Brighton High School (Brighton, Michigan)

Brighton High School is located in Brighton, Michigan which is part of the Detroit Metro Area. It is part of the Brighton Area Schools.

Athletics

Brighton High School, a member of the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA), is highly regarded for its excellent athletic department (headed by John Thompson, who has enforced the phrase "Loud, proud, and positive"). BHS teams consistently place at the top in state competition. Examples include the state champion rugby and hockey teams from the 2005-2006 academic year, as well as state semifinalist teams in baseball and football.

One of the most notable athletic students is a Brighton High School sophomore who was the 2007 Billabong Junior World Champion, a title she claimed after participating in the World Snowboarding Competition in Switzerland.

Another Brighton High School student to have claimed fame in the sphere of sports competition is alumnus Drew Henson, who played quarterback on the University of Michigan and Dallas Cowboys football teams after his graduation from BHS. Although his reputation has somewhat faded in recent years -- a result of his inconsistent on-field performances -- Henson continues to play football as a third-string quarterback with the Minnesota Vikings. Henson also played Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees, though only getting 9 career at-bats and one hit before retiring to concentrate on a professional football career. Cullen Finnerty was another standout football quarterback from Brighton High School, who played his college football at Grand Valley State University and is now on the practice squad for the Baltimore Ravens.

Gymnastics

Though consistently overshadowed by the more popular sports such as football, basketball, and soccer, Brighton Gymnastics is consistently one of the top teams in the state. Coached by Nancy Gregory, Nancy Hanes, and Wyatt Gregory the team has gone to the State Meet for the last 12 years. They have never placed below 7th at States, and are generally in the top 5. In 2001 they were ranked 13th in the entire nation and were recognized as an All American Elite gymnastics team. 2008 was the first year Brighton did not qualify for the state finals.

Lacrosse

Brighton Lacrosse has been a varsity sport for 3 years, but was a club team as of 2002. The varsity team went 12-3 and took second in the KVC. They lost twice to Novi and once to Northville in the state tournament.

Softball

Brighton Softball has always had a top team, coached by Pam Lee-Campbell and Michelle Madden. In 2003, Brighton won the state title.

C.A.D.D.

Formed in 1956, the Brighton High School C.a.d.d. Class has been making a name for itself ever since it was begun. Currently coached by the venerable Dr. Jourden, the c.a.d.d. class has stood out among candidates across the country to receive the K.A.C. Award for the past six years. Class size has been booming as well, reaching massive sizes of eight members or more.

External links

* [http://brightonhighschool.net Official Site]
* [http://brightonlacrosse.org Brighton Lacrosse Official site]
* [http://godogs.org Go Dogs Official Site]
* [http://www.brightonfootballphotos.com Brighton Football]
* [http://www.livingstonsportsphotos.com/brighton_michigan.htm Brighton Sports Photos]