THE RETURN OF THE EYE

Doubleheader Sweep

By: BHS Sports Staff

September 19, 2024

Last Saturday, the volleyball team played a doubleheader with the first game against the Cleveland Central Catholic Ironwomen (4-3) and the second contest against the Rhodes Rams (2-1). The Hurricanes came into this day with a 0-9 record but were looking to turn their season around. For reference, both games were played as best-of-3 matches.

In the first set of match one, the Ironwomen and the Hurricanes went back and forth, with neither team establishing major runs. It seemed like it was going down to the wire, but the Hurricanes prevailed with a 25-21 victory to take a 1-0 lead.

The second set was about the same with both teams continuing to trade points and defensive stops. Once again, the Hurricanes pulled away and won the set 25-18 to earn their first victory of the season.

After a short break, the Hurricanes were back in action with the mindset of continuing the day with success and teamwork.

Right out of the gate, they seemed in control as they took down the Rams in the first set, 25-10.

They continued their momentum into the second set as they were en route to a doubleheader sweep with a 25-14 win.

Seniors Ali Millin and Jade Riedel were the deciding factors in this match with Millin leading the team with 17 kills and Riedel leading the defense with 18 digs.

Head coach Debbie Hall was pleased with her team’s performance and hopes that they will continue to ride high for the rest of the season.

“These wins were a full-team effort with each and every member of the team contributing and playing their best. Hopefully, this will give us the momentum to build on for the rest of the season,” stated an elated Hall.

Congratulations, girls!

In other Fall sports, the boys soccer team (0-8) will return home tonight to face off against Garrett Morgan, looking for their first victory of the season. Game time is 5:00.

The girls soccer team (1-8-1) travels to Trinity tonight to take on the Trojans. Game time is also at 5:00.

Lastly, the football team (1-3) will be back home tomorrow evening to host their Homecoming game against Crestwood. Prior to kickoff will be the annual Brooklyn Hall of Fame Recognition Ceremony with the festivities starting around 6:15, followed by kickoff at 7:00.

Go Canes!

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

Balloon A-Fair

By: BHS Features Staff

September 18, 2024

Get ready for the 45th Anniversary of the Ravenna Balloon A-Fair. From September 19-22, Ravenna (Ohio) is having a hot air balloon fair with various activities to do in Downtown Ravenna and at the Sunbeau Valley Farm.

The admission fee for Sunbeau Valley Farm is $5 with a parking fee of $5. Kids 12 and under get in for free.

This festival started with individuals who wanted Ravenna to celebrate one of the city’s earliest industries, the toy balloons manufactured at the Oak Rubber Company. From the first celebration being small, it has bloomed as an annual, exciting, and well-attended event with something to do for all ages.

This year’s theme is “Make Your Dreams Soar in 2024”. This theme was chosen by a lucky schoolgirl named Madison Trautman. Because her theme was selected, she gets to take part in the children’s parade and the Saturday morning parade. What an honor for her!

The children’s parade is an exciting time for the children because they get to dress up, make floats, decorate their bikes, get goodie bags and prizes, and see a magic show. They also get to be a part of the opening ceremonies.

Also, there is a car and Jeep show every year. On Sunday, September 22, bring your cars, trucks, hot-rods, lowriders, classics, or whatever your passion for cars is, and show it off. For Jeep lovers, you can bring your ride on Saturday, September 21, with a chance to win a trophy in several categories. There will also be raffles to win Jeep-related prizes.

This year at the fair, as many others before, there will be an abundance of fun activities to participate in such as Mechanical Bull Riding, Axe Throwing, Helicopter Rides, Miniature Golf, and many others. All of these attractions are fun for anyone of any age, and most of these activities are under $10.

There is also music at the fair. There are two stages in which seven bands will be performing. The East Stage will have four bands playing, and the West Stage will have three. The music will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 4:25 p.m.

