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THE COUGAR STAR

Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48105

Dumping the contents of the backpack policy

JAY TAVANE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Earlier this week, Kyron Harvell, Clague Middle School Principal, announced that drawstring bags and tote bags were allowed to be used during school. If you haven’t been caught up, drawstring and tote bags were recently prohibited, making students carry their belongings around by hand or use a binder. But recently,

Shown above is a poll asking students how heavy their bag is. 41.2% (blue) of people say one to five pounds, 35.3% (pink) say it’s six to 10 pounds and 23.5% (yellow) people say it’s 10 pounds and up.

When students were asked if they would rather have backpacks return or if they preferred drawstring bags, 68.4% (blue) said backpacks, 21.1% (pink) said drawstring bags, and 10.5% (yellow) said neither.

after many complaints and emails, the school board allowed the bags to be used.

“The new policy allowing drawstring bags has helped me a lot,” Clague eighth grader Lucas Ha said. “This year, I carry a lot of notebooks, textbooks, etc., even more than last year. When I saw the ‘no drawstring bags’ rule in the back-to-school slides, I panicked, because I cannot walk around the building all day while carrying all my stuff.”

This new rule has had many people divided. On one hand, people are happy about the fact that now they can use a bag to carry their belongings, but on the other, people are frustrated at the school board for restricting students’ backpack usage.

“Not allowing backpacks is really inconvenient,” Clague eighth grader Saanvi Kulkarni said.

“It’s not like we have less things to carry around, so we’re stuck carrying around the same amount of things we would in a backpack in a different bag. Take tote bags, for example, they’re really bad for your shoulder/back and you can’t always fit everything in a drawstring bag.”

Drawstring bags are also a health hazard. A research from change.org showed that The Child Accident Prevention Trust have recorded that almost 30 kids have been injured from drawstring bags. Another research from

Canada.ca showed that the string from drawstring bags can get stuck underneath a vehicle and cause the child to suffer from injuries, some even having fatal repercussions.

“Last year there were issues with students bringing their backpacks into the classroom as students were sneaking in food, water bottles

weight. For example, a child who weighs 80 pounds shouldn’t carry a backpack that weighs more than eight to 16 pounds.”

“Tote bags are fine in terms of bringing them to school and the classroom as I’ve asked students to hang them on the back of their chairs to ensure that we

bring their totes or drawstring bags to their last class as long as they hang them on the back of their chair.”

As students adapt to the new policy, many are finding relief in the change. The flexibility of tote and drawstring bags is not only easing the burden of carrying books and supplies but also fostering a sense of normalcy and comfort in their school routines. With the ability to bring these bags, students can focus more on their studies

Cougar Activities: Clague’s first K-pop club

ANNABELLA MI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Like the Clague Cubing Club, where ardent rubikscube solvers can gather and affiliate, the K-pop Dance Club is a place for avid K-pop stans of either Blackpink or BTS, to share their passions through dance and music.

Starting from Nov. 4, 3:10 to 4:10 p.m., practices will be held for any interested middle schooler — whether a beginner, intermediate, or advanced dancer — capable of providing the commitment,

effort, and enthusiasm paramount for participation. The K-pop club’s debut will be premiered at Clague’s International Night with dates still to be determined.

“Given the growing popularity of K-pop among the students, this club will offer a structured yet creative environment where students can learn and perform choreographies from their favorite K-pop songs,” principal Harvell Kyron said.

Make history with Clague’s first K-pop club by registering.

GRAPHIC BY ANNABELLA MI

Nov. 5: Election day for AAPS school board

MAX FINE SPORTS EDITOR

On Nov. 5, 2024, the highly anticipated election will be held all over the country. There will be no school in Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) and the ballots will include Presidential, State Senator, State Representative, local proposals and much more. One of the local positions in Ann Arbor will be for the school board. There are four open positions on the school board. One is to extend the term of an interim school board member and the three others are to fill open positions for a full term.

This year there are a total of seven people running for school board positions. Torchio Feaster is currently the president of the school board and is filling the position of a member who did not complete their term. He is running to complete his school board term and is the only candidate running for this particular seat.

There are six other candidates running for three open spots on the school board to complete a full term.

