A MISSION IN MOTION

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April 9, 2026

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

With broad participation, sustained success and a mission-driven approach, Notre Dame Prep offers a model for scholastic athletics at the same time many programs face uncertainty.

As high school athletic programs navigate declining participation in some regions, shifting priorities and questions about purpose, Notre Dame Preparatory School offers a different model — one built on consistency, steady growth and a clearly stated mission.

Participation in high school sports nationwide has rebounded to record levels, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations, yet research continues to raise questions about whether programs are meeting their intended goals. Studies from institutions including the University of Chicago and the University of Tennessee suggest that while athletics can improve academic outcomes and social development, not all programs consistently deliver those benefits.

At Notre Dame Prep, administrators say the difference lies in intentionality.

“Our mission and the educational athletic approach make it much easier to stay consistent,” Athletic Director Betty Wroubel said. “At Notre Dame Prep, we don’t just ‘play.’ The Marist mission is the heartbeat of all our programs. We're building Christian scholars and citizens while we're developing athletes.”

By the numbers: a broad and active program

The scope of Notre Dame Prep’s athletic program reflects both access and engagement.

In the 2024-25 school year, the school offered 30 high school sports programs across 44 teams, along with 12 middle school programs comprising 25 teams. Participation rates remain high, with 78% of high school students and 84% of middle school students competing in at least one sport.

Across all levels, teams participated in 1,087 competitions, supported by 158 coaches.

The program also saw strong results during the last full school year:

• Three team state championships
• Five regional championships
• Five district championships
• Three individual state champions
• 23 individual and four relay all-state honorees
• 15 team academic all-state recognitions
• 88 individual academic all-state athletes

The program’s academic outcomes parallel its athletic success. Over the past five years, the school has averaged roughly 10 college signees annually while producing more than 85 Academic All-State honors.

“That shows that a great athlete and a great student can go hand-in-hand here,” Wroubel said.

Consistency as a competitive advantage

While many athletic departments have experienced turnover or restructuring, Notre Dame Prep has emphasized continuity.

“To be completely honest, our consistency has been one of our greatest strengths,” Associate Athletic Director Aaron Crouse said. “We have been fortunate that our athletic department staff, sport offerings, participation rate and majority of our coaching staff have not gone through much change over the past five years.”

Instead of expanding rapidly, the school has focused on strengthening existing programs. Notre Dame Prep currently offers 31 athletic programs — more than many peer schools — and has intentionally avoided overextension.

That approach has led to sustained competitive success. Over the past five years, Notre Dame Prep teams have earned six state titles, three runner-up finishes and six individual state championships, contributing to a broader legacy that includes 20 team state titles and 26 individual champions.

Athletics as an extension of the classroom

Multiple studies have found that participation in athletics can improve academic performance, attendance and long-term outcomes. A University of Chicago analysis found that student-athletes often demonstrate stronger engagement in school and higher graduation rates.

At Notre Dame Prep, administrators view those outcomes as a direct result of how athletics are structured.

“When we talk about the importance of athletics, it all goes back to the philosophy of educational athletics itself,” Crouse said. “This includes participation and accountability, along with an expectation of competitive excellence — everything we want our teachers to emphasize in the classroom is also reinforced by our coaches.”

That philosophy is evident in the program’s academic achievements and participation rates, but also in its emphasis on belonging.

“One of the biggest aspects of school sports is being part of something bigger than yourself,” Crouse said. “It’s about wearing that block ‘ND’ on the field and developing a strong sense of community.”

Navigating a changing landscape

High school athletics continue to evolve, with new regulations, including name, image and likeness (NIL) policies and postseason structural changes, reshaping the landscape.

Notre Dame Prep has taken a proactive approach.

“With our department’s involvement with the MHSAA we are able to stay ahead of the game when new rules or guidelines come out,” Wroubel said. “Seldom does something surprise us.”

Crouse echoed that perspective, noting the department’s analytical approach.

“We tend to be very analytical and data driven in our decision-making, and ultimately many of these changes can be of benefit to our student athletes,” he said.

National research also highlights disparities in access, funding and program quality. Recent reports from organizations such as the Women’s Sports Foundation point to uneven opportunities and resource allocation, particularly in underfunded districts.

Notre Dame Prep’s model — marked by high participation, broad offerings and institutional support — stands in contrast.

Leadership grounded in mission

School leadership points to the program’s foundation as its defining characteristic.

Upper school Principal Kim Anderson described Wroubel’s impact as extending far beyond competition.

“A lifelong Catholic school coach, Betty’s done far more than teach the game — she’s inspired faith, discipline and character in every athlete she’s guided,” Anderson said. “Her leadership reflects the heart of true service, forming not just competitors, but compassionate, principled individuals.”

Anderson also highlighted Crouse’s role in shaping the program’s future.

“Aaron has brought fresh energy, faith-driven leadership and a clear vision to NDP athletics,” Anderson said. “His commitment to nurturing both excellence and character is already making a lasting impact.”

NDP Head of School Andy Guest credits Wroubel and Crouse with developing student-athletes who are talented, intelligent and well-balanced, and live the school mission every day.

“I am incredibly proud of how far our athletic department has come — what began years ago with our first state championship in 12 years has grown into a program with 20 titles and some of the highest participation rates in the state," said Guest. "Betty Wroubel is the hardest-working, most dedicated athletic director I know, and alongside Aaron Crouse, who is one of the best up-and-coming leaders in the field, they’ve built an unstoppable team that continues to elevate our program.”

Together, that leadership reinforces a shared philosophy.

“We maintain our integrity by keeping a proper perspective on what school sports are intended to achieve,” Wroubel said. “For our coaches and staff, we emphasize that ‘who’ they are is far more impactful than ‘what’ they are.”

Looking ahead

As participation continues to grow and expectations evolve, Notre Dame Prep is focused on sustaining its model while planning for future needs.

Facility enhancements — including expanded tennis courts, additional fields, a track facility and a larger weight room — are among the priorities identified by department leadership to support more than 1,000 student-athletes.

Yet even as the program grows, its core remains unchanged.

“Allowing the school mission … to be a driving force for what we do enables us to maintain who we are in an ever-changing environment,” Crouse said.

In a national landscape where the purpose and structure of high school athletics are increasingly scrutinized, Notre Dame Prep offers a clear counterpoint: a program with high participation, consistent success and a mission that remains central.

For students and families evaluating opportunities, that combination is increasingly rare — and at Notre Dame Prep, it’s intentionally maintained.

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org

About Notre Dame Preparatory School
"At Notre Dame Prep, we inspire our students to become the best versions of themselves. We challenge them through an experience of academic excellence, focused on active, project-based learning. We invite them to explore a world of opportunities beyond the classroom. We guide them as they grow in spirituality within a community strong in its Catholic and Marist identity."

Notre Dame Preparatory School is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. Notre Dame Preparatory School's upper school enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame Prep's middle and lower schools enroll students in pre-kindergarten through grade eight. All three schools are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDP is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the National Association of Independent Schools. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School, visit the school’s home page at www.ndpma.org.