THE RETURN OF THE EYE

Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Gomez

By: Morgan Blechschmid and Danielle Shehee

April 14, 2021

Mrs. Courtney Gomez has been chosen for this week’s Staff Spotlight! For the past 16 years, Gomez has been an elementary school teacher, and she is currently in her sixth year of teaching kindergarten. She is well-known to many of her previous students for making learning fun, meaningful, and impactful. She truly is a great teacher and is so good for students in the early years of their educational experience.

Q: What advice would you give to your former students who are graduating next year?

A: “First of all, I cannot believe my first class of kindergartners from 2009-2010 are going to be graduating next year! That cannot be possible! I am so proud of all of you and feel lucky to have been your teacher! As far as advice, I have to borrow a few lines from my favorite Rascal Flatts song, “I hope this life becomes all that you want it to! Your dreams stay BIG, your worries stay small, and you never need to carry more than you can hold.”

Q: What are your favorite hobbies?

A: “My favorite hobbies are hiking and bike riding with my family. I also love watching my boys play their favorite sports. We also love to take local field trips as a family to the park, aquarium, zoo, etc.”

Q: If you could choose a different career, what would it be?

A: “I always wanted to be a newscaster/journalist when I was younger. I thought it would be fun to report the news each evening and be on TV.”

Q.) If you could relive one memory, what would it be?

A.) “I would love to go back to the day each of my three boys were born! My son Ricky is nine. Noah is seven-years-old, and Greyson just turned four. Their birthdays were the happiest days of my life.”

Q: How do you prepare lessons for your students?

A: “I love to read stories, sing songs, and have lots of hands-on activities for my kindergarteners to do. We usually pick a topic from our curriculum and then plan activities around a theme and topic. Next week, we are doing a Science unit about living things. We are going to start by learning about bugs. So, we are going to read texts that are fiction and non-fiction about bugs. We will also read bug poems and sing songs. We will end our living things unit by studying the life cycle of a butterfly.”

Q: What do you like the most about your job?

A: “I really love being a teacher and spending my day with kids! Kindergartners might be the happiest, little people in the world. Their laughter and curiosity is contagious.”

Q: If you were able to travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why?

A: “If I could go anywhere in the world, I think I would pick a trip to a Carribean beach. I love to sit on the beach and read books. I also like water sports, swimming, boating, snorkeling, hiking, and exploring.”

Q: What is your life’s motto?

A: “I always teach my own kids and my students to do the right thing, even when no one is watching.”

Thank you for your time and your responses, Mrs. Gomez. You gave us a great start, and we hope that we made you proud. We miss you!

R.I.P. to One of Our Own

By: Valery Warner, Aiden Nelson, and Ariana Rojak

April 13, 2021

On March 13, 2021, former Brooklyn student-athlete Sean Acierno tragically passed away. He was a member of Brooklyn’s 2011 graduating class.

Acierno played basketball throughout his high school career and was coached by current English teacher, Mr. Jonathon Holko.

Holko, heavily impacted by this tragedy, stated that #34 embodied love, happiness, and hard work.

“He had a smile that lit up a room, had a personality that showed care and concern for everyone, and loved his family, his teammates, and being a Brooklyn Hurricane. Words cannot express how big of an impact he left on me, his coaches, his teammates, the student body, and the entire Brooklyn community. We must carry on his legacy!”

Above is a mural sketched and painted by junior Savannah David and sophomore Delaney David. It is located on Mr. Holko’s classroom wall and is a fitting tribute to a wonderful, young man taken too soon.

Acierno had a reputation that was known and admired by so many people. Anyone who crossed his path immediately knew how wonderful of a young man he truly was.

He took such pride in wearing the Blue and Gold and will forever be a Hurricane.

Sean Acierno will be dearly missed by many, but the life he lived will be cherished in our hearts, forever.

Our sincerest prayers and condolences are lifted up to his family and to his friends.

