Spectrum - Dec 15, 2022

pectrum

Coach Anderson Retires From Football

After 23 total seasons serving CC, Dan Anderson has decided to step down from his storied coaching career. While head coach the last six seasons, he captured three Division 1 district titles, one regional title, and one Catholic League championship.

Anderson began his career by serving as the head coach for three seasons at Archbishop Alter High School in Kettering, Ohio. The GCL (Ohio’s Greater Catholic League) acknowledged him as the coach of the year in 1996 before he accepted a position at Catholic Central.

In 2007, legendary coach Tom Mach promoted Anderson to the position of defensive coordinator. One year later, the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association recognized him as the Assistant Coach of the Year.

Anderson enjoyed his time working as an assistant to Mach: “Working under Tom was a great pleasure of mine. Not only for his football knowledge but also what a great man he was. I became a better coach and person working for him,” he said.

Anderson served as the defensive coordinator for ten years before Mach retired, and CC offered Anderson the coveted position of head football coach.

In his first season, his team reached the final four, and his 2020 squad finished with an undefeated regular season despite wonky Covid scheduling.

Throughout his tenure at the helm, Anderson has taken every opportunity he gets to thank his assistant coaches.

“I have been blessed to work with some of the best assistant coaches in the game of football,” he said.

“Their knowledge of the game was outstanding and made our teams better and me a better coach. But as men they were great examples for the players on how to be great men, fathers, brothers and husbands,” he added.

One of those assistant coaches, David Sofran, strongly appreciates what Anderson has done for him.

“I will forever be indebted to Coach

Anderson for giving me an opportunity to coach football at Catholic Central. After the possibility of walking away from coaching high school football, Coach Anderson was kind enough to reach out and welcome me to the staff and the CC culture. I am truly grateful for his time, energy, and passion for CC football and allowing me to be part of it.”

He described his favorite accomplishment with Coach Anderson as well.

“There are so many wonderful moments and memories ... some with tears in defeats, most with joy and laughter after victories. During Covid in 2020-2021, our season started in August and ended in January, [and while] it was the longest high school football season I can remember, we really bonded as a family and learned a lot about how to persevere through adversity.”

Coach Joe Mach also loved working with Anderson.

“We all owe Coach Anderson a great debt of gratitude for what he has contributed to the CC Football program over the past 23 years,” he said.

“What I will miss most, though, is heading out to practice every day during the fall with Dan. He has been and will continue to be a positive force in the lives of many young men. Coach Anderson has, without question, left an indelible imprint on the storied history of Catholic Central Football.”

Indeed, Anderson’s favorite part of coaching has nothing to do with statistics: “I have been a part of four state championships and been to the state championship game five other times. [I] have been a part of numerous district and regional championships, but the favorite part of coaching has been the relationships I have developed with the players and coaches I have been blessed to work with.”

He will continue to develop these relationships as a teacher at CC. Anderson finishes his head coaching career with a 44-21 record, five playoff appearances, and an undefeated record against Brother Rice.

“His passion for the game is unmatched. He was tough when he needed to be but also fair. He is someone you could trust with anything. His love for his players, both current and past, is what coaching is all about.”

- Dylan Roney ‘14

“Coach Anderson was like a father figure to me. I truly believe that without his coaching and guidance I wouldn’t be at the level I am today.”

- Brayden Courser ‘23

He is a tremendous mentor and close friend. His impact on CC both on and off the football field is immeasurable

Dominic Apap ‘24

“Dan Anderson was an outstanding football coach, but is an even better leader of men.” -

Jackson Ross ‘17

Coach Anderson observes pre-game stretching.

Coach Anderson’s Career Stats

Photo by Maestro

Basilians Commemorate 200 Years

In 1822, ten diocesan priests came together in the midst of the French Revolution with the goal of spreading the word of God through Christian education.The congregation of St. Basil has since grown to serve students in four different countries, spreading their motto of “Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge” around the world.

Since its founding in 1928, Catholic Central has felt the presence of the Basilians in all aspects.

On November 19, Catholic Central hosted a celebration of the Basilian Bicentennial, filling the gymnasium with numerous Basilians and associates from the surrounding area.

The attendants enjoyed a meetand-greet followed by a recognition ceremony, during which CC President Ed Turek discussed the importance of the Basilians to the school.

“The world is a better place with more Shamrocks in it, and we have the Basilian fathers to thank for it,” he said in his remarks.

Novi Mayor Bob Gatt also spoke on the Basilian impact.

“Imagine the thousands of kids the Basilian fathers and teachers … have influenced and impacted,” he remarked.

“We’re proud of you and there’s nothing in the world we wouldn’t do for

you,” he added.

A key feature of Catholic Central is the brotherhood among the students and community as a whole. This brotherhood can date back to the ten founders of the Congregation of St. Basil, who were different types of men who had to come together and learn to be brothers.

“At all of our schools, we talk about that brotherhood because it comes from the Basilian fathers,” stated Father Fulton.

“In our local community we have to learn how to make it work … we’re a

Keeping the Fun in Sports

I’ll never forget the feeling of playing IFL my freshman year here at CC. Whether it was a good day or a bad one, on game days, I always knew I had an outlet to just be a kid and have fun. That’s all there was to it. Furthermore, through all the pandemonium of the last four years, intramural and recreational sports have not just remained a relevant part of our daily lives here at CC, but an essential means of having unhindered fun.

Seniors James Tringale and Johnathon Janos, for instance, play on a rec league hockey team.

“Rec hockey is a good way to meet new people around the hockey community while playing just to have fun,” Tringale said.

Janos added, “It sounds corny, but the rec league is something that keeps me in the game and helps keep me active.”

While activities are aplenty outside of school with such staples as the Shamrock soccer team’s indoor squad “The Wonderboys” and the track & field team’s “Screamin’ Blueberries,” many onsite activities prove to be great outlets for students who’d like to participate in a sport without the intensity of being in an official league.

One such league, the IFL, is known to be a bastion of the fall season each and every year here at CC.

Some play intramural sports to stay active, and others play them to relive the glory days. Regardless of what the reason may be, it is apparent that the students here at CC rely on them as a way to let loose and enjoy life.

