UNIVERSITY LIGGETT SCHOOL \ ATHLETICS
\ ATHLETICS
Fall Sports
Football
The University Liggett School’s football program strives for excellence both on and off the field. Our program’s culture is built on the “Knight Code,” in which each student-athlete commits to building a team-first mentality and environment. The football program strongly encourages its players to compete in multiple sports and co-curricular activities while at ULS.
Andre Rison
football@uls.net
Field Hockey
Liggett’s Field Hockey program is considered to be one of the strongest in the state year after year. Known for being strong competitors, field hockey players value having a great time while learning and working hard. Coaches and players pride themselves on fostering a very positive team culture and having a tight-knit field hockey family. The team has a rich history, as Liggett was one of the first schools in Michigan to have a field hockey team. The varsity team continues to be a dominant state power, winning state championships in 2020, 2018, and 1996.
Coach bio: Amanda Amine began coaching in 2010, began coaching field hockey in 2012, and started coaching field hockey at Liggett in 2018. She is a Regina High School graduate and attended University of Detroit Mercy with a degree in Business Administration, concentrating in Sports Management. She also assists in the basketball program. Amine considers herself “a players coach,” and really enjoys coaching and getting to know the girls at more than just a player-coach level. Coach Amine led the girls’ to the 2020 state championship and was an assistant when they also won the title in 2018.
Amanda Amine
fieldhockey@uls.net
Boys’ Soccer
Boys’ soccer is an extremely positive and welcoming environment. The JV and varsity teams practice together, with the coaching staff working to get each player as much practice and game time as possible. The team has had great success on the field in recent years, but the chemistry between players and sense of community within the teams is perhaps its biggest source of pride. In 2021 the team won Catholic League and District Championships, and in 2019 the team finished as State Runner-Up, Regional Champions, and Catholic League Champions. ULS boys’ soccer has won four State Championships in program history.
Coach bio: David Dwaihy has been a University Liggett School boys’ and girls’ varsity soccer coach since 2002. He initially worked as an assistant coach under Michigan High School Athletic Association hall-of-fame coach David Backhurst, faculty emeritus for many years before taking over head coaching duties in 2015. David is also an Upper School math teacher at ULS and co-owner and director of soccer operations of Detroit City FC. David also played soccer while at Kalamazoo College, an NCAA Division III school, earning All-Region and Academic All-American honors as a junior and senior. In 2020, Head Coach David Dwaihy was named one of 100 Regional Coaches of the Year in the USA by the Positive Coaching Alliance.
Recent Championships:
Boys Soccer District Champions: 2022, 2024
David Dwaihy
soccer@uls.net
Cross Country
Cross Country is a coed sport in which boys and girls train together but compete in separate races. Runners compete in 5K races against teams from across the state at a variety of parks and geographically diverse locations. The girls’ cross country team won the 2021 MHSAA Regional Championship, and the boys were Regional Runner-Up in 2021. Both the full girls’ and boys’ teams qualified and competed at the 2021 State Championship at the Michigan International Speedway.
Coach bio: With more than 20 years of running experience and four seasons coaching the Cross Country team at University Liggett School, Katie Sime embodies the spirit of excellence that ULS values. Katie believes that every athlete has the potential to succeed, emphasizing that competition is not just about racing others but also about personal growth and self-improvement.
Her coaching philosophy centers around the unique culture of Cross Country, where runners push themselves to surpass their own limits. Katie is dedicated to fostering an environment where each athlete can strive for their personal best, understanding that the effort put in directly correlates with the rewards gained.
By nurturing a sense of community among her runners, Coach Sime instills the importance of empathy and respect for one another, creating a supportive team atmosphere. Under her guidance, students not only develop their physical abilities but also grow in character, learning that integrity and personal achievement go hand in hand.
Katie Sime
crosscountry@uls.net
Swimming
The girls’ swim team follows a unique model in which we partner with Regina High School to form a co-op team since ULS does not have a competition pool on campus. In the last couple of years, the team has had between 10 and 15 girls who represent the program. Liggett consistently qualifies girls and relay teams for the State Championship, where they have experienced much success. Sophie Housey (‘19) and Ginger McMahon (‘22) are both two-time individual State Champions.
Coach bio: Colleen Beland has been passionate about swimming since she joined the swim team in high school and coached summer swim teams through highschool and college. Her love for the sport has only deepened over the years, leading her to become a pivotal figure in the ULS swim program.
In her inaugural season as the boys’ coach, Colleen stepped up when her son, Brendan ’26, was on the ULS team. Recognizing the need for growth, Colleen expanded her role by also coaching the girls’ team this year. Colleen’s focus now is on fostering a love for the sport and helping each athlete reach their potential.
With her dedication and enthusiasm, Colleen is committed to building a strong, inclusive swim community at ULS.
Colleen Beland
swimming@uls.net
Boys' Tennis
Boys’ tennis is the most successful program in school history, with 38 State Championships since 1933. In 2021 the team won the Regional Championship for the ninth time in a row and was State Runner-Up. In 2020 the team won the Regional Championship for the eighth time in a row. Boys’ tennis also has dozens of individual State Champions, most recently William Cooksey (‘21), who won four straight individual State Championships from 2017-2020. In 2022, the team won the State Championship.
Coach bio: Mark Sobieralski entered the Michigan High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2017 and has nearly 40 years of coaching experience and continues to add to the total. He has won 6 team state championships, including two for Liggett’s boys. Mark has been recognized on both the state and national level receiving 8 Coach of the Year awards. He has also put in time for the sport of tennis itself, spending time on the Michigan High School Tennis Association Board of Directors, as President of the Michigan High School Tennis Coaches Association and founding the Macomb County Coaches association.Sobieralski has dedicated his life to coaching and the sport of tennis. He works to instill honesty and competition into the game and ensures his teams are well coached and have a respect for the game and opponents.
Recent Championships:
Boys Tennis Regional Champions: 2021, 2022, 2023
Boys Tennis State Championship: 2022
Mark Sobieralski
boystennis@uls.net
Girls' Volleyball
Volleyball is one of ULS's largest fall sports for girls. The goal of the program is to teach the game and encourage hard work and hustle. As the team is growing, in addition to the varsity squad, the program has two JV teams. ULS has won countless District Championships over the years.
Recent Championships:
Girls Volleyball District Championships: 2022, 2023, 2024
