THE RETURN OF THE EYE

Staff Spotlight: Mr. Tolar

*Assistant Treasurer*

By: BHS Staff Profiles

March 21, 2025

Chosen for this week’s Staff Spotlight is Mr. Matt Tolar. Mr. Tolar has been the Assistant Treasurer in Brooklyn for a year and a half. Prior to Brooklyn, he worked as a teacher in Parma, Fairview Park, and Avon Lake. He was also a principal at a Catholic school in Parma. In his free time, he loves to go outside and play sports with his four children. A fun fact about him is that he played soccer in college and was on a futsal team, and his team ended up winning the U.S. Cup and later went to Germany to represent America back in 2006. His team ended up losing to South Africa, the team that eventually won the tournament.

Q: Why did you decide to become a school treasurer?

A: “I enjoy helping a district stay stable and fiscally responsible. I also enjoy helping people. I like to make sure that the aspect of my job is taken care of so students can come in and do their work. Knowing that I can provide the best service available is a nice thing, too.”

Q: What was the most significant life lesson ever taught to you?

A: “Life is all about change and how you deal with the change. If you embrace the change and face it head-on, it is wonderful for your personal and professional growth.”

Q: How do you plan to spend your upcoming Summer?

A: “Well, my daughter plays volleyball, so I am hoping that her team possibly receives a bid, and we may be able to go on a mini vacation.”

Q: What is your favorite part about working in the Brooklyn City School District?

A: “I love the staff, and even though I do not get to interact with the students on a day-to-day basis, I enjoy walking down the hallways and seeing them be kids, having fun. Also, seeing them engaged in the classroom activities is something that warms my heart. It is a small district, which I like. I come from a big district, so I feel like Brooklyn is a great family-like community. Also, my wife is a Brooklyn Alumni.”

Q: If you could go on your dream vacation, where would it be?

A: “Hawaii! I think it is beautiful, and I have heard nothing but wonderful things from people who I know have gone there. The only challenging part I hear is once you are there, you never want to leave. I want to be able to see the sights and enjoy the serenity, most of all.”

Q: What is your biggest pet peeve?

A: “When everything is off balance in my day. I have to have everything organized, and I have to make sure everything is put together, or else, my day is off. I need to have that structure to make sure that everything is in place.”

Q: Favorite sport? Favorite team to root for?

A: “Any Cleveland team. I do not want to say football because it has been a rough year, but I think baseball. I have been getting into baseball a bit more, and it is a cool sport. My dad and I have also been bonding over it a lot and my son, too, which is something special. Football is a little tough to watch these days, honestly.”

Q: What is one food that you will never try?

A: “Any sort of seafood. It does not appeal to me.”

Thank you for letting us interview you, Mr. Tolar. We appreciate all that you do and all of the hard work you put in, daily. Stay awesome!

Bring On The Madness

By: BHS Sports Staff

March 20, 2025

It’s that time of year again when college basketball fans drown in sadness when their championship team gets bounced early. With 64 teams involved and the eventual champion needing six wins, anything can happen.

So, who has the chance to pull it off this year and cut down the nets? Better yet, who will win the BHS Sports Staff challenge?

*South Region: The #1 seed Auburn Tigers finished with a record of 28-5. The #2 seed belongs to the Spartans of Michigan State who finished with a 27-6 record. Iowa State holds the #3 seed with a record of 24-9. Lastly, the Aggies of Texas A&M are the #4 seed with a 22-10 record. One potential upset to look out for is #12 UC San Diego over Big Ten Champion #5 Michigan.

{Editor’s Note: Not happening!}

*West Region: This region features the SEC champions, the Florida Gators, who finished with a record of 30-4. Next is the Rick Pitino led St. John’s Red Storm as the #2 seed with a record of 30-4 as well. The Texas Tech Red Raiders hold the #3 seed with a record of 25-8. Lastly, the #4 seed belongs to the Maryland Terrapins, as they also finished with a record of 25-8, too. Finally, look for Missouri Valley Conference Champion and #11 seed Drake Bulldogs to upset #6 Missouri.

