Hall of Fame
Al Bridges graduated from Catholic Central (CC) in 1971. He was an outstanding student and played four years of hockey. In the early 2000s, his sons also attended CC, and they all enjoyed participating in the CC Father and Son Bowling League. Al's lifelong interest in the sport led him to coach the Catholic Central Varsity Bowling team, where his son Kyle ‘07 was also a varsity bowler. Initially, he planned to coach for Kyle’s two remaining years at CC, but that changed when he ended up coaching for 10 years.
During the ten seasons from 2005 to 2015, under the guidance of Coach Bridges, the Catholic Central (CC) Varsity Bowling Team achieved great success. The team had an impressive Catholic league record of 86-16-5. Coach Bridges led the team to numerous victories, including six division titles in 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, a Catholic High School League (CHSL) Tournament Title in 2014, the MHSAA Regional Title in 2014, and the ultimate triumph, the MHSAA State Title in 2010. This outstanding success would be reflected in the hard work of the team and the exceptional leadership of Coach Bridges.
The tenure of Coach Bridges was marked by both team victories and the individual success of his players. The team members earned 12 All-Catholic honors, showcasing their skill and dedication. Two team members were recognized as CHSL Scholar Athletes, a prestigious honor. The Michigan High School Interscholastic Bowling Coaches Association (MHSIBCA) acknowledged the team's excellence by awarding four CC athletes All-State honors and recognizing three CC bowlers as Academic All-Staters. These individual achievements are a testament to the team's overall success and the positive influence of Coach Bridges. Five athletes from Coach Bridges's teams continued to compete collegiately.
Former team member Matthew Nugent stated, “He is known for his integrity and willingness to mentor and inspire student-athletes. Al Bridges is of the highest character and is respected and admired by many.” In 2010, Coach Bridges was chosen as the (MHSIBCA) Division 1 Coach of the Year.
Al has been married to Diane for 46 years. They have three children, Daryl ‘01, Kayla, Kyle ’07, and three grandchildren. Al is part of a CC legacy family. In addition to his two sons attending CC, Al's brother, cousins, nephews, and great-nephews have attended and are attending CC.
We extend our congratulations to Coach Al Bridges for elevating Catholic Central Bowling to prominence. We express our gratitude for his dedication and significant contribution to the CC academic and athletic legacy and proudly welcome him into the CC Athletic Hall of Fame.
