2017 Cougar Honorees

A hard-working athlete in Football, Basketball, and Track, Vince was a dominant factor in the Cougars 2005 play-off run to the Football Championship game at Ford Field. Also an excellent long-jumper, Agnew’s athletic skills earned him All-Conference and All-State selection in football and track. At Central Michigan University he finished his career in 2010 as the Chippewa’s Defensive Player of the Year and selection to the All-Conference team. Agnew spent time with several NFL teams before settling in as a defensive back for the CFL Toronto Argonauts where he was described as a “Swiss Army knife in the defensive secondary.”

One of Catholic Central’s premier throwers in field events, Corner established the school record for discus and twice earned All-State honors. Katie also was selected to the All-City League Volleyball team. Moving on to Calvin College, she excelled in discus and shotput earning All-American honors in both events. Her 2004 discus throw of 167’ 1” remains a Calvin school record. Corner participated in the 2008 US Olympic Trials. Katie now resides in Grand Rapids with her family.

A multi-event track performer, Stuart was All-Conference twice and State Champion in Pole Vault. He broke a 20-year old school and conference Pole Vault record and was a frequent meet winner in high jump and hurdles. In 1952 Galka led the City League track season with 105 points, twenty points above Central High’s Terry Baar. After CC, Stuart vaulted at Western Michigan and conducted clinics for local athletes. In 1969 he was co-pilot of TWA Flight 54 as it was hijacked to Cuba. He now lives in Sonora, CA.

As a CC student, Jim played on the 1959 football state champion team and also earned varsity letters in baseball. In 1965 Galvin joined the CC staff as assistant wrestling and football coach for 10 years. He returned to CC as Head football Coach and Athletic Director from 1982-1989. His football teams posted a wonderful 58-20 record over those years, winning the 1987 Class B State Championship over Farmington Hills at the Silverdome. Galvin coached the CC wrestling team as well from 1968-1975 (and again in 1983) during which time those teams posted a 62-25 record. Jim still coaches high school football today at East Grand Rapids High School, and lives in Sparta with his wife Nora.

While serving on the Aquatic Faculty at Lincoln Developmental School, John also coached the Cougar Boys swim and dive teams for two generations, from 1983 to 2011. Hams concurrently coached the Girls team from 1984-89 and 2003-2009. For much of his Catholic Central time the swim teams had no pool to call “Home” and rented various pool time at odd hours. Despite this challenge, John’s teams won numerous conference championships including eight in-a-row for the Boys team from 1996 to 2003. Each season, his training program allowed many CC Boys and Girls to achieve State Finals qualifying times and perform in the State Championships. “All-State” performances occurred often. John and his family currently live in Rockford, MI.

A three sport athlete at CC, Mike participated in football, basketball and golf. He was named All-City twice in football. He was the basketball MVP in 1967 for the Cougars and received the inaugural Ted Sowle Award his senior year. Keller then went on to the University of Michigan where he excelled as a three-year starter and became an All-Conference Defensive end for the Wolverines in 1971. Mike played in the 1972 Rose Bowl and was selected as an Associated Press third team All-American. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys and, after a career shortened by injury, he became an executive with the Cowboys. Keller now works as a consultant to sports start-ups.

Described by the Detroit Free Press as “the dream quarterback” of the 1949 season, Koelzer led the Cougars to the State Championship with a 9-0 record. The All-State performer keyed the offense to impressive wins over Toledo and South Bend teams as well as Muskegon and each City League opponent.

In later years, Jim was voted to the GR Press 25-year football team. Koelzer attended Purdue University and served in the U.S. Navy before returning home to operate the family-owned Kay Pharmacy for many years.

A three sport athlete at CC in basketball, baseball and football, Tom was selected All-City twice and All-State in Football and a member of the Detroit Free Press Football Dream Team. He was All-City for four years in baseball and All-State his Senior Year. Korte then played football at Hillsdale College as a four year starter and served as team Captain his junior and senior years. He was an All-Conference linebacker for three Years. He was drafted by the NFL Pittsburgh Steelers after his college years. Now a U.S. Navy dentist, Tom is stationed with his wife, Alexandra, in Memphis, Tennessee.

