On Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, Brighton High School’s varsity girls field hockey team faced Northville High School for not just their win of the 2025 season but their first win as a recognized Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) sport. Freshman Audrey Hoffman scored both of the team’s goals to secure a 2-1 win against Northville. This win marked a strong start to the season as the BHS field hockey team navigates their new status as a Division 1 MHSAA sport.
While field hockey has been an unofficial sport at many schools across Michigan for years, insufficient funding and participation barred the MHSAA from recognizing it as an official sport. However, in May of 2024, the MHSAA reconvened and voted to officially recognize it beginning in the 2025-2026 school year alongside boys volleyball, which debuts in the spring.
The Monday game against Northville was the first time the BHS team got to compete as a MHSAA-recognized sport.
When asked about feelings prior to the game, senior and captain Ella Sata said, “I think we were all nervous, but we were all super excited…We were confident that we could win, and we really pulled it together.”
Brighton’s head coach, Craig Schroeder, felt similarly before the game.
“Northville is just like us,” Schroeder said. “They’re very strong, they [have] got some good players, they [have] got a lot of speed, but we overcame that.”
BHS’s junior varsity field hockey team was watching the game from behind the bench. They were able to get a close-up experience of how the varsity team operates, from watching how the varsity team worked in practice to how their efforts displayed on the field.
Charlie Sparkman, a freshman on Brighton’s JV team, said, “What stands out to me is how much they work together and how good they are together. I really appreciate their sportsmanship and how much they’ve taken us all under their wings and coached us throughout the season.”
Sata’s goals as a senior reflect this sentiment.
“I really hope to leave a team that feels connected and kind of like a family,” Sata said.
In a team sport such as field hockey, strong team bonds are often important in guaranteeing success—especially teams navigating new status and expectations. The BHS varsity field hockey team has secured its first win in its conference; now, the team members have to continue working together throughout the rest of the season to craft their legacy.
According to Schroeder, this sense of camaraderie is even present in their motto: “One family, earn it.”
Find more information about Brighton athletics at gofan.co.
