THE RETURN OF THE EYE

Fire Stefanski: Yay or Nay?

By: BHS Sports Staff

October 16, 2025

This season has been a disaster for the hometown Cleveland Browns, currently with a record of 1-5. For Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, the seat has gotten hot, and people are posing the question: Should Stefanski be fired?

The Browns’ offense has struggled heavily this season, as they have yet to crack 20 points in a game since December 2 of last year.

In week one, Cleveland suffered a heartbreaking defeat against the Cincinnati Bengals and followed that up in week two by giving up 41 points against the Baltimore Ravens. The Browns then received a miracle victory in week three, defeating the Green Bay Packers. But that miracle did not last because they have dropped three straight games, including an international loss against the Minnesota Vikings in London, England.

Many people have blamed the offensive struggles on Stefanski, stating that his offense is very predictable and lacks good play-calling. Stefanski has also struggled to make in-game adjustments and has failed to take accountability for the numerous mistakes. Recently quoted, he stated that “a long list of things have to be better,” yet nothing has positively-changed over the course of this season. In fact, they have gotten worse.

On the other hand, some people believe that it is too early to press the panic button on the head coach.

He has been a solid coach and led the Browns to two playoff appearances in his six-year tenure. In those two years, 2020 and 2023, Stefanski won the Coach of the Year award. For a Browns team that did not make the playoffs for nearly two decades, this is quite the accomplishment.

With a relatively young, offensive squad, there may be hope for the future, thanks to rookies Quinshon Judkins, Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders, and Harold Fannin Jr. However, will this team find success under Stefanski, or is it time to move on? Sunday’s game against the 1-5 Miami Dolphins will determine a lot.

In Stefanski’s own words, “Before you start winning, you gotta stop losing.”

Let us know your thoughts in the Leave a comment section below. Fire him or not?

Go Brownies!

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

Triple-Check Your Locks

By: BHS Features Staff

October 15, 2025

Need a way to spend your weekend hiding from civilization due to the fear of the unknown? Horror movies have this type of impact.

Below are four horror movies to spice up this Halloween season that will keep you guessing as to what happens next.

First, M3GAN 2.0 is a great movie to start off with. When Gemma becomes the unexpected caretaker of her eight-year-old niece, she decides to give the girl an M3GAN prototype, which leads to unimaginable consequences. M3GAN 2.0 will take you through a few twists and turns and will leave you with your heart pounding.

Next is Drop, released in 2025 and directed by Christopher Landon. This movie signifies and explores how quickly a first date can turn terrifying in the cell phone era. The story centers on Violet (Meghann Fahy), a widowed mom who meets someone new at an upscale restaurant only to start receiving increasingly menacing messages on her phone. She is told to obey or else her son and sister would be harmed, which intensifies her emotions because she starts to recognize that the sender is close. This film shows how social dating can be risky, and you never know how quickly a turn of events can occur.

Third, on the shorter side with a run time of 102 minutes, Together is a newer horror film released last July. It is a sweet love story that takes a turn for the worse after Tim Brassington (Dave Franco) and Millie Wilson (Alison Brie) move into a new countryside home before everything unravels. This thriller will keep viewers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

Finally, Heretic is an unsettling, psychological thriller that was released last Summer, starring Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, and Chloe East. Thatcher and East play two missionaries as they go door-to-door. After speaking to Mr. Reed (Grant), the missionaries become trapped in his house and are left to make many decisions that could result in life or death.

Are there more than four horror films? Of course there are. Everyone knows the classics for Halloween fright (Michael Myers, anyone?), but the list above will take viewers into a new generation of fear.

In the words of Kevin McCallister from Home Alone I, “I’m not afraid anymore!”

Now, be sure to triple-check your locked doors before pushing “Play”. 👻

{Information for this article was gathered from Rotten Tomatoes.}

First Quarter Frenzy

By: BHS News Staff

October 14, 2025

Already halfway through October, BHS is in the final week of the first quarter. Time to lock in for the last few days.