Candidates will be elected to a four year term and will begin serving

Glynda T. Wilks is a former teacher at Burns Park Elementary and a former AAPS parent who served STEAM and Clague PTO. Prior to becoming a teacher, she was a journalist for the Detroit Free Press and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Let’s meet our candidates!

Leslie Wilkins is an AAPS parent who has served on various PTO councils. Professionally, she is a marketing executive for Part D Advisors.

Megan Kanous is an AAPS parent and an active member of the Haisley Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) council. Professionally, she has a background in retail and sales.

Ernesto Q. Querijero is a current member of the Board of Trustees running for reelection. He has served on the board since 2020 and is a full time faculty member

Eric Sturgis is an AAPS graduate and a former student at Clague Middle School. He was a college and high school tennis coach and has also worked as a substitute teacher in AAPS.

The arrival and departure of Algebra

ANNABELLA MI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

At 8:46 a.m. on Oct. 4, principal Harvell Kyron sent an email concerning Algebra 1 AC long-term substitute, Lin Ng. The contents of his message and anecdotes from students were the kindle to the community’s inquiry on Ng’s departure from Clague.

Ng was in for Colleen Jbeily, Clague Algebra 1 AC teacher, who gave birth to her son on July 11, 2024, and will be absent until Nov. 11. To fill in her shoes, Ng accepted the position as her long-term substitute, eager to teach the Algebra 1 curriculum.

The students in her classes can be classified into two different categories: the ones who might not have assumed positive intentions, and the ones who detected those same shortcomings but with a side of empathy. Clague eighth grader Chiara Christensen is the latter.

“To me, Mrs. Ng wasn’t a bad teacher. She taught the math concepts and helped me when I needed it,” Christensen said. “I know that Mrs. Ng taught the concepts that we needed to know.”

In addition to Christensen, anonymous Clague student also recalled their times with Ng in a brighter light.

teacher,” they said. “She had a passion for teaching and clearly had the skills. She was very supportive, for example, if a student was called up to the board and some student or the other would laugh at them for getting a question wrong, she would say something like, ‘They are trying their best and everyone makes mistakes.’”

From these students’ views, Ng demonstrated respect, encouragement, and a clear aptitude for math. Especially with the short-notice of her arrival, Clague was fortunate enough to employ a dedicated teacher until Jbeily’s return.

But ultimately, Ng’s time at Clague was brief as a result of the

Don Wilkerson is an AAPS parent and served on the PTO council at STEAM. Professionally, he leads the Risk Advisory Services Practice at Rehmann, a certified public accounting firm.

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complications that arose from her particular approach to math and failure to exceed the school’s policy.

“Mrs. Ng brought a wealth of mathematical knowledge to this position and was very eager to learn about the Clague community,”

AC long-term substitute

“Unfortunately, Mrs. Ng struggled to adapt to expectations regarding maintaining a positive culture and climate to meet the diverse needs of all Clague Cougars. We wish Mrs. Ng well in her future endeavors, as she recently accepted a position in a neighboring district.”

Having taken on a new occupation for her future prospects, Ng layers her perspective onto this situation.

“I want you . . . to understand that I took this job because there was a need and I enjoy teaching. I care about students and wanted to ensure they didn’t fall behind while Mrs. Jbeily is on her maternity leave,” Ng said.

“It was a great experience for me to work at the Clague Middle School with so many wonderful students. Dr. Harvell, the office staff members, and my fellow teachers all gave me enormous support which I valued highly.

“I was quite happy working at Clague and I hope all of my students enjoyed learning from me. More importantly, I hope they learned the concepts well so that they will be strong math students upon M[r]s. Jbeily’s return,” Ng said. “When the district found a replacement who could better serve my students, I agreed to step aside. ”

Ng expresses her gratitude for being a part of the Clague community, and despite how things were concluded, is willing to contribute again if the opportunity opens.

“. . . If there should even be a future need, I am happy to serve such a wonderful community of students as I found at Clague,” Ng said.

As math will continue to be taught in room 205 by new Algebra 1 AC long-term substitute Jeffrey Taylor, Ng leaves us and her six weeks at Clague with these words.

“I hope that all my students will learn well from their new teacher so that they can make M[r]s. Jbeily proud when she returns. Know that I think about each of you every day and hope your future studies are fruitful. Yours truly, Ms. Ng.”