During the evening on the final day of the Balloon A-Fair, hot air balloons will take off into the night.

The Ravenna Balloon A-Fair is held every year, rain or shine. No matter the condition, the fair is here to bring fun and enjoyment to all.

Get your family and friends and come along to celebrate. We are going to be floating our way out there, and you should join us, too.

{Information can be sourced from Cleveland Bucket List and Ravenna Balloon A-Fair.}

Attendance Awareness Month

By: BHS News Staff

September 17, 2024

On Sunday, September 23, Autumn officially begins, and during the Fall, there is a lot to do, mainly watching Cleveland Browns football.

Speaking of football, for the entire month of September, the Cleveland Browns “Stay in the Game” campaign has once again partnered with BHS and many other local schools to celebrate Attendance Awareness Month. The partnership with these schools has been successful by lowering the rate of absenteeism within schools.

The Cleveland Browns have also assigned BHS to conduct spirit weeks in addition to many other activities to win Browns gear and other goodies. After their season opening home game last Sunday, September 8, BHS students and staff had a week full of fun themes and celebrations.

For this week, get on your feet and send in a video of some amazing dance skills with a chance to win some Browns gear. Next week (September 23-27), doors, classrooms, and bulletin boards will be decorated to show our Browns spirit. For this activity, a vote will be conducted on the best decorations for a chance to win donuts.

After a fun and active month of supporting our Browns and striving for perfect attendance, there will be a recognition for the students who have managed to keep perfect attendance, and they will have another chance to win some more Browns gear.

In addition to Attendance Awareness Month, participants in the Hurricane Empowerment Project and staff welcomed in new students last Friday who joined BHS this school year by giving them some Brooklyn spirit wear and ice cream.

Additionally last Friday, BHS students and staff were all present during the “Meet the Court” assembly where our official Homecoming senior candidates were introduced to all of the students and staff. Student council also presented an amazing spirit week video. This assembly was a highlight of the day for many students. This Friday, our Homecoming Queen and King will be announced at the varsity football game followed by the dance on Saturday.

Good luck to all of the Homecoming Court.

It is currently spirit week, and the first two days have been a major success. Monday started with Prom versus Pajamas and continued with Anything but a Backpack Day, today. If you walk through the building, you will notice a lot of color as BHS students and Student Council spent a couple of hours after school last Friday decorating our halls to represent their class colors. The hallways turned out amazing, so well done to all of those involved in the decorations and to those currently bringing spirit to the school, each and every day. Keep it up!

Finally, here is the upcoming event calendar:

September 16-20: Homecoming Spirit Week
September 20: Homecoming Football Game (vs. Crestwood High School) & Hall of Fame Recognition
September 21: Fall Fest at Memorial Park
September 21: Homecoming Dance

Have a wonderful Homecoming week and dance, Brooklyn!

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

Staff Spotlight: Mr. Agnew

*Educational Aide / Football Coach*

By: BHS Staff Profiles

September 13, 2024

Chosen for this week’s Staff Spotlight is Mr. Travis Agnew. As an educational aide and head varsity football coach, Mr. Agnew’s career started this year; he accepted the head coaching position in February. Outside of Brooklyn, he taught at Steps Academy for two years, primarily working with students with autism. After that, he taught ELA and History for five years in Bedford. He had the opportunity to work with all grade levels; it was challenging but rewarding. In his free time, he enjoys walking his dog, spending time with friends and family, playing sports, and relaxing. A fun fact about him is that he went to Brooklyn (K-12) and graduated here in 2011. Many teachers he had growing up are still here, and for him, it is very cool and somewhat of a “full circle experience.”

Q: What is your favorite aspect of your job?

A: “Definitely helping kids learn.”

Q: What made you want to be an educational aide?

A: “The opportunity to help the community I live in and to coach football.”

Q: Describe your time management between teaching and coaching.

