Regina extends powderpuff win streak to seven in 14-7 win

WARREN — The long-standing powderpuff tradition between Warren Regina and Bloomfield Hills Marian continued as both teams squared off on Sept. 16 at Hazel Park High School.

For the seventh consecutive season, Regina cruised to a victory as they edged Marian 14-7 with an impressive defensive showing.

The senior-only matchup featured 14 unanswered points by Regina courtesy of Avery Zdankiewicz and Angelina Moraccini. Moraccini also successfully made both extra-point kicks as well.

Sure, the rivalry on the field is enjoyable, especially when Regina owns a 26-17 lead in the 43-year series, but the camaraderie is what brings the players together, and Neely Taylor said that carried over for the Regina defense.

“It was honestly different because you had people from different friend groups and people who did different things like sports and clubs, but we all came together as one to play this one important game against Marian,” Taylor said. “We all just really connected easily on defense.”

Offensively, the bond was as strong as it could get for Regina. If the practices four days a week for eight weeks weren’t enough, the offensive unit felt they needed some extra practice during their offensive sleepover.

Each year, the offense and defense hold sleepovers before the game, and unfortunately for the defense, the offense felt like putting together a late-night practice.

“We showed up to the defensive sleepover and threw water balloons at them, and we were running plays in the front yard, and it was like the middle of the night in a really quiet neighborhood, so that was really fun,” Sara Essenmacher said.

Regina went with the team nickname of the “Regina Bulldogs” this year while sporting green and black jerseys.

As the tradition follows each year, Regina’s team captains orchestrated a team dinner, painted cars, held a pep rally, and each player picked a nickname to represent on the back of their jersey.

It’s one thing to see it as an underclassman, but Kennedy Roskopp said it was more than she could’ve ever imagined.

“I’ve always heard that powderpuff is everyone’s favorite part of Regina, and after experiencing it, it 100% is one of the best things at Regina,” Roskopp said. “You grow closer with people you wouldn’t expect and the entire class comes together for one thing, and it’s so nice to see.”

Former University of Michigan Wolverine Mark Campbell and former Detroit Lion Lomas Brown served as mentors again for the Regina side, but Marian countered with a familiar face this year in the celebrity category. Former University of Michigan Wolverine Jon Jansen came out to support Marian this year.

It’s been two years since Regina’s senior class chose their colors and team nickname for this very moment, and now it’s officially past. They’re now the veteran players at Regina that kept the streak alive, and you can bet they’re going to be leaders for the next senior class.

Sabrina Kiryakoza said multiple Regina players from last year’s game reached out to her and some of her teammates before the game and that it gave her and the team confidence to move forward.

“Especially Zoe Hunt with me and Sara (Essenmacher), she texted us three days before the game and was making sure we were okay and asking us all these questions, which almost made us forget about the nervous part and just remember that no matter what year we are, we always have each other’s backs,” Kiryakoza said.