*East Region: The #1 seed belongs to the Duke Blue Devils, winners of the ACC and a record of 31-3. They are the #1 overall seed in this year’s tournament. The #2 seed belongs to the Alabama Crimson Tide, who are the #1 offensive team in the country and finished with a record of 25-8. The #3 seed is claimed by the Wisconsin Badgers with a record of 26-9. Lastly, the #4 seed in this region is held by the Arizona Wildcats with a record of 22-12. Some potential upsets to look for are #10 Vanderbilt over #7 Saint Mary’s, #12 Liberty over #5 Oregon, and #13 Akron over #4 Arizona.

{Editor’s Note: Go Zips!}

*Midwest Region: Back-to-back BIG 12 Champions, the Houston Cougars, are the #1 seed with a record of 30-4. The SEC runner-up Tennessee Volunteers hold the #2 seed with a 27-7 record. The #3 seed belongs to the Kentucky Wildcats, who are another competitor in the SEC with a record of 22-11. The #4 seed is held by the Purdue Boilermakers (annual March Madness choke artists, right Mrs. Romano?) with a record of 22-11. Finally, with a record of 27-6 and winner of the Southland Conference, McNeese State is a sleeper in the tournament with a good chance of beating #5 Clemson.

Now, the moment all of you have been waiting for. The Return of the Eye Sports Staff and special guest picker Mr. Verba will make their Sweet 16 picks in the first leg of this classroom challenge.

*Aiden: If his picks are anything like his arriving to school on time, he will quickly find himself in the cellar of this challenge. Also, a staff member referred to him as “useless” when watching Aiden play in a basketball game this past season. Simply, he lit up the stats for all of the wrong reasons.

South: Auburn, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Marquette
West: Florida, Memphis, Texas Tech, St. John’s
East: Duke, Arizona, Wisconsin, Alabama
Midwest: Houston, McNeese State, Kentucky, Tennessee

*Collin: Nobody from the marching band can or will win this challenge. The only thing he knows about basketball is how to spell the actual word. Additionally, he is about as athletic as Mr. Abramovic.

South: Auburn, UC San Diego, Ole Miss, Michigan State
West: Florida, Maryland, Drake, St. John’s
East: Duke, Arizona, BYU, Alabama
Midwest: Houston, Clemson, Illinois, Tennessee

*Jacob: Known as “Wild Fire,” this student can barely make a basketball shot on a mini hoop. He is “blazing” for last place with Aiden and Collin. Speaking of blazing, he loves baseball, but his “fastball” registers at a solid 33 mph. Simply, he can’t be trusted with picks of this magnitude.

South: Auburn, UC San Diego, Iowa State, Michigan State
West: Florida, Memphis, Missouri, St. John’s
East: Duke, Liberty, Wisconsin, Alabama
Midwest: Houston, McNeese State, Illinois, Tennessee

*Mr. Holko: A perennial overthinker who will hold up well in this year’s challenge simply because his competition is bad, very bad. He can’t find Ohio State anywhere on the bracket, though.

South: Auburn, Michigan, Iowa State, Michigan State
West: Florida, Maryland, Texas Tech, St. John’s
East: Duke, Akron, BYU, Alabama
Midwest: Houston, Purdue, Kentucky, Tennessee

*Mr. Verba: Self-acclaimed basketball god who will root for any team who has a chance of winning. He will need to back up his picks to secure this championship and his title of “Lord Basketball”.

South: Auburn, Michigan, North Carolina, Michigan State
West: Florida, Memphis, Texas Tech, St. John’s
East: Duke, Oregon, Wisconsin, Alabama
Midwest: Houston, Clemson, Kentucky, Tennessee

To keep up with the madness of every game, visit March Madness. The first game begins today at 12:15 with #9 Creighton taking on #8 Louisville.

Good luck with your brackets and let the busting begin!

{For up-to-date events and schedules, visit Brooklyn Hurricanes Athletics.}

The Elimination of Racial Discrimination

By: BHS Features Staff

March 19, 2025

Unfortunately, racism is still a common issue, but there are many opportunities and ways to stop racism today. Many organizations fight against racism, and even though progress has been made, the work is not finished.