With the latest news, last Thursday, BHS hosted a Financial Aid Informational session for students. The special speaker, Mr. Doug Boes from College Now, helped explain the process for financial aid for future college students. Additionally, BHS has also had college representatives from multiple schools come in to give presentations. Seniors, if you are college-bound, talk to your counselors about schools that will stop by Brooklyn throughout the year. Make sure you sign up for these sessions.

Also, last week, Key Club hosted its first “Start with Hello Week”. This is an annual event created by Sandy Hook Promise that encourages students and school communities to include and connect with others, especially those who seem lonely or isolated. BHS has implemented this tradition for many years and will conduct one of these weeks during every quarter.

Moving forward, this Friday, BHS will have its Senior Night where seniors for football, marching band, and cheerleading will be recognized for their talents and Hurricane pride. Additionally, at the end of the football game, there will be fireworks for the crowd to enjoy. We hope to see everyone on Friday evening showing their Hurricane support and rocking their Blue and Gold.

As a reminder, next Wednesday (October 22) is the schoolwide PSAT. Make sure to get a good night of sleep, eat a nutritious breakfast, arrive at your testing location early, and do your best.

Finally, here is the October calendar:

October 14: 2027 Europe Trip Meeting (6:00)
October 16: End of the First Quarter
October 22: PSAT 8-11
October 24: Lakeland Community College Experience Lakeland Day
October 31: Halloween 🎃

Have a great week, Hurricanes!

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

Senior Spotlight: Logan Westfall

By: BHS Senior Spotlights Staff

October 10, 2025

Chosen for this week’s Senior Spotlight is Logan Westfall. Logan’s plans after graduation are to work at the Cleveland Clinic. What he likes to do in his free time consists of spending time with his friends, whether that is over the phone, in-person, or texting. A fun fact about him is that when he is with his friends, he never stops talking.

Q: When you look back at BHS in later years, what will you remember the most?

A: “All of the memories with my friends, using Snapchat filters on each other and saving those pictures for the memories, and laughing my butt off with all of them. I love my friends a lot, and I do not know who I would be without them.”

Q: What is the most challenging aspect of being a senior?

A: “I would say having little-to-no motivation most of the time. Senioritis is hitting me harder than I thought it would.”

Q: Did you have any embarrassing moments in high school that you can laugh about now?

A: “The most embarrassing moment was when my Stanley cup fell off of a table and broke. It was during Biology class, but this happened again. One time, a lid broke, and the other time, a handle broke. I dropped it accidentally in the hallway the other time, and everyone looked at me. It was embarrassing to me.”

Q: What is your favorite holiday?

A: “Christmas. I love seeing the beautiful snow outside, the family time that revolves around the holiday, and seeing everyone’s happy expressions.”

Q: Who is your hero?

A: “My mom. She helps me a lot with my medical work and with some other things I need help with.”

Q: If you could move anywhere in the country, where would you move to?

A: “Florida. I have been there many different times, and I fell in love with everything there. The scenery is beautiful, and I just love it.”

Q: What is the hardest decision that you have ever made?

A: “Polaris choices. I had a couple of different choices I wanted to go with, but I had to narrow it down to just one. I had a hard time choosing. In the end, I was happy with my final decision.”

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

A: “Mr. Verba. He was always nice to me, helped me during class, and I loved him as a teacher. He was amazing, and I miss him a lot.”

Thank you so much for your time, Logan. We hope this year goes well for you. You will do great.

Celebrating Soccer Seniors

By: BHS Sports Staff

October 9, 2025

Earlier this week, both the boys and girls soccer teams hosted their respective senior nights. The boys (4-8-2) faced off against the Garrett Morgan Falcons (8-3), while the girls (1-13) took on the Barberton Magics (2-9-3).

A special moment as the boys game got underway occurred when senior Elias DeLeon, who has missed the entire season due to an injury, handled the kickoff and took a knee before walking off to a standing ovation.

