THE RETURN OF THE EYE

Playoff Game Doesn’t Go As Planned

By: Ella Fowler, Serena Barile, and Delaney David

February 25, 2020

This past Tuesday, the varsity boys basketball team faced off against the Warrensville Heights Tigers in their first round playoff game. The Tigers overall record for this season was 10-12, while the Hurricanes came in with a 5-17 clip.

The starters were Areon Cowling, Maceo Pytel, Tristan Peggs, Calvin Gore, and Jamiar Tate.

The first quarter was rough with the Tigers winning the tip-off and scoring the first basket of the night. As they are known for, the Tigers are quick, long, and athletic, and their trapping, full-court press gave the Hurricanes fits. With turnovers comes transition buckets, and this is how the quarter went as the Tigers lead 36-3 after one.

Although the Hurricanes struggled in the first quarter, they managed to score the first couple of points in the second quarter. Pytel picked up speed in the second quarter resulting in a couple of baskets for the Hurricanes. However, the result was similar to the first quarter as the Canes found themselves down at the half, 57-14.

Not much changed in the second half. Although the Canes were better defensively, the offense still struggled in the third quarter to consistently put points on the board. After three, the Tigers held a commanding 70-22 lead.

In the fourth, the Canes managed just one basket before falling 78-24.

Although the young Hurricanes did not have the result that they wanted, this tournament experience will only propel them to take the necessary steps in the off-season to make sure that they are fully ready for next season.

Redskins Earn Victory Over the Canes

By: Morgan Blechschmid, Jonathan Drake, and Lexi Jenkins

February 25, 2020

This past Tuesday evening, the Brooklyn Hurricanes 8th grade girls basketball team faced off against Cuyahoga Heights.

The first quarter started off with Desiree Gailes making the first basket of the night, which was not her only field goal as she contributed multiple times throughout the quarter and the game. The Redskins even the score out to conclude the quarter with an 8-8 tie.

The second quarter began with Gailes making a three-pointer, quickly followed by Ashlyn Dyson making another three-pointer a few minutes later. Gailes led the second quarter with great defense and offense. Similar to the first quarter, the tempo went back and forth, and as the time expired, both teams were knotted at 16-16.

When asked what she told her players during halftime, coach Kristen Field said, “I told them that we needed to come out and play with the same intensity in the second half that we did in the first. This has been a problem for us throughout the year. We play a really good first half of basketball and then we don’t come out with that same fire, that same energy in the second half.”

The third quarter was foul-ridden, and the Redskins converted on most of their free throws. Despite great defense and unfortunate and untimely fouls, the girls struggled offensively to which the Redskins took a 23-19 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The final quarter carried on very similarly to the third. After a timeout was called, the girls returned to the court looking more motivated and ready to finish the game strong. There were many fouls called on the Redskins, leading to points by the Hurricanes. However, the Redskins managed more baskets and ultimately won the game 35-23.

When asked what she believed the ups and downs of the game were, Coach Field said, “The first half, we played really well; our press looked good, and we had good offense. Ashlyn and Desiree knocked down some good threes that helped us out. But again in the second half, we need better rebounding. We have to do a better job rebounding. We did a really nice job with our press defense, and we were able to force them to take shots they weren’t comfortable with, but then, unfortunately, we gave up two or three shots per possession.”

The 8th grade girls next game is today at Cuyahoga Heights, and they hope that today’s rematch flips the script with a road victory.

Good luck, girls!

Staff Profile: Mrs. McGarey

By: Jessica Strimpel

*Special Education Teacher/Intervention Specialist*

Q: Why did you decide to become a teacher?

A: “Growing up, I always knew I liked helping other people, especially kids. I always liked being around kids, and I enjoyed getting to know them and watching them grow.”

Q: How do you deal with a stressful situation?

A: “I try to take some time to walk away from a situation and to take some time to calm down. I think it’s important to be mindful that we all need a break sometimes, whether that’s taking a walk or drinking water. It’s important to come back to the situation when your mind is settled.”

Q: What is your most interesting, high school memory?

A: “I will never forget the time when my Latin teacher at Magnificat, Dr. Wilson, danced a jig on top of his desk during class.”

Q: If you could have a different job, what would it be?

A: “I originally went to school to become an occupational therapist which includes working with people who have disabilities and physical setbacks, so I think I would be either an occupational therapist or a physical therapist.”

Q: What was your funniest teaching moment?

A: “My funniest teaching moment was when I took part in a dance skit as a member of the junior high school staff (in Cincinnati) to the “Twist & Shout” parade scene from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”

Q: What was your biggest setback in life?

A: “My husband and I made the bittersweet decision to leave Cincinnati after living there for 20 years to return home to Cleveland. I had taught in the same district for 12 years and left some really great friends and families there.”