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is this Friday, March 21, and this year marks its 60th anniversary.

In 1965, The United Nations acquired the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) as the starting point for ceasing racism globally. The ICERD is one of the first of the UN’s core treaties.

The Elimination of Racial Discrimination is celebrated on the same day that police in Africa killed 69 people in protest of the Apartheid Pass Law in 1960. This law requires any person of color to carry documents in restricted areas that would approve of their presence. The government removed the need for these documents in 1986.

Apartheid was a policy in South Africa that allowed for political and economic discrimination against people of color.

The United Nations General Assembly states that everyone is born free, equal, and is entitled to their rights. The General Assembly has also made it clear that all doctrines, including race superiority, are morally inaccurate and socially unjust. There is no reason to separate human beings based on their differences in race.

In 1979, the General Assembly added various activities to participate in that would, hopefully, fight against racial discrimination. During the activities, the General Assembly created a week of solidarity for those who are or were victims of racism and discrimination. The date was set to be March 21 and would be celebrated annually in every state.

Ever since the fight against racism, the Apartheid system in Africa has been shut down for its racist practices. In many other countries, racist laws and practices have also been abolished.

Unfortunately, racism still occurs, but if people gather together and fight against it, we can move closer to solving this problem.

“Until the killing of black men, black mother’s sons, becomes as important to the rest of the country as the killing of a white mother’s son, we who believe in freedom cannot rest,” Ella Baker (Civil Rights Activist).

{Information for this article sourced from the United Nations and Britannica.}

The Beginning of The End

By: BHS News Staff

March 18, 2025

Welcome to the fourth and final quarter. With Spring on the way (March 20), this school year will be over in the blink of an eye.

First off, the Spring musical is here with opening night this Thursday. The show will conclude on Saturday evening. Everyone involved has put so much time and effort into this production, and we hope that the auditorium is packed.

Next on the agenda, the Brooklyn City Schools will hold Community Coffee Chats with Superintendent Dr. Caleris on March 25, April 26, and May 3. At these chats, Dr. Caleris will answer questions and discuss the district’s Master Facility Plans, which include renovations to the high school gymnasium, the band room, the auditorium, and the science wings. A tour of the school will also be provided during these sessions.

Moving on, this past Friday, the eighth grade Robotics class attended The Polaris Palooza. Two events, Mad Grab and Dragster, were held. In Mad Grab, this is where students had to build remote-controlled robots that competed in a head-to-head contest to scoop up balls of various sizes; they also had to place them in different-sized containers. In Dragster, students were tasked to build a robotic car scored on how far and how accurately the car drives.

The Brooklyn eighth graders did well in a tough field of entrants including Berea-Midpark, Strongsville, North Olmsted, Olmsted Falls, and Fairview. Brooklyn took fourth and fifth place in the Mad Grab event, which featured 16 teams. They also placed fourth in the Dragster competition, which had 26 entries.

Alex Cowper, Brandon Ban, Morgan Cummings, Amira Boukenken, Jacob Perry, Izayden Delargy, EJ Velez, Bao Vo, Evander Johnson, and Christian Garcia were the members of the robotics team. Congratulations to everyone involved.

Finally, here is the late March/Early April schedule:

March 20-22: Drama Club’s Production of The Wizard of Oz
March 24-April 4: Europe Trip (Italy and Greece)
March 25-27: Grade Level Meetings and Attendance Ceremonies
March 31-April 4: Spring Break

Have a wonderful week, Brooklyn. Stay focused and start off the quarter in fine-fashion.

{To stay updated with the Brooklyn City School District, click here.}

Senior Spotlight: Yahya Hattab

By: BHS Staff Profiles

March 14, 2025

Chosen for this week’s Senior Spotlight is Yahya Hattab. After graduation, Yahya plans to attend Cuyahoga Community College to study Automotive Technology. In his free time, he likes to hang out with his friends and family and play soccer. A fun fact about Yahya is that he is very competitive.

Q: Where would you go if you could travel anywhere in the world?

A: “I would go to Japan because of the cities, the views, the people, and the food.”

Q: What is your dream job?