A: “The best way to describe it is that there are a couple of hours outside of work and a couple of hours inside of school that I spend every day lesson planning and game planning. It is a lot of meticulous planning, but it is necessary to teach and coach at a high level. Organization is key!”

Q: How do you motivate your athletes as a football coach?

A: “Culture change and reminding the guys about ‘the bigger picture’. Driving home culture change with the older guys increases motivation and creates a trickle-down effect. Also, as a staff member, we are very invested in these students’ personal and athletic goals. We have a staff who fully supports each individual’s aspirations and plans to help them achieve their goals.”

Q: Who was your biggest inspiration growing up?

A: “My father because he is my role model.”

Q: What is your favorite football team to watch and root for?

A: “The Browns and The Canes.”

Q: What is your favorite high school memory?

A: “Doing the newspaper. I loved being a part of that group. I wonder if you guys can go back into the archives to see some of my work.”

Q: If you could go back 15 years and change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

A: “A big one would be taking athletics and academics more seriously.”

Thank you for your time, Coach Agnew. We welcome you back to your alma mater. Best of luck this year and beyond for the Hurricanes football program. Go Canes!

Frustration Finally Over

By: BHS Sports Staff

September 12, 2024

Last Thursday, the Lady Canes soccer team hosted the Wellington Dukes. To this point in the season, the girls were 0-4, but they had confidence coming into this game as the Dukes were coming off of a 16-1 loss to the Oberlin Phoenix. Going winless last year and struggling out of the gates this year, this matchup was the perfect night to rack up a long-awaited victory.

The Hurricanes maintained possession early on, and with some great defense, it seemed like it would stay that way for the remainder of the game. Sure enough, Brooklyn struck first in the 12th minute with a goal from junior Lauren Atanacio.

The Lady Canes continued to add on when senior Isabella Lottig scored a goal just five minutes after the initial goal, making the score 2-0. They maintained the pressure with many shots on goal, while senior goalkeeper Ayvah Chin did her job on the defensive side with a couple of nice saves on the other end.

Atanacio later scored her second goal of the evening in the 31st minute to extend Brooklyn’s lead to 3-0, which is how the first half concluded.

To begin the second half, the Hurricanes kept it rolling as in the fourth minute of the second half, Atanacio scored her third goal of the game, giving her the infamous hat trick. The Canes were up big, 4-0.

Just five minutes later, junior Kayla Flanagan joined the scoring parade with a goal of her own to make it 5-0.

The Lady Canes continued to play great defense throughout the second half, led by juniors Olivia Blechschmid and Emily Chicharro and senior Rayanna Cogburn.

It seemed like this one was set in stone, but the Hurricanes had a little bit of scoring left in them as Lottig scored her second goal of the game in the 28th minute, while Cogburn scored in minute 34.

As time expired, the Hurricanes earned and secured their first win since the 2022-2023 season.

Final Score: Brooklyn 7, Wellington 0

With this win, the Lady Canes moved to 1-4, and Wellington dropped to 0-2.

Since this victory, the Lady Canes dropped two games against VASJ and Brookside, but they will be back in action tonight as they travel to Wickliffe for a 7:00 start.

In other Fall sports, the boys soccer team (0-6) is looking for their first victory of the season and will travel to Columbia tonight at 7:00.

The football team (1-2) will head to Fairview tomorrow evening to take on the Warriors. Kickoff is at 7:00.

Lastly, the girls volleyball team (0-7) is at home tonight taking on Trinity for a 6:00 start. They will also host a doubleheader on Saturday with the first game at 11:00 against Cleveland Central Catholic High School and the second game at 1:00 against Rhodes.

Good luck to all Fall teams. Go Canes!

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

The Day The World Changed

By: BHS Features Staff

September 11, 2024

Today during the 23rd anniversary of the September 11 terrorists attacks, we honor the memories of those who sadly lost their lives, a devastating event in American history.