GRAPHIC BY ANNABELLA MI

Gotta catch them all: generations of Pokemon explained

EDWIN

COUGARS

NOAH

Feb. 27, 1996, Pokemon Red and Green released in Japan. Almost 30 years later, Pokemon has released 38 mainline games and 1 to be released game, added almost 900 new Pokemon, and has become a well known game all around the world. From a Pixelated game to a full 3D game, Pokemon has seen lots of improvements and reworks to mechanics, introduced new Mechanics, and grown to become one of the most popular Nintendo franchises ever. Of course having nearly 30 years of history is a lot, and this article summarizes each generation of Pokemon, which is about a 3-5 year time period.

Gen 1: Pokemon Red, Pokemon Green, Pokemon Blue, Pokemon Yellow, Gen 1 is the first of the Pokemon games. It introduced the world to Pokemon and is based off of Kanto from Japan. Gen 1 is the best selling of all Pokemon games selling over 30 million copies worldwide. Being the first of the Pokemon games, there were very few Pokemon and there were many mechanics being tried out, including typings, Pokemon stats, items, and more. On the cover of each game include one of the

Emerald, Fire Red, Leaf Green,

The Gen 3 games Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald are focused on the three legendary Pokemon called Groudon, Kyogre, and

the front, and Emerald has Rayquaza. To get Groudon and Kyorge without training with your Friends, you have to have Pokemon Emerald. .Some famous Pokemon from gen 3 are: Kyogre, Groudon,

which represents Antimatter, Dialga which represents Time, and Palkia which represents Space. Platinum released a few years later and introduced the National Dex. Dialga is on the front of

DIamond, Palkia on Pearl, and Giritina on Platinum. They also included the Gen 2 remakes with Heartgold and Soulsilver, which also had Ho Oh and Lugia on their covers respectively. Some famous Pokemon from Gen 4 are: Dialga, Palkia, Giritina, Arceus, Regigigas, Bidoof, Garchomp, and Lucario. Gen 5: Black, White, Black

Gen 5 is the first Pokemon game based away from Japan, which is based completely in New York City, on the other side of the world.

These games are not focused on a specific Legendary Trio, like Gen 1 and 2, but rather focused on the relationships between Opposites, such as Yin and Yang, which is what Reshiram and Zekrom are based off of. The only other games to release in the Gen 5 era are Black 2 and White 2, which are slight remakes of Black and White as they take place 2 years later. Black has Reshiram on the cover and White had Zekrom on the cover. Black 2 and White 2 follow the theme of the same color Pokemon, which has Kyurem Black on the cover of Black 2 and Kyurem White on the cover of White 2. Kyurem Black is a combination of Kyurem and Zekrom, and Kyurem White has Kyurem and Reshiram as the combination, which is shown on the cover of White 2.

Pros and cons of mobile games: an indepth look at video games

NOAH

The most played game genre worldwide is mobile gaming. This is due to their ease of use and accessibility, as over 69 percent of the world’s population—or over 5.2 billion people—had access to a phone, according to Statista.com. This basically means that some games have received billions of downloads. To find out how fantastic mobile games actually are, let’s examine their benefits and drawbacks.

PROS:

-Video games in general can help with a strategic mindset. According to

health.clevelandclinic.org, “more than 2,200 children discovered that gamers who played more than 21 hours a week performed better than non-gamers when they were tested for impulsive behavior and memorization.”

- Games on mobile devices offer simple amusement. Since more than half of the world’s population owns a mobile device, finding entertainment on your phone is quite simple and possible.

- Depression can be alleviated by playing mobile games. In the event that you’re experiencing depression. According to the National Institutes of Health, “We found that

video games are effective in reducing clinical symptoms of depression.”

CONS:

-It’s easy to become addicted to mobile gaming. Numerous studies have found that if a mobile game involves gambling, it can lead to addiction. Therefore, it is quite easy to become addicted if there is a chance of winning anything significant. particularly if the game has an engaging setting, such as confetti or vivid lights.

