Image by bublikhaus on Freepik

 At the University of Detroit Jesuit, there are several major sports that make the school special. The football team who, in the 2023 season, have maintained a positive winning record as they finished up their successful season, by surviving 2 weeks into the state playoff run. The basketball team, known for its dominance in the Catholic League. Both players and fans wait in anticipation for the basketball season. The team has been working and preparing consistently, as the season is just around the corner. The swim & dive and track teams are both back-to-back state champions with a promising season to look forward to. Regardless of the sport or team, University of Detroit Jesuit holds a strong and respectable reputation for sports all across the board. One team that represents the ambition and drive of the Jesuit spirit is the UDJ Sailing team.  

On October 1st, the UDJ Sailing Team competed against twelve other schools in the Metro Detroit area for a chance at a state championship. This competition took place at the Grosse Point Yacht Club, a club that has been around since 1914. The Cubs raced against much larger teams, such as powerhouse sailing team Grosse Point South Highschool and West Bloomfield Highschool. Grosse Point South has dominated the competition for years, with several state championships under their belt. Since 2018, UDJ Sailing has worked its way up to the top of the leaderboards and competition. The team managed to beat the defending champion by 4 points, bringing home a chip to 7 Mile and Livernois. I was able to interview two members of the UDJ Sailing team, Graham Rebain and Gabe Morreale. I asked both “skippers”, about the roles of being on the sailing team. “I joined sailing team my freshman year and I have been sailing all of my life,” says Graham. “As a skipper I captain the ship. The boats we race are very small and only hold two people, but there is a lot more than two jobs. So, the skipper must do several other things while also steering the boat.” This sport requires a lot of coordination and effort to keep up. The amount of work and memorization is unreal. You must make drastic decisions at a moment’s notice, be able to communicate effetely and efficiently, and most importantly– stay afloat. 

All in all, this team has never backed down. UDJ sailing has a strong team with great student leaders, such as Gabe Morreale and Liam Dowling. Both current seniors at the University of Detroit Jesuit have set an example of what true leadership looks like. In the recent State Championship, Morreale managed to earn 3 consecutive 1st place spots to take the win. “He kept us alive” says Graham Rebain. “I’ve been sailing for as long as I could remember. My passion and my love for sailing is what drives me to come out on the water,” said Gabe Morreale. “Everyone played well, and it was a very close win, I am glad we could bring it home.” The sailing team is strong and through practice and good leadership they thrive in the competition. I think it is safe to say that our Sailing Team has left a mark in the schools’ history. The team can’t wait to show what this program has to offer for future classes of cubs.