Cleveland Indians Preview

By: Ella Fowler, Kelsey Bruzek, Tyler Elzholz, and Jaiden Basinger

March 30, 2021

The Cleveland Indians are about to hit the field to begin their regular season. The Tribe has been busy preparing for this upcoming season by practicing and playing several Spring training games in Goodyear, Arizona.

Although the Indians made a short playoff run a year ago, optimism always remains for the team that plays at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario.

This year’s squad returns familiar faces, but the newer acquisitions hope to bolster the club’s record from a year ago. As in any sport, talent is key to success, but chemistry is crucial to sustaining long-term success.

The projected starting lineup for opening day and beyond is as follows:

*Outfield*

Eddie Rosario (LF), Amed Rosario (CF), and Josh Naylor (RF)

*Infield*

José Ramírez (3B), Andrés Gimenez (SS), Cesar Hernandez (2B), and Jake Bauers (1B)

*Catchers*

Roberto Pérez and Austin Hedges

*Starting Pitchers*

Cy Young winner Shane Bieber, Zach Plesac, Aaron Civale, Triston Mckenzie, and Logan Allen

*Relief Pitchers*

James Karinchak, Nick Wittgren, Emmanuel Clase, Bryan Shaw, Phil Maton, and Oliver Perez

Losing town favorites Francisco Lindor, Carlos Carrasco, and Brad Hand will be tough, but no one can underestimate manager Terry (Tito) Francona and his expertise and influence on a ball club.

Good luck to this year’s team as they take on the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park this Thursday. First pitch is at 1:10 p.m. and will be televised on Bally Sports Great Lakes (formerly known as Sports Time Ohio).

Spring is here, which means baseball is, too. Go Tribe!

Women’s History Month: Halle Berry

By: Brittney Corrado, Laila Schwin, and Alisha Bains

March 30, 2021

Halle Maria Berry was born as Maria Halle Berry on August 14, 1966, in Cleveland, Ohio. She is an American actress, but she began her career as a model. She had considerable success as a model and eventually branched out into acting, where she became famous.

Berry grew up in Oakwood, Ohio, and attended Bedford High School for the later part of her teenage years. After high school, she went on to study at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) for Broadcast Journalism, but she later decided not to pursue this field.

She then started her modeling career by entering several beauty contests; she had much success in these competitions. She won the title of Miss Teen All-America in 1985 and then the title of Miss Ohio (USA) in 1986. She went on to be the runner-up in the 1986 Miss USA competition. Shortly after, she became the first African-American to ever enter the Miss World competition in 1986 in which she finished sixth. Berry then went on to New York City to pursue a true modeling career, but not just for pageants. Her modeling career did not quite work out, but it opened the door to an acting career.

Berry’s breakthrough was in the romantic comedy Boomerang in 1992 with Eddie Murphy. This then catapulted her into leading roles in many other films, too, such as the family comedy The Flintstones (1994), the political comedy-drama Bulworth (1998), and the television film Introducing Dorothy Dandrige (1999). She won a Primetime Emmy Award for her role in the film Their Eyes Were Watching God and a Golden Globe Award for her role in Introducing Dorothy Dandridge.

Halle Berry is most-known for her acting, and her career continued to skyrocket with her roles in Catwoman, Monster’s Ball, and X-Men. She won the Academy Award for best actress in 2002 for her acting in Monster’s Ball in which she played the character, Leticia Musgrove. Also, she was the first African-American to win the Academy Award for best actress, which is a monumental and historic achievement.

She has been nominated for and received a wide range of various other awards for her acting as well, including several MTV Movie and TV awards, NAACP Image awards, and Screen Actors Guild awards. She received these and quite a few other nominations and minor awards throughout the entirety of her acting career, which just adds to her reputation as an actress and to her overall success throughout the years.

Berry began dating actor Olivier Martinez in March of 2012. The couple then got engaged, and in April of 2013, they announced that they were expecting their first child together. On July 13, 2013, the couple got married. That October, their first child was born, a boy named Maceo-Robert. Two years later, the couple announced their divorce, which became final in December of 2016.

