The corridors of Detroit’s civic leadership resonated with an extraordinary announcement as the Detroit City Council provided a testimony of achievement to the Cass Tech High School girls’ golf team. This was no ordinary accolade; the team etched their names in the annals of history as the first from any Detroit Public School to reach the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Division 1 Girls Golf Championships.
The Council’s chambers were transformed into a scene of celebration and pride, as the six young athletes from Cass Tech’s golf team stood in unison, adorned in their school’s distinctive Cass green golf polos. They stood side by side, a picture of unity and triumph, accompanied by their proud principal Lisa Phillips and their visionary coach, Martin Siml.
“It makes me so proud that they accomplished this within three years of me starting this program the first year Kennedy Watts made state finals as an individual and then two years later the entire team now makes state finals,” shared Siml. “I have three teams entailing 26 girls – it’s vital that I don’t cut anybody from an opportunity in learning the game. I have an A-team, B-team, and C-team. The A-team is the one that made state finals and I’m so proud that within three years they’ve gone from not knowing golf to making history.” Coach Siml, who was recruited specifically to establish the golf program at Cass Tech, has, within a span of three years, built a formidable team of 26 dedicated girls. The team’s rapid ascent to the MHSAA finals speaks volumes about their talent, determination, and the robust training they have received.
The Detroit City Council recognized the Cass Tech High School girls’ golf team not only for their athletic prowess but for embodying the school’s ethos where academics are paramount. The team’s qualification for the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Division 1 Girls Golf Championships stands as a secondary, yet significant testament to the dedication and discipline instilled in them.
“Academics is always first in Cass and athletics are number two. We have three girls that are all-state academics which means that you have a 4.0GPA,” said Siml. “There’re six girls that made it to the state finals, out of those six, one has 4.2 and two others have a 4.0 and the rest have at least a 3.5. I think it’s amazing to witness that in addition to our major accomplishments on the athletic level, we are awesome on the academic level as well.”
Principal Lisa Phillips, a staunch advocate for academics as the foremost priority, has always maintained that athletics should complement, not compromise, educational attainment. Under her leadership, the Cass Tech team’s journey to the MHSSA finals is a dual triumph, showcasing their intellectual vigor alongside their newfound status as the first DPS team to reach such a height in golf.
This recognition by the city underscores a broader narrative: that Detroit Public Schools can and do produce students who excel both in the classroom and on the green. The Cass Tech girls’ golf team carry with them not just their golf bags, but the profound impact of an education-first philosophy that has propelled them to make history.
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