On the morning of September 11, 2001, four commercial airlines were hijacked by terrorists; those airlines were Flight 11, Flight 175, Flight 77, and Flight 93. The terrorists crashed Flight 11 and Flight 175 into the North and South towers of the World Trade Center, located in New York City. Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon, and Flight 93 was forced to crash land in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, due to the passengers and crew on the airline regaining control and causing the plane crash.

The World Trade Center nicknamed the “Twin Towers” eventually ended up collapsing due to the damages from the planes and the fires caused by them. Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives in the attacks, and more than 6,000 people were injured.

The Pentagon lost 125 service members, as well as all 64 people on the airplane. The Pentagon Memorial is the first national memorial dedicated to honor those whose lives were lost that day.

Just four minutes after Flight 93 departed (due to a 25-minute delay), the first tower was struck by hijacked Flight 11. The Federal Aviation Administration ordered all aircraft to land at the nearest airport, which was the first time any order like that had been given out by the FAA in its history. Sadly, Flight 93 was not responding to the order. Flight 93 was 46 minutes en route through Pennsylvania when the terrorists aboard took control of the cockpit, changing its course from their original destination to Washington D.C. The passengers and crew members aboard Flight 93 used airfones to reveal the hijacking. The passengers realized that they were a part of a large attack on America.

The realization caused the passengers and crew members aboard the flight to regain control by any possible means. Due to this action and bravery, the terrorists crashed the plane instead of letting the passengers regain full control. Because of these heroic actions, the attack on the U.S. Capitol building was thwarted.

At the Flight 93 crash site, there is a beautiful memorial. Information can be found on the National Park Service website.

The attacks on 9/11 caused so many deaths that the estimated number of rescue dogs was over 300. They were used to help find the bodies of survivors or ones who sadly lost their lives throughout Ground Zero. The dogs began getting depressed whenever they found multiple victims’ corpses, so many rescue dog handlers decided to start hiding themselves in the rubble, so the dogs could get a sense of joy by rescuing someone alive.

There were so many unfortunate deaths on September 11. The youngest person who died was a two-year-old girl named Christine Lee Hanson, who died with her parents, Peter and Sue. The oldest deceased person was an 82-year-old man named Robert Norton. He was on one of the planes with his wife, Jaqueline, ready for their upcoming marriage.

BHS ELA teacher Mr. Ken Rademaker remembers exactly where he was during this national tragedy.

“I was here in Brooklyn High School on the first floor in the old English wing, teaching class. I first thought when the principal (at the time) came over the PA talking about a plane crashing into the World Trade Center that it was a small plane, the ones that hold one to two people. I didn’t think it was a big deal since we didn’t have TVs in the room, so we didn’t know how bad the event really was.”

Today, take a moment of silence for those who tragically lost their lives in the 9/11 terrorists attacks. We give our gratitude to those who risked their lives saving others.

Never Forget and “Let’s Roll!”

{Information for this article sourced from Naval History and Heritage Command, U.S Department of State, 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Pentagon Memorial, and Flight 93’s Call to Action.}

Homecoming Festivities

By: BHS News Staff

September 10, 2024

Does everyone have their dresses and suits ready for the 2024 Homecoming Dance? If not, you better quickly take care of this as BHS’s Homecoming is less than two weeks away.

After having a tough time electing this year’s court, Student Council is excited to announce the senior students who will be participating.

The 2024 Homecoming candidates for Queen are as follows:

Brianna Boone
Jessica Byrnes
Cierrah Jackson
Ali Millin
Belma Veljak

The 2024 Homecoming candidates for King are as follows:

Philip Banaszak
Nate Hernandez
Jaylen King
Aiden Starr
Nick Supinski

If you would like to better know the senior candidates for this year’s court, the “Meet the Court” assembly will be held this Friday, September 13, in the auditorium at 9:15 a.m.

In addition to the court, Homecoming Spirit Week was just announced. This is a week-long celebration of school spirit and fun. See the flyer below for more details.

