V24 I3 - March 8, 2024

Friday, March 8, 2024

The Student Newspaper of Greenhills School

Ten new courses offered for 2024-2025 school year Three new History and Social Sciences electives: Global Political PhiThe academic office has an- losophy, International Human Rights nounced the new courses for students Law and Diplomacy, and Rights, Justice, to choose from when creating their Law: the U.S. Supreme Court will be ofschedules for the 2024-2025 school fered during the upcoming school year. year. These new courses have been Psychology: Human Mind and Behavior in the works since this past August. will also resume after a year-long hiatus.

Next year’s new course offer“We wanted to do more globalings range from six academic depart- ly-focused electives because many of ments, covering the humanities, arts, our current offerings are American histoand science, technology, engineer- ry-focused, so we had students who want ing, and math (STEM). In the Math to continue their global social science edand Computer Science department, a ucation in mind,” History and Social Scinon-Advanced Placement (AP) cal- ences Department Chair Karin Scott said. culus course is going to be offered.

Global Political Philosophy will “ F o r explore the students who development took the tradiof various tional path and governmenended up in tal structures. precalculus as a “This will junior, we havbe a revamped en’t had a class version [of if they want to philosophy] keep exploring that focuses math but not on political have the presphilosophy in sure of an AP ancient Asia course,” Math and ancient Department Africa,” Scott Chair Nina said. “Students PARTY Dean of Academics Susan Beamish and registrar NaScheinberg ‘11 PLANNING talie Caramagno review the 2024-2025 course guide. “I myself, the de- will study how said. “We’ve partment chairs, and the teachers are really excited about these offer- g o v e r n m e n t s Beamish said. “When we were discussing them, we were saying, d e s i g n e d ings,” ‘I want to take that class,’. We hope that students are excited as well.” were made and this course destroyed, and for people who want to reach calcu- society’s role in all of that,” Scott said. lus but without the pressure of takRights, Justice, Law: the U.S. ing an AP test at the end of the year.” Supreme Court will focus on the judi The Science department cial branch, the role the supreme court will be offering one new semester-long plays in government and how landcourse for seniors: Organic Chemistry. mark cases can drive social change.

“We’ve been looking to International Human Rights Law add one semester courses, especially and Diplomacy will focus on the causfor seniors who have finished Advanced es and effects of the United Nations.

Research,” Science Department Chair “Students will look at the histoCatherine Renaud said. “Organic Chem- ry of human rights through many social istry is a course that lots of students will science lenses; history, political scisee in college if they’re going into sci- ence, law, and anthropology” Scott said. ence or medicine. This will provide ex- “They will talk about the events that posure to concepts so that they will be led to the idea of international human more straightforward and less stressful rights, stemming from the creation of when students see them a second time.”

Volume 24, Issue 3

EVA BERNSTIEN ‘25

the United Nations after World War II.” The English department will be offering two new senior seminars. Senior seminars are intended to mirror a first-year college humanities seminar.

“It’s a deep dive into something small after you’ve already taken three survey courses,” English Department Chair Monica Lewis said. “A lot of these courses are a labor of love.

They’re based on the specialties of what we know as instructors. We’re kind of in love with these topics. The generative nature of them and the fact that they started with passion makes them unique.”

The two new senior seminar offerings are English IV: Pirate Studies and English IV: Critically Reading Children’s Literature.

“English IV: Pirate Studies explores the idea of counterculture, why pirates exist, and how they interact with the status quo,” Lewis said. “English IV: Critically Reading Children’s Literature is going to focus on literary understandings, critical perspectives and trends related to middle-grade and young adult literature. Students will analyze what symbols and trends exist in children’s books, look at pieces that endure from generation to generation, and also at what’s fresh in children’s literature right now.”

The English department will also be offering a reboot of a course formally known as Interpreting the Novel, which was not run this year due to low enrollment numbers. The course will now be called English IV: Globalizing “Moby Dick” Then and Now, in an effort to clarify the content that will be covered in the course.

The Fine and Performing Arts department will be offering a new Textile and Fiber Arts course.