A: “Automotive Technician because I get to work on cars. It’s something that I love to do.”

Q: If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

A: “Burgers!”

Q: What is one piece of advice that you would give to the incoming freshman next year?

A: “High school is fast, so stay on top of your classes.”

Q: If you could play soccer for any major franchise, who would you play for?

A: “Real Madrid because it’s been my favorite team since I was a little kid.”

Q: What will be your fondest memory from Brooklyn High School?

A: “When everyone was watching the 2022 World Cup in class and in the lunchroom.”

Q: What is your biggest fear?

A: “Slacking off or losing my relationship with my religion.”

Q: Out of your entire school career, what teacher has been your biggest inspiration or influence?

A: “Mr. Verba because he’s funny and is always positive and keeps fighting.”

Thank you for letting us interview you, Yahya. We hope that you get to pursue your passion with cars and someday make it to Japan!

It’s Tribe Time

By: BHS Sports Staff

March 13, 2025

The weather is starting to warm up, and baseball season is right around the corner.

After their major success last season in which they went 92-69 and were three games away from a World Series appearance, the Cleveland Guardians have made some changes to this year’s roster and are poised for another successful run in 2025.

Right after the heartbreaking loss in Game 5 of the ALCS last year against the New York Yankees, the Guardians got right to work for the beginning of a crazy offseason. The first move the Guardians made was sending Platinum Glover second-baseman Andres Gimenez and relief pitcher Nick Sandlin to the Toronto Blue Jays for second-baseman Spencer Horwitz, who later flipped to the Pittsburgh Pirates for starting pitcher Luis Ortiz and two other pitching prospects.

The Guardians’ next trade was shipping first-baseman Josh Naylor, who contributed 31 homers and 108 RBIs in 2024, to the Arizona Diamondbacks for starting pitcher Slade Cecconi and a Competitive Balance pick. Minutes later, Cleveland countered this move by bringing back hometown favorite Carlos Santana on a one-year deal.

Cleveland did lose big postseason contributors Matthew Boyd and Alex Cobb to free agency, but they returned Shane Bieber and Austin Hedges for another year and signed relief pitcher Paul Sewald and starting pitchers Jakob Junis and John Means.

So far in Spring Training, the Guardians record hasn’t looked the best as of Wednesday at 7-10, but some players have stood out early.

First baseman Kyle Manzardo, in 26 at-bats, is hitting .385 with a 1.140 OPS, tallying two home runs and five RBIs. Shortstop Brayan Rocchio is continuing his huge postseason success into the Spring with a .391 average in 23 at-bats. A guy trying to earn the starting second base job is utility man Tyler Freeman, who is hitting .381 in 21 at-bats.

As for the pitching staff, Gavin Williams is looking for a bounce-back season, and so far through eight innings this Spring, he has only allowed one run while striking out 16 batters. Another starter looking for a bounce-back season is Logan Allen, who has been excellent this Spring, giving up just one run in 10.2 innings.

The Guardians are projected to hover around .500, but this team is still loaded and loves the underdog role. A potential opening day lineup includes Steven Kwan, Kyle Manzardo, Jose Ramirez, Carlos Santana, Lane Thomas, Jhonkensy Noel, whoever wins the 2B job, Bo Naylor, and Brayan Rocchio.

The starting pitching staff will more-than-likely begin the season with Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams, Luis Ortiz, Ben Lively, and Joey Cantillo, plus the best bullpen in baseball featuring Emmanuel Clase, Cade Smith, Tim Herrin, and Hunter Gaddis.

To stay up-to-date with the Guardians throughout the year, visit the Cleveland Guardians Website.

Let’s pack Progressive Field this Summer. There is nothing better than a ball game at the Corner of Carnegie and Ontario.

Go Guardians!

{For up-to-date events and schedules, visit Brooklyn Hurricanes Athletics.}

Shamrocks and Parades

By: BHS Features Staff

March 12, 2025

Many people (Irish or not) celebrate St. Patrick’s Day every year on March 17, the anniversary of St. Patrick’s death in the fifth century.