With a strong start to her career and many adventures and roles still ahead, Halle Berry has made history as an actress, a model, and an all-around influential woman. She does not seem to be stopping any time soon, and her future works will undoubtedly be just as great as her previous ones.

{Editor’s Note: Information for this article was retrieved from Biography.com.}

Spring Break Plans?

By: Valery Warner, Ariana Rojak, and Aiden Nelson

March 26, 2021

It is already that time of year: SPRING BREAK! The BCSD’s Spring Break schedule begins on Thursday, April 1 and concludes on Sunday, April 11.

So, what is everyone doing?

Alex Chiclana, BHS sophomore: “I’m going to Puerto Rico to meet my dad’s father and also my grandma. I’m going to be staying there for two weeks.” This sounds like a great, family vacation.

Mr. Zeedrich, BHS Spanish teacher: “I am actually not traveling over Spring Break. My wife works for a different school district, and both of my kids attend school there. Their Spring Break was last week, so, unfortunately, mine will be boring.” Boo, Senor Zeedrich!

Arika Gill, BHS junior: “I’m not traveling until June, so for Spring Break, I’m probably just gonna hang out with my family and then probably hang out with my friends the majority of the time.” Boring!

Mr. Hvizdos, BS Physical Education/Health teacher: “I will not be traveling anywhere for an actual Spring Break. I will be going on a college visit with one of my daughters to Bowling Green State University, and I will be going to Columbus, Ohio, to take my other daughter back to Ohio State. Outside of that, I will be doing work around the house, painting inside, and yard work outside.” Have you ever visited Oral Roberts University? Asking for a friend.

Alyans Rodriguez, BHS junior: “I am not traveling, but my plans will be to hang out with my friends and enjoy the nice weather outside with family.” Good weather (minus gale-force winds) is upon us, so enjoy the outdoors.

Mrs. Woodruff, BHS Science teacher: “I currently don’t have any plans to travel far for Spring Break, but that could change. I will use my time to recharge and see family members. I love gardening, so I will also use my time to do this and get outside more–walking my dog, enjoying the better weather, and going out with friends and family more. I can only stay cooped up for so long.” When you are done with your garden, come on over and work on ours, please.

Mr. Kaspar, BHS Art teacher: “I am not traveling over Spring Break because I will be working on my sailboat.” We will be expecting a future invite.

What are your Spring Break plans? Comment below and let us know.

Whatever you decide to do or wherever you decide to go, have fun and make memories. Recharge the batteries and come back on Monday, April 12 fully refreshed and ready to end the school year on a high note.

Staff Spotlight: Mr. Piechowski

Teacher: *English Language Learners (ELL)*

By: Morgan Blechschmid and Danielle Shehee

March 26, 2021

*Mr. Piechowski as a ninth-grader in 1967*

Mr. Leonard Piechowski is a well-respected teacher here at Brooklyn High School. Along with a science degree, he also teaches the English language to students who do not know our native language; the goal is to make them more comfortable with the language and schooling in general. Mr. Piechowski has been a great advocate for Brooklyn’s GSA (gay-straight-alliance) Program, as well as hosting Brooklyn’s International Festival to teach students about different cultures. Piechowski is very passionate about his career and appreciates and cares for his students, which is why he was chosen for this week’s staff profile.

Q: Where did you grow up?

A: “I was born in Cleveland, but my parents moved to Garfield Heights when I was three-years-old. So, most of my childhood and adolescence was spent there.”

Q: What is the best place that you have ever visited?

A: “I think the most beautiful place I ever visited was Paris, France. I’ve been there several times, and I never get tired of it. I also like southern France. I have often said that if I had a chance to do it all again, I would expatriate there, if for no other reason than they have the best bread I have ever tasted. It crunches, then melts in the mouth. Another place I love is Gethsemane, Kentucky. I visited there in my twenties and got up at 3:00 a.m. on a clear night. It is miles from any lights of the city, and I was able to lay down in the grass and see the magnificence of the Milky Way.”

