Bulldog Pride: 5 Unforgettable Athletes From Brighton High School

Sports run deep in Brighton, and Brighton High School has long been at the heart of it. It’s no surprise some standout talent once wore the Bulldog uniform. Today we're celebrating five unforgettable athletes from Brighton High School who made a name for themselves well beyond the hometown field.

1. Joey Clifford – Football & Hockey All-State

A dominant two-sport athlete at Brighton High School, Joey Clifford was a three-year starting running back who rushed for over 4,000 yards and 52 touchdowns, earning All-State and All-Conference honors. He also earned Second Team All-State recognition in hockey and helped lead Brighton to a state championship before continuing his football career at Northwood University. (Source: MLive)

2. Taylor Seaman – Swimmer of the Year

Taylor Seaman was one of the most accomplished swimmers in Brighton history, earning Livingston County Swimmer of the Year honors in 2017 and HSAA Swimmer of the Year in 2016. She continued her collegiate swimming career at Brown University, competing at the Division I level. (Sources: MLive, BrownUniversityAthletics)

3. Katie Carothers – Track & Field/Cross Country All-State & MVP

A standout distance runner, Katie Carothers earned four Michigan All-State honors and was a three-time All-Region Champion for Brighton High School. She held the school cross-country record, served as a two-year team captain, was a three-time MVP and went on to compete collegiately at Michigan State University. (Sources: MichiganStateAthletics, LivingstonDaily)

4. Kari Seitz – International Soccer Referee

A Brighton alum and global trailblazer, Kari Seitz is a five-time FIFA World Cup referee, three-time Olympic official and the first woman to referee across all top U.S. professional soccer leagues, officiating over 200 pro matches. She later became FIFA Head of Refereeing and served as U.S. Soccer Vice President of Refereeing (2016–2024), breaking barriers and expanding opportunities for women worldwide. (Sources: LivingstonDaily, BrightonAreaSchools)

5. Drew Henson – Professional Baseball & Football Player

A rare multi-sport star and academic standout, Drew Henson graduated first in his class with a 4.0 GPA and earned Michigan Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors. He went on to star as a quarterback at the University of Michigan, later going on to play two sports at the highest level: MLB baseball with the Yankees and Reds, and NFL football with three teams. (Sources: BrightonAreaSchools, NationalFootballFoundation)

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