We encourage everyone (staff and students) to participate next week by showing off your Hurricanes Spirit.

Spirit Week will end on Friday, September 20, and transition right into the varsity football game against Crestwood High School. On this night, the Homecoming Queen and King will be announced. Also during this evening will be the recognition for all of the Hall of Fame Inductees. This will be a night to remember for Hurricane Nation.

In other news, after having three very relaxing, four day weeks, students and staff will be going back to the five-day-a-week routine. Staying organized and keeping up with classes will be an essential part of these next few weeks, so make sure to get good sleep to keep the mind fresh.

Finally, here is the upcoming event calendar:

September 13: Meet the Homecoming Court
September 16-20: Homecoming Spirit Week
September 20: Homecoming Football Game (vs. Crestwood High School) & Hall of Fame Recognition
September 21: Homecoming Dance
September 21: Fall Fest (Memorial Park)

Have a wonderful, Homecoming season, Brooklyn!

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

Senior Spotlight: Nicholas Supinski

By: BHS Staff Profiles

September 6, 2024

Nicholas Supinski was chosen for this year’s first Senior Spotlight. One of his plans after high school is to attend college to pursue his dream career in Anesthesia, while being able to live life to the fullest and not having to worry about much stress. Something he likes to do in his free time is work out. He has always been heavily-bettering himself, and working out helps him with this; it is a great way to lift any stress off of his shoulders. A fun fact about him is that he is always hungry.

Q: Who has been your most inspiring teacher throughout high school?

A: “My most inspiring teacher has to be Mrs. Sullivan. Going into high school, I had high expectations for myself and was looking into college classes. Although I was unsure if I could pass them, Mrs. Sullivan gave me the push I needed to get to where I am now, despite my past doubt.”

Q: Have you played any sports or participated in any extracurricular activities throughout high school?

A: “I have played hockey since my freshman year, and I have been playing football since my sophomore year.”

Q: What is your favorite subject? Least favorite?

A: “My favorite subject, despite probably despising it simultaneously, is math. The way math always has a rhyme and would always work out was interesting, and I guess it was fairly simple. My least favorite subject would have to be English for obvious reasons: There are way too many words.”

Q: What is your favorite memory as a student?

A: “My favorite memory as a student was taking part in the various Spirit Week activities that brought everyone together.”

Q: Using only 3 words, how would you describe yourself?

A: “Driven, Optimistic, Attentive.”

Q: Where can you see yourself in ten years?

A: “I can see myself in ten years being on a beach in the sun, sipping on a coconut next to my wife.”

Q: What is your favorite thing to do on the weekend?

A: “My favorite thing to do over the weekend is to spend time with the people who mean most to me, so that I can just let loose and be more of myself around them.”

Q: How would your friends describe you?

A: “My friends would probably describe me as considerate, athletic, and someone who is always hungry. I eat any food I can get my hands on.”

Nick, we hope that you have the best time throughout your final year of high school. Dream big, and go after your future!

Friday Night Victory

By: BHS Sports Staff

September 5, 2024

Last Friday, the Hurricanes football team traveled to Oberlin to face the Phoenix, a rematch of last year’s affair in which the Hurricanes came out on top, 28-6. Fun fact, the game was played on turf at Oberlin College, a great experience for both squads.

Brooklyn was coming off of a shutout loss against Brookside in week one, while Oberlin also got blanked 31-0 against Plymouth.

The Phoenix struck first as they were able to take the Hurricanes down in their own endzone for a safety, but Brooklyn quickly answered back with a 33-yard rushing touchdown by freshman running back, Lennox Atanacio. The ensuing two-point conversion failed, making the score 6-2.

After a quick end to the Phoenix’s next drive, the Canes got another rushing touchdown, this time for 49-yards by senior Aiden Starr. A similar script, another two-point conversion failed, making the score 12-2.

