Senior Spotlight: Malak Chafki  

By: BHS Senior Spotlights Staff

March 16, 2026

Chosen for this week’s senior spotlight is Malak Chafki. Malak is confident, caring, and exquisite. She has been a student in Brooklyn throughout her educational career and currently balances her time working, attending college classes, and being a student-athlete. When she does have free time, she likes to read and go shopping. After graduation, she plans to attend a four-year university to pursue a career in the medical field. A fun fact about Malak is that she used to do gymnastics when she was younger. 

Q: What kinds of struggles have you gotten past that were difficult to conquer?

A: “Staying motivated through all four years of high school was something that I struggled with a lot. My grades definitely reflected that in my junior year.”

Q: What is something you regret that you didn’t do during school?

A: “I regret not trying harder. I feel like I did the bare minimum when it came to certain subjects when I know I could’ve done a lot better and gotten better grades.”

Q: How did you manage to do college classes while still taking classes at BHS?

A: “Reminding myself what I’m doing all the work for and trying to find a balance with sports, college classes, classes at BHS, and a job. I still struggle with trying to keep up with the load and feeling burnt out, but other times, I feel motivated and energized.”

Q: What is something that you didn’t like about your high school career?

A: “How stressful the environment was. I struggled a lot with navigating friendships and such. But, I learned a lot from the experiences and have grown as a person.”

Q: What is your favorite TV show or movie?

A: “Probably The Summer I Turned Pretty or Grey’s Anatomy.”

Q: Summer or Winter?

A: “Summer, for sure.”

Q: What is something you like to do in your free time? 

A: “I like hanging out with my friends, doing puzzles, and watching romantic comedies.”

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

A: “While I’ve only known her for a short period of time, Mrs. Meeks has been one of the best mentors I could ever ask for. She never fails to make me laugh and reminds me all the time to believe in myself.”

Thank you for your participation in this week’s Senior Spotlight, Malak. With only one quarter of high school left, we hope you enjoy it to the fullest.

Rapid Fire: Mr. Rademaker

*ELA Teacher*

By: BHS Staff Profiles 

March 13, 2026

Q: Biggest pet peeve?

A: “Students who don’t listen.”

Q: What would your spirit animal be?

A: “Dog.”

Q: One bucket list item for this year?

A: “Go to the Winter Carnival in Quebec, Canada.”

Q: Road trip or plane?

A: “Road trip.”

Q: Host a party or attend one?

A: “Attend.”

Q: Formal or casual? 

A: “Casual.”

Q: Favorite celebrity?

A: “Belinda Carlisle.”

Q: One language you would like to learn?

A: “French.”

Q: Comedy or drama?

A: “Comedy.”

Q: Sun or snow?

A: “Snow.”

Stay tuned for weekly rapid fire interviews and future podcasts. Have a wonderful three-day weekend, Brooklyn!

Baseball Takes Center Stage

By: BHS Sports Staff

March 12, 2026

America’s pastime has taken center stage with the World Baseball Classic and also the Hurricanes baseball season coming right around the corner. So now, it is time to give some love to both the Hurricanes and U.S.A. baseball.

Up first is the Hurricanes baseball team, a team which lost a lot of players from last year, specifically seven seniors. However, there are 10 returners, but this season will be a revamped year as they will be counting on a few guys who have yet to play varsity ball. 

Head Coach Kevin Sedlacek has a squad that he is counting on to make an impact. 

“We will have to rely on returning seniors Zander Rolon and Jacob Collins, plus sophomore Mason Vega to be the foundation of our pitching staff. Another senior returning who we are counting on is Jayden Chin, and we have two first-year senior players, Nathan Phillips and Ryan Gardner. Promising juniors from last year’s team include Jayden Torres and Aron Turbi. The remaining players will be a cast of sophomores who are new to varsity baseball, including Bentley Cox, Alex Gonzalez, Matt Kenderes, and Carson Westerhold.”

As expected with a new-look team, it will take some time to adjust to the faster-paced varsity game, but as the season progresses, confidence and skills will grow to become more competitive. 

