5 Super Athletes With Ties To Brighton

Sports have a way of teaching invaluable life lessons — building character, fostering teamwork and strengthening the bonds within a community. In the Brighton area, these values have shaped some truly remarkable athletes from different eras, whose accomplishments continue to inspire.

Patch has teamed up with T-Mobile to spotlight five standout athletes whose achievements have left a lasting mark on our community. While this list is just a snapshot, there are countless others who have helped shape the rich sports culture in our area.

Cooper Marody (Ice Hockey)

Brighton native Cooper Marody has built a strong career in professional hockey. A former University of Michigan standout, Marody was the Big Ten Scoring Champion in 2018 and an AHCA Second Team All-American. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2015 before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers, where he made his NHL debut in 2018. He now plays for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the AHL.

Joel L’Esperance (Ice Hockey)

Joel L’Esperance was born in Brighton and rose through Michigan’s hockey ranks before making it to the NHL. The Michigan Tech graduate led the Texas Stars in scoring as an AHL rookie before earning a Dallas Stars contract in 2018. He later played for the Grand Rapids Griffins, consistently proving himself as a strong goal-scorer at the professional level.

Katie Carothers (Track & Field)

A standout distance runner, Katie Carothers was a four-time Michigan All-State honoree and a three-time All-Region Champion for Brighton High School (Class of 2022). She holds the school’s cross-country record, served as team captain for two seasons, and was named team MVP three times. She is currently studying pre-med at Michigan State University.

Morgan Trent (Football)

A University of Michigan football standout, Morgan Trent played cornerback before being drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2009. His professional career also included time with the Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Washington Redskins. Trent was born in San Diego and then moved to Brighton, where he developed into a multi-sport athlete before excelling on the football field.

Natalie Neaton (Soccer)

One of William & Mary’s greatest soccer players, Natalie Neaton holds the school record for career goals and ranks second in career points. The Brighton native earned All-American honors and was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy. Neaton went on to play for the U.S. Women’s National Team, scoring four goals in six international appearances, before spending two seasons playing professionally in Japan. She was inducted into her alma mater’s Hall of Fame in 2008.

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