Q: How do you feel as a teacher when you reflect on the growth a student has made with learning the English language?

A: “I get pretty attached to my students and am very proud of them. It’s hard to let go of them when they graduate or move on. So next year, I plan to keep in touch by substitute teaching here at Brooklyn every once and awhile. That will also allow me to see all of my friends that I have made on the faculty.”

Q: What advice would you give to your past self?

A: “Be who you are, right away. Be who you are, not what you think people want you to be.”

Q: Are you able to fluently speak a foreign language?

A: “I used to be okay in French. I can’t say I was ever able to speak it with absolute mastery, but I spoke it well enough to do pretty well in getting around Paris. Lately, I have lost most of it, although I can still pretty much understand it when I read it.”

Q: If someone was to walk into your room during a lesson, what would be seen and heard?

A: “Right now, they would see an empty classroom because, when I’m not giving state tests, I’m in other teachers’ classrooms trying to help my English Language Learners.”

Q: Where do you see yourself a year from now?

A: “I’m planning to retire after this year. So next year, I’ll be sitting at home in my favorite recliner, with my feet up, either reading or watching The Walking Dead and Breaking Bad for a second time on Netflix. I’ll also be driving my grandsons to and from school and helping them with their homework. Can’t wait! I’ve had a great professional life, but I’m ready to take it easy.”

Q: What is a typical day like for you?

A: “I’m up at 4:30 a.m. (I have two dogs who serve as my alarm clocks, even on weekends), have coffee, and watch the news to see what I missed in the world while I was sleeping. I get really ticked off about what I generally hear in the news. Then, I shower, shave, head to school, and take it from there. I have a schedule of whose classes I support on different days, and I pretty well-follow that unless I have testing to do. Mrs. Huang and I usually go for a two-mile walk during our lunch break, and when I get home around 3:45, I have a variety of things to do, such as taking my five-and-a-half-year-old grandson to mixed martial arts, basketball, or swimming classes. I’m in bed by 8:00 p.m., so don’t call me later than that!”

Thank you for the amazing responses, Mr. Piechowski! We will miss you, but you have earned retirement and your ride into the sunset.

March Madness: The Sweet 16

By: Ella Fowler, Kelsey Bruzek, Tyler Elzholz, and Jaiden Basinger

March 24, 2021

The first two rounds of March Madness certainly lived up to the hype. This past weekend was full of intense basketball, dramatic finishes, and major upsets.

After USC and Kansas finished off their game this past Monday, the teams were then set for the upcoming Sweet 16.

The list of teams still playing includes Gonzaga, Michigan, Loyola of Chicago, Syracuse, Florida State, Creighton, USC, Oregon, UCLA, Alabama, Baylor, Villanova, Arkansas, Oral Roberts, Houston, and Oregon State.

According to ESPN, the top four teams to cut down the nets are Gonzaga, Baylor, Michigan, and Alabama.

So, how did some of the teams reach the Sweet 16?

Gonzaga (the overall #1 seed) holds the first spot due to dominating the first and second rounds of the tournament. The Bulldogs crushed Norfolk State 98-55 and went on to beat Oklahoma 87-71.

Baylor destroyed Hartford in a 79-55 win in the first round. In the second round, they beat #9 seed Wisconsin 76-63.

This past weekend, Michigan defeated the #16 seed Texas Southern by a score of 82-66. Also, the Wolverines beat #8 seed LSU 86-78 in the second round resulting in them advancing to the Sweet 16 for the fourth straight tournament.

Alabama came in hot with a 68-55 win over the #15 seed, Iona. The Crimson Tide used this momentum to get to the second round, where they beat Maryland 96-77.