As for the game itself, the boys got on the board quickly, three minutes in, when senior Napoleon Davies scored off of a corner kick pass from fellow senior Jaime Villasmil-Leon.

The Falcons would then put up back-to-back goals in the 18th and 28th minutes to take a 2-1 lead, but the Hurricanes responded with two more goals of their own, one from senior Youssef Elouardighi in the 34th minute and one from Villasmil-Leon in the 37th minute to give the Hurricanes a 3-2 lead at the half.

Too close for comfort, the Hurricanes went on the attack in the second half as Davies scored two goals in the 50th and 51st minutes to give himself the hat trick. Elouardighi soon scored his second goal of the contest in the 52nd minute, and just like that, the Hurricanes blew the door open and were now up 6-2.

Davies later scored his fourth goal of the contest in the 56th minute to give the Hurricanes a 7-2 lead, and the game would be capped off with Villasmil-Leon’s second goal of the game in the 78th minute to give the Hurricanes a dominant victory.

Final Score: Brooklyn 8, Garrett Morgan 2

Great job, boys!

The boys will be back home for the final game of the regular season this Saturday against the Firestone Falcons at 12:00.

In between games, the boys recognized seniors Angel Torres, Elias DeLeon, Jayden Chin, Jaime Villasmil-Leon, Youssef Elouardighi, Napoleon Davies, Reymon Carrasquillo, and Abdulrahman Alhalmoushe. The girls also recognized their seniors Lauren Atanacio, Nicolle Thomas Garcia, Kayla Flanagan, Yasmeen Issa, Gianna Garcia, Olivia Blechschmid, Emily Chicharro, Jarianny Dominguez-Calderon, and Madison Gaughan.

Onto the girls game. The Hurricanes had great defense throughout the first half; however, the visiting Magics struck in the 31st and 34th minutes to give them a 2-0 lead heading into the break. In the second half, Barberton tacked on another goal in the 46th minute to put them up 3-0.

The Hurricanes held strong throughout the second half, but the Magics scored again in the 62nd minute to give them a commanding 4-0 lead.

However, with under a minute to go, the Hurricanes had a shot to do something special with a breakaway, and sure enough, Atanacio placed an excellent pass to sophomore Reese Alonso who scored with 30 seconds left in the home finale.

A special moment for the girls as Alonso will lead the next generation of Brooklyn girls soccer players.

Final Score: Barberton 4, Brooklyn 1

Congratulations to all of the seniors for their hard work, dedication, and perseverance throughout the whole season and their high school careers.

Below is the upcoming schedule for Brooklyn Hurricanes Athletics.

October 9: Volleyball @ Beachwood (6:00)
October 10: Football @ Trinity (7:00)
October 11: Boys Soccer vs. Firestone (12:00)

Go Canes!

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

Hip-Hop or Halloween?

By: BHS Features Staff

October 8, 2025

While Cleveland is not the birthplace of Hip-hop, it does have its fair share of historical artists.

East 99th’s Bone Thugs-n-Harmony paved the way in the 1990s with their melodic prowess and emotional storytelling. Further Southeast was Scott Mescudi, commonly known as Kid Cudi, who was in a similar vein of rap using personal lyrics and instrumentation.

With Hip-hop playing a big part in Cleveland, there happen to be a lot of rap shows coming to the 2-1-6 in this month alone.

Tonight, Ice Cube, the star of many infamous movies and N.W.A. member, will take over Rocket Arena. With a tour average of 120 minutes of music, it will be a show that is worth every penny. Tickets for tonight range from $50 to $180.

Later this week, Kevin Gates, who has seen viral success on the Internet over the past few years, is hitting up Cleveland on Saturday, October 11. He will be playing an energy-filled set at Jacob’s Pavilion with tickets from $70 to $160.

Finally, Tee Grizzley is coming to Cleveland. Known for his hard-hitting lyrics and high-energy performances, Tee Grizzly is bringing his raw talent and unique storytelling to the stage. Fans can expect to hear hits like “First Day Out” and “Satish,” along with new tracks that showcase this Detroit Native’s growth and grind. Get ready for an unforgettable night on Friday, October 17, at 7:30 at The Grog Shop. Entry is $25 in advance and $30 on the actual date.

