Brighton High School is located in Brighton, Michigan which is part of the Detroit Metro Area. It is part of Brighton Area Schools which are located in Livingston County.
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Brighton High School is a member of the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA). Its athletic department is headed by John Thompson. BHS has had several teams place at the top in state competition, including the state champion rugby and hockey teams from the 2005-2006 academic year, as well as state semifinalist teams in soccer, baseball and football. Brighton has been part of the West Division of the Kensington Lakes Activities Association since 2008, when the Kensington Valley Conference merged with the Western Lakes Activities Association.
Alumnus Drew Henson played quarterback on the University of Michigan and Dallas Cowboys football teams after his graduation from BHS. 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. Henson went on to play for the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions. Cullen Finnerty was another standout football quarterback from Brighton High School, who played his college football at Grand Valley State University and formerly played for the Baltimore Ravens and the Denver Broncos. Former NFL offensive lineman Dave Pearson also graduated from Brighton High School.
The BHS football team's most recent success was in 2005, when Brighton Football reached the Division I State Semifinals, narrowly losing in triple overtime to eventual champion Rockford. That season, the team went undefeated in conference play, and also won the school's first regional championship. T.J. Van Doren also broke the state record for most completions in a single season with 227.[1] Head Coach "Wild" Bill Murray coached the Bulldogs for 21 seasons before retiring in 2007. In 2007, Murray was also inducted into the Michigan High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame,[2] joining George Reck, who was inducted in 2002.[3] Brighton is currently coached by Cliff Kiefer.[4]
The gymnastics team is 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.
The Brighton High School men's ice hockey team won the State Championship in 2006.
Brighton won two MYRA Division I State Championships in 2002 and 2006, and also won the MYRA Division II Championship in 2008.[5] They were also State runners-up in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, and Division IV runners-up in 2008.
Brighton high school rugby began as a club team that was affiliated with the school. Until the team became a varsity sport for the school the team was originally known as the Brighton Barbarians. The team was started by and coached by Keith Stone. Stone’s son played for the Barbarians and continued on to play at the University of Michigan. The bulldog’s boast one of the largest teams in the state: averaging 70+ players a year, but have had at times over 120 players. The Bulldogs often side several teams in different divisions with their “extra” players allowing the players not playing on the varsity side to gain valuable tournament experience. The team became a varsity sport in 2004. Many of the teams’ players have continued on the play college rugby in Michigan and all over the country (Michigan State University, University of Michigan, Ferris State University, Western University, Northwestern, and University of Arizona). At the college level many of the Bulldog alumni have been selected to the Midwest select side teams. Many of the team’s players have continued to play and coach rugby in men’s senior teams.
For the last two decades the bulldogs have been District, and Regional champions numerous times while making multiple appearances at the state level.The bulldogs have produced many college level soccer players in the past. Schools include University of Michigan, Western Michigan, Michigan State, Kalamazoo College, Trine University, Northwood University, University of Dayton, University of Detroit, Davenport University, Indiana Tech, Schoolcraft College, Madonna University, Albion College, Butler University and Fort Lewis College. Former players Phil Moore and Joe McCarty now coach Varsity teams in Oakland County.
Brighton Softball is coached by Pam Lee-Campbell and Michelle Madden. Brighton won the state title in 2003.
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