Loyola of Chicago (the number one sleeper) won their opener against Georgia Tech 71-60 and then came out strong to take down #1 seed Illinois in the round of 32. The Ramblers dominated the entire game, winning 71-58. Talk about a bracket buster!

Syracuse, a strong tournament team, was able to sink their shots and defend well in beating San Diego State 78-62. The Orange advanced to the second round and upset #3 seed West Virginia, 75-72.

Oral Roberts (#15 seed) shocked the college basketball world by defeating #2 seed Ohio State by a score of 75-72. The Golden Eagles advanced to the second round where they caused another huge upset to #7 seed Florida by three points, 81-78.

For the first time since 2012, the Ohio University Bobcats made an appearance in the 2021 NCAA Tournament. OU came out strong upsetting #4 seed Virginia in the first round with a score of 62-58. The Bobcats played tough in the second round, but #5 seed Creighton came out on top with a final score of 72-58. Nice run, Bobcats!

Is it possible for March Madness to get any better? We will have to wait until the tournament resumes on Saturday, March 27. The Sweet 16 schedule is listed below:

Saturday, March 27:

(8) Loyola Chicago vs. (12) Oregon State – CBS (2:40 p.m.)

(1) Baylor vs. (5) Villanova – CBS (5:15 p.m.)

(3) Arkansas vs. (15) Oral Roberts – TBS (7:25 p.m.)

(2) Houston vs. (11) Syracuse 9:55 – TBS (9:55 p.m.)

Sunday, March 28:

(1) Gonzaga vs. (5) Creighton – CBS (2:10 p.m.)

(1) Michigan vs. (4) Florida State – CBS (5:00 p.m.)

(2) Alabama vs. (11) UCLA – TBS (7:15 p.m.)

(6) USC vs. (7) Oregon – TBS (9:45 p.m.)

Let the madness continue!

Women’s History Month: Malala Yousafzai

By: Laila Schwin, Alisha Bains, and Brittney Corrado

March 23, 2021

Malala Yousafzai was born on July 12, 1997, in Mingora, Pakistan. She is an activist for women’s education throughout the world, but she got her start fighting for these same rights in her home country. Her story has since become known worldwide and has inspired the fight for equal educational access for women in many other countries.

Yousafzai became a Pakistani education advocate at a young age, even with the odds stacked against her. In early 2009, at only 11-years-old, she began speaking out against the Taliban (a terrorist organization who did not allow women and girls to get any sort of education) online under a pseudonym. She gained prominence because of her articles and interviews, but she also drew the ire of the Taliban.

On October 9, 2012, a Taliban gunman shot Yousafzai and two other young girls when they were on their way home from school. Malala was shot in the head and was in critical condition because of the attack, but she eventually pulled through. She survived and continued to speak out on the importance of women’s education. In 2013, she gave a speech to the United Nations and published her first book, I Am Malala.

From that moment, after almost being killed in her fight to ensure education for Pakastani women, Yousafzai became internationally-known. She spoke out about the educational conditions in various other countries and protecting the rights of women, most importantly their right to get an education that many do not have. To support the fights for educational rights, she co-founded the Malala Fund, a non-profit group in Birmingham, England, with Shiza Shahid, another Pakistani activist. In 2012, she received Pakistan’s first National Youth Peace Prize, and in 2013, she received the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought for her dedication to the support of human rights. She then co-authored the book I Am Malala in 2013, detailing her fight for educational rights, the assassination attempt made against her, and the life that she had lived through her activism. In 2017, she was awarded an honorary Canadian citizenship and became the youngest person to ever address the Canadian House of Commons.

Amongst all of the awards and activism, Yousafzai finished her secondary education at Edgbaston High School in Birmingham. She then went on to Oxford University. While there, she received a three year Bachelor of Arts degree for philosophy, politics, and economics. She graduated in 2020 and went on to continue her influence in educational activism.