Q: If you could change one thing in the school, what would it be?

A: “I would like to see some more student-staff interaction, whether it be competitions, challenges, or just some sort of game. I think it’s fun to have the teachers and the students compete against each other.”

Q: Do you have any advice for the students of Brooklyn?

A: “I think it’s important to be confident in who you are and to look to the future to help you plan for where you are now. It’s important to always keep in mind a vision of what you want to do later in life and to make decisions that will help you reach your goal.”

Staff Profile: Mrs. Huang

By: Serena Barile

*Chinese Teacher*

*Why did you decide to become a teacher?

“Because I like to be with young people. They are full of potential, and I feel young when I’m teaching them.”

*How do you deal with a stressful situation?

“I work out; I kick box, run, and swim.”

*What is your most interesting, high school memory?

“I remember it being very stressful with lots of exams, so it wasn’t much fun.”

*If you could have a different job, what would it be?

“I used to work in international business and would travel to different places and meet new people so maybe something to do with that.”

*What was your funniest teaching moment?

“One time, I had a student who thought Japan was in China.”

*What’s your biggest setback in life?

“When students don’t follow instructions and they fail, I begin to think of other ways I could make the situation better.”

*If you could change one thing in the school, what would it be?

“Change the rules for phones to make them stricter because students’ brains are still developing, and they rely too much on technology.”

*Do you have any advice for the students of Brooklyn?

“Focus in class, and enjoy the time you have while you are young.”

The Lady Canes Season Comes to an End

By: Normeze Rivera, Anayah Flowers, and Jessica Strimpel

February 22, 2020

The Lady Hurricanes faced off against the Lutheran East Falcons on Saturday and unfortunately lost 68-39, ending their 2019-2020 season.

Lutheran East is the third seed in the North Ridgeville, Division III District. The Falcons are considered the “Cinderella Candidate” in the district because they had such a strong regular season.

The Falcons finished their regular season with a record of 18-3. They have won impressive games against Hoban, Cleveland Central Catholic, and Orange.

The game started with freshman Genesis Caraballo scoring the first points. Shortly after, fellow freshman Jenna Young made another shot. Caraballo then made another basket closing the first quarter with the Lady Canes trailing.

Caraballo started the second quarter off by making both her foul shots. Junior Kelsey Bruzek then made a bucket followed by Caraballo, again, knocking down two free throws.

This, however, was most of the first-half offense as the Lady Falcons took a 36-12 lead into halftime.

The second half of the game started with Bruzek making a basket. Then, freshman Delaney David made a three-pointer and followed it up with another made basket. Bruzek made a foul shot, along with yet another three by David. Senior Alexandra Nieves closed off the third quarter by making a basket with the score of 62-25 in favor of the Lady Falcons.

Caraballo made the first basket of the fourth quarter by connecting on a three-pointer. She later scored two more baskets. Gwen Spaliatsos made a basket, followed by a three-pointer by sophomore Savannah David. Freshman Shariah Gailes finished the game by making a layup as the buzzer sounded. The Lady Falcons won the game with a final score of 68-39.

When asked how she felt about this being her last game in high school and what being a part of the Lady Canes has taught her, Nieves stated the following: “It taught me to make every moment worth it because at the end of the day, we have to all come together.”

Coach Urig on how he felt the team changed from last season: “This season, we experienced some success, which was nice to see. We also had everyone healthy for the whole year. Last year, we had a lot of injuries which wore down the team. I just think our overall confidence on the floor has improved. I think defensively we got a lot better… I tell the girls that we’re so much more aggressive on the floor and that’s good to see.”

The Hurricanes finished the season with a 10-13 overall record (7-9 in the CVC).

It was not the finish that they wanted, but the future is bright.

Right-to-Read Week

By: Gino Pallotta, Danielle Shehee, and Ariana Rojak

February 21, 2020

The Brooklyn School is ending the month of February with its annual Right-to-Read Week. The theme this year was: “It’s a jungle out there! Read to survive!”

Each day had a different mini-theme to make each day unique.

*Tuesday: Read and Relax

*Wednesday: Animal Accessory

*Thursday: Animal Print

*Friday: Don’t Forget Your Reading Buddy

To further encourage kids to read, each student was given a banana bookmark in order to log how much they read each night. Then, the students gave the bookmarks to their teachers to share their accomplishments.

Mrs. Mary Ellen Ryan, who is a second grade English teacher, said, “It gets them excited about reading. The theme could make them curious about animals or the topic for the year. This goes beyond just reading the book by yourself; many activities are done.”

On Friday, the Brooklyn School held a sendoff assembly for the week titled, The Principal’s Challenge. This assembly had games, an important announcement, and an uplifting speech by the principal.

At the beginning of the assembly, Principal Cristin Cicco talked to the students about how they should respectfully treat their peers, and they should always try to cheer each other up.