- There are numerous microtransactions and fees in mobile games. Children typically play mobile games, and as we all know, they are

bad with money. Therefore, children can quickly spend hundreds of dollars on the mobile game if they have a credit or debit card linked to their smartphone. In fact, a 13-year-old girl in China actually used her parents’ whole life savings to purchase extra items in a smartphone game, according to jpost.com. While microtransactions are not necessary for all mobile games to function, they are typically accompanied with advertisements.

- Mobile games can deplete storage and battery life. A mobile game like Pokémon Go can DESTROY your battery life in a matter of hours. Because they are video games,

Editorial Policies

they typically contain a large amount of content. As a result, leaving a mobile game open for an extended amount of time will completely drain your phone’s battery life.

Mobile games have numerous advantages, but they also have drawbacks due to their nature. When weighing the advantages and disadvantages, they are fairly evenly distributed, but the disadvantages greatly exceed the advantages. Additionally, certain benefits exceed the drawbacks. Ultimately, people are free to play any kind of game they like, as long as it’s entertaining, regardless of whether it’s on a PC, console, or mobile device.

The Cougar Star’s mission is to deliver news to the best of our ability to the Clague community. We strive to work together as a team and build our leadership skills. We will treat each subject in an unbiased manner and provide all points of view. We aim to have a range of different topics covered with a variety of sources procured. All of our work is original and content is decided by students.

GRAPHIC BY SAANVI KULKARNI

Spirit Week photo story

JAY TAVANE SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, CO-PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

SAANVI KULKARNI MANAGING EDITOR

GEMMA SCOTT YEARBOOK MANAGING EDITOR

1. Clague principal Dr. Kyron Harvell keeping his word and wearing University of Michigan colors after his preferred team, Michigan State, lost the game. The Wolverines beat the Spartans 24-17.

2. Left to right: Seventh graders Raina Snell, Jordon Bowman, Pricilla Pralav, and Aya Tokuda on Pajama Day.

3. Left to right: Seventh graders Aya Tokuda, Raina Snell, and Jordon Bowman posing for a picture with their stuffed animals on Pajama Day.

4. Eighth graders Addison Smith and Emma Toma on Pajama Day smiling for the camera.

5. Eighth graders Saanvi Kulkarni, Sophia Rustia, and Chiara Christensen on Pajama Day.

6. ELA teacher Abby Ruehlmann on Orange Day.

7. Eighth graders Methuja Don, Caleb Nixon, Kiya Rostamian, and Dubem Akabogu. The week ended with a Fun Night on Friday night.

8. Eighth graders Yuri Kim and Annabella Mi on Twin Day. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

A review of Ann Arbor’s newest Taco Bell

NOAH DAVIDSON FEATURE EDITOR

JACOB

DAVIDSON OPINION EDITOR

People are raving about the new Taco Bell that opened in Ann Arbor a few weeks ago. Google reviews give it 4.4 out of 5 stars, and new ones are added daily. Let’s take a closer look at this new establishment to determine its true quality.

BREAKFAST, 10:30:

For breakfast, I decided to order the 12 pack Cinnabon bites for $7.59. Even though the posted hours for the restaurant are 9am to 1am, the doors weren’t open at 10:45am, but the drive-thru was open. The Cinnabon bites stayed warm in the paper packaging. They have a cinnamon coating on the outside and a sweet, liquidy glaze in the middle. To avoid drips and experience the entire flavor, I would recommend popping the whole Cinnabon bite in your mouth.

Overall rating: 4/5 stars

LUNCH, 11:50:

For lunch, my family and I decided to order one Crunchwrap Supreme for $6.39, three Beef Soft Tacos for $5.97, one Chips and Nacho Cheese Sauce for $2.89, one Chips and Guacamole for $2.99, one Cinnamon Twist for $1.99, one Disha Hot Sauce Packet, one Avocado Salsa Packet, one Mild Sauce, three Hot Sauce, one Fire Sauce, and one Diablo Sauce one Medium Brisk Dragon

Paradise Sparkling Iced Tea for $2.99 and one Large, Zero Sugar Baja Blast for $3.19. We ordered the food to-go from the kiosk inside the restaurant. We received our food quickly, but found out when we got home that the Mild Sauce, Hot Sauce, Fire Sauce, and Diablo Sauce were missing.

