2024 Cougar Honorees

One of the finest basketball players ever to play for the Cougars, Kevin played against the highly-competitive Grand Rapids City League teams of the 1970s. He led the league in scoring in his junior and senior years, averaging 23 points per game and earned All-City and All-State recognition. As a starting pitcher for the championship CC baseball team, Kevin was again selected for All-City honors. He was a Ted Sowle Award winner as the most outstanding athlete in his class. His sister, Kate, ’86, was also a Ted Sowle Award winner. This makes them the only brother-sister winners to date!

Attending Purdue University, Kevin made the basketball team as a “walk on” his freshman year before focusing on his degree in engineering. He worked for Chevron for nine years and for Trane Corporation for over 30 years. Kevin was also the President of the Catholic Secondary School Board for a number of years. He is retired and lives in Cincinnati with his wife, Pam (Firehammer), also a 1973 CC graduate. They have three sons who are all CC graduates.

Matt excelled on the Cougar football, wrestling, and baseball teams. As a testament to his leadership, he was selected as the team captain for each program. Matt earned All-City recognition as a football linebacker, won the All-City wrestling championship at the 185-pound weight class, and was selected the All-City catcher in baseball. He was elected President of the Varsity Club which represented all Cougar athletes in school activities. Matt’s academic and leadership efforts earned National Honor Society membership.

He decided to attend Alma College, where he continued to excel both academically and athletically. A four-year starter on defense and a team Captain, Matt currently holds the #3 slot for most tackles in an Alma football career. He also earned a varsity letter in baseball while attending Alma.

After achieving several academic and leadership honors at University of Detroit Law School, Matt began, and continues, a successful Grand Rapids legal career. He shares his time with community volunteer activities such as youth football, the IHM Parish Killgoar Educational Foundation, and numerous Grand Rapids civic organizations. Matt and wife Paula, CC 1984, have five children, all with CC diplomas: Will 2013, Jack 2016, Max 2017, Dominic 2021, and Grace 2022.

Graduating in 1986, Joel was a key performer in football, basketball, and baseball. His Cougar baseball team won the 1984 State Championship. Joel joined the Catholic Central faculty as an Economics teacher and quickly entered the Cougar coaching community on the football and baseball staff. His rise to head baseball coach led to several City League Championships and a 1994 State Championship game.

For over 30 years on the football staff, Joel has been the consistent force of guiding the CC defense as they have
held their opponents to an average of 15 points pergame while winning 76% of the contests. Joel’s coaching skills were, and remain, a critical element in multiple conference championships, regular extended runs in the MHSAA playoffs, and seven State Championships. He served as a teacher for 10 years, a Guidance Counselor for 23 years, and currently serves our students as a Learning Coach and AP Coordinator. Joel and his wife Michelle have three children, each a Cougar graduate: Abby 2019, Jake 2020, and Ben 2023. 

Jim was an accomplished Cougar athlete who excelled in football, basketball, and baseball. As the starting quarterback in the 1986 and 1987 seasons, he led the Cougars to a 22-2 record which included two City League Championships and the 1987 Class B State Championship victory over Farmington Hills in the Pontiac Silverdome. Jim was also the first Catholic Central quarterback to complete over 100 passes in his career.

He earned All-City honors in baseball in addition to his football Championship honors. He showed his leadership as a captain of our basketball and baseball teams. The varsity coaches recognized Jim’s athletic, academic, and citizenship success by selecting him for the Ted Sowle Award before he departed for South Bend and ND's baseball program.

He is married to Betsy (Korte) and they have two sons, Luke and John, who were outstanding athletes at CC as well. John quarterbacked the CC state championship football team in 2022. They also have two daughters, Kate and Beth. Kate was an outstanding athlete who graduated last Fall while Beth is currently a junior participating in several sports this year at CC. Dr. Jim is an internal medicine physician in Grand Rapids with a specialty in Geriatric Medicine. He has been very involved in his Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish as President of the Killgoar Educational Foundation among other school-related projects.

Julie Snyder Lizak excelled in both personal and team accomplishments in the Cougar basketball, volleyball, and track programs. Her 6’1” frame and competitive spirit made her an intimidating force on both the basketball and volleyball courts throughout her Cougar career. On a very successful team, Julie’s basketball skills earned her All-Conference and All-State honors. Bob Schichtel, her basketball coach, said Julie was “always well-composed, graceful emotionally and physically, quick to support a friend, and epitomized what I wanted my players to look like, act like, and play like both on and off the court."

Julie went on to St. Mary’s College in Indiana, where she continued her basketball career. She was a key player all four years as a Belle at St. Mary’s, and she continues to appear in many spots in their record books, including most career blocked shots. Julie joins her sister, Lisa, and her father, Coach Dave Snyder, as Cougar Stadium honorees. Julie passed away in 2021 and is survived by her husband, Chris, and children, Matt, Callie, and Michael.

A key player in three sports for the Cougars, Abby’s leadership and energetic approach to any athletic competition was certain to result in a good outcome for her teams. Abby’s presence was felt early in her career as a freshman member of the competitive cheer team, winning a Regional and State Championship trophy. The team remained strong through her CC years.

The Track and Field team benefitted from Abby’s multi-event success as the team achieved a 21-3 record in league meets during her four years. Abby culminated her athletic career winning the 200-meter dash and the long jump at the Regional Championship meet. As graduation approached, the varsity head coaches selected her as the 2002 Ted Sowle Award winner for her athletic, academic, and community achievements.  

Abby currently resides in Grand Rapids with her husband Brent and four children. She is serving the Byron Center school district as the Principal of West Middle School.

Mark was a 2007 graduate who participated in three sports for the Cougars. He was All-City twice as a football lineman and elected All-State by the Detroit Free Press. He played in the 2005 State Championship game, the Cougars' first trip to Ford Field.

Mark had a busy winter sports' season as he played a
key role on both the hockey and basketball teams. And
he was a member of the National Honor Society. Mark went on to play football at the University of Michigan where he was a four-year letter winner. He played guard and tackle in 38 games, starting in 29. He played in the Gator Bowl as a junior, and in his senior year he started every game, including the Wolverine victory in the Sugar Bowl.

Mark majored in Engineering at the University of Michigan where he received the prestigious Big Ten Distinguished Academic Award for his scholarly accomplishments. Mark currently works for the General Motors Corporation and married Rachel Hollern, also a 2007 graduate of CC. They live in West Bloomfield, Michigan with their two children.