For over 1,000 years, the Irish have celebrated St. Patrick’s Day as a religious holiday. Many families attended church in the early morning and danced during the evening, along with partaking in traditional feasts.

Saint Patrick lived in the fifth century, is the patron saint of Ireland, and is the national apostle. St. Patrick was born in Britain, but he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave at the age of 16. He escaped from his enslavement and returned to Ireland. Upon his return, he was credited with bringing Christianity to the Irish.

Centuries following his death, which was believed to be on March 17, the myth surrounding his life was ingrained in Irish culture. The most well-known is the Legend of St. Patrick in which he explained the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) using the three leaves of the native Irish clover, otherwise known as the shamrock.

St. Patrick’s Day was first celebrated during the ninth century, and the holiday was observed as a religious feast. The first ever St. Patrick’s Day parade was recorded in 1601.

The celebration of St. Patrick’s Day eventually flourished in the United States. Irish patriotism prompted the rise of “Irish Aid” societies such as Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick and the Hibernian Society. These groups held annual parades, featuring bagpipes and drums.

In 1851, several of New York’s Irish Aid societies merged their parades into one big parade. This became the official New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The parade is still going on to this day as the oldest and largest civilian parade in the U.S.

The parade brings in three million people each year with 150 thousand participants. Boston and Chicago are other cities that host big parades, too.

Many people of different backgrounds celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Although America may have many people who celebrate, it is celebrated worldwide. Many eat Irish soda bread, corned beef, cabbage, and mashed potatoes in locations further away from Ireland.

In the mid-1990s, the Irish government thought that St. Patrick’s Day would be a great opportunity to allow tourists to experience Irish culture in Ireland.

So, how did the leprechaun originate?

The original Irish name for leprechaun is luchorpán, which is thought to mean a small-bodied fellow (This could explain Notre Dame’s football team.). Leprechauns were believed to stem from Celtic belief in fairies, tiny men and women who were magical and used their powers for good or for evil. In folktales, leprechauns were told as cranky souls who were responsible for mending shoes for other fairies. Although they are minor figures in Celtic folklore, leprechauns were known for being mischievous and protective of their fabled treasure.

Whatever your background may be, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day is a lot of fun. Just wearing green or seeing the Chicago River dyed green is a great way to celebrate.

Of course, a good corned beef sandwich doesn’t hurt either.

{Information for this article is sourced from The History Channel.}

Cast Preview: The Wizard of Oz

By: BHS News Staff

March 11, 2025

Welcome back to another action-filled week on the “Yellow Brick Road”. Coming off of a three-day weekend with another one coming up, it is easy to enjoy this time of year.

To start will be our final preview for the Drama Club’s production of The Wizard of Oz. This week, the Cast will take center stage.

Drama Club Director Mrs. Kimberly Cipriani loves watching the Cast grow into their characters. With her excitement, though, comes the nerves with finalizing everything before opening night.

“Everyone pretty much knows everything, but putting everything (Cast, Pit, and Crew) together and keeping everything on track is the hardest part. Also, trying to have everyone on the same page and doing what they need to do to match up with everything else is even harder. It is pretty much all coming along, though. I am excited to get these students on stage,” stated Cipriani.

The Drama Club performed The Wiz years ago, but there was different music and different dialogue. This year’s production is new, but all involved are up for the challenge.

One of the students who is ready is senior Miley Kegley. She has been in the cast for one year, and her role in this year’s production is Professor Marvel/Oz.

“I love the people in this year’s musical because it is fun being around like-minded people, and it makes for a fun environment,” exclaimed Kegley.

Next Thursday, it begins. Come on out and show your support for all of those involved and for all of their hard work. “Break a leg!”

Moving on from The Wizard of Oz, the Winter Sports Banquet is tomorrow. It starts at 5:45 and will be held in the main gym. Congratulations to all athletes who earned awards.

Next, a friendly reminder that the end of the third quarter is quickly approaching. The quarter ends this week on Thursday, March 13. Make sure your grades are as high as they can be and that all assignments are turned in. No regrets!

Remember, there is no school on this Friday, March 14. Make sure to shut off your alarms and enjoy the second-consecutive, three-day weekend.