There were many different ingredients in the Crunchwrap Supreme, but because there was no sauce, there wasn’t much flavor. The Beef Soft Taco contained beef but only a few other components. In addition, it contained taco sauce, which significantly increased its flavor compared to the Crunchwrap Supreme. The guacamole was amazing, but the cheese that came with the Chips N Cheese tasted really manufactured and wasn’t very good. The Hot Sauce wasn’t very good with chips and had a very vinegary taste. The mild avocado salsa also had a surprisingly strong flavor. The Cinnamon Twists tasted fantastic, but they were lighter and less oozy than the Cinnabon bits. The Baja Blast was excellent, but it was also incredibly sugary.

The Overall rating: 4.5/5 stars

To sum up, the new Taco Bell offered a large menu and a wide range of options. I would suggest it to anyone who enjoys a range of flavors, textures, and sensations because it was unquestionably different from most fast food eateries in the area. Overall, I would rate the new Taco Bell located at 1655 Plymouth Road a 4.25 out of 5 stars.

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A step from heaven - book review

ANNABELLA

MI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Note: The author of this book employs anglicized spellings instead of traditional Korean Words. For example, “Mi Guk,” meaning America, is spelled as “Mi Gook” in the book. You will notice more of these unique spellings throughout the article and book.

Young Ju is only four years old, but she understands the concept of heaven — it is a flawless utopia, that after a bumpy plane ride, she will call home. But it is not evident to her rosy anticipation that this foreign place, Mi Gook (Mi Guk), is not heaven. In fact, it is a faraway land called America.

“A Step From Heaven” by An Na, published in 2001, stars an immigrant girl from Korea and how she is taught resilience. PHOTO BY ANNABELLA MI

“A Step From Heaven” written by An Na was released in

2001 as her debut novel. She weaves her experiences as a South Korean-born American into this award-winning book, faltering between adversities immigrants commonly face and its fictional plot line.

The structure of Young Ju’s family is comprised of Uhmma (Umma), the maternal figure, Joon Ho, the treasured son, and Apa (Appa), the alcoholic. This family dynamic shapes Young Ju’s trajectory in America from an optimistic kindergartener to a resilient young adult.

Na uses the concept of perspective throughout “A Step From Heaven,” but it is most heavily (and obviously) utilized in the beginning. The book opens with Young Ju as

a four-year-old. This detail is not expressly told within a sentence, but rather hinted through the mannerisms of Young Ju — incomplete thoughts, metaphorical sentences, and succinct dialogue. But as the plot grows from there, so does Young Ju. You start to see her gather the previously dispersed thoughts and take authority over her life as she realizes her boundaries and how her dad’s (Apa) abuse is not acceptable. She finds her voice, courage, and tenacity, which is an open window through Na’s writing.

Na’s writing style is almost poetry. There is symbolism carved into each chapter that revisits and uncovers the significance of chapped

hands to blankets veiling over cigarette burn holes. Though this genre is miles away from murder mystery, I nearly felt like a detective having to connect the motifs.

“A Step From Heaven” is a powerful book that challenges the reader to understand what identity boils down to. I not only read it, but I pondered and asked questions about abuse, sacrifice, and heritage (What is an American? Is Young Ju Korean or American?). And this perfectly captures what I love most about this book: how mere words spread across its 156 pages could propel me to such reflection.

1. The Crunchwrap Supreme 2. Nachos and cheese sauce 3. Levels of hot sauce 4. Happy hours for medium drinks for a $1 is 2-5 p.m. on all days. PHOTOS BY FRANCIS BADALAMENTE

The newest Cougar: Ryan Soupal joins administration

JAEWON LEE NEWS EDITOR

Clague Middle School is excited to welcome Ryan Soupal as its new assistant principal. With 23 years of experience in education, Soupal brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for working with diverse students and staff. Soupal’s career in education is marked by a commitment to fostering student growth and supporting educational communities. His experience includes various leadership roles, which he believes have prepared him for this position at Clague.

“I think getting to work with such a diverse group of students and staff excites me the most,” Soupal said. “It gives you the ability to learn about lots of different people and work with really great students and staff here at Clague.” His enthusiasm for diversity reflects the core values of Clague Middle School, where

“different backgrounds and perspectives contribute to a rich learning environment.