The first three games for the Hurricanes will be played on turf with the season kicking off on Saturday, March 28, against their “Battle of Biddulph” rivals, the Rhodes Rams. The game will be played at Talty Field. The Hurricanes will also travel to the historic League Park on Wednesday, April 1, to face the John Marshall Lawyers. The first home game will be on Saturday, April 4, against the Euclid Panthers. 

Good luck, boys! Have a great season.

Now onto the big stage for the World Baseball Classic, where the biggest stars in the game representing 20 countries are facing off for an opportunity to win the WBC title. 

Group A (hosted in San Juan, Puerto Rico) consists of Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Panama, and Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico was the first team to move on, but Canada secured a quarterfinals berth as well.

Group B (hosted in Houston, Texas) consists of the host favorite United States, Mexico, Italy, Great Britain, and Brazil. It came down to the final day for the two qualifying spots, but Italy and the United States moved on after Italy beat Mexico 9-1.

Group C (hosted in Tokyo, Japan) consists of Korea, Australia, Chinese Taipei, Czechia, and Japan. The two qualifying teams for the quarterfinals were Japan and Korea. 

Group D (hosted in Miami, Florida) consists of Venezuela, Israel, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and the Netherlands. The winner of the group came down to the final game between Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, with the winner being the Dominican Republic. Venezuela, however, still qualified. 

The quarterfinals matchups will be played tomorrow with Korea versus the Dominican Republic at 6:30 and Team U.S.A. taking on Canada at 8:00. On Saturday, Puerto Rico will battle Italy at 3:00, and Venezuela will play Japan at 9:00. 

Seeing baseball back on the big screen is exciting, and this WBC is setting up for a dramatic conclusion.

Aside from baseball, next week is the biggest time of the year for college basketball fans, and do not worry, we will begin our trifecta of March Madness articles and our expert predictions. 

Below is the upcoming schedule for Brooklyn Hurricanes Athletics: 

  • March 21: Softball @ Ellet (1:00)
  • March 28: Baseball @ Rhodes (10:00)

Go Canes!

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

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

By: BHS Features Staff

March 11, 2026

Continuing our 2-1-6 Tour, the next Cleveland venue to preview is for all of the music lovers out there. If you are interested in music and its history, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is the perfect place to visit.

Since the weather is warming up (sporadically), there is a great opportunity to take a picture in front of the iconic sign without wearing big, bulky jackets.

Now, it is time to start nominating inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. With a plethora of inductees, the museum is as inclusive as possible, offering multiple voting options. You can cast your ballot online located in the link below.

The Rock Hall offers all kinds of events, giving visitors many different options to choose from. With over 10 different events to sign up for, guests can really choose what they want to get the most out of their museum experience. 

One event offered is “Girls Rock the Hall”. On March 21 from 10:00-2:00, the Rock Hall will shine a light on how women shaped the music industry. This event offers hands-on experiences as well as educational activities. 

Also worth the time is the cool “Sonic Connections,” where people can dive deep into the background of their favorite songs, tunes that have influenced music lovers over the years. 

Simply, the Rock Hall has numerous exhibits featuring decades and decades of music and musicians.

After visiting all of the exhibits, there are plenty of items at the gift shop, too. After learning about a new musician, you may want to listen to what that musician created. There is plenty of merchandise, ranging from clothing and bags to CDs and records. 

No matter if you know a lot about music or only know a little, this is the perfect opportunity to learn more and to become musically-educated. Maybe, you will even find some new artists to enjoy and add them to your playlist.

Music unites all people, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is housed right here in our favorite city, so head downtown for this memorable experience.

{Information for this article sourced from Rock Hall.}

Just Around The Corner

By: BHS News Staff

March 10, 2026

As the lovely three-day weekend is in the past, the Drama Club performed The Addams Family musical very well. Starting the process in November with countless hours of rehearsing, the seniors performed their final play as high school students. 

Senior Riley Cummings was a part of the Crew, which specializes in building the set. She shared her favorite moments throughout her BHS Drama Club career.

“Some of my favorite moments were watching the musical from the wings and all the memories at dinner with all my friends. My favorite sets to build were the stained glass in the back made of tissue paper in Sister Act, Little Mermaid was the sister beds, The Wizard of Oz Glinda’s bubble, and for The Addams Family was the graveyard. The person who had the biggest impact on me was Mr. Kaspar. He pushed me out of my shell and helped me learn to make my own decisions. I joined Crew because my older sister joined, and I wanted to do it from a young age because I got to watch her do it. The people I’m going to miss the most are all the friends I have made along the way.”