Senior IFL Champ Colin Morrison summed it up best: “If you think you’re good enough, then work harder. For IFL, I was just super glad to be playing with my friends and I thought that the more fun we had, the better we played. Also, Jack Cyrek is the goat.”

2022

IFL Champions:

brotherhood.”

Father Fulton went on to speak about his personal experience with the Basilian calling.

“I’ve been sent to Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Ontario, Houston, and now here,” he explained.

“I miss the people I leave behind, but I encounter a whole new brotherhood and community at the next place I go.”

The Basilian Bicentennial highlights the impact that the Basilians have had on countless people and the great influence they have had on Catholic Central.

GDK Service Day

On November 23, Catholic Central students entered surrounding communities to serve those in need. Service activities ranged from cleaning up priest residences at Madonna University to making animal toys and collecting an assortment of supplies at Catholic Central to deliver to veterans.

One senior, Kellan Winslow, expressed gratitude for the experience of cleaning an outdoor Stations of the Cross for retired priests, explaining that “[giving back]

Frosh Frolics

: A Glimpse Into A Young Man’s Diary

Dear Diary, (August)

My first week at Detroit Catholic Central has been astounding to say the least. It has been 31 hours and Mr. George already knows my name. Update!!! He knows my mother’s maiden name, too. How does he do it?

I have also been introduced to oodles and kaboodles of words. Last week, Mrs. Storm showed us monster words like "preposition." Who knew there was an entirely separate classification system for words? I'm so excited I could just pet Frank right now!!

Dear Diary, (September)

Detroit Catholic Central is not as easy as previously thought. The cafeteria is now requiring students to scan their IDs to buy lunch and I am yet to receive my royal blue, fearless white polka dot lanyard! It was rumored the school store carried it, but they only retail striped baby blue lanyards. I’m not quite sure the school knows those shades clash with my highlighter yellow Under Armour shirts.

I have also faced treacherous conditions. Coach Mach has been taking us outside for softball all week and the temperatures are in the low to mid-60s. I am irate!

Dear Diary, (October)

Detroit Catholic Central is the best high school in the country. I can see this now. My newfound hatred for subzero playing conditions has inspired legal pursuit in the form of Mock Trial, an up and coming sport according to upperclassmen.

Plus, the prospects of a date grow larger every second. This girl and I have been getting dropped off at 12 Oaks for days now, and tomorrow marks our weekly Abercrombie Kids meet up. Can’t wait for Homecoming!

Dear Diary, (November)

It was somewhat of a relief to find out Thanksgiving is still a celebrated holiday at DCC. Still waiting on the hand turkey project. Mother says I should be grateful I’m allowed to watch the Lion’s game this year, but someone needs to help g-ma with the sweet potatoes.

Dear Diary, (December)

This will be my last journal entry of the semester. Time’s have gotten tough, but I have good news. I picked up a few elevator passes real cheap from a couple seniors on Black Friday.

In other news, Mother says I can stay up late to watch George Lopez reruns on Nickelodeon if I get an A+ on my health exam. Oh, the joy!

Time to run. Gotta make my Christmas list (only two pages this year!) and meet Santa at 12 Oaks!

Until next year, XOXO, Fretful Frosh

helps me realize how much I have to be thankful for.” Catholic Central sent their students off the day before Thanksgiving break to not only give back to their community, but also to build bonds of brotherhood.

Johnathan Diaz ‘23

An impressive ice sculpture for the celebration Photo by Communications Dept.

Students load supplies for their work downtown.

Photo by Communications Dept.

Musk Ignites Free Speech Debate

Earlier this year, Elon Musk began a process to purchase Twitter, which ultimately culminated in his acquisition of Twitter on October 28.

Immediately, Musk tried to put his stamp on the app. Musk’s changes to Twitter have been mired in controversy, with some people expressing approval, and others disagreement with his policies. For instance, Ben Shapiro, a conservative political commentator, expressed great approval, while Bill Gates, a businessperson and philanthropist, has expressed concern about the spread of misinformation.

Gates’s and Shapiro’s opinions highlight the many different opinions people share. Whether people support or oppose Musk’s buying Twitter, it is undeniable that his purchase has had massive ramifications.

Since taking control of the platform, Musk has instituted radical changes. He immediately fired the Twitter CEO and board of directors, consolidating power in himself, then announced that the company would lay off half of its employees.

Controversially, Musk has also rolled out Twitter Blue, which allows users to get verified for $8 a month. This has led to many mishaps, perhaps most famously when a user made a fake verified account of Eli Lilly, a pharmaceutical company, and tweeted, “We are excited to announce insulin is free now.” The fake tweet caused Eli Lilly’s stocks to plummet and them to stop advertising on Twitter. Many other fake verified accounts have pulled similar stunts, prompting an update to Twitter Blue that implements different levels of verification and strengthening protocols.

A self-described “free speech absolutist,” Musk has made free speech a core tenet of Twitter. Musk has generally relaxed censorship, offering “general amnesty”: unbanning people such as former President Donald Trump; Jordan Peterson, a psychologist and author; and Andrew Tate, a controversial internet personality.

However, even Musk recognizes that a line must be drawn, refusing to reinstate Alex Jones, a far right conspiracy theorist and radio show host, simply responding “No” when asked to restore Jones’s account. Additionally, Musk has

banned Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) from Twitter for anti-Semitism and hate speech, arguing that Ye broke the rule against “incitement to violence” on Twitter.

In the United States, the First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech to all people; however, we must ask ourselves: what exactly constitutes “free speech”?

This question has no right answer, and if taken to either extreme, of restricting speech, or allowing everything, the results will be disastrous for society and people’s individual rights.

Social media companies have the responsibility to protect people’s freedom of speech, while also blocking harmful content. Elon Musk, as the new head of Twitter, arguably the most influential social media platform in the world, will have to tread a fine line between free speech and censorship of dangerous content if he wishes to be successful.

Whether Musk is capable of protecting free speech while also containing its worst excesses remains to be seen, but for the sake of democracy, it is best that Musk succeeds in his endeavors, as his actions have global consequences.