Finally, here is the schedule for the remainder of March:

March 12: Winter Sports Banquet
March 13: End of Third Quarter
March 14: No School / Teacher Records Day
March 17: Start of Fourth Quarter
March 20-22: Drama Club’s Production of The Wizard of Oz
March 31-April 4: Spring Break

Have a great and productive week, fellow Hurricanes!

{To stay updated with the Brooklyn City School District, click here.}

Senior Spotlight: Belma Veljak

By: BHS Staff Profiles

March 7, 2025

Chosen for this week’s Senior Spotlight is Belma Veljak. After graduation, Belma plans on attending Cleveland State University to major in Psychology. In her free time, she loves shopping, hanging out with friends, and reading. A fun fact about her is that she is bilingual.

Q: What has been your favorite class in all of high school?

A: “My Cosmetology class at Polaris. I have learned a lot, both in the Cosmetology field and a lot about myself, too. There were very humbling moments but also moments where I felt very proud of myself.”

Q: Finish this sentence: I could not live without…?

A: “Love! I would say love because in a world full of hate, love is important. I couldn’t live without love because being full of it brightens my day and can brighten someone else’s day, too.”

Q: Describe senioritis. Do you have it?

A: “Lack of motivation to go to school, and yes, I have it. I struggle with my tardies a lot.”

Q: What is your ideal Prom meal?

A: “If I was in charge of this year’s prom meal, the first course would be gyros. Then for appetizers, I would include hummus and bread, and for dessert, I would want crepes with chocolate and strawberries.”

Q: Using only three words, how would you describe yourself?

A: “Hardworking, Confident, Angelic.”

Q: What is a rule/motto that you live by?

A: “Don’t be afraid to be open to change. Embrace change as an opportunity for growth and new experiences.”

Q: How do you plan to spend your upcoming Spring Break and Summer?

A: “I’m going on the Europe trip during my Spring break with my best friend, and I’m super excited to make these amazing memories with my friends that I have gone to school with my whole life. I also plan on traveling to Bosnia and visiting my family back home and enjoying time with my cousins and family in the Summer, as well as hanging out with friends and enjoying my last Summer before college.”

Q: Out of your entire school career, what teacher has been your biggest inspiration or influence?

A: “My Polaris teacher Mrs. Barry. She inspires me and pushes me to do my best, while also making learning fun. She is also very kind and is always there for me.”

Thank you for your time, Belma. We hope that you have a great time on your upcoming trips, and best of luck at CSU.

Spring Sports Preview

By: BHS Sports Staff

March 6, 2025

Winter sports are officially over, and now, it is time to turn the attention to Spring sports. Baseball, softball, track, and flag football have been practicing and are ready for the weather to break favorably for some intense competition.

Baseball

Leading off our previews is the 2025 Hurricanes baseball team, which returns eight core players from last year’s squad. These returners include starting catcher Jadyn DeLuca, second-team All-CVC second baseman Gio Garst, and shortstop/pitcher Aiden Starr, who was voted First Team Northeast Ohio by local coaches. Other returners include junior Zander Rolon and seniors Collin Flanagan, Phil Banaszak, Shamus Harper, and Blake Baker.

Last season, the Hurricanes finished 6-12 (1-7 in the conference) beating Oberlin in the first round of the playoffs, only to lose to Norwayne in the Sectional Final.

Head Coach Kevin Sedlacek believes that the experience of this team will pay dividends.

“Our strength this season will be our experience playing varsity baseball. We also need to rely on the talent of Starr, who had a fantastic 2024 season and is looking to improve this Spring. Last season, he had a .520 batting average and a .650 quality at-bat average. With his leadership and an experienced team, we hope to have an exciting 2025 season,” stated an optimistic Sedlacek.

The goal is for the Hurricanes to earn splits against the top two teams in the conference, Lutheran West and Independence. This would give the Hurricanes a quick start and a bright outlook for this season.

The Hurricanes will face Rhodes in the battle of Biddulph at Brookside Park on Saturday, March 29.

Good luck, boys!

Softball

Next up is the softball team. With plans to have two teams this year, varsity and junior varsity, the hopes are high with experience and talented youth.