Cleveland’s music scene is heating up as some of the biggest names in Hip-hop get ready to hit the stage. These concerts do not just bring great music, they also bring energy, culture, and a connection to the heart of Cleveland.

So, Hip-hop or Halloween? Unlike the temporary celebration of Halloween, Hip-hop provides a constant, year-round platform for social interaction and brotherhood.

October Hip-hop is here, so if you love the genre, this is the time to show up and experience these great artists LIVE!

{Information sourced from Ticketmaster.}

A Weekend to Remember

By: BHS News Staff

October 7, 2025

In early October, it is easy to lose track of time with spooky season, pumpkins, and Fall colors. The first full week of this month seems to be flying by, which means that Halloween will soon be upon us. But before Trick-or-Treat, a homecoming recap is in order.

During last Friday’s pep rally, the homecoming court candidates participated in a “Court Feud,” where they answered questions in front of the student body. It was fun, energetic, and competitive. Later on, the senior class was awarded a trophy for the best school spirit. A big shout-out to Mrs. Bader for organizing this rally as it was great entertainment for all.

Additionally, the seniors gathered together and enjoyed the annual senior luncheon. This event featured a photo booth along with a very good spread. A special thank you to Mrs. Holko and the senior parents who made this tradition possible.

Later that evening, the varsity football team had a hard-fought game against the Independence Blue Devils, unfortunately resulting in a defeat. However, the homecoming crowd was awesome. A big shout-out to everyone who showed up to support the football and cheer teams, as well as the band and Hurricettes.

The main moment of the evening, though, was the announcement of this year’s homecoming king and queen. Prior to kickoff, the announcement was made. Congratulations to Jayden Chin and Nicolle Thomas for winning each crown!

Finally, last Saturday evening, BHS held its annual homecoming dance. Full of pictures, music, refreshments, and snow cones, students enjoyed their time with friends, and seniors had their traditional senior circle at the very end. Once again, a big thank you to Mrs. Bader for organizing this year’s dance, and a special thank you to those who decorated the cafeteria according to the theme of “A Night at the Bayou”.

The 2025 homecoming festivities are officially in the books, and this year was definitely a week to remember for all who participated.

Here is the upcoming calendar for October:

October 9: Parent/Teacher Conferences & College and Career Fair
October 9: Fall Community Coffee Chat
October 10: No School (NEOEA DAY)
October 14: 2027 Europe Trip Meeting
October 16: End of the First Quarter
October 17: No School for Students
October 22: PSAT 8-10
October 24: Lakewood Community College Experience Lakeland Day

Have an amazing, short week.

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

Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Evans

*BHS Attendance & Records Secretary*

By: BHS Staff Profiles

October 3, 2025

Chosen for this week’s Staff Spotlight is Mrs. Patricia Evans. This is Mrs. Evans’ first year in Brooklyn. Before Brooklyn, she worked in the medical field as a secretary and a nurse. In her free time, she enjoys exploring different places with her grandchildren and taking time to relax. A fun fact about her is that she enjoys dancing in her kitchen, either by herself or with her best friend.

Q: What would you say is the most challenging aspect of being an attendance secretary?

A: “Trying to get all students here on time every day. It is improving, but it could be so much better.”

Q: How do you prioritize all of your duties as a secretary?

A: “Certain things have to be done. The attendance robo call goes out at 10:00 every morning. Every student who is tardy or absent from school must be entered before 10:00. In the meantime, I also do other things. Taking out records, bringing in records, transcripts…a lot of things.”

Q: Is there anything people do not understand about your position that you wish they did?

A: “I have to make a lot of phone calls for parents to come in for meetings to talk about their child’s tardiness and absenteeism. Then, they say, ‘We were on vacation or a funeral happened.’ It makes the job harder than it already is. I do not make the rules, but I have to follow them.”