Soupal views this diversity as an opportunity not only to support students but also to learn from them and the staff members who bring unique experiences to the table. “I aim to continue to serve in this role and serve this community, and to become the biggest supporter of the Clague Cougars,” he said.

Soupal’s dedication to the Clague community is evident in his intention to be a visible leader. He recognizes the importance of building strong relationships with students, staff, and parents to create a supportive educational environment.

Getting to meet all of the great students and staff is my favorite part.

Ryan Soupal Assistant Principal

Clague parent

Sara-Beth Badalamente worked with him over the summer at the Summer Learning Institute for middle school students.

“I’ve seen firsthand the connections Mr. Soupal makes with students,” Badalamente said. “He wants kids to succeed and he knows how to make an environment for students

to be their best selves.”

Contrary to student belief, Soupal did not teach at Scarlett Middle School. He clarified his role there.

“I worked as the International Baccalaureate coordinator, helping Scarlett become an authorized International Baccalaureate World School. I also helped all of the teachers learn how to teach in an International Baccalaureate World School,” Soupal said.

Soupal added that the main reason he applied for assistant principal was because he has always accepted leadership roles throughout his educational journey, as he explained in the interview.

“I felt like becoming the assistant principal of Clague was the next

step in my educational and professional journey,” Soupal said.

His drive for professional growth is a testament to his commitment to education and his desire to take on greater responsibilities. Soupal’s journey reflects a continuous pursuit of excellence, not just for himself but for the entire school community.

“Getting to meet all of the great students and staff here is my favorite part,” he said. “I’ve met so many wonderful people, and I look forward to continuing to meet more and more of the staff and students here.”

“I am very excited to know that Mr. Soupal will be our new assistant principal,” Benqiao Lin said .“Mr. Soupal will bring his more than 20

years of experience to our Clague Middle School.” “[Soupal’s] previous many leading positions will benefit his working activities in future. His plan to integrate students, teachers and parents sounds great,” Lin said. “I believe Mr. Soupal can make Clague much better than before.” With his dedication and extensive experience, Clague Middle School anticipates positive developments under Soupal’s leadership as assistant principal. His commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment promises to enhance the educational experience for all.

Science teacher Lea Kotlinski involuntarily transferred

SAANVI KULKARNI MANAGING EDITOR

As a result of the Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) budget crisis, Clague science teacher Lea Kotlinski was involuntarily moved to a job in special education at a different middle school. This move, mandated by the AAPS Central Administration, has caused disappointment among students, parents as well as educators who have valued Kotlinski’s role in the community.

“Ms. Kotlinski was a very impressive science teacher,” Clague 8th grader Benjamin Wang said. “She was a very engaging and relatable science teacher. I felt that her lessons were very well thought out and good at helping students learn and retain knowledge.”

On Aug. 15, 2024, an email was sent out by the Parent Teacher Student Organization, or PTSO, regarding this issue, containing a link to a

petition for keeping Kotlinski at Clague, as well as a letter written by Kotlinski herself addressing Clague families.

In the letter, Kotlinski stated that she has not recently worked in special education.

Although she has a Masters

degree in the field, Kotlinski explained that she earned the degree to better support students with special needs in her own science classroom. She emphasized that she hasn’t taught special education at AAPS and that the field has

changed a lot in the past decade.

“This is not simply moving from one content area to another,” she said in her letter, “this is being forced into a job that requires a completely different set of skills and expertise.”

She did, however, make it clear that her building administrators are not the ones who made this decision — it was the AAPS Central Administration who did.

“I am asking you to contact AAPS central administration, as well as the school board, to let them know that keeping me in my science role at Clague is the best way I can serve students in this community,” Kotlinski said.

“No matter the outcome, know that I have absolutely loved and been fulfilled in teaching science to your children,” she added. “This school and community will always hold a special place in my heart and I cannot thank you enough for having me be a part of it.”

Clague principal Dr. Harvell later confirmed that “Mrs. Kotlinski no longer works in Ann Arbor Public Schools and found a new job in Plymouth Canton School District.”