This year’s key players for the Lady Canes will be two varsity pitchers, Abi Cruz and Audrena Vega. Both have made great improvements since their first year and will look for continued growth to become two of the best athletes in the Chagrin Valley Conference.

Another standout star this year for the Canes will be freshman pitcher Alexa Chin, who has been tearing it up in the off-season, exceeding expectations with a chance to solidify her role in the starting lineup.

The team was able to pick up three wins last season but was also very competitive in many other games. They plan to build off of last year and improve each day on and off the field.

What is the goal? Head Coach Sarah Young emphasized it as follows: “I expect to beat our rival, Cuyahoga Heights!”

They start their season on March 27th and will host their CVC rival Cuyahoga Heights with a 4:30 start time.

Best of luck, girls!

Track

Up next is the track team, which has grown to over 60 players for this season.

Head Coach Megan Barrow is pleased with how things have been going so far.

“I’m excited to see the growth of our athletes, both individually and as a team. For track, I’m looking forward to seeing our athletes push their limits and set personal bests. After wrapping up our first-ever indoor season, I’m confident many of our returning athletes will continue to compete at a higher level this spring.”

Her team will be led by seniors Ema Bencova and Camilla Gordillo Aguliar and juniors Jarianny Dominiguez, Bella Simpson, Jamira Tate, and Kelvin Santiago. There are also more outstanding athletes returning along with some newcomers that will make an immediate impact.

“It’s exciting to see more students getting involved. Track and field is one of the most well-rounded sports a student can participate in. It helps athletes develop speed, endurance, strength, explosiveness, and coordination. This is why so many professional athletes—from NFL players to Olympic sprinters—have a background in the sport,” Barrow stated.

Good luck, track team!

Flag Football

Lastly, flag football is a new sport introduced this year. It started in Ohio in 2021 with only two teams but grew to over one hundred teams for this upcoming season. The plan is for girls flag football to become an OHSAA-sanctioned sport in the future.

Coach Barrow coaches track and flag football and is looking forward to seeing how the team grows.

“For flag football, I can’t wait to see how the team comes together, develops strategy, and competes in a growing sport. Flag football is gaining momentum, and we’re looking forward to being part of that movement. Not only is flag football growing rapidly at the high school level, but it’s growing at the collegiate level, too. More colleges are offering scholarships for female flag football players, and organizations like the NFL and RCX Sports are supporting athletes with funding.”

Her team will be led by senior Rayanna Cogburn, junior Jamira Tate, sophomore Gianna Kos, and freshmen Reese Alonso and Elisabeth Jackiewics.

Crush it, girls!

Best of luck to all Spring sports teams!

{For up-to-date events and schedules, visit Brooklyn Hurricanes Athletics.}

Influential Women

By: BHS Features Staff

March 5, 2025

Every year, starting on the first day of March, Women’s History Month is celebrated. We all know a woman in our lives who helped shape us into who we are today.

In the 1970s, women’s history was generally unknown because it was not taught in schools or to the general public. To bring recognition, the Education Task Force of Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women initiated a week-long celebration for women’s history.

By 1986, 14 states declared March as Women’s History Month. In 1987, Congress declared that March would be Women’s History Month. Due to this, a special Presidential Proclamation is given to honor the achievements of American women.

Knowing the history and background of this important month, the Features Staff interviewed five female staff members about the influential women in their lives.

*Mrs. Holko (Grandmother): “My grandmother overcame a lot of difficulties as a young woman, and as an older woman, she dealt with a lot of physical difficulties and was in a lot of pain, but she still managed to be happy and wanted to spend time with her family.”

*Miss Field (Katherine Johnson and Pat Summitt): “Katherine Johnson was the first African woman to work for NASA and helped get a man into space. Pat Summitt was the women’s basketball coach at The University of Tennessee and showed that women could compete against men, paving the way for women to coach sports.”

*Mrs. Chrzan (Mom): “My mom has always been so strong, and whenever something happens, she always finds a solution and never lets it get her down. She looks at the best in things and has inspired me to be strong and resilient, just like her.”

