City Championship in 1945 and 1946. In the State Finals Polkowski’s 2nd-place finish in the shot put was the Grand Rapids area highest place finish in any event and gave Casey his 2nd All-State award in his final year for the Cougars. Casey later served in the United States Air Force and spent many years as an aeronautical engineer with the Lear Siegler Corporation. Casimir passed away in 1993.

Chris was a 1972 graduate of Catholic Central and voted the Ted Sowle Award winner by the varsity coaches as the most outstanding male athlete in his class. As a track star he was All-City and All-State. In the city meet his Senior year he placed first in both hurdle events and finished second in the high jump. He also ran a leg of the 1600-yard relay team which set a state record. His career continued at Michigan State where he competed in the Big Ten Conference hurdle events. Chris also earned All-City honors in football for the 1971 Cougars.

He now resides in Spring Lake with his wife, Mary (Walenga), who graduated with Chris from CC. They have six children and 19 grandchildren. Chris has served as school board President at St. Mary’s parish in Spring Lake and all their children graduated from Muskegon Catholic Central.

In 1990 Chris was recalled into the United States Naval Reserve at the age of 36 for 8 months of active duty in the first Gulf War. He left five small children behind. At present three of his children serve or have served in the military. One daughter retired as a US Marine Corps officer and two sons attended the Air Force Academy.

Graduating in 1972, John lettered in football, basketball, and track. In Track he competed in the 440-yard dash, low-hurdles, and the Mile Relay earning All-Conference honors twice. With three teammates, John established a school record in the Mile Relay as the Cougars won the 1971 Class A Regional Track & Field Championship and were undefeated for the season. As a defensive lineman for the Cougars, Neuman was selected All-Conference and accepted a Central Michigan football scholarship. John was a starter on the defensive line as the Chippewa’s won the 1974 NCAA Division 2 National Championship. CMU moved up to Division 1 football John’s senior year and Neuman anchored a defensive line that placed 3rd nationally in rushing yards allowed. He was selected 1st team on the 1975 Mid-American All-Conference team and played for the winning North team at the All-American Bowl game in Tampa to complete his college career. John worked with Vos Construction for many years and owned a home inspection business at the time he passed away in 2001.

A member of the class of 1976, John Clark was an exceptional wrestler for the Cougars earning All-City honors in 1975 and 1976. In the MHSAA State Tournament for individual wrestlers John advanced through the brackets in his weight-class to the Championship match in his sophomore, junior, and senior years. Clark earned All-State honors by finishing 2nd the first two years. John then finished his career winning the State Championship in the 112-pound class. It was his 3rd year for All-State Honors.

After high school John chose not to pursue college wresting and instead focused on an accounting degree from Aquinas and master’s degree in taxation from GVSU. After working for some local and national accounting firms, John finished his accounting career as a partner at Hungerford, Aldrin, Nichols, and Carter. He then worked in the real estate industry and hot tub manufacturing, ultimately rising to his current position as President of Viking Spas, Inc.

Kelly is a 1983 Catholic Central graduate and a Ted Sowle Award winner selected as the most outstanding male athlete in his class. He was voted All-City in football, basketball and baseball his senior year and was All-Area in football as well. In basketball as a senior, Kelly served as team captain and led the team in scoring and rebounding.

Spielmaker attended Western Michigan University and was a 4-year starter for the Bronco football team. He was voted Freshman of the year in the Mid-American Conference, player of the week on several occasions, and All-Conference during his career. Kelly is the all-time leader in receiving yards for Bronco tight-ends.

Kelly now resides in Florida where he lives with his college sweetheart, Lisa. They have been married 33 years and have 3 sons; Connor, Logan and Christian. Kelly is Sales Manager for Greenway Landscape Supply in Naples, Florida.

In 1998 the Michigan High School Athletic Association introduced Girls Pole Vault as a competitive event. Rachel Stellwag (Zukowski), class of 1999, stepped forward as one of the first Cougars to begin this new challenge. Her dedication and hard work, under the tutelage of CC’s legendary coach Jim Gardiner, enabled her to establish school and city league records throughout her junior and senior year track seasons with a top pole vault of 12 feet. In 1999 she won the State Championship and established a state record for all Michigan high schools in the pole vault. Rachel earned a scholarship to The Ohio State University where she earned academic honors and competed in the Big 10 Conference until an injury ended her pole vault career. For many years her best performance remained in the Top 5 all-time for Ohio State pole vaulters. Rachel now lives in New Jersey.

Alex is a 2011 graduate of CC and received the Ted Sowle award for outstanding citizenship, academic and athletic accomplishments. She was awarded a varsity letter in soccer and basketball all four years at CC. She excelled as a three-year starter on the basketball team including the critical position of point guard for the Cougar’s State Championship Basketball team.

Alex captained the soccer team for three years at CC and was voted All-City and All-State in soccer for three years. She subsequently played on the US National Olympic Development Team.

Alex continued her soccer career at Michigan State University where she played as a Freshman and Sophomore. She then transferred to Marquette University where she completed her career and earned Offensive Player of the week honors in her conference. Alex graduated from Marquette in 2015 and the completed a Master’s Degree as a Physicians Assistant from Butler University in 2017.

Now living in Grand Rapids, Alex and her husband, Tom, are the proud parents of two children.

Tom, a 1961 Catholic Central graduate, returned to coach the Cougar hockey teams from 1984 through 1988. His teams won 82 games over that period while losing only 16 and tying 4. This exceptional record resulted in four conference championships and three regional championships. Under Coach Healy’s direction they reached the final four in the state tournament in 1985 and 1988, further strengthening Catholic Central’s hockey program as a state leader at all levels.

Tom is a 1965 graduate of Michigan Tech University with a degree in Civil Engineering. He has had a long and successful career in construction. He was named to the Board of Director of Oens-Ames-Kimball Construction Company in 1976 and was elected President of the Company in 1988. Tom has been active in many professional societies over the years and has given his time generously to civic and charitable organizations. He served as a United Way Cabinet Meber, and a member of the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids Building and Planning Committee.

He and his wife Kathy, also a CC Graduate, have four children and reside in Rockford, Michigan.