Lions Reinvigorate Season with Style

After a disappointing 2-6 start to their season, the Detroit Lions have officially cemented their place as a force to be reckoned with in the NFC. Just days after their dominance in Sunday’s match against their divisional rival, the formerly 10-2 Vikings, the Lions are looking to clinch their first playoff berth since 2016. However, while the future does seem bright, it still comes with its fair share of obstacles.

With only a few games left, the Lions are currently sitting just outside the

highly sought Wild Card spot. They sit just one and a half games behind the 7-51 Commanders and Giants, both of whom have previously lost to Detroit this year.

However, while Detroit’s current standing is impressive, it’s the Lions’ level of intensity and tenacity these past five games that have truly garnered both the attention of their fans and the national media.

When one looks at their past games, it’s very easy to pinpoint the exact day the pendulum started to swing in the Lions’ favor.

On November 13, just one week after a statement win over Aaron Rodgers and

the Green Bay Packers, the Lions went head to head with a hot Chicago Bears team in a tight game that went all the way down to the wire. In the end, it was the Lions who would prevail 31-30.

While this seemed like an ordinary win to most, for those who follow the team closely, this was a huge win, not just for morale, but for the team’s mentality. Not only did it test the team, but from then on, it’s been pedal to the metal.

Winning five of their last six, the Lions have dominated teams in a manner that hasn’t been seen in years. Better yet, they’ve managed to go toe-to-toe with two of the NFL’s highest rated teams

Congressional Midterm Results

in the Vikings and Bills, and have even gone as far as to smoke the Jacksonville Jaguars 40-14.

It’s not just the fact that they’re winning that is impressive, however. It’s the way they’re winning. Using trick plays and alternate tactics galore, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has made it clear he’ll do whatever it takes to put points on the board and secure a win.

Just this past week, he utilized a surprise screen pass to right offensive tackle Penei Sewell in order to gain a first down and run out the clock. Even better, Johnson has been able to utilize the Lions’ offensive depth in order to spread the ball

Supreme Court Hears Affirmative Action Case

Andrew Kil ‘23

On March 6, 1961, President John F. Kennedy issued Executive Order 10925, which was the first use of the term “affirmative action” in relation to racial equality, expressing urgency for government contractors “to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment, without regard to race, creed, color, or national origin.”

According to Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute, affirmative action is defined as policy designed to “eliminate unlawful discrimination among applicants, remedy the results of such prior discrimination, and prevent such discrimination in the future.”

The Supreme Court has currently heard oral arguments regarding raceconscious admissions practices by Harvard University and the University of North Carolina, with the pending decisions potentially overriding decades of precedence and declaring such practices unconstitutional.

Previously, the Supreme Court, in the case Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978), established that classroom diversity was a compelling state interest.

In an October 2022 poll conducted by Washington Post-Schar School, respondents expressed 63% net support for “the Supreme Court banning colleges and universities from considering a student’s race and ethnicity when making decisions about … admissions.”

However, from the same sample of respondents, 64% expressed support for “programs designed to increase the racial diversity of students on college campuses.”

What can be gathered from this data is that the American public generally supports increased representation of racial minorities on college campuses, but that race-conscious admissions practices are not seen as a suitable remedy.

With this in mind, to mitigate these perceived advantages and disadvantages, affirmative action in higher education may not be the best all-inclusive solution.

In essence, affirmative action can unintentionally lead to the acceptance of unqualified candidates, which can, according to a Heritage Foundation report, lead “to a loss of enthusiasm for academic pursuits.” This phenomenon is illustrated with minority students in relation to STEM. It could be argued that interest would be the primary factor, but numerous studies have shown that “African Americans and other racial minorities are more interested in science and engineering than whites are.” Instead, the main culprit is “lagging entering science credentials like math SAT scores, the grades for high school courses in mathematics and science, and the number

deviation below their science peers at college are about half as likely to end up with science bachelor degrees … compared with similar students attending schools where their credentials are much closer to … the mean credentials of their peers.”

With all this in mind, outcomes for college completion rates reveal more startling truths. According to a report by Bridget Terry Long of the think tank Third Way, “Asian and white students have higher completion rates than black and Hispanic or Latino students.” These differences, according to the report, potentially stem from “documented differences in K-12 education equality

though as yet unpublished, papers at Georgetown University suggest that early childhood education positively correlates with college enrollment, high school graduation, school attendance, and enrollment in AP/International Baccalaureate courses, although there may actually be a negative correlation with certain achievement test scores.

It is important to note that in spite of a possible negative correlation with test scores, high-quality early child care, according to a study published in Child Development, “can mitigate the consequences of poverty into adulthood” since “ECE [early childhood education] was associated with reduced

and keep defenses guessing. In their win over the Vikings, nine different Lions received a pass from QB Jared Goff, a number that is seldom seen in today’s atmosphere.

As their regular season comes to a close, the Lion faithful hope to keep their playoff hopes alive as their boys in blue finish off the season with a tiny margin for error. Although it will be tough, there is no doubt that this team can handle the pressure.

As head coach Dan Campbell has put it, “The 2022 Detroit Lions will be the team that can -- and will.”

of such courses taken, all of which are strongly correlated with persistence in science.” In effect, the better one’s qualifications and academic profile, the more likely “a student with an initial interest in science … will persevere and ultimately succeed in earning a degree.”

This phenomenon was discussed in a study by UCLA faculty covering the nine University of California campuses, with the data showing that “students with credentials more than one standard

by race” and “differences in income and resources.”

With all this in mind, there are many proposed solutions to account for and remedy such disparities. Early childhood education, specifically pre-kindergarten, is a significant indicator of a student’s future success. In Oklahoma, for instance, the Tulsa Public Schools system has implemented a universal preschool program.

Data collected in various working,

disparities between low- and higherincome children’s educational attainment and wages at age 26.” Reductions in college graduation disparities were more extensive “the more months that low-income children spent in ECE.” In addition, reductions in wage disparities were more extensive when low-income children “attended sustained high-quality ECE.”

Of course, the methodology of these studies should be scrutinized, but the

data shows an optimistic picture, with high quality early childhood education and future educational outcomes being positively correlated.