*Mrs. Berg (Mother and Clarissa Pinkola Estés): “My mom taught me that when there’s a will, there’s a way and to never give up. She is an amazing force, and she relentlessly pursues what she is passionate about, and she passed that to me. Clarissa is a Mexican-American writer who wrote a book titled The Women Who Run with the Wolves and uses folklore to show that women need to listen to themselves and their ‘wildishness’ to be connected to other women and to resist.”

*Mrs. Bir (Mom and Grandmother): “Obviously, my mom raised me, and my mom and grandmother were influential to me because they were hardworking. They both had full-time jobs to help support their family. My grandmother lost her husband when she was only in her 20s and had to raise my father and uncle, solo. My grandmother had a lot of loss in her life but kept looking at the positive aspects of it.”

Judging by the statements above, women are a crucial part of many people’s lives, whether they know the person on a personal level or they know the person from the media.

Women are loyal and will always be here whenever needed, so show them some extra love because they deserve it. ❤️

{Information for this article is sourced from National Women’s History Alliance.}

Pit Preview: The Wizard of Oz

By: BHS News Staff

March 4, 2025

Welcome back to another action-packed week.

This week, we will be previewing two seniors who will lead the pit for the Drama Club’s production of The Wizard of Oz.

First, Band Director Mr. Sean Sullivan is excited about this year’s musical but explained the challenges in perfecting the music involved.

“The song called ‘Muchkinland Musical Sequence’ is the hardest one to rehearse because it switches directions from slow to fast, and it changes time signatures frequently. It is also a very long song, 11-minutes. Additionally, the most challenging part of combining the pit and crew is making the music feel comfortable and for the cast to sing, so it does not feel like we are walking a tightrope,” stated Sullivan.

One of his favorite aspects about the productions is, “What it is at the beginning versus what is at the end because it definitely makes a difference. It takes a lot of rehearsals to put it all together, and the fact that people end up paying to see everyone’s hard work is a cool feeling,” Sullivan concluded.

So, how do the two senior pit members feel about their final production?

“Matilda was my first musical. I loved the music, and the cast was great. The cool part was that I played two trombones, a bass trombone, and the regular trombone. For this year, I am excited to see the set and see the cast’s performance,” stated Florin Socol.

He said he will always remember the friends he has and the experiences throughout his four years.

Lastly, Isabella Lottig is also excited for this upcoming performance, along with reflecting on her high school career.

“My favorite thing about being in the pit is getting to watch how quickly everything comes together at the end. We have our first on-stage rehearsal (or in-pit rehearsal) about two weeks from opening night every year, and it looks like it is not going to come together. Everything is so disjointed, and it is a mess, but then, it all comes together and turns into an actual musical; it is so fun to be a part of. Sure, it is never perfect, but the growth from the beginning to the end is incredible, and it is my favorite part of being in the pit.”

She also added that she is most excited to see all of the special effects and how they come together with the music this year.

“There are so many little songs that are meant to go with different things going on, not just singing. During the tornado, we will play a song called ‘Cyclone’. I cannot wait to see what the cyclone looks like on stage and how it goes along with the music.”

Mr. Sullivan, Florin, Isabella, and pit members, thank you for your hard work. We cannot wait for this year’s production.

Aside from the tremendous hard work for The Wizard of Oz, there is also some other news that needs to be mentioned.

This is the final reminder for all juniors. The SAT is tomorrow, March 5. Make a checklist, and be sure you are here on time with a charged chromebook. Also, get plenty of sleep tonight. A good SAT score could earn you scholarship money for future college plans. Good luck, class of 2026!

Moving on from testing, this Thursday is Parent-Teacher Conferences. Make sure your parents know their time slot, so they know when to come to meet the teachers.

Here is the upcoming March Schedule:

March 4: High School Band & Chorus Concert
March 5: SAT (Junior Class)
March 6: Parent/Teacher Conferences
March 7: No School
March 12: Winter Sports Banquet
March 13: End of Third Quarter
March 20-22: Drama Club’s Production of The Wizard of Oz

Have a fantastic week, fellow Hurricanes.

{To stay updated with the Brooklyn City School District, click here.}