'Bobcat fever' spreads as part of historic winter for Brandywine athletics

NILES — David Sidenbender estimates he’s driven 2,200 miles in the last month.

All worth it for the success Brandywine has had in that time.

The Athletic Director of the small high school in Niles has seen two wrestlers win MHSAA individual state titles, the girls bowling team go to the Division 4 state tournament and the school’s two basketball teams combine for a 45-4 record so far, collecting three postseason trophies in the process — with the hopes of winning more in the coming weeks.

More: Brandywine's Gavin Schoff, Maddison Ward win state wrestling titles

“It’s been an awesome experience because I know there’s a bunch of great kids and coaches here,” Sidenbender said. “It’s nice that we’re getting a chance to show that to the state and show that to everyone else. I’ve been here 24 years, and we’ve had a lot of great athletics here. It’s great to be able to see the teams have this success.”

Sidenbender didn’t have to drive far for the latest trophy. That happened on the Bobcats’ home floor, with the girls basketball team cruising to a 66-20 victory over Constantine in the Division 3, District 78 final Friday night. It’s the first district title for the program since 2020, improving its record to 22-1 in the process.

They will next play in a regional semifinal game against Hartford (15-8) at 7 p.m. Monday at Bronson High School.

“It’s Bobcat fever,” girls basketball coach Josh Hood said. “If southwest Michigan doesn’t take notice — this is the school. This is the destination. … There’s no place like it. There’s no place we take more pride in, and we’re really lucky to be part of the staff here at Brandywine.”

The boys hoops team grinded out a 41-32 win over Schoolcraft to repeat as Division 3 regional champions Thursday. They’re 23-3 overall entering a state quarterfinal game with Grand Rapids Covenant Christian Tuesday in Kalamazoo.

More: Battle-tested Brandywine wins MHSAA boys basketball regional championship

Both basketball teams were ranked No. 1 in Division 3 at various points through the season, whether it be in the coaches or media poll.

“Our community is really great,” boys basketball head coach Nathan Knapp said. “They’re always around you; it’s so close-knit. And these kids that walk these hallways every day are amazing. They’re all great kids and athletes that have great parents around them. It’s something the kids take pride in. It’s an awesome place to be.”

Last weekend, Brandywine wrestling snapped a 32-year drought by producing a state champion in senior Gavin Schoff. His reign as most recent wrestling champ in school history lasted less than an hour, with junior Maddison Ward winning the girls’ 170-pound title mere minutes after Schoff won in Division 4’s 157-pound weight class.

Girls bowling is still a growing sport at the school, yet they found a way to qualify for the state tournament for a third time since 2016. They finished second at their regional before finishing 14th at state.

While Brandywine has enjoyed successful runs in a singular sport before, rarely has it all come together in one season like this winter. The boys and girls basketball teams both won district championships in 2016 and 2019, but the boys failed to capture regional titles that year. Brandywine programs have won multiple conference titles in a season in the past, but haven’t been able to match postseason success.

Combine everything accomplished this winter, and this is arguably the best season Brandywine has ever had, regardless of how things finish for the basketball teams.

“It’s infectious,” said Hood of the winning the school has seen. “Nobody’s sleeping from Brandywine right now, right? We’re running on adrenaline and fumes, but you watch the boys (Thursday) and most of the girls were in the front row of the student section, getting fired up. … And then everyone’s jacked up at 7 a.m. (Friday), ready to go for this game. This school really loves their athletics."

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Brandywine is in the middle of a historic sports season