At the end of the day, policymakers will need to consult experts and lots of research before crafting a universal preschool system nationwide.

Furthermore, more than government programs alone has to be done to minimize the disadvantages of minority children in pursuit of college success.

It is also important to keep in mind that alongside programs to mitigate disadvantages in college readiness, there is a need to help support current high school students that are struggling.

For example, there are current initiatives from organizations like the College Board that are benefitting minority students. The College Board National Recognition Programs help and acknowledge the efforts of students that take the PSAT/NMSQT, particularly targeting members of underserved communities like African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Indigenous people, and those from rural or small towns.

These recognition awards also incentivize universities to attract diverse applicants by offering scholarships to recipients. More programs like these will lead to a greater volume of minority college applicants, potentially proving to be one of many long-term alternatives to affirmative action.

There is public consensus regarding the importance of having increased diversity in the college classroom, with disagreement centering around the means to attaining this goal. While currently deemed permissible by the Supreme Court, future developments may lead to this precedent being reversed. It needs to be stressed that there is no single solution to solving racial disparities in higher education, but the scientific literature does point to certain factors.

It is integral that communities pursue measures like better-funded schools, school choice, and other policies to ensure the best quality of life for children.

The Supreme Court is currently hearing two cases that could upend decades of precedent.

Charts by Kil

House of Representatives Democratic Party Republican Party Vacant

Senate Democratic Party Republican Party Independent

The Men in the Booth

week, I watch anywhere from 4-6 hours of film on the opponent, and I touch up on the film for us.

Shamrocks pack the stands for sporting events as much as ever, but the CC Media Team takes the games to those who cannot attend in person.

Juniors Josh Rothert and Lucas Jraiche are at the forefront of broadcasting the games, with Rothert delivering playby-play and Jraiche providing color commentary. The two provide vivid analysis for what takes place on the field.

Mrs. Teed, who helped create the media team last fall, complemented their ability to “give audiences the full and complete story each time they broadcast a game.”

She also described the on-air chemistry Rothert and Jraiche have.

“They play off of each other and complement each other well just as a play-by-play announcer and color commentator should. They sound natural, and the audience gets excited with them.”

Rothert elaborated on how much time he devotes every week to his craft, especially when stats at the high school level are difficult to find.

“Preparation is key. I want to know absolutely everything about a team before the game starts so that I can organize speaking points and reference points for during the game. In a typical

“Before Boys’ Bowl, I think I watched 16 hours of film on De La Salle,” he

sometimes we get access to statsheets, and then we have our own notes to reference.”

Jraiche said they “script [the] intro, but the rest is spontaneous.”

at growing the program. Without the streamers, cameras, editors, and everyone else, I don’t know where we’d be.”

Rothert also touched on how much help he has.

“Nobody sees what we have going on behind the scenes, but I let every single one of our guys know that they are more important to the success of the streams. We have a team of about 20 people that commit their time to record footage, run the cameras, run the stream setup, produce, organize, brainstorm, and work hard to promote and put on a show.”

Williams, one of the leaders of that production crew, helps manage the cameras, the Elgato stream deck, and OBS (Open Broadcast Software), which runs the stream.

“Every game day, we show up about an hour and a half early to start setting up for the day. We set everything up using our supplies to ensure our audience receives the best viewing experience possible,” Williams said.

problem solving. Often, students have to troubleshoot technology and think on their feet, and they do a great job,” she said.

“The media team students will tell you that the feeling of completing a successful broadcast is an excitement like no other.”

As for opportunities after leaving Catholic Central, Rothert sees himself as the next great play-by-play broadcaster at a major network.

“I’ve been researching colleges strictly for broadcast journalism and sports media, so I definitely see this in my future after high school.”

Jraiche is contemplating a future in broadcasting as well.

“Broadcasting is something I’ve definitely thought about as a career, but I haven’t really made a decision on if I’m gonna put all my eggs in one basket for that being my professional career,” he explained.

Rothert gave one final note of his experience:

added.

This preparation makes in-game adjustments easy.

“We mute ourselves and make quick conversation to prepare for whatever we want to address next,” Jraiche said.

“We have the rosters at our disposal,

Jraiche knows these broadcasts wouldn’t be possible without their production crew.

“Mrs. Teed and Mr. Miller have given us every opportunity to succeed. Ben Flake (Class of 2022) and (senior) Nick Williams were and continue to be great

Another student who works behind the scenes, junior Tyler Stewart, remarked that he enjoys “contributing to the CC experience by making it easier for friends and family who can’t attend the game [to be able to watch it].”

Mrs. Teed also gave her spin on the media team.

“I like to think of the media arts as

“I have a lot of fun doing it. It really culminates the whole school week leading up to the football game on Friday night. We miss out on the student section, but I think we have the best job.”

At the 2021 tennis banquet, outgoing senior Nick Maynard issued a challenge to his brother Alec and the future seniors.

“To my brother, and all the rising seniors who will take my place next year, keep the winning attitude, strive for greatness, and when I get back next year, I want to see someone’s name on a plaque at the courts.”

Alec, CC’s #3 singles tennis player, made this his motivation.

On October 15, Maynard played his 28th game of his senior year tennis season, and won the state title, beating Aaron Rose from Bloomfield Hills in straight sets, 6-2 and 6-4.

Maynard finished the season with an undefeated 28-0 record, which, in tennis, might be even more impressive than the state title itself.

Maynard started playing tennis because he used to play baseball and golf when he was younger, and tennis is a sort of “middle ground” between the two. After picking up tennis, his love for the game only grew stronger.

Now, after an undefeated season and state championship, Maynard hopes to attend Michigan State for college and play club tennis. He said that if he is not able to attend MSU, he will hopefully play tennis at Hope College or Albion.

Knowing he was always capable of accomplishing great things, Maynard is driven to be the best version of himself.

For example, after his junior year tennis season, Alec knew the only thing holding him back was his endurance. Knowing that he was capable of winning states his senior year, Alec ran over the offseason to level up his endurance for singles match play.