The Phoenix answered with a rushing touchdown of their own in the second quarter, and just like the Hurricanes, they were not able to convert their two-point conversion either. On their next drive, the Hurricanes got another Atanacio touchdown, this time a 10-yard burst. Their extra point was no good. As the Phoenix started their counter possession, senior Kevin Nguyen forced a safety to make the score 20-8.

Right before the half concluded, the scoring would not stop as Oberlin got another touchdown with another failed two-point conversion. With only a few seconds remaining, Starr took the kickoff all the way to the house for a touchdown. On top of that, they were able to add the two-point conversion (Finally!), giving them a two touchdown lead at halftime, 28-14.

The third quarter was relatively quiet until under three minutes to go when the Phoenix got into the red zone and capitalized with a touchdown to cut the lead to 28-20.

In the final quarter, freshman quarterback Mason Vega got a rushing touchdown of his own, followed up with another rushing touchdown, this one by Nguyen. Ultimately, these back-to-back touchdowns would slam the door shut, making the score 42-20.

In garbage time, the Phoenix added one final touchdown to close out the game as Brooklyn prevailed and earned their first victory of the season.

Final Score: Brooklyn 42, Oberlin 26

With this win, the Hurricanes evened up their record to 1-1. They will travel to Black River tomorrow night, kickoff is at 7:00.

In other Fall sports, the girls soccer team (0-4) will be back in action at home tonight at 7:00 as they host the Wellington Dukes. They will also be in action on Saturday against VASJ at 12:00 and next Monday against Brookside at 7:00.

The boys soccer team (0-4) will also take on VASJ on Saturday at 2:00, right after the girls game. Additionally, they face off against the Cuyahoga Heights Red Wolves next Tuesday at 7:00.

Lastly, the girls volleyball team (0-7) will travel to Richmond Heights tonight for a 6:00 start. They will also travel to Cuyahoga Heights next Tuesday for a 6:00 start.

Good luck to all teams. Go Canes!

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

HalloWeekends

By: BHS Features Staff

September 4, 2024

Cedar Point’s HalloWeekends are coming up next week on September 12 and will conclude on November 2. This is always a time for families to get together to have some fun with the not-so-scary Fall activities, favorite rides, and main attractions.

HalloWeekends is celebrating its 28th anniversary this year with multiple haunted attractions including haunted houses, haunted mazes, new merchandise, and more food items. Some of these attractions are not advised for younger children as they can be too frightful. However, the entirety of Cedar Point’s HalloWeekends is perfect for a spooky, little weekend escape for everybody who would like to attend.

When visiting Cedar Point for HalloWeekends, there are various family-friendly activities and attractions to take part in, such as Trick-or-Treating for ages 12 and under. There are a total of 10 different Trick-or-Treat locations. Another great activity to participate in is the Magical House on Boo Hill. This event is for children ages 12 and under as well.

If visitors prefer more frightening attractions, make sure to visit Cedar Point when the sun goes down for some of the indoor mazes and the outdoor scare zones. Some of the indoor mazes include Bloodbath, Midnight, Slaughter House, and more. To see live shows, make sure to check out the times that they are in operation.

Ticket prices for Single Day Admission are between $55 and $65. Funday Passes are $85, and Gold Passes (for 2025) are $100.

Be ready for some scares because on September 12, Cedar Point is getting spooky. Make sure to bring your family and friends for an entire day’s worth of fun and fright.

Cedar Point is only an hour away, so make sure not to miss out on this annual event so close to home.

We will be there! Will you?

Labor Day Week News

By: BHS News Staff

September 3, 2024

After a long and hot week at Brooklyn High School, the weather finally started to cool down, and the news staff hopes that everyone had a fun, long weekend.

This past week, BHS students experienced temperatures up to 98 degrees Fahrenheit in the high school. Because of the heat, students and teachers had the day off last Tuesday (August 27). Simply, most students (if not all) will prefer four-day weeks over five-day weeks, so this day off was a nice, early school year bonus.