Q: What is a valuable lesson that you have learned from work experience?

A: “Listen more than you speak.”

Q: What is your favorite way to start the day?

A: “A cup of tea and listening to the birds chirping. Being at peace is the perfect start to my day.”

Q: If you could learn any skills instantly, what would they be?

A: “I wish I could have more skills. I definitely love to help, though.”

Q: You won the lottery! What is the first thing you would do?

A: “Scream and call my children. I would give my money away to everyone who needs it. I am blessed to already have a lot of good things in my life.”

Q: What are three things you cannot live without?

A: “Children/grandchildren, my best friend, and a purpose. Who would I be if I did not have anyone?”

Thank you for letting us interview you, Mrs. Evans. We hope you have a great first year in Brooklyn. Enjoy the birds while you can with Winter on the way.

Bison Blanked

By: BHS Sports Staff

October 2, 2025

After a difficult five weeks on the gridiron, the winless Hurricanes football team finally put a complete game together.

Brooklyn travelled to Beachwood last Friday to take on the winless Bison. One team would have to prevail in this contest, right?

In the previous two years, the Hurricanes have defeated the Bison by scores of 35-3 and 22-7. If they could maintain this trend, it seemed likely that the Hurricanes would continue their dominance.

The Hurricanes struck first midway through the first quarter as senior Lyle Taylor found the endzone on an 8-yard touchdown. Taylor also scored the two-point conversion to put Brooklyn up early, 8-0.

The defenses would hold things there through the first half. Beachwood’s offense was no match for Brooklyn’s dominant defense as they held them scoreless at the break.

With both teams looking to secure their first victory of the season, who would come out on top in the final half?

After Beachwood’s first drive stalled, sophomore quarterback Mason Vega took a shot downfield to Taylor, and after a broken tackle, Taylor took it to the house for an 87-yard touchdown. With the two-point conversion good, the Hurricanes doubled their lead to 16-0.

Brooklyn’s defense continued to push Beachwood back, and sophomore Bentley Cox got an interception to put the ball in the red zone for the Hurricanes. With the third quarter coming to an end, the Hurricanes were threatening to score again.

The Hurricanes found the endzone to begin the fourth after a two-yard “tush push” touchdown, and with another two-point conversion, Brooklyn was pulling away, now up 24-0.

The defense held strong to close out the game as the Hurricanes earned their first victory of the season. Not just any victory, a shutout victory.

Final Score: Brooklyn 24, Beachwood 0.

The Hurricanes improved to 1-5 and will look to carry their momentum into the homecoming game tomorrow evening as they take on CVC rival, the Independence Blue Devils. Kickoff is at 7:00 with homecoming festivities before the game.

Good luck, boys!

Below is the upcoming schedule for Brooklyn Hurricanes Athletics:

October 2: Boys Soccer vs. Columbia (5:00)
October 2: Girls Soccer vs. Ellet (7:00)
October 3: Football vs. Independence (7:00)
October 6: Boys Soccer vs. Garrett Morgan (5:00)
October 6: Girls Soccer vs. Barberton (7:00)
October 7: Volleyball vs. Independence (6:00)

Go Canes!

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

Boo at the Zoo

By: BHS Features Staff

October 1, 2025

October is here, which means a spooky opportunity for the whole family. The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is a place to keep your eyes on because what can be a better combination than Halloween, animals, and candy?

While tomorrow is the official start day of the event (5:00-9:00), Boo at the Zoo takes place every Thursday through Sunday until October 26.

Our local zoo will be decorated in a spookier scene than in years past, getting all patrons into the Halloween spirit.

With more than a dozen candy stations, candy will be gained in addition to unforgettable memories for the little ones. Meet-and-Greets with infamous costumed characters and a ride on the Boomerang train are just a few of this year’s exciting opportunities.

Even if one is not satisfied with candy, many of the animals will still be out to see during Boo at the Zoo. What would be more fitting than a lion’s roar in a Halloween-themed environment?

