Napier picks Madonna, plus 16 others celebrate at Franklin signing day

Bryce Napier signs with Madonna University for lacrosse during Livonia Franklin's second annual signing day on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.

Being one of only two Livonia Franklin student-athletes on the Livonia United boys lacrosse team, senior Bryce Napier has always emphasized fostering relationships.

Most of LU’s players are from Stevenson, the host school for the Livonia Public Schools co-op squad, and many of the Spartans have tight-knit relationships. Fitting in with his teammates over the past four years has taken extra effort.

So when it came time to choose a college, Napier wanted a place where he already felt at home.

During Franklin’s second annual signing day event on May 13 at its Performing Arts Center, Napier made it official by signing with nearby Madonna University. He was one of 17 Patriots celebrating their commitments to future college teams.

“It’s been quite the grind, going to a different school than everybody else because a majority of my teammates go to Stevenson,” Napier said. “It’s harder to build friendships, relationships. It’s harder to build their trust, so I’ve just had to work even harder to earn their trust so that they trust me with the ball. Like I said, it’s been a grind.”

Livonia United's Bryce Napier races to the net during a boys lacrosse match on Friday, April 10, 2026.

Napier, who recently reached the 100-goal milestone for his career, will have plenty of familiarity with the Crusaders.

His older brother, Aiden, already attends Madonna and will be a senior on the football team next school year.

Current LU teammate Luke Beri, a Stevenson senior, signed with Madonna a week earlier during the Spartans’ signing day event.

And Napier already has a close relationship with Madonna coach Carlos Matta, who coached him with Premier Lacrosse Group.

“The big factor and main reason I’m going there is my older brother — he plays football there,” Napier said. “I started playing lacrosse in second grade because of my older brother playing lacrosse, and I’ve always followed in his footsteps and tried to be as good or better than him.”

He’s also shared a brotherly bond with Beri. The two have played in the same football and lacrosse leagues since elementary school, including for the Livonia Raptors in the Livonia Junior Athletic League.

Whether as rivals or teammates, the seniors have always respected one another, whether Napier was quarterbacking Franklin against Stevenson and Beri, one of the Spartans’ top defensive backs, or teaming up with him for LU.

Livonia United's Bryce Napier looks to pass during a boys lacrosse match on Friday, April 10, 2026.

“We’ve known each other since we were fairly young,” Napier said. “We’ve never really had to build a relationship because everything just clicks with us. We have a tight relationship, so everything flows when we’re out there together.”

That respect showed on the football field, too, where Napier usually stayed away from Beri’s side of the field.

“I never threw his way,” Napier added. “He’s a pretty good athlete. I can’t hate on that.”

Before spending the past two travel seasons with Dominate Lacrosse Elite, Napier played for Matta at PLG. Matta helped shape Napier early in high school, developing him into the college-ready player he is today.

That also put Matta in an interesting position. He wasn’t just coaching Napier. He was evaluating him for his own college team. And the Crusaders aren’t taking just anyone.

Madonna recently finished a near-perfect regular season, with its only loss coming by one point to Division II Davenport University. The Crusaders are on an 18-game winning streak, went 12-0 in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference and are set to play in the second round of the NAIA tournament this week.

For Matta to recruit his former travel player, it meant he believed Napier would help during upcoming national championship runs.

Matta projects Napier as an offensive attacker.

Aiden Kirby signs with Madonna University for football during Livonia Franklin's second annual signing day on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.

“I’ve always had a pretty good relationship with him, plus playing for him is close to home,” Napier said. “He’s taught me not to hold the ball too long, not to make stupid passes and to be smart with the ball.”

For Napier, choosing Madonna wasn’t just about continuing his lacrosse career. It was about staying close to the people who helped shape it, from his brother to Beri and Matta. After spending four years working to earn trust and build relationships with LU, he found the perfect place to keep doing both across town with the Crusaders.

Signing Day around Livonia Public Schools

Isabelle Stempien signs with Aquinas College for track and field during Livonia Franklin's second annual signing day on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.

CHURCHILL

Carissa Alemany, bowling, Schoolcraft College

Jake Sturgeon, baseball, Aquinas College

Bridger Olnhausen, baseball, Lansing Community College

Lucas Brown, baseball, Case Western Reserve University

Sophia Best, bowling, William Penn University

Gideon Sinclair, bowling, Schoolcraft College

Austin Stewart, diving, Cleveland State University

Peyton Gout, football, Davenport University

Max Schwesing, football, Davenport University

Evan Reid, hockey, Lawrence Technological University

Angel Green, pom, Michigan State University

Brooklyn Hixson, track and field, Madonna University

Natalie Workman, cross country and track, Kalamazoo College

Joey Brake, cross country, University of Michigan-Dearborn

Yasmin Haney, volleyball, Indiana Tech

Jeff Little talks about signing with Lawrence Tech for football during Livonia Franklin's second annual signing day on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.

FRANKLIN

Brody Burgess, baseball, Henry Ford Community College

Logan McLaughlin, baseball, Madonna University

Cooper Scholz, baseball, Henry Ford

Brendan Bache, football, Adrian College

Aiden Kirby, football, Madonna University

Jeffery Little, football, Lawrence Technological University

Dylan Powell, football, Ohio Northern

Audrey Barretto, hockey, Adrian College

Madison Stevens, hockey, Davenport University

Bryce Napier, lacrosse, Madonna University

Delilah Opalewski, pom, Michigan State University

Marin Nicholas, soccer, Madonna University

Madison Jaskolski, softball, Schoolcraft College

Riley Kirk, softball, Henry Ford College

Makenna Goldman, softball, Henry Ford

Isabelle Stempien, track and field, Aquinas College

Makayla Hobson, volleyball, Madonna University

Dylan Powell talks about signing with Phio Northern for football during Livonia Franklin's second annual signing day on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.

STEVENSON

Michael Haverland, football, Adrian College

Cole Welch, football, Alma College

Tasso Kotsogiannis, football, Tufts University

Luke Beri, football and lacrosse, Madonna University

Tyler Brietbach, hockey, Lawrence Technological University

Nathan Cordle, hockey, Lawrence Technological University

Brendan Sise, hockey, signing professional contract

Colin Stroble, hockey, signing professional contract

Dawson Wallis, hockey, Schoolcraft College

Connor Yancura, bowling, University of Michigan-Dearborn

Bella Sapia, basketball, Saginaw Valley State University

Gabriela Yancura, basketball, Adrian College

Haylie Gordon, basketball, Mid Michigan College

Isabella Johnson, cheerleading, Rochester Christian University

Zoey Pipgras, cheerleading, Baldwin Wallace University

Reese Smith, cheerleading, Eastern Michigan University

Jaylyn Lewis, soccer, Malone University

Kylie Dean, soccer, Madonna University

Ruby Wells, softball, Gannon University

Katelyn Niemczewski, track and field, Spring Arbor University

Antonio Aziz, volleyball, Lawrence Technological University

Addison Boven, volleyball, Madonna University

Kennedy Hinkle, volleyball, Northwood University

Jack Woods, basketball, Madonna University

Brandon Folsom covers high school sports in metro Detroit for Hometown Life. Follow him on his new X.com account at @folsomwrites.

This article originally appeared on Hometownlife.com: Napier picks Madonna, plus 16 others celebrate at Franklin signing day