Additionally, there may have been another day off due to the heat last Friday, but students and staff had their pictures taken for the yearbook. This was an absolute success for everyone involved. Equally important, the football team won 42-26 on the road against the Oberlin Phoenix to improve their record to 1-1.

Yesterday, the BCSD had the day off to celebrate Labor Day and to enjoy the amazing air performances featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.

Coming up is the Hall of Fame ceremony that will be held on Thursday, September 19 in the auditorium. The H.O.F. inductees will also be honored on the following evening during the Hurricanes football game against Crestwood High School. It is always something to look forward to when honoring those who greatly-contributed to the Brooklyn community.

As a reminder, Homecoming guest passes are due on Monday, September 9. If you want to bring a guest to Homecoming this year, bring your pass to the office or turn it in to Mrs. Bader.

Upcoming event schedule:

September 4: Preschool Picture Day
September 13: Meet the Homecoming Court
September 16-20: Homecoming Spirit Week
September 20: Homecoming & Hall of Fame Football Game (vs. Crestwood High School)
September 21: Homecoming Dance

Have a wonderful, short week, Brooklyn!

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

Staff Spotlight: Mr. Zofka

*Athletic Director*

By: BHS Staff Profiles

August 30, 2024

Chosen for this year’s first Staff Spotlight is Mr. Mark Zofka. This is Mr. Zofka’s first year in Brooklyn as he is our new Athletic Director. Outside of Brooklyn, he was a teacher, and he also coached football and baseball for 16 years in Bedford. In his free time, he likes to golf, watch baseball, walk, hike, and hang out with his grandkids. A fun fact about Mr. Zofka is that he loves to go to music festivals because he loves heavy metal music.

Q: When did your passion for athletics begin?

A: “When I was three or four-years-old, my dad was very much involved, and I was one of those kids who played all of the sports.”

Q: What do you like most about being an athletic director?

A: “There is a lot that goes on; there is a lot of variation, which is something that I like. And honestly, every day could be different. Not every day is the same.”

Q: Why did you choose Brooklyn High School?

A: “I am a member of the community, and it was honestly a great opportunity that I took. I know the facilities are great, and I followed the various sports throughout my playing and coaching years.”

Q: What is the most difficult aspect of your job?

A: “Time management. Some things need to be done throughout the day, such as meeting with coaches, players, and those sorts of things.”

Q: Where is your ideal vacation spot?

A: “I love going to Florida. I was possibly looking at buying something down there. I would say ideally somewhere with warm weather, where I can golf daily. But, I have also been looking at new places with lakes and mountains.”

Q: What was your best sport as an athlete? Worst?

A: “I would say my best sport was baseball; I mean that is what I played in college. I went to Cleveland State, and I am in their Hall of Fame for baseball. I was a head baseball coach for 16 years at Padua and Holy Name and a 6-year coach at Cuyahoga Community College. Last year, I was the coach at Normandy. My worst is basketball; I was athletic and a good defender, but when it came to shooting, I was not the best. I played baseball, football, and hockey, but I was not much of a basketball player.”

Q: What is your go-to meal?

A: “Steak, prime rib specifically. If I could, I would have that every day. I love a good steak or maybe some prime riblets. I also grill and smoke meats a lot. I am more of a propane type of guy when I am grilling. I know I should be on the charcoal side of things, but there is just a big difference in taste. I use charcoal when I go camping, which is another thing I like to do.”

Q: Cleveland Browns Super Bowl victory or a Cleveland Guardians World Series title?

A: “Ah boy, good question. I mean the Indians have won something already, so I would like to see a Browns Super Bowl victory over a Cleveland Guardians World Series title.”

Welcome to Brooklyn, Mr. Zofka. Thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to let us interview you. We hope you experience many amazing things this year and a lot of success for our Hurricanes sports.