Malala Yousafzai received a joint Nobel Peace Prize with Kailash Satyarthi in 2014. She received this award at just 17-years-old which makes her the youngest person ever to receive a Nobel Peace Prize. They were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education.” When she received this award, she was also in high school taking exams and did not have much time to write her acceptance speech. However, in the end, she wrote a wonderful speech explaining everything that happened to her and many other children.

“This award is not just for me. It is for those forgotten children who want education. It is for those frightened children who want peace. It is for those voiceless children who want change.”

Overall, Malala Yousafzai has been and continues to be a beacon of hope for women’s education around the world, and her influence is immeasurably-important. Fighting for educational rights for herself and others continues to this day, and her prideful activism will not cease anytime soon.

{Editor’s Note: Information for this article was retrieved from Biography.com.}

Staff Spotlight: Mr. Urig

*Teacher: World History*

By: Morgan Blechschmid

March 19, 2021

Mr. Scott Urig is a World History teacher here at Brooklyn High School. Urig is best-known for being an advocate for the education of all students, but he is also known for demonstrating those same qualities as the coach for our girls’ basketball team. For the past 22 years, he has taught in Brooklyn, and along the way, he has continued to greatly-impact the lives of his students. Due to Mr. Urig’s hardwork and dedication, he was picked for this week’s Staff Spotlight!

Q: Rumor has it that you are a big fan of the Ohio Bobcats; is this true?

A: “I would have to say that is false. All the Bobcats I have met seem to be just like me. I guess I would say I am an average Bobcat fan. Maybe as a group, we are more passionate about our school than others. OH YEAH!!!!!”

Q: Outside of golf, what are your hobbies?

A: “Spending time with my wife, reading, working on puzzles, and spinning.”

{Editor’s Note: Spinning? This is embarrassing, coach!}

Q: How do you deal with a stressful situation?

A: “I read about this strategy that you write down what is stressing you out and then right down reasons why you shouldn’t be stressed out. I have used this strategy in the past, and it works well for me.”

Q: How does coaching make you a better teacher and vice versa?

A: “Coaching and teaching are very similar. I think that preparation plays a big role in both. Practice plans, game plans, and lesson plans are very much related. Being able to use the time in class and on the court efficiently are important. Being able to anticipate is a skill in both teaching and coaching that have helped me to improve. Building relationships is very important to both teaching and coaching as well.”

Q: What is your favorite unit of World History to teach and why?

A: “The Enlightenment is my favorite unit to teach because it changed the way that people viewed the world. Also because the principles were used in documents like the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution.”

Q: If you could have another job outside of education, what would it be and why?

A: “I always thought being an air traffic controller would be pretty fun. Helping pilots get passengers to their destinations safely and coordinating all of the flights in the sky would be fascinating. I have had the opportunity to talk to air traffic controllers, and they have very interesting stories.”

Q: What is your life’s motto?

A: “E+R=O. Tim and Brian Kight use this philosophy. You can’t control the Events in your life, but you can control your Response and your Response determines the Outcome(s).”

Q: If you could pick anywhere to live in the world, where would it be and why?

A: “Since I live or have lived in Cleveland and Athens, I am going to say Cape Cod. Cape Cod is very relaxing and has enough golf courses. I would also like to buy a house that could be used as a host family house for the Cape Cod Summer League. Hosting the top college baseball talent each summer and watching them pursue their dream of getting to Major League Baseball sounds rewarding.”

Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions. We appreciate you Mr. Urig.

Keep the jokes coming!

2021 Student Leadership Program

By: Valery Warner, Ariana Rojak, and Aiden Nelson

March 19, 2021

Last Friday, the Brooklyn High School Leadership Program conducted a meeting with 12 students who represented grades 8-12.

Students for this schoolwide, leadership program were recommended by staff, who were encouraged to select students that they felt displayed leadership qualities. These qualities are displayed in the classroom, on the field/court during athletics, or in extracurricular activities such as theater, band, or other various student-focused activities.

This program was started as an opportunity to speak up at meetings about issues that many students are facing today.