Joining the Clague community this year is Ryan Soupal. He was previously at Scarlett Middle School. He is excited for his new role as an administrator. PHOTO BY YURI KIM

Former teacher Lea Kotlinski’s room is now Jennifer Inaba’s. Kotlinski was involuntarily transfered to another school after the $25 million budget cut last year. PHOTO BY SAANVI KULKARNI

Making lemonade: volleyball canceled, but coach steps up to ensure soccer program runs

SOPHIA ALISON RUSTIA PICTURE EDITOR

On Sept. 6, 2024, Brandon Copeland, the Clague Athletic director announced that seventh and eighth grade Men’s Volleyball and Co-Ed Volleyball was canceled due to not finding a coach. This led to a delay in season one of sports. Many students, including seventh grader Francis Badalamente were disappointed by this news, as they were looking forward to participating in sports this year.

“When I found out that volleyball was canceled I was kind of sad because this year some of my friends were going to play volleyball with me,” Badalamente said.

Everyone is hopeful that coaches will be found so volleyball and soccer will be available for students to enjoy next year.

“I was excited to do something that I was bad at but still liked,” Badalamente said. “I am not sure if I will play next year because I also want to play soccer, so I would have to decide which one, which will probably be hard.”

Athletic director Brandon Copeland was also fairly disappointed to hear that they were going to have to cancel volleyball.

“I do not like closing opportunities for people, particularly kids,” Copeland said. “So, it stung a little when we could not find coaching for the team. Unfortunately, I do think that there will be other sports cancellations next season. If we don’t find adequate coaching for the team, we will again have to withdraw from the season.”

Since so many people were left disappointed due to not having volleyball, many hope that there will be coaches available next year for all sports.

“I do hope there will be coaches next year,” Copeland said. “We have exceptional students and superior athletes,

so I want us to have the best coaching in the city, too.”

Soccer too was also supposed to be canceled, being unable to find a coach. However, teacher Colleen Colegrove volunteered to help coach for men’s soccer.

“I decided to step up and coach men’s soccer at the last minute because I feel that athletics is a very important part of a student’s life,” Colegrove said. “As you may know, my son is a NFL player, without opportunities to play, it may affect a person’s future.”

Many students who wanted to participate were thrilled to hear the news that there was going to be soccer after all.

“I am glad I coached soccer,” Colegrove said. “It was a lot of fun. It was also a positive experience. I think I will coach next year if given the opportunity.”

All things sports Tigers Playoff Run

MAX FINE SPORTS EDITOR

After a long, nine-year postseason drought, the Detroit Tigers are back in the MLB playoffs! With a regular season record of 86-76, they secured the sixth seed in the American League, finishing third in the fiercely competitive American League (AL) Central. The Tigers finished the regular season strong by winning seven of their last 10 games and having their overall best regular season since 2016.

The Detroit Tigers are one of five teams competing in the AL Central division. They finished in third in the division, behind the Kansas City Royals and the Cleveland Guardians. The Royals were awarded the fifth seed and the Guardians earned the second seed in the American League.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Tigers took on the third ranked team in the AL, the Houston Astros. It was a best of three series in round one but in the following rounds the series gets longer, with round two being best of five and both the semifinals and finals being a best of seven series. The Tigers won their series 2-0 winning the only two games played in the series 3-1 and 5-2. Both games took place in Houston as the Astros had the higher seed of the two teams so it was a surprise that the Tigers were able to go home with a series win.

In the American League Division Series (ALDS), the Tigers played the second seed in the AL, the Cleveland Guardians. This was a best of five series and it took all five of them to decide the winner. Detroit dropped game one 7-0, but took the lead in the series after winning games two and three. However, Cleveland made a series clinching comeback as they took games four and five. Unfortunately, the Tigers lost this series 3-2 which ended their 2024 season and playoff run.

Even though the Tigers lost in only the second round of the playoffs, they still had a very successful season, making the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Keider Montero, and many other young Tiger’s players have caught the eye of not just Tiger fans, but the whole MLB fan base. Despite not bringing home the World Series title, they have a very bright future with their young stars.

This year many sports were almost cut due to lack of coaching staff. Colleen Colegrove stepped up to keep the boys soccer team running this fall. PHOTO BY SARAH HOFFERT

Seventh grader Francis Badalamente plays outside back for the soccer team PHOTO BY SARA-BETH BADALAMENTE