“With the addition of more visual arts faculty, we’ve been thinking of the larger picture of what we offer in terms of courses,” visual arts teacher Nicole Burroughs, who will be teaching the class and has a background in textile and fiber arts, said. “Textile or fiber arts has historically, at least in the time that I have been here, been missing from our curriculum, so I

A chocolate change

“My job is that I need to make come to the Chocolate Lounge. Sales sure everything is able to happen during committee co-chair Sophie Erb-Watthe Chocolate Lounge with no issues,” son ‘25 has made it her goal to raise as said Leahy. “I have to make sure we much money as possible for the event. have permission to use certain rooms and “I have been reaching out to parspaces as well as find teachers who will ents and asking for donations and also volunteer to trying help run the to use event and Greenwho want hills’ to get pied e-forum in the face.” to spread Getthe word ting a whole of the grade of event,” students to s a i d function toErb-Watgether and son. “It’s plan out a lot of the event CONFERENCE AND COLLABORATION Juniors on the Chocolate Loung planning commit- w o r k work together to create signs for the Chocolate Lounge. “The meetings are really helpis not easy tee but with ful because we can collaborate and pool all of our ideas together,” said Ishan Leahy ‘25. but event co-chair Meera Tew- my classmates’ support, I feel much ari’25 has been making it work. more confident in our final product.”

“We have had weekly meetings To meet the expected turnout with all the different committees to make of this year’s Chocolate Lounge, this sure everyone is accomplishing what years committee has worked hard to they need to and that we will be ready get the right amount of baked goods. for the event,” said Tewari. “I am look“Getting cupcakes and cakes ing forward to seeing what our grade in particular has been really challengcan do better than last year, and how our ing for us,” said Leahy. “Because we new activities will improve the event.” want everything to be homemade, it In order to raise the most mon- is hard to find parents and faculty who ey for the event the Juniors had to are able to make such a large quantity.” make sure that enough people would

Associate Editor Print

Students, faculty unveil plans for annual Chocolate Lounge TEDDY STAEBLER‘25 Sports Staff

Ever since its start, the Chocolate Lounge has been known for its baked goods and musical attractions, but this year, the junior class aims to take the event to new heights. The planning committee, made up of members of the class of 2025, came up with new ideas to hopefully increase turnout for the event. In past years the occasion had activities such as a bake sale, a jazz performance, and an auction, all of which will continue to occur despite new additions to this year’s event. This year’s Chocolate Lounge debuts new additions such as a cakewalk, a chocolate piñata, larger raffle prizes, and even a chance for students to pie their favorite teacher.

Even though the Chocolate Lounge is changing, its main goal remains to raise money for the Patrick ’98 and Elisa ’02 Savageau Memorial Endowment Fund and the Krystal Heitman Memorial Endowment, the two funds alternate years getting the profits from the Chocolate Lounge. This year’s initiative, the Savageau Memorial Endowment, was started by Patrick and Elisa Savageau after their son Patrick’s death and was also put

under their daughter Elisa’s name after she passed due to an illness. All proceeds from the chocolate lounge go towards supporting students who need help to participate in school and to honor the memories of Patrick and Elisa Savageau.

With such an important task needed to be done well, event facilitator Stephanie Miller ’86 credits the junior class for keeping the event fresh and well run.

“The juniors make the event exciting with their new visions and ideas, they really own it,” said Miller, who plans to sell raffle tickets at the Chocolate Lounge. “ It’s only my second year being a part of the event but I can already see the amount of commitment all the students put into the process.”

While every junior plays their part, the task of planning the event belongs to the logistics committee where the students work to make sure everything is accounted for. Whether it be planning decorations and deciding which rooms to use or getting the right amount of food, the logistics committee will take care of it. Logistics committee cochair Ishan Leahy ’25 said he has spent his time sending an extensive amount of emails in preparation for the event.

wrote up a proposal suggesting that we add this class in as a course that will alternate each year with Introduction to Art.” This decision was made because students tend to take Introduction to Art one time, so the addition of a new course would expand the department’s programming for students. The class will dive into the history of textile arts as well as examine contemporary artists.

The Wellness department will be offering one new elective: Recreational Sports, and is rebranding Lifetime Fitness to now be called Strength and Conditioning.

“We added Recreational Sports so that we could offer a sports-focused elective for students,” Wellness Department Chair Katie Kukulski said. “Students will have the opportunity to play both team and individual sports like basketball or tennis.”

Some scheduling adjustments will also be made to pre-existing courses. The upper school health requirement is now going to be for tenth grade to allow ninth-graders an extra semester to choose an elective of their choice. Because of this, Yoga and Mindfulness will now be open to ninth-graders. Courses with high enrollment numbers, like Campaigns and Elections and Mathematical Approaches to Critical Thinking are going to be offered in both semesters.

Adjustments like these are made from looking at past enrollment numbers, with more similar classes to existing popular ones being offered, and less popular classes potentially being switched out.