Senior Amir Green was a part of the Pit, which specializes in playing the music for the play. Here are some of his favorite memories.

“Some of my favorite moments from this year are probably either watching the play slowly come together or the chicken fight during senior circle. My favorite play I’ve done would probably be either Sister Act or The Little Mermaid just because during those plays, I was surrounded by a lot of friends that I knew and cared about. The people who influenced me the most were Mr. Keller, Mr. Sullivan, and Ben Denovchek because when I thought I wasn’t good enough to play the drumset parts, they were all there to either help me or encourage me.” 

This play shows how the Brooklyn community comes together as a big team to show up for each other, even if it is just to watch the play. Students showing up for each other is so important, too.

Congratulations to everyone who was involved in bringing this musical to life. Hurricane Nation is proud of all your hard work and dedication. 

To wrap up this week’s news, the third quarter ends this Thursday, March 12. Buckle down, work extremely hard, and finish strong with no regrets.

Here is the upcoming schedule for mid-March. 

  • March 11: First Ring Leadership & Yearbook Picture Day 
  • March 12: End of Third Quarter 
  • March 13: No School 
  • March 19: Winter Sports Banquet 

Have an amazing week, fellow Hurricanes.

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

Senior Spotlight: Adam Cowper

By: BHS Senior Spotlights Staff

March 9, 2026

Chosen for this week’s Senior Spotlight is Division II State Bowling Champion, Adam Cowper. After graduation, Cowper plans on bowling at Indiana Tech University while pursuing a degree in Computer Science. Outside of school, you can find him bowling at Yorktown Lanes in Parma Heights and hanging out with his friends. A fun fact about him is that he owns 16 bowling balls.

Q: What surprised you the most about transitioning from eighth grade to high school? 

A: “Probably the people I was around. Being in classes with mixed grade levels was something I wasn’t used to.”

Q: How do you keep a positive mindset?

A: “I start focusing on what I can do better instead of worrying about the past.”

Q: What is your dream job?

A: “Cybersecurity Analysis.”

Q: How do you deal with adversity?

A: “By keeping a clear mind.”

Q: When did you fall in love with bowling?

A: “I have no clue; it has been forever. Maybe since 2015.”

Q: What is your biggest fear?

A: “I don’t have one; I am fearless.”

Q: What is one piece of advice that you would give to incoming freshmen?

A: “Get used to the heat. Some of the classrooms are very hot in the Summer.”

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

A: “There are so many great foods out there, and I don’t know if I can pick just one. If I had to have something right at this moment, I would have some good Sesame Chicken.”

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

A: “Mr. Verba. He always pushed me to do great things and to never settle.”

Adam, thank you for taking part in this week’s Senior Spotlight. We wish you continued success as you pursue your career in Computer Science. Once again, congratulations on your State Bowling Championship!

Rapid Fire: Ms. Lowe-Fleischer

*Health & Physical Education Teacher*

By: BHS Staff Profiles 

March 6, 2026

Q: If you could teleport, where would you go right now?

A: “Somewhere with blue water and white sand.”

Q: Text or Call?

A: “Both.”

Q: Least favorite food as a kid?

A: “Sweet Potatoes.”

Q: Favorite flower?

A: “Gardenia.”

Q: Chocolate or Vanilla?

A: “Vanilla.”

Q: Morning or Night?

A: “Morning.”

Q: Polka Dots or Stripes?

A: “Polka Dots.”

Q: Any animal as a pet?

A: “Seahorse.”

Q: City or Country?

A: “Country.”

Q: Favorite cartoon character?

A: “Smurfette.”

Stay tuned for weekly rapid fire interviews and future podcasts. Have a great long weekend, Hurricanes!

Cowper Makes History 

By: BHS Sports Staff

March 5, 2026

Jenna Young, 2023 graduate, was the last state champion (High Jump) for the Brooklyn Hurricanes…until last Friday. It was a historic moment for the Hurricanes as a state champion was crowned for Bowling, and his name is Adam Cowper.