Tennis coach Robbie Risdon witnessed Maynard’s inner drive firsthand: “His unwavering belief that he was going to win allowed him to play with so much confidence, and he developed a game style that could adapt to different situations and different opponents.”

On the topic of game style, Maynard said that he models his style after his personality. His play style is unorthodox, and his second serve is basically a lob rather than the typical serve with heavy power or spin.

“I don’t take the traditional shots because I’m not a traditional person,” he said.

Alec and his older brother earned allstate status as doubles partners during Alec’s junior year. This year, however, as a singles player, Alec knew it was up to him alone.

Back at that banquet in 2021, Maynard took his big brother’s words to heart.

“I set a goal at the beginning of the season and worked hard to win every match,” he said.

In doing so, Maynard etched his name on the plaque at the courts and solidified his name in the CC record books, just as his brother challenged him to do.

Return of a Redford Tradition

Bumblebee, the more energetic of the two, was adopted by Mrs. Ely in 2019.

A long-standing tradition finally returned to CC this year with the addition of two ball pythons, Basil and Bumblebee.

This comeback has taken place courtesy of Mrs. Ely, who owns over 20 snakes herself. The snakes arrived at the beginning of October from Mrs. Ely’s personal menagerie.

The original Basil was brought into the Breakfast Drive campus in Redford by Fr. Phil Acquaro, a biology teacher at the time.

Basil lived for 25 years in a display case, where live feedings became something of a weekly spectacle. Basil was followed by Monty, a fellow ball python, who lived 12 years.

Mr. Aiello reflected on this aspect of his experience as a student in Redford.

“The guys loved walking by it in the hallway,” he said.

“The fact that we could just go watch the feedings; it was like a zoo exhibit within our school.”

Bumblebee is a pastel fire morph ball python, meaning he has both the fire and pastel “morphs,” or genes, created by human breeders.

Basil, on the other hand, is a genetic mix called a spinner blast morph python.

These snakes contain the spider gene, which causes a small head wobble along with neuropathy, a condition making Basil more reclusive and shy.

These snakes are fed once every two weeks, and their diet alternates between frozen rats for nutrition, and live mice to keep their predatory instincts alive.

The new specimens will be housed in Mrs. Ely’s office in the STEM wing once it is completed, and more snakes will likely find their way onto campus in the future.

With these additions and plans, Catholic Central’s snake-keeping tradition continues.

Christian Bakkal ‘25

Maynard serves in the state finals at Hope College.

Photo submitted

Jraiche (left) and Rothert (right) get

bird’s eye view of the action. Photo submitted

Joseph Harrison ‘26

Bumblebee enjoys his new home on Donoher Drive.

Photo by Hull

Mr. Pierson, Mr. Soccer

Pierson has been named Michigan’s Mr. Soccer.

The Mr. Soccer award is bestowed to the most outstanding soccer player in the state of Michigan. Elite soccer players compete for this award, rendering it the most formidable accomplishment a Michigan high school soccer player can possess.

To nobody’s surprise, CC’s own Kyle

In his senior season, Pierson’s performance was nothing short of outstanding. He racked up a whopping 37 goals and 21 assists. To put that into perspective, CC as a team scored 83 goals, meaning he accounted for 70% of the team’s scoring. Pierson helped take his team to the next level, hopefully raising the bar for soccer at CC.

“This award means so much to me in different ways,” Pierson said.

“This team had a goal this year to win a state championship. Unfortunately we fell short in the state semifinals, so winning this award was for Team 44, a team that truly deserved so much more than what we got this year.”

Back when Pierson was in 7th grade, his brother Ryan (Class of 2018) was a 2017 Mr. Soccer finalist. Unfortunately,

he narrowly missed winning the award. However, this gave Kyle the motivation and determination to avenge his brother’s loss and win Mr. Soccer.

“I knew from that moment that I wanted to be Mr. Soccer one day,” Pierson said, “and I worked towards that everyday.”

Pierson had to sacrifice most of his valuable weekends to train for the highly competitive Mr. Soccer Award.

“I sacrificed going out with friends and

Honors

sleeping in on weekends to get up and train,” Pierson said.

“I devoted so much time to this sport, and to finally get an award that recognizes it is awesome and I’m blessed for it,” he added.

Pierson will continue his soccer at the University of Michigan next year, but he’ll always be remembered at CC as a soccer legend.

National Merit Students Recognized

Joseph Burke, Josh Lassaline, Patrick Michel, Arnav Pulpa, Pablo Razny, Jack Sharkey, Joseph Stopczynski, and Ryan Taylor.

This year, CC had six National Merit Semifinalists and ten National Merit Commended Students.

The Semifinalists, those who scored in the top 1% on the PSAT, are David Creen, Aiden Faunt, Carson Kerr, Andrew Kil, Aidan Kinsella, and Nick Ventura.

The Commended Students are Nicholas Barnaby, Andrew Bianchi,

Linking all of these students is a shared motivation for excellence.

“I have always pushed myself academically, and I strive for excellence in all I do,” Kinsella said.

“Being a National Merit Semifinalist was a goal of mine for high school,” he added.

Ventura added, “I set the goal to become a Semifinalist the summer before my junior year, and I stuck to it.”

Each Semifinalist and Commended Student pushed himself academically and set clear goals before the test.

Taking time to study for the PSAT was another common theme.

According to Faunt, “I spent two weeks studying in preparation so that I could accomplish it.”

For Kinsella, taking practice tests and studying in advance was key to succeeding on the PSAT, and he’d advise any other student to do the same.

“Even though it’s lame and time-

consuming, take a practice test or two, see what you did wrong, and work on it,” he said.

Benjamin Towne ‘25

Francis Toma

Kyle Pierson

Drew Pierson

Ali Jaffer

Jack Rogers

The Semifinalists, left to right: Ventura, Kil, Kerr, Kinsella, Creen, Faunt

Photos by Communications Dept.

Pierson poses with the Mr. Soccer Award. Photos submitted

The World Cup en dos lenguas

En español

México está en el grupo C también, y el equipo perdió en la ronda de dieciséis a Brasil en 2018.