Get out and buy your tickets now, as the first 1,000 people will receive a complimentary candy bag each day for this annual tradition.

Simply, this is Halloween season, and you do not want to miss out on this amazing, family-fun experience.

Crowns, Cheers, Class Spirit

By: BHS News Staff

September 30, 2025

As September bids farewell, we welcome in October. Yes, Halloween is coming, but there is so much more going on before that frightful evening arrives.

Speaking of arrival, homecoming week is officially here, so it is time to get ready for an eventful week full of school spirit, food, football, dressing up, and dancing.

Last Thursday, the BHS hallways were decorated with the theme, “Children’s Cartoons”. Bluey, Strawberry Shortcake, Garfield, Dora, and SpongeBob bring color, energy, and spirit to the hallways. A big thank you to all of the students who spent time after school to spice up the high school.

Also, last week, the 2025 homecoming court was introduced to the student body at the “Meet the Court” assembly. This assembly went very well as the candidates answered questions for the audience to hear. A big shout-out to Mrs. Bader for organizing this event and making it happen. Additionally, thank you to the audience for your respectful behavior.

Remember, homecoming king and queen voting will take place tomorrow in grade-level Google classrooms.

Yesterday, students showed up and showed out with their “Nerd” versus “Jock” attire. Below is a picture of some students showing their school spirit.

Thank you to those who dressed according to the spirit week theme yesterday. Here is the spirit week flyer as a reminder of what to wear for the remainder of this week.

This Friday, BHS is holding its first pep rally of the year, which will include various games that the homecoming court candidates will play in front of the student body. The football team also plays against the Independence Blue Devils later in the evening. Before the game, the homecoming king and queen will be announced. Good luck to all of the homecoming court candidates and the football team.

Finally, seniors who attend Polaris, this is a reminder to please bring your money to the senior homecoming luncheon, as tickets will be sold during this annual tradition. This will be the only opportunity to buy homecoming tickets if you are planning on attending this year’s dance.

Here is the early October calendar:

October 3: Homecoming Football Game
October 4: Homecoming Dance
October 9: Parent/Teacher Conference & College and Career Fair

Have a wonderful homecoming week, fellow Hurricanes!

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

Senior Spotlight: Maija Lee

By: BHS Senior Spotlights Staff

September 26, 2025

Chosen for this week’s Senior Spotlight is Maija Lee. After graduation, Majia plans to attend a four-year university to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and eventually earn a PhD to become a Clinical Psychologist. In her free time, she is usually working, but she also enjoys cooking, baking, and ballet dancing. A fun fact about Maija is that she enjoys creating crafts incorporating rhinestones.

Q: How have your goals changed since your first year of high school?

A: “Since the first year, my goal has been to work towards becoming less focused on just academics and being more well-rounded. I realize that my grades are important, but developing other skills and interests are just as crucial.”

Q: At any point, was there a moment in your life when you wanted to give up on school?

A: “Yes, during junior year. Taking AP Chemistry and Precalculus was very challenging for me. It became overwhelming at times because I also wanted to focus on studying for the SAT and AP tests in the Spring while balancing my work schedule and personal life.”

Q: What song makes you think of your senior year?

A: “‘Forever’ by Drake.”

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

A: “In 10 years, I see myself pursuing my PhD in Clinical Psychology and hopefully making progress in my career.”

Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

A: “I want to teleport because transportation is unreliable these days. It would be safer, better for the environment, and I would save money.”

Q: What is your favorite animal?

A: “My favorite animal is a monkey because they are brilliant and fun to watch.”

Q: If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three items would you need to have?

A: “I would need water, food, and shelter. All three are practically essential to human life. Clean water is most important, food would provide me with energy, and shelter would protect me from the elements.”

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

A: “I would say Mrs. Bader has been my biggest inspiration. She makes the school environment more fun and engaging. Her passion to make the school a better place through the work she puts into activities is really inspiring.”

Thank you for your time, Maija. We hope you continue to pursue and achieve your goal of becoming a Clinical Psychologist.