“To me, the new courses fall into two buckets,” Beamish said. “We want to make sure that we are providing a range of classes for every student and not just adding advanced, super intense classes. The other piece is that, particularly with English and history electives, we’re mindful of what’s happening in the world and what students are interested in, and so we’re trying to make sure that we provide electives that students will find relevant. I hope that students see that we’re thinking about their interests and trying to make sure that the course offerings provide them with a good ex-

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MARCH 8, 2024

Editors celebrate new classes, ask for more practicality All of the classes that are being added for next year, of them, every single one, is an improvement on the catalog. Every one fills a need, serves a purpose, and makes this school better. We need non-AP calculus because learning isn’t just about a test. We need globally oriented-history and politics courses because we are part of a global community, not just an American one. We need to study pirates because– pirates are important we guess?

So every critique we make is only because perfection is unattainable, but that doesn’t stop us from trying. The new classes are different from the ones we need. Ask anyone what classes we need. They won’t say organic chemistry, “sports,” or fiber arts; they’ll say life skills. A year-long required course as seniors in which you learn basic skills for when you go off to college and are on your own.

Skills such as cooking, changing a tire, filing taxes, survival skills, how to deal with an accident (if you get in one), fixing holes in clothing (sewing), and first-aid. We do a very good job of investing in our brains, but not a very good job of making sure our floating heads can tie the shoes that’ll get them to work in the morning.

We need classes that teach us how to do things. Life skills to ease the transition to college and beyond. Shop class so we can

build the reality that other classes merely help us imagine. We need to learn about what’s going on in the world right now, not just world history, so that we can participate in the systems, political, financial, or otherwise, that will shape our lives.

In short, we need to be prepared for life once we leave academia.

We’re not saying that there shouldn’t be a place for the fun or frivolous in school, but before we add more of the same we need some

ANA FLEMMING

ANIKA BERY

ANJAN SINGER

ANATOMY

PHYSICS

CERAMICS

“Anatomy

because

“Advanced

Physics

“There is no other class

the class is really en-

because it was a chal-

that teaches you how to

gaging and interac-

lenge but you could

overcome

tive. We got to make

still see how what we

and develop self-effica-

3D clay models of the

were learning could be

cy in the way Ceramics

human body which

applied outside of the

does.”

was so fun! If you are

classroom. ”

challenges

fundamental life skills. We understand many of these classes are what students want to focus on after high school and in college, and that’s great, there will be time for that, but right now it’s half done.

If you don’t think the calculus that the College Board wants you to teach is important don’t teach it. We hate them as much as anybody. Teachers should be able to teach the subjects that will be useful and exciting. But it can’t just be about not wanting to take a test,

DOMINIC SCHUSTER

LACHLAN RAE

FINANCIAL

MATTHEW STREICHER

CAMPAIGNS &

APPLICATIONS

JOURNALISM

ELECTIONS

“Campaign and Elections is a very fun class where you get to learn about events occurring in the world and the politics behind them.”

interested in science

because the truth is we’re going to have to take tests after we leave here.

If you think that the science that is taught at this school is insufficient, teach something else. Modern physics has done so to great effect. But adding more sciences can’t just be about looking good on a transcript, we will have time for that. It should be about learning all the amazing huge little things that we don’t have time to cover in survey courses.

If you don’t think we learn enough about global history and politics, teach it. But it can’t just be another half-baked Global Perspectives class that promises too much over too much time and delivers very little of it. Teach the global history that is important to us right now. About the Middle East, and Russia, and China, and how politics became what it is today, not how it became what it was thousands of years ago.

We could go on, but the point is we are moving in the right direction, towards interesting, important, necessary skills, but we need to remember not to stop halfway; not to let improvement let us forget the big picture. We need to be better prepared with basic life skills, better prepared to do things with our hands, and better prepared for the science and history that await us in the real world. We’re getting closer, but we’re not there yet.

“I suggest taking Financial Applications. It’s an interesting class and it’s important for you after high school. I’m grateful for taking the class.”

“Journalism has been one of my favorite classes I’ve ever taken here, I highly recommend it to anyone even if you aren’t that interested in the idea.”

NICOLE ZHONG TEXTPOSITION “Textposition is a class that will blow your mind. It takes the things that you think you know concretely, like how to read, and completely turns it upside down.”

but don’t want to do AP Bio, anatomy and physiology is a great choice.”

Fiddling while Washington burns Trump, Biden and civic duty in 2024 ANJAN SINGER ‘24 Politics is depressing, repetitive, and signals the end of humanity as we know it. It’s dispiriting, ineffective, and thoroughly (un) American. It’s disingenuous, and phony, and frankly I can see why most people, especially young people, don’t care about it.

It’s also what we have. We can sit here all day and watch Weekend Update, laugh at the stupidity of it all, and wish for a better system while the world burns outside, it won’t change the fact that we are the ones falling asleep at the wheel.