La Copa Mundial de la FIFA incluye muchos equipos de países que hablan Español. La competencia empezó el veinte de Noviembre, y terminará un mes después. El primer partido del evento fue entre Ecuador y Qatar, el país donde el torneo tiene lugar. Desafortunadamente para Qatar, ellos son el primer país en organizar la Copa Mundial que perdiό su primer partido. Personas de todo el mundo se han estado preparando para este partido. En el grupo C, Argentina trata de ganar más que en el 2018, cuando el equipo solo alcanzó la ronda de dieciséis.

Ellos desafortunadamente tuvieron un comienzo difícil donde perdieron con la Arabia Saudita, que se clasificaron 48 lugares por debajo de ellos en el rango mundial de la FIFA. Lionel Messi busca una victoria en lo que probablemente será su última Copa Mundial. Los jugadores de Argentina perdieron contra Francia, quien ganó toda la Copa la última vez.

Costa Rica no ganó un solo partido en 2018, pero los jugadores quieren vencer a España en su primer partido del torneo. Ellos no pudieron ganar contra España desafortunadamente, y perdieron un duro 7-0. Rusia ganó contra España la última vez por el penal. Sergio Ramos, un defensor, juega para España y es muy talentoso. En 2018, Uruguay fue el único país de habla Hispana que avanzó a los cuartos de final. Uruguay ganó contra Portugal en la ronda anterior. Uruguay ganó la primera Copa Mundial en 1930 mientras el torneo tenía lugar en este país. Uruguay y Argentina tienen dos campeonatos cada uno.

Finalmente, los Estados Unidos necesitÓ impresionar este año porque hay muchos hispanohablantes en el país. En 2018, los Estados Unidos no pudieron ganar contra Trinidad y Tobago para entrar al concurso. En 2014, los Estados Unidos perdieron en la ronda de dieciséis contra Bélgica. Christian Pulisic y Weston McKinnie son dos jugadores muy populares en el equipo. Cuando McKinnie jugaba para Juventus, se rompió su pie en Febrero. Recientemente, McKinnie

se lastimó la pierna, pero debe jugar en la Copa Mundial. Pulisic juega para Chelsea, y el público dice que él es como “Captain America’’. Los EE.UU. puso en un show todo el torneo, especialmente con su victoria contra Irán y sus empatas con Inglaterra y Gales. El equipo perdió, sin embargo, en una desgarradora derrota de 1-3 contra Holanda. Pero el éxito que los EE.UU. el equipo de fútbol tuvo, da esperanza de un futuro brillante. Por ahora, los aficionados de todo el mundo están muy emocionados de seguir viendo la Copa Mundial.

In English

The FIFA World Cup includes many teams from Spanish speaking countries. The competition started on November 20, and it will end a month later. The first game of the event was between Ecuador and Qatar, the country where the tournament takes place. Unfortunately for Qatar, they

are the first country to host the World Cup and lose their opening game. People around the world have been preparing themselves for this game. In group C, Argentina is trying to perform better than in 2018, when the team only made it to the Round of 16. They unfortunately had a rough start after losing to Saudi Arabia who were ranked 48 places below them in the FIFA world rankings. Lionel Messi is searching for a win at his likely last World Cup. The Argentinian team lost to France, who won the whole competition last time. Mexico is also in group C, and they lost in the Round of 16 at Brazil in 2018.

Costa Rica didn’t win a single game in 2018, but the players wanted to beat Spain in their first game of the tournament. They were unable to win against Spain, unfortunately, and lost a stark 7-0. Russia won against Spain last time with a penalty. Sergio Ramos, a defender, plays for Spain and is very talented. In 2018, Uruguay was the only Spanish speaking country that advanced to the quarter finals. Uruguay won against Portugal in the previous round.

Uruguay won the first World Cup in 1930 where the tournament took place in this country. Uruguay and Argentina have

Kibbey’s Garage: Best Cars for New Drivers

David Kibbey ‘24

What is the best first car?

The question often provokes months of conversations between parents and their children. After hundreds of Autotrader ads and used car lot visits, parents can only hope they made the right decision for their child.

The purchase of a first car is an exciting experience for teens. The vehicle should be safe, yet enjoyable and reliable. Driving off the lot in their own car is a feeling of pride; it is vital that new drivers like the vehicle they are driving.

No matter the budget, there are a plethora of safe, excellent vehicles that fit the bill.

Living in Michigan, we must take a slightly different approach. Front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, or four-wheel drive vehicles are regularly a necessity at the top of every parent's list. Additionally, vehicles with advanced safety technology like airbags and ABS prove essential to parents.

These parameters are sufficient for the eligibility of numerous exciting driverfocused vehicles. This list will focus solely on new vehicles. Remember, even though a vehicle is not on the list, it does not mean it isn't a fantastic first car.

Dodge Charger SXT and GT

Base price with AWD: $35,345

The Dodge Charger SXT and GT models combine the American muscle car's performance with the daily driver's capability and safety. Both variants are equipped with a V6, and the SXT and GT are the only models in the range that offer all-wheel drive. For an additional $3,095, you can equip blind-

spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, heated mirrors, heated front and rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. Pay $1,895 more for the Technology Group, adding automatic high beams, forward collision warning with full emergency braking, and rain-sensing windshield wipers.

Subaru WRX

Base price: $29,605

The Subaru WRX has ruled the rally circuit and the winter roads for nearly two decades. Subaru’s reliability and standard safety features make it a top choice for teens and families alike. With standard AWD and Subaru’s tried and true reliability there is not a better vehicle for teens. The WRXes are very accessible in the used market with five generations available on the road.

two championships each.

Finally, the United States needed to impress this year because there are many Spanish speakers in the country. In 2018, the United States was not able to win against Trinidad and Tobago to enter the contest. In 2014, the United States lost in the round of 16 against Belgium. Christian Pulisic and Weston McKinnie are two very popular players on the team. When McKinnie was playing for Juventus, he hurt his foot in February. Recently, McKinnie hurt his leg, but he was able to play in the World Cup. Pulisic plays for Chelsea, and the public says that he is like “Captain America.” The U.S. put on a show the entire tournament, especially with their victory against Iran and their ties against England and Wales. The team lost, however, in a heartbreaking 1-3 loss against Netherlands. But the success that the U.S. Soccer Team did have gives hope of a bright future. For now, fans around the world are very excited to continue watching the World Cup. For now, fans around the world are very excited to continue watching the World Cup.