Kevin participated in football, wrestling and track during his career at CC. In football he was All-City twice. As a wrestler, he was awarded All-City and All-State for two seasons and State Champion at 167 pounds in 1974. Pierce still holds the Cougar career record for the most reversals in wrestling. He was the Ted Sowle Award winner followed by selection as the City Athlete of the Year in 1974. In addition, he was an outstanding Track and Field athlete.

An All-State performer in Football and Track, George was selected as the 1972 Grand Rapids City League Athlete of the Year. He was All-City twice in Football. His shotput efforts resulted in two All-City honors and he established new school and conference shotput records his senior year. Przygodski earned three football letters while earning his degree at the University of Michigan. George continues to live in Michigan and has enjoyed a long career in Michigan high school education.

Bob was basketball team captain at Catholic Central while earning All-City and Grand Rapids Press area honors. As the Girls Basketball program began to develop in the 1970’s, he became the Catholic Central Girls varsity coach and led that program for 26 seasons starting in 1979. The Cougars became a successful program in all phases of student-athlete development. Schichtel is the winningest basketball coach in CC history with 389 victories, including City League, District and Regional Basketball titles.

An exceptional three-sport athlete for the Cougars, Smith led his football team to a 9-2-1 record and a spot in the 1978 Championship game in the Silverdome. With three years of Varsity football and over 1000 rushing yards his senior year, Billy was selected All-Everything. Adding his solid performance in Basketball and Track, Smith left CC as the Ted Sowle Award winner for 1979. He now lives in the Atlanta area where he is an accomplished basketball referee for the WNBA and major NCAA conferences. Billy also runs a developmental program for aspiring basketball officials.

An outstanding cross-country and track athlete, Lisa was All-City and All-State in Cross Country twice. Her Catholic Central Cross team won the state championship in 1987. As a track athlete, Snyder was 4-time All-City performer. She went on to Western Michigan University where she performed as a Cross Country athlete all four years on a team which became the Conference Champions in 1993.

Joe was one of the first Cougar athletes to find great success at the college and professional level. Though never named to an All-City team, Soboleski became the first CC athlete to play in the National Football League. After graduation he joined the U.S. Navy, serving in the Pacific during WWII. Returning to his home state, he became a starting defensive lineman for the University of Michigan National Championship teams of 1947 and 1948. Joe was drafted by the NY Football Giants and played four years of professional football, including the 1950 season with the Lions.

Coach Jules Sommer is a much revered mentor, faculty member, and Cougar coach. As varsity Golf coach from 1953 to 1971 his teams won several conference and regional championships. Eleven of his teams advanced players to the State Golf Finals. Coach Sommer also was a much loved Freshman Head Football coach of the 60-70 player teams from 1954-1965. With 40-50 players at tryouts, he also coached the Freshman Basketball teams from 1953-1965. Coach Sommer resides in Grand Rapids and on May 22, 2017 celebrated his 90th birthday!

Frank was an outstanding Catholic Central football player. He was awarded All-City and All-State his junior and senior years. With a perfect 9-0 record, Stanitzek’s 1951 team outscored opponents 312-84 and were voted State Champions. He continued his career with a football scholarship to Notre Dame. After graduating with a business degree, he took over the family business, Frank’s Market, when his father became ill. Frank lives in Grand Rapids with his wife, Margaret, a 1954 graduate of CC.

Brenna won the Ted Sowle Award for her athletic, academic, and citizenship performance during her Cougar career. She was All-City in volleyball. In basketball she was awarded All-City, All-Area and All-State honors. Playing basketball at Hillsdale College, White earned 1st team All-Conference selection, and remains in the top 10 for career scoring, 3-point shooting, and assists in the Hillsdale program. Brenna returned to CC as a faculty member and assistant basketball coach.