Cowper had a historically-great career at Brooklyn, being a three-time state qualifier, a conference champion, participating in numerous competitive tournaments, and signing with Indiana Tech earlier this year to continue his bowling career. 

However, none of these accomplishments will ever top winning the state championship. Cowper proved the old saying to be true: “The third time’s a charm.”

He rolled a series of 729 (235-279-215), beating the individual runner-up by 33 pins. His 729 total was 90 pins higher than what he had two weeks ago just to qualify for the state championship.

Cowper knows that consistent practice and great coaching were the main reasons for his state title. 

“The amount of practice I’ve put in over the last four years and the coaching from my dad has led me to success, and I’m grateful.”

Athletic Director Mark Zofka points out that this accomplishment is an amazing feat for Brooklyn. 

“This is only our second individual state champion in the last few years. It’s a young program, and it’s amazing to see him succeed the way he did.”

As he prepares for college bowling at Indiana Tech, Cowper wants to keep doing his thing with the right mindset, knowing what it takes to be successful at the highest level.

Congratulations, Adam! Your state championship will forever be remembered here at Brooklyn High School. You will forever be a Hurricane. 

Now onto other Winter sports.

The boys basketball team, last Saturday, defeated the St. Martin de Porres Lions in their sectional playoff matchup by a score of 54-47. Freshman Shaddai Givens led the way with 17 points, and junior Jose Mateo added 15 points. Unfortunately, their season ended last night with a 63-47 district semifinal loss to Triway. The boys ended the season with a record of 12-11.

Additionally, in wrestling, sophomore Levi Bledsoe finished in third place to advance to the OHSAA district tournament in Independence. Zofka is proud of what Bledsoe has accomplished this season and hopes to see more out of him tomorrow.

“Levi has a great chance of making it to the state tournament, and he’s having a great season. It is amazing to see what he does with his weight, especially competing against upperclassmen.” 

Good luck, Levi!

Below is the upcoming schedule for Brooklyn Hurricanes Athletics: 

  • March 6: Wrestling District Tournament (4:00)

Go Canes!

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

Cleveland’s Iconic Westside Market

By: BHS Features Staff

March 4, 2026

Want to get some fresh fruit and vegetables? How about some grade-A quality meat? Maybe even some pierogies? 

The Westside Market is one of the best options for food in Cleveland, so make sure to check it out.

Since 1912, the Westside Market has been up and running. With their fresh food, professional chefs, and welcoming environment, many Ohio residents love to visit and purchase goodies from here.

With over 70 different family-owned businesses within the market, it creates a safe sense of community and belonging. These businesses also give you an opportunity to explore the many choices, not leaving you empty-handed or disappointed.

To prove the hype of this market, more than 800,000 guests visit within a calendar year, proving its quality, worth, and impact.

For those interested in history and/or cooking, The Chef’s Cut is a must. Featuring Chef Eric Wells, he will take you through the history, future, and ongoing cooking routines. After learning, Chef Wells will take you through a hands-on experience to cook a fresh, gourmet meal. For those interested in The Chef’s Cut, please do not hesitate to register your visit in the link provided above. No matter if you are a skilled chef or a novice, you will enjoy this experience.

If you are not the type who is sociable or someone who hesitates trying new things in public, the market has just the experience for you. Each Friday from 10:00-2:00, the Westside Market features a chef’s new recipe through Fresh Fundamentals. Once you grab your selected recipe card, you are able to walk around the market to purchase the needed items. Once you get home with your recipe and ingredients, you may view the market’s YouTube page to understand the recipe better and how to properly prepare it.

Do not wait! Head to the Westside Market and enjoy this iconic Cleveland venue. Remember, eat a lot but not too much.

{Information for this article sourced from Westside Market.}

The News MARCHes On

By: BHS News Staff

March 3, 2026

Finally, March is here!

With the end of the third quarter coming up in less than two weeks, the grade push and missing assignments are in full-swing with many students either ready for the next quarter to begin or those who need another month to catch-up. Regardless, the quarter concludes on March 12, so get your grades up, ASAP.

Want some entertainment after Prom? All seniors, please check your grade level Google Classroom and fill out the Post Prom rewards form. This form will help decide what prizes the seniors receive while attending Post Prom, which will be hosted at Fun ‘n’ Stuff, located in Macedonia. 