Ford Bronco Sport Base price with AWD: $27,415

Toyota Tacoma

Base price with AWD: $30,325

The Toyota Tacoma is one of the most reliable vehicles on the market. The used car market is flooded with examples of Tacomas with over 200,000 miles on the odometer. The light-duty truck's safety and reliability make it desirable for a first car. For about $4,000 one could upgrade to one of the off-road variants. The Tacoma offers fantastic value for the money and will last well through college.

The Bronco Sport provides rugged capability with fantastic value. The Bronco Sport received the same harsh testing as its big brother, the Bronco. The Bronco nameplate has been a mainstay in the overlanding market for decades. With production on the earlier Bronco halting in the mid-90s, lifelong customers never thought they would see a Bronco again. However,

in 2019, Ford began to tease the idea. The Bronco Sport represents a perfect cross between the rugged, dependable Bronco and the road-going Ford Escape. With numerous options for safety and comfort available, the Bronco is a nobrainer. It received high praise for safety from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) (6/6), earning the Top Safety Pick Plus mark.

Important to note that the Bronco Sport is a very inexpensive vehicle to lease compared to its competitors.

Pop Culture Grid

Evan Haeger.

No Scrubs by TLC.

Julian Menser.

Sean

My entire Period 6.

Come on Eileen.

Welcome to the Jungle.

Anything Van Halen.

Angry Birds.

Devesh KC’s phone number.

A loot llama. Talladega Nights.

It’s a Wonderful Life.

For both my daughters to get off my payroll.

Argentina, Messi’s the GOAT.

Japan.

USA all the way.

Brazil.

The Tacoma

The Charger SXT (left) and GT (right)

The WRX

The Bronco Sport

Dominic Apap ‘24 Francis Toma ‘24

Johnathan Diaz ‘23 Luke Martin ‘23

Shamrocks Dominate Hartland in Wrestling Assembly

Hayden Sawka ‘25

The Catholic Central Wrestling team, ranked #1 in the state and #7 in the country, began their season last week with the annual assembly match against Hartland High School.

The Shamrocks crushed the Eagles with a dominant 47-15 victory. The score was high, but the energy in the gym was higher.

The next opponent for the Shamrocks is Davison High School on Wednesday, December 14. Davison is ranked #2 in the state of Michigan and are the twotime defending state champions.

As always, expectations are high for the Shamrocks, who have won eight state championships since Coach Hancock took the helm in 2007.

Leading the team this year are seniors Drew Heethuis (committed to Princeton), Clayton Jones, Dylan Gilcher (Michigan), Cam Adams, Christian Werner, TJ Bunn, and Steven Shellenberger.

Another grueling schedule awaits the wrestling team. Five schools from Michigan are ranked in the top-50 in the country.

This will make for some exciting matches in the foreseeable future. No doubt, the team will be battle tested when the postseason begins in February.

Hockey Overcomes Graduation Losses, Sets High Goals for This Season

Like their last two seasons, the CC varsity hockey team, led by captains Nate Gronzdieleski, Griffin Crampton, Ryan Wantuck, and Landon West, have been dominating from start to finish.

The team is outscoring their opponents 40-3 and contributing five goals per game. This dominance is especially impressive considering the team graduated many seniors following last year’s state title.

In their first game of the season, the Shamrocks defeated Hartland, the

reigning Division 2 state champs, with an assertive score of 7-1. The victory included seven different players contributing a goal.

Three games later, they matched up against archrival Brother Rice at USA Hockey Arena. As with all CC-Brother Rice matchups, the hype was through the roof. Both teams came into the game undefeated. Brother Rice held a 2-0 record, and CC held a 3-0 record.

The hype quickly dwindled, however, as CC went on to demolish the Warriors 6-2. West put up two goals, and four other players contributed a goal each.

Despite their successful start to the season, the team is driven to remain humble and determined.

“After a good team win, Coach Kal always likes to remind us that we still have practice the next day,” Crampton said.

Come playoff time, there will be very little margin for error for becoming Division 1 State Champs for the third time in a row. But Crampton and his teammates are unfazed.

“We will never truly be satisfied until every one of our goals is completed.”

Basketball Starts Season on the Road

After a busy offseason, Catholic Central looks to boost its offensive performance and make a run in this year’s postseason. After a deep run in the playoffs in 2022 that ended in a heartbreaking loss to Grand Blanc, captains Josh Ross, a senior, and TJ Nadeau, a junior, aim to build off of last year's momentum.

“We’ve been working really hard this off-season, and we’re absolutely fired up to play this year," Ross said at the winter sports assembly.

“Our team chemistry is absolutely through the roof right now, and we’re going to be very competitive this year,” he added.

CC kicked off their 2023 campaign with a thrilling road win against University Prep on December 6.

The Shamrocks built a large lead early, continuing their explosion in a physical second half, winning 80-63. The star of the night, junior Uchenna Amene, torched UPrep’s defense with four 3-pointers in the first four minutes of the game, leading to a 49-point masterclass. Multiple other Shamrocks contributed quality minutes in the statement win.

Talent does not appear to be the problem for this Shamrocks squad,

but they'll need to figure out how to overcome lost production. They lost three major contributors -- Chas Lewless (Detroit King), Kameron Mayes (Albion College), and Cooper Craggs (Oakland).

The next few weeks will reveal a lot

about this young Shamrock team, as the first five games of the season will be on the road.

Their home opener will be on January 3 against River Rouge. Certainly, the student section will be electric that night.

Swim & Dive enters the 2022-2023 season having ended last year with a record of 7-1.

The team is led by senior captains Logan Paxton and Luke Collias, who believe that last year’s youth will translate to great success this year.

“We were a really young team last year,” according to junior Luke Mychalowych. “We came in 8th out of 36 at D1 States, which isn’t ideal, but not bad considering how young we were.”

Collias agreed: “Although we didn’t quite achieve our goals, overall we were still proud of our performance as a team.”