After she finished, there was an announcement that Mr. Brian Hare and Mr. Taylor Smith are going to take over the assistant principal role for the next six weeks.

After that, students’ names were drawn from a book. The students who were drawn played games which included a banana race, escape the snakes, and a jungle run. An even luckier few were rewarded by throwing pies into Cicco’s face.

The students greatly enjoyed this year’s Right-to-Read Week. From the daily themes to the games, this event was a massive success.

National Honor Societies Induction Night 2020

By: Izabella Hotz and Destiny Cannon

February 20, 2020

The chapters of the National Art Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, and National Honor Society held their induction for the new nominees.

Left to right: Mr. Christopher Kaspar, Mr. Chris Ross, and Mrs. Jacalyn Holko.

The ceremony started with introductions by Principal William Wingler and both past and current members of the societies. The heads of the organizations are Mr. Christopher Kaspar for the National Art Honor Society, Mr. Chris Ross for the National Honor Society, and Mrs. Jacalyn Holko for the first year of the Spanish Honor Society.

The returning members as well as the directors gave speeches on what the societies are and some of the qualifications for being eligible.

Inductees for the National Art Honor Society

Each chapter introduced the inductees with slides explaining various information on the selected students. They then signed their names in their respective books and received certificates and/or candles.

Every induction ceremony concluded with an oath, and once all three were finished, there was a small reception in the lobby of the auditorium with sweets.

The ceremonies were formal but delivered with care. Each slide was compiled to show off the inductees’ talents and achievements, and the National Honor Society’s induction even included teacher’s remarks about each inductee.

Inductees for the National Honor Society

Mr. Kaspar stated, “[I’m] proud that they have dedicated their time and skills to grow and to become better artists.”

We spoke to a few inductees the night of the ceremony, and all of them told us that it was very honoring and humbling to receive this honor.

Junior Spanish inductee Jessica Strimpel said, “It feels like all my hard work is paying off.”

Inductees for the Spanish National Honor Society

Mr. Ross mentioned that, “It’s my 14th year as a counselor, so it’s cool to see everybody grow. I’m just there to be their cheerleader.”

Mrs. Holko had her own thoughts on the progress of her students, sharing, “For me, it’s exciting to watch them come back and explain to me what they’ve done with the language. I always like to hear those success stories.”

This was a big night for the inductees, and the faculty here at BHS is extremely proud of their students.

Everyone inducted should be proud of how far they have come.

Congratulations to all!

100 Days Until Graduation

By: Haley Schaldach, Savannah David, and Alaysia Curry

February 21, 2020

With 100 days until graduation, BHS’s AVID 12 class planned a celebratory spirit day for all seniors.

The idea started a week ago when the class thought about how quickly graduation day is approaching. This sparked the question: “What if we celebrated our 100 days until graduation?”

With only a week of preparation, the AVID 12 class planned a celebratory day where all of the seniors would get party hats to show how close graduation is.

AVID 12 teacher Mrs. Holko stated, “I thought it was a fun and simple way to celebrate the school day.”

Holko brought the class’s idea to Mr. Wingler (principal) and explained how it would be a way to bring awareness to the seniors that their hard work and high school careers will soon be coming to an end.

After getting the idea approved, the class went to work. After Holko purchased roughly 120 hats, the students spent a period decorating and fixing the hats to make them more festive for the occasion.

Wingler definitely felt the vibe: “I love it! Whatever makes the kids smiling and happy to be here at school is cool.”

The end of this school year is coming up quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it will be over.

Little things like this are a great way to not only congratulate our seniors but a great way to motivate them to keep up their hard work as they prepare for their futures.

Wrestling Quad Meet at Valley Forge

By: Ella Fowler, Serena Barile, and Delaney David

February 20, 2020

Yesterday, the Hurricanes wrestling team participated in a quad meet at Valley Forge High School.

The other teams that participated were the Valley Forge Patriots, the Garfield Heights Bulldogs, and the Brush Arcs.

Joe Dennis, Eric Khay, Dylan Elliot, Tyler Kebbel, and Brandon Deighton were the Hurricane wrestlers for this event.

Dennis (a freshman) unfortunately lost his first and only match of the day with a 7-0 defeat.

Khay (senior captain) then went out and won both of his matches for the meet. He was victorious 4-1 and 2-0.

Kebbel (a freshman) started off with a 2-1 loss but then persevered and earned a 4-0 win later on.

Elliot (a junior) put all of his heart into showcasing himself by winning both of his matches. The first one resulted in a 2-0 win, and the second one tallied an 11-2 win.

Deighton (another freshman) took a 2-0 loss but is showing a lot of improvement and is very hopeful for a successful future in this sport.

Thursday’s meet showed how dedicated and hard working the wrestlers are.