Scheduling regular meetings to allow student voices to be heard is what this administration wants in order for positive changes to occur.

In a statement about the vision of this program, Assistant Principal Mr. Matthew Larson stated the following: “The vision of this program is to create a lasting avenue for student leaders to refine their leadership skills and to use these skills to better the school and our community. We want our students to know they have a role in shaping the future of the district, and this council provides us with a way to ensure that the future is successful.”

A big thanks to the administration for piloting this very important program. This is the type of communication that makes our school district come full circle. Voices must be heard, and solutions must be creatively and passionately implemented.

So, from the entire student body, thank you Dr. Caleris, Mr. Hare, and Mr. Larson!

March Madness 2021

By: Ella Fowler, Kelsey Bruzek, Tyler Elzholz, and Jaiden Basinger

March 16, 2021

One year ago, March Madness was cancelled due to the current pandemic. College basketball fans have long-awaited the return of tournament play, and this year’s bracket will be very exciting.

We broke some of the teams up into three categories: Favorites, Second-Tier Favorites, and Sleepers.

Out of 64+ teams, there are definitely a group of teams that outshine the rest, Gonzaga and Baylor.

*Favorites*

Gonzaga has a very impressive record at 26-0. To add to their accomplishments, they are the number one seeded team and the leading scoring team in the nation at 92.9 points per game. They are also winning games by an average of 23.5 points per game. Their offense is led by George Kispert at 19.2 points per game and Drew Timme at 18.7 points per game. This team is the favorite to cut down the nets in early April.

With Baylor being the other favorite, they are the number one seed in the South Region. They are also the Big 12 champions. Baylor’s offense is second in points per game, 85.3, and also leads the nation in 3-point percentage. Jared Butler (17.2) and MaCio Teague (16.1) are the leading scorers for the Bears.

*Second-Tier Favorites*

Michigan is at the top of the list for the “next group” and are the seeded number one in the East region. After dropping three recent games, Michigan is still dangerous on both ends of the floor. They are led by coach Juwan Howard, who many say could be the National Coach of the Year. The leading scorers for the Wolverines are Freshman Center Hunter Dickinson (14.3) and Senior Forward Isaiah Livers (13.7).

Illinois is number two in the Big Ten and the final number one seed (in the Midwest Region). They are led by Center Kofi Cockburn who is arguably the best big man in the nation averaging 17.3 ppg and 9.6 rpg (rebounds per game). They also have one of the best guards in college basketball in Ayo Dosunmu, 20.9 ppg and 5.2 apg (assists per game).

Alabama is the number two seed in the East region. They secured three wins to close out the year and are top-five in 3-point shooting. Many are worried about Alabama’s defense this year, but with their high-tempo offense, it is easy for teams to put up a lot of points against them. They are led by Jaden Shackleford (14.4 ppg) and John Petty Jr. (12.8 ppg).

Iowa had a good year and is seeded second in the West Region. They closed out the year with three straight wins (before the B1G tourney) and have hit triple digits four times this season. This team is very capable of running up a scoreboard. The main pieces to this team are Senior Center Luka Garza, who has been phenomenal this year and averages 23.8 ppg, 8.7 rpg, and 1.6 bpg (blocks per game). They are also led by Joe Wieskamp who averages 15.0 ppg.

With Ohio State ending their regular season with three straight losses, many people are concerned about what the Buckeyes can do in the tournament, but they are the second seed in the South Region. Leading scorers for the Buckeyes are E.J. Liddell (16 ppg) and Duane Washington (15.3 ppg). Hopefully, they can find their groove so they do not turn into an early-upset.

*Sleepers*

Teams who have great sleeper potential are Oklahoma State and Loyola of Chicago.

