The state champion 1988 Lake Michigan Catholic High School girls basketball team will be honored tonight, February 13 2026, during Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School’s basketball games in St. Joseph.
Our Lady of the Lake Athletic Director Phil McDonald tells us he’s been tracking down members of that legendary team, and they’ll be welcomed onto the court and have their names read.
“Some of them are not going to be able to come in from out of town — but as many that can make it — they’ll be there tonight,” McDonald said. “We’re going to honor them, kind of represent the state championship trophy to them, and just welcome them home and celebrate something that doesn’t happen for most schools very often, if at all, and that is winning a state championship.”
McDonald’s hoping a few spectators who were at the 1988 state championship game will be on hand to relive a few memories.
Also tonight, the school will honor longtime champion coach Joe Beckmann by naming the basketball court after him. McDonald says Beckmann is a legend in the school.
“He was named the Associated Press Michigan High School Coach of the Year in 1986. He was the Regional Coach of the Year in 1986, 1987, and 1988. He won the state championship team with the girls in 1988. And he coached at Lake Michigan Catholic and Our Lady of the Lake for almost 40 years.”
Beckman passed away recently, but McDonald says he was active with the school up until just a few years ago.
For the girls varsity game vs. Dowagiac, the Our Lady of the Lake team will be wearing throw-back uniforms, similar to the uniforms worn by the 1988 team.
