DETROIT — The day had all the makings of a beautiful homecoming for the Michigan Panthers as they took the field April 30 against the New Jersey Generals at Ford Field.

ROYAL OAK — Just a few weeks away from Oakland County Football Club’s opener against Midwest United on May 13, the club has made multiple roster moves as OCFC fans continue to anticipate whether or not certain fan favorites will be back for the 2023 season.

Novi boys swim and dive not only improved from its 10th place finish at the 2022 Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 State Finals, it also took a giant step forward for the program’s future.

ROYAL OAK — Royal Oak Schools Athletics Coordinator Pam Moore continues to add to her already impressive resume.

GROSSE POINTE FARMS — Everything was new for Grosse Pointe South softball. Graduating a majority of the squad entering this season and building a brand-new softball field, the rapid change could be a scary transition for some, but not this squad.

GROSSE POINTE WOODS — Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett girls soccer is in unfamiliar territory six games into the season.

FRASER — Coming off a dominant 20-6 season that saw Fraser softball capture the Macomb Area Conference-Blue division in 2022, coach Matt Fishburn and his squad knew they’d have to dig their heels in quickly, coming into the 2023 season.

BLOOMFIELD HILLS — Bloomfield Hills girls hockey had a movie-like season, following in the footsteps of “Miracle,” “The Mighty Ducks,” and even a little of “Slap Shot,” but less aggressive, of course.

ST. CLAIR SHORES — What do Katniss Everdeen, Harry Potter and Snow White all have in common?

METRO DETROIT — The spring season is a safe haven for Michiganders. It’s not only a prequel to the beautiful summer months, but it’s also a season people tend to look forward to as soon as the rainfall and cold fronts of September come around.

NOVI — With 16 state titles, countless individual state champions, and 28 straight Catholic High School League titles to its historic collection, Detroit Catholic Central High School’s wrestling program is in a league of its own when it comes to legacy.

ST. CLAIR SHORES — It’s more than just track and field for St. Clair Shores South Lake coach Joe Crachiola. It’s a livelihood and a program he’s come to know since his graduation from South Lake in 2011 to coaching the South Lake track and field team in 2012.

TROY — It was a long-awaited moment for the Troy Martial Arts Competition Sparring Team as they traveled to Livonia Stevenson High School March 25 to compete in the USAT Michigan State Taekwondo Championships.

FERNDALE — Ferndale head coach Juan Rickman aspired to bring a state title home to Ferndale High School when he took over the varsity boys basketball head coaching job in 2018, but he wasn’t the only person who held the same vision.

UTICA — A program based on family, faith and winning shined once more this season when the Michigan Lutheran Basketball Association State Tournament took place at Concordia University March 4-5.