Their next goal is to advance far in the upcoming sectionals, which will take place on February 29 at Independence High School.

Cheer on your Hurricanes wrestlers and wish them the best of luck.

Staff Profile: Mrs. Marsico

By: Valery Warner

*Special Education Teacher*

*Why did you decide to become a teacher?

“I used to work with a boy who was deaf, and he inspired me to become a special education teacher.”

*How do you deal with a stressful day?

“I hang out with family and watch some of my favorite shows.”

*What is your most interesting, high school memory?

“I was involved in a lot of activities, so nothing really stood out as interesting.”

*If you could change your career, what would it be?

“I would be a nurse.”

*What is your funniest, teaching memory?

“Donkey basketball: While I was playing, a man was following me with a shovel catching poop because the donkey couldn’t poop on the gym floor.”

*What was your biggest setback in life?

“I’ve been pretty lucky and not had any major setbacks that I can think of.”

*If you could change one thing about our school, what would it be?

“I wish people would take more pride and care about their education.”

*Do you have any advice for students?

“Yes, I would tell students to get involved as much as possible and just be kind to everyone.”

TAKING TRINITY DOWN

By: Morgan Blechschmid, Jonathan Drake, and Lexi Jenkins

February 18, 2020

This past Tuesday, the Brooklyn Hurricanes varsity basketball team faced off against the Trinity Trojans for their last home game of the season. However, this was not their first time going up against Trinity; they played them on the road in early January and lost 70-57.

The starters were Tristian Peggs, Maceo Pytel, Tyler Elzholz, Jamiar Tate, and Stephen Slawinski. Notable players who put forth amazing efforts throughout the game were freshmen Calvin Gore and Jaiden Basinger.

The first quarter started strong. The Trojans connected on the first basket of the night, followed closely by Basinger nailing a three-pointer as the first score for the Hurricanes. Pytel also scored a layup in a solid, beginning effort. The final score of the first quarter was 14-8 in favor of the Hurricanes.

The second quarter carried on similarly to the first with a lot of back-and-forth tempo. Both teams carried themselves well and had a great defense but also managed to knock down timely shots as well. Basinger made another three-pointer about halfway through the quarter, and Gore hit a layup towards the end. Pytel also contributed more buckets for the Canes as they went into halftime with a 36-26 lead.

Freshman Anthony Starr, “I thought the team played great. We came out from the start wanting to win this game no matter what.”

At the beginning of the third quarter, Gore attempted to jump and score a basket but slipped and took a hard fall to the ground appearing to have injured his hip. He stayed there for a few moments but got back up with only a small look of discomfort and continued playing just as hard. Shortly after the fall, Gore scored three more points as the Canes closed out the third quarter, leading the Trojans 53-37.

During the fourth quarter, the intensity picked up as the Canes were determined to close this one out. Our student cheering section made sure to keep our team’s spirits up by cheering loudly throughout the game.

About halfway through the quarter, after much encouragement from the students, senior Elliot Loy checked into the game and quickly scored a point. There were many fouls called for both teams, leading to an abundance of foul shots. The final score of the game was 72-57 with the Hurricanes sealing the revenge.

Basinger led the Hurricanes scoring effort with a game-high 26 points. Pytel added 18 points with Gore adding 15 points.

As the last home game for the Hurricanes, this victory meant a lot for everybody including the students. The Hurricanes persevered and played their hardest.

Make sure to come out and support the boys as they begin tournament play on Tuesday, February 25 at Warrensville Heights High School. Tip-off is at 7:00.

Good luck, boys!

Staff Profile: Mr. Ross

By: Daylun Armstrong

*School Counselor*

*Why did you decide to become a teacher?

“I became a teacher because my happiest moments in school when I was younger was when I was involved in music, and I wanted to give other students the same opportunity to express themselves. I then became a counselor because I enjoy giving advice and being someone people can trust to talk to.”

*How do you deal with a stressful situation?

“Keep my calm, focus on the solution, and then stress out after the fact.”

*What is your most interesting, high school memory?

“I got the lead in the spring musical and had to learn how to tap dance.”

*If you could have a different job, what would it be?

“Chef or Broadway actor because I love to cook and watch people eat my cooking, but I also love to perform and bring joy to other people in a live theater because I like to have that interaction with the audience.”

*What was your funniest, teaching moment?

“When a mouse came into my classroom (deathly afraid of rodents) and I had to call my principal to come remove it.”

*What was your biggest setback in life?

“The struggles of having children with my past marriage but having my children now makes the gift of life (and them) much more special.”

*If you could change one thing in the school, what would it be?

“The apathy of certain students and some staff.”

*Do you have any advice for the students of Brooklyn?

“Enjoy the benefits of living in a small town and a small school district, and it does not matter what you do in the future as long as you have a plan.”