CHSL Girls’ Sports In 1955, girls’ athletics entered the Catholic High School League with the introduction of the swimming championships held on May 4 at Detroit Visitation High School. Sixteen teams competed for the inaugural championships with Detroit Immaculata claiming victory. In 1973, the league assumed control – from the CYO – the girls’ basketball program with 38 varsity teams. Two years later, softball, tennis, volleyball, cheerleading, and track were added to the league mix. Since then, several outstanding female athletes have sharpened their skills in the Catholic League – names like LPGA champion Meg Mallon (Mercy), Minnesota Lynx forward Tracey Lovelace-Tolbert (DePorres), and Washington Mystics forward Aiysha Smith (Bishop Borgess). Today, 12 varsity championship events are annually held, including soccer, golf, cross-country, pom-pon, and bowling.