Oklahoma State is the four-seed in the Midwest Region and have a great chance at winning it all this year. With the potential first-round pick in this year’s NBA draft, the Cowboys’ offense is led by Freshman Cade Cunningham. On the season, Cunningham averages 20.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.6 ast, and is shooting 45.4 percent on the year. The Cowboys have beaten Baylor, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas Tech, and West Virginia. They look to make a nice run as a potential sleeper.

Do not count out Loyola of Chicago, either. Three years ago, they had an amazing, Final Four run led by Sister Jean, who is now 101-years-old. After beating the one seed (Virginia), they eventually carried all the momentum until losing in the Final Four to Michigan. The Ramblers have not forgotten that moment and look to make a deep run this year. The Ramblers’ leading scorer is Cameron Krutwig, who was a key player in that 2018-run. He averages 15.0 ppg and 6.7 rpg.

Powerhouse, blue-blood programs Duke and Kentucky will not be a part of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. This will be the first time that both teams will not make an appearance since 1976.

Due to the pandemic, March Madness will be played solely in the state of Indiana. Ironically enough, the Hoosiers fired head coach Archie Miller due to Indiana not making the tournament for four years straight.

We are just days away from the first four scheduled games that will take place on Thursday, March 18airing on TruTV and TBS. Get your picks in before it is too late! The schedule listed below:

5:10 p.m. Texas Southern vs. Mount St. Mary’s – TruTV

6:27 p.m. Drake vs. Wichita State – TBS

8:40 p.m. Appalachian State vs. Norfolk State – TruTV

9:57 p.m. UCLA vs. Michigan State – TBS

The wait is finally over. March Madness is back and better than ever!

Women’s History Month: Jennifer Doudna

By: Alisha Bains, Brittney Corrado, and Laila Schwin

March 16, 2021

Jennifer Anne Doudna was born February 19, 1964. Doudna is an American biochemist known for her pioneering work in developing CRISPR gene editing. She, along with Emmanuelle Charpentier, who she worked with on the development of CRISPR, were awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Doudna was born in Washington D.C., and shortly after, her family moved to Hawaii where she became interested in the biodiversity of the beautiful islands. Her father encouraged her to learn about science which sparked her interest in what would later become her lifelong career. She eventually studied biochemistry at Pomona College in California, graduating in 1985, and then received her PhD in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology from Harvard Medical School in 1989.

She is best known for her discovery of CRISPR. The CRISPR-Cas9 system made it possible for scientists to alter DNA to fix genetic defects in animals and to modify DNA sequences in embryonic stem cells, an advancement opening the path to germ-line modification in humans. She discovered (CRISPR) by investigating unusual, repeating sequences which are found in the DNA of some bacteria. These genes help fight off invading viruses. Doudna and her team, along with Charpentier, figured out how CRISPR works.

Her work with CRISPR has been used in developments for potentially ending many diseases and genetic conditions such as sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, Huntington’s disease, and HIV. It uses RNA that will move or remove the “junk” from cells and is a major advancement in being able to eradicate and prevent diseases right from the beginning.

She also has focused-work on understanding the development and patterns of the Hepatitis C virus in order to help the development of more treatments that cause less harm to patients.

Among her work, Doudna has also founded and co-founded multiple companies focusing on the work of CRISPR such as Caribou, which has allowed commercialization of the process. Scribe Therapeutics, which developed the CasX version of CRISPR to more efficiently cut DNA, was also co-founded by Doudna. Equally impressive, in 2017, she founded her own company, Mammoth Biosciences, which focuses on improving access to bio-sensing tests which address challenges across healthcare, agriculture, environmental monitoring, biodefense, and more.

Doudna has received many honors and awards for her discoveries. Along with her Nobel Prize, she also received the Gruber Prize in Genetics (2015) and the Canada Gairdner International Award (2016), both shared with Emmanuelle Charpentier.

Overall, Doudna’s work, especially her developments for CRISPR, are valuable and have contributed greatly to modern medical developments and the constant strive toward expanding the human lifespan by curing diseases.

{Editor’s Note: Information for this article was retrieved from Britannica.com.}