Neha Patil (Editor)

Brighton High School (Brighton, Michigan)

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Type
  
Public high school

Faculty
  
92.0 FTEs

Enrollment
  
2,099 (as of 2014-15)

District
  
Brighton Area Schools

School district
  
Brighton Area Schools

Grades
  
9-12

Phone
  
+1 810-299-4100

Lowest grade
  
Ninth grade

Brighton High School (Brighton, Michigan)

Principal
  
Gavin Johnson Henry Vecchioni Jeff Beane

Address
  
7878 Brighton Rd, Brighton, MI 48116, USA

Brighton High School is located in Brighton, which is part of Livingston County, Michigan, United States. The high school, along with several other schools in the district, is currently under renovations, including upgraded technology, renovated bathrooms, new football stadium, tennis courts, football practice field, and baseball diamond.

Contents

As of the 2014-15 school year, the school had an enrollment of 2,099 students and 92.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 22.8:1. There were 151 students (7.2% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 52 (2.5% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.

Athletics

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.

Football

The BHS football team's most recent success was 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. 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, joining George Reck, who was inducted in 2002. Brighton is currently coached by Brian Lemons.

Gymnastics

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, never placing below 7th at States, and usually coming in the top 5. In 2001 they were ranked 13th in the entire nation and were recognized as an All American Elite gymnastics team.

Lacrosse

The men's lacrosse team has done very well in recent years. They have been ranked in the top 15 in States for the last couple years. The Brighton High School Men's Lacrosse team won the State Championship in the 2011 season.

Ice hockey

The Brighton High School men's ice hockey team has won the State Championship in 2006, 2012 and 2013. Almost winning a 4th in the 2014 season, but lost to Detroit Catholic Central in the State Finals.

Rugby

Brightons most recent championship was during the 2016 season when they took home the Michigan Youth Rugby Association (MYRA) Division II State Championship. Brighton won MYRA Division I State Championships in 2002 and 2006, and also won the MYRA Division II Championship in 2008. 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.

Soccer

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, who have gone on to play for schools such as the 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.

Softball

Brighton Softball was coached by Pam Lee-Campbell and Michelle Madden when Brighton won the state title in 2003. Varsity Softball is currently coached by Rob Barr.

Notable Alumni

  • Drew Henson, former NFL player (Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions) and MLB player (New York Yankees)
  • Cullen Finnerty, former Grand Valley State University football quarterback
  • Frank A Buckless, KPMG Professor and Department Head of Accounting at North Carolina State University’s Poole College of Business
  • References

    Brighton High School (Brighton, Michigan) Wikipedia