Hornets Pride: 5 Unforgettable Athletes From Saline High School

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

Chris Baker – NFL Tight End

Chris Baker attended Saline High School before going on to a standout college football career at Michigan State University, where he earned Second-team All-American honors and multiple All–Big Ten selections. He was selected in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the New York Jets and went on to play nine seasons in the NFL, also spending time with the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. Baker finished his professional career with over 1,700 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. (Source: ProFootballReference.com)

Dori Cook – Award-Winning Water Polo & Cross Country Star

A top-five graduate of Saline High School’s Class of 2024, Dori Cook exemplified excellence in both academics and athletics. As captain of the water polo and cross-country teams, Cook earned the prestigious Woodie Merchant Award, recognizing her as Saline’s top female scholar-athlete. She now attends Michigan State University, where she studies computational data science and competes for the Spartans' water polo team. (Sources: The Saline Post, MSU Water Polo)

CJ Carr – Quarterback Prodigy

CJ Carr carved out a legendary high school career at Saline, throwing for over 2,600 yards in each of his three seasons as the starting quarterback. Known for his poise, precision, and high football IQ, Carr earned all-state honors and led the Hornets to back-to-back appearances in the Michigan Division 1 playoffs. Now a promising signal-caller at Notre Dame, Carr continues to rise as one of the nation’s top collegiate quarterbacks. (Sources: 247Sports, ESPN)

Ricky Karcher – Major League Fireballer

Ricky Karcher made an instant impact at Saline High School, posting a 9–0 record and a 0.41 ERA in his lone season there. After a winding college and minor league career, Karcher debuted with the Cincinnati Reds in 2023, earning a save in his first MLB appearance. He’s since played professionally in both the U.S. and Mexico, showcasing his versatility and determination as a relief pitcher. (Sources: MLive, ESPN)

Lisa Bonder – Tennis Trailblazer With a Global Impact

Before rising to a world ranking of No. 9 on the WTA tour, Lisa Bonder honed her skills in Saline. In a professional career that spanned a decade, she won four WTA singles titles and made deep runs at major tournaments like the French Open and U.S. Open. With victories over tennis legends like Chris Evert, Bonder remains one of Saline’s most decorated and recognizable athletes. (Sources: UPI Archives, ITF Tennis)

This content is brought to our community in partnership with T-Mobile.