Our generation has a duty not simply to act as stewards, not just to wait our turn, but to rebuild the America that is failing us; that we are failing.

It’s not just us, not just kids, who are letting this happen. Our society is lethargic and tired from long years of fighting. The few political figures that excite us are not messiahs but demons that not only refuse to end but promise to add atop years of abuse by the political system in this country and beyond. They promise not to bring us together, but divide us further, on every side of every aisle.

This year we will be presented not with a reckoning, but an ultimatum. On every ballot in every gym, library, and fire station we will be presented with a choice: to accept mediocrity, the first step on the muddy path to the top of the mountain, or sink to our knees and die here.

But of course most of us won’t make that choice.

Most won’t be able to. Many will want to with every fiber of their beings, to have a say in their future. But some simply won’t care enough to show up.

This year’s presidential election won’t turnout among college-educated suburbanites be won in Texas, or California, or Ohio. It’ll be and in Southeast Michigan, that’s it. That’s the won in Georgia, and Pennsylvania, and Mich- election. That’s the presidency. Right here. In igan. And even here it won’t be won’t be won Michigan’s hands. in some lofty office up in Lansing, it’ll be won We have a megaphone. Trump won in the minds of young people, it’ll b e Michigan in 2016 by less than 10,000 votes. Our won or lost by us. little hand-shaped state is a lot bigger than we Trump won Michithink. Our hundred-something student votes gan in 2016. Biden won are a lot bigger than we think.

Michigan in 2020. The So we have a duty. A duty to exercise way Michigan voted in every right with which we are endowed to 2020 (by percentfight against the terrible fate that awaits us. age breakdown) A duty to at least go down swinging. was closest of

We have a duty to all the states not throw away our votes, to mirror the to not let apathy get to us, way the counto not pretend that we don’t try voted as a matter, because we do. Biden or whole.

When Trump, I hate it as much as anyone, Michigan got but those are your choices. Writing energized about “ceasefire” on your ballot is the easy abortion with Prop 3 way out. Voting No Labels or Robert in 2022,the country F. Kennedy Jr. is the easy way out. followed. When Throwing away your vote is the Michigan easy way out. It’s not noble, it’s looks at not bucking the establishment. itself The establishment won’t noin the tice. Choose, not because miryou want to, but because this ror, it’s country needs you too.

Graphic by Nicole Zhong ‘24 lookIf you won’t do it for yourself, ing at America. if you won’t do it for all of us, do When Michigan shows up the country it for our founding fathers, for Susan B. Anthony, listens. for Martin Luther King Jr. Do it for those who If Biden loses a couple thousand votes give their lives for our right to hear and be heard, in Ann Arbor and Dearborn, that’s it. If he los- to educate ourselves, to vote, knowing that we es the Arab-American vote, that’s it. If he loses will never know their names.

So I demand nothing but for all of us to hold up our end of the bargain.

Educate yourself.

Participate.

Vote.

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor, Print Managing Editor, Online School Editor School Staff School Staff School Staff School Staff Opinion Editor Lifestyles Editor Lifestyles Staff Lifestyles Staff Lifestyles Staff Lifestyles Staff Sports Editor Lead Sports Reporter Sports Staff Sports Staff Sports Staff Advisor

Anjan Singer ‘24 Eva Bernstein ‘25 Dhruv Nallamothu ‘25 Izzy Baru ‘25 Sam Siegel ‘25 Mira Jayaraman ‘26 Arya Prabhakar ‘26 Lauren Ye ‘26 Lachlan Rae ‘24 Nicole Zhong ‘24 Anika Bery ‘24 Ana Flemming ‘24 Zara Mian ‘25 Manya Tijoriwala ‘26 Dominic Schuster ‘24 Mathew Streicher ‘24 Teddy Staebler ‘25 Violet Weizer ‘25 Hugo Andre ‘26 John Lund

Alcove is a newspaper written by students, for the students of Greenhills School. All opinions, views, and statements reflect those of the students working on Alcove and not necessarily the faculty and staff of Greenhills. Alcove is written to inform, encourage, and expand upon the curiosity of the students that Greenhills strives to cultivate. Providing a forum for students to express their individuality, the Alcove reminds you to always read the pine print.

MARCH 8, 2024

PAGE 3

A helping hand

First-year club gets boost from alum TEDDY STAEBLER ‘25 er peers step up and also grow the fund in the future,” said Magnus. lard ‘25 competed in both the Ithaca and Wharton competitions.

“This is an opportunity for anyone to take advantage of. Most of our “At first, I was a bit confused about how to navigate my Sports Staff club members have never had this amount of money to invest and I portfolio and read the stock market,” said Rouillard. “After a bit Not many clubs get support from