Speaking of Prom, if any student sold Malley’s chocolate for a discounted ticket, the deadline for money turn-in is almost here. All money is due this Thursday, March 5. Be sure to return the money to Mrs. Holko in room 271. Be responsible!

Next, ready for The Addams Family? Time to pull the curtains. The performances are this week on Friday at 7:00, Saturday at 2:00 and 7:00, and Sunday at 2:00. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for kids. To all involved, break a leg!

The club under this week’s spotlight is not just a club but also a class. It also counts as an English elective. The club is Mr. Holko’s Publications/Journalism class. This class teaches students to learn and develop new writing skills, communication, and teamwork. Due to many of our beloved seniors graduating this Spring and some of our underclassmen attending Polaris Career Center next year, we are in need of some new journalists. Please see Mr. Holko in room 262 for more information if you are interested in joining. 

Speaking of the school newspaper, senior Jacob Collins of the sports group provided some insight into Publications/Journalism.

“I was interested in sports broadcasting, and when I heard there was a class that allowed me to write about sports, I knew I had to join the class. One of my favorite moments is when during free time, when all of the weekly articles were published, we were playing basketball, and at the time, sophomore Ben Denovchek absolutely baptized graduated senior Collin Flanagan with a poster dunk. In all seriousness, one of my favorite classmates to work with was Collin because I felt we had a good connection in writing sports articles, and we had a good balance of working together. I highly recommend this course to underclassmen,” stated Collins.

Finally, here is the upcoming schedule for early March.

  • March 5: Spring Parent/Teacher Conferences 
  • March 5: Malley’s Chocolate Money Due
  • March 5: 8th Grade Registration Information Night 
  • March 5: College Credit Plus Information Night 
  • March 5: College and Career Fair
  • March 11: Cleveland State University Field Trip
  • March 12: End of the Third Quarter 

Have an amazing first week of March, Hurricanes.

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

Senior Spotlight: Amanda Ortiz-Rosario

By: BHS Senior Spotlights Staff

March 2, 2026

Chosen for this week’s Senior Spotlight is Amanda Ortiz-Rosario. After graduation, Amanda plans on pursuing a career in Dental Hygiene. Outside of school, she works two part-time jobs at Barraco in Lakewood and at Westlake Dental Associates. In her free time, she enjoys staying active and hanging out with her friends. A fun fact about Amanda is that Spanish is her first language.

Q: What was a class that you wish you never took? 

A: “Chemistry.”

Q: When did you realize that you were capable of more than you thought?

A: “When I could handle working two part-time jobs, while cheerleading, without letting my grades fall.”

Q: How did your friendships shape who you became?

A: “Being able to look up to my older friends helped me navigate difficult decisions and overall become a more mature and better person.”

Q: What motivates you in the present?

A: “Always pushing myself to be the most successful version of me.”

Q: What is your go-to snack?

A: “Salt and Vinegar chips.”

Q: If you could switch places with one teacher, who would it be?

A: “My Polaris teacher, Mrs. Halko. I love the people in my class.”

Q: What is one word that describes your high school experience?

A: “Memorable.”

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

A: “Mrs. Holko. She is so positive and put-together, and she gives the best advice.”

Thank you Amanda for taking part in this week’s Senior Spotlight. We wish you continued success as you pursue your career as a Dental Hygienist.

Rapid Fire: Mr. Sedlacek 

*History Teacher*

By: BHS Staff Profiles 

February 27, 2026

Q: Favorite sport?

A: “Baseball.”

Q: Look into the future or change the past?

A: “Look into the future.”

Q: Where would you like to travel again?

A: “Aruba.”

Q: Save or spend?

A: “Save and invest.”

Q: What is something most people like that you do not understand?

A: “TikTok videos.”

Q: Winter or Summer?

A: “Summer.”

Q: Favorite childhood memory? 

A: “Going to Cedar Point.”

Q: One food you will never give up?

A: “Pizza or Spaghetti.”

Q: Swimming or running?

A: “Running.”

Q: What is your best personality trait?

A: “Caring.”

Stay tuned for weekly rapid fire interviews and future podcasts. Have a fantastic weekend, Brooklyn!

Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started