Mychalowych was impressed by last year’s freshmen and anticipates that

the current freshman class will produce skilled swimmers, too.

Collias also expects a lot of success this year.

“We foresee this to be a great season winning Catholic Leagues and placing at States,” he said.

Indeed, Mychalowych is looking forward to the upcoming season, confident that the team will greatly improve on its times from last season.

“We’ll definitely have more state qualifiers,” he said. “I think we’ll move up the ranks this year and have the opportunity to be in the running for a team state champ title in the next two years.”

The first swim and dive meet is December 15 in Grand Rapids.

Mychalowych added, “We’re all looking forward to getting back in the water as a team.”

On the Slopes in January

Oliver Kammeraad

Photo by Hull

Francis Toma ‘24

Connor Foumia ‘25

Photo by Communications Dept.

Shamrock Nation watches as senior Dylan Gilcher works to secure a takedown against Hartland.

Wantuck skates up the ice in last year’s game against Cranbrook.

Photo by Maestro

Amene locks in before the UPrep matchup.

ATaleofAshandDecay

“Kyrios,” an excerpt

by Dominic Aiello ‘23

As we get closer, the clouds part, revealing the fortress beneath a crimson moon. The fortress itself is made of smooth, black rock with veins of silver running through it, and, despite its small appearance, continues underground and into the two mountains that it backs up to. Massive caves in the mountains are the nests of several dragons, which are thankfully asleep as we approach. I drop off onto the closest spire and turn to help Astara down.

After she drops onto the spire, the silver dragon that flew us here turns and flies off.

“You ready?” I glance towards Astara, one of the few people who knows the extent of this fortress, and one of the few who has the courage to attempt to break into it.

“Let’s just get this over with. I’d like to be done with this place,” she replies. I nod and slide down the spire, catching the lip and swinging down into the watchtower. Two guards rest on the opposite side of the tower, their breathing slow. I hear Astara land beside me, nearly silent, and begin sneaking past the pair of guards.

Once we’re out of the watchtower, I turn to check the surrounding area. The wall we’re on encloses a small

courtyard with doorways leading into the mountains. Soldiers lazily patrol the grounds, clearly not expecting an attack. “Where to now?

Kaeara wouldn’t keep it out in the open.”

“No, she wouldn’t. There’s a small treasure room off the side of the throne hall, if it’s anywhere, it’ll be there.”

Astara points to the far side of the courtyard, where a door leads into the northern mountain. Four guards patrol the door. I pull out my bow and aim.

“Careful, Kyrios. We don’t want any extra attention.”

Astara gestures to a horn around the hip of one of the guards. “That’s loud enough that it’ll be heard in the caves.”

“Which would lead to the dragons swarming.” I put my bow away and begin climbing down onto a rooftop. Astara follows, gracefully leaping from the roof to the grounds. None of the guards notice as she sneaks behind the one with the horn and grabs him.

He struggles as she pulls him away from the others. I take the opportunity to put an arrow in each of the three. Once the last one is taken care of, Astara grabs the horn and moves to the door. I follow.

Once inside, we move uninterrupted to the grand hall.

On the far side, the massive double doors leading to the throne room are guarded by three soldiers. Standing beside them is a sorceress dressed in blood-red leather armor.

“Not good,” Astara whispers. “We have to get her away from the door.” She pulls out a dagger. “Can you still go invisible?” I nod. “Good.” She turns around the corner and throws the dagger. It goes deceptively far, spanning the entire length of the hall. It hits the sorceress in the shoulder. As it does, I whisper the command word, turning myself invisible.

“When she rounds the corner, take out the guards,” Astara whispers. I sneak around the corner, moving behind a nearby pillar. As the sorceress moves past me, I hear a dragonsong. Shit I stop. Dragonsongs are a magical aura given off by the most powerful dragons, most of which have the ability to shapeshift. I hesitate before turning back to the guards. They’ve begun approaching, much slower than the sorceress. I pull out my sword, still invisible, and stab the closest one in the back. The other two turn to where their ally is now dead. I swing the blade, sending an arc of fire towards both of them. It stuns them, allowing me to cut them

both down.

Turning back to Astara, I see an explosion of fire as she is sent towards me. I catch her and help her to her feet. “You okay?”

“Yeah, run.” She turns towards the door.

The sorceress reappears from around the corner. “Traitor. I will deliver Kaeara your head.” Her body shifts and expands as dark green scales cover her body. Before us stands a massive green dragon, one of Kaeara’s followers. “You shall not leave this room alive.”

“Yeah, let’s go.” I turn back to the door and pull out a small gemstone. Uttering another word, I create a massive gust of wind and throw the doors open. As we enter the room, I turn to slam the doors shut. The dragon exhales an acidic gas as I slam the doors shut, too late. My arm burns as the acid begins to take effect.

“Kyrios.” Astara turns to me, then begins to try and find something to help with the acid.

“No.” I whisper a third command word. A small flame emerges from my hand. I run it across the acid, burning it away. My skin is still red, but the pain is gone. “Let’s get this done. Those doors won’t hold her forever.” I begin moving

towards the opposite end of the throne room. The door is locked, but made of metal. “Ignarius.” The door melts.

Inside, piles of gold and gems are stacked to the roof. Weapons and armor made of gold and silver, and magically enchanted are placed on pedestals. In the center, a small dais holding a seal made of woven roots hovers a couple feet above the ground.

“There it is.” Astara grabs the seal. Behind us, the doors to the throne room burst open as the dragon, along with several soldiers, swarm into the room. Behind them, Kaeara, in full plate armor, waves her hand. The soldiers clear a path for her as she steps forward.

“Well, I expected this from Kyrios, but I never thought you would betray me, Astara.” She looks at the hilt of my sword, and I catch her eyes go wide for a fraction of a second. “However, I am merciful. Hand over the seal and I’ll let you live.” I give a quick glance to Astara, who tosses me the seal.

“I don’t serve you anymore.” She pulls a longsword from her back, its crystal blade gleaming with a red hue, the same as her prosthesis. I pocket the seal and pull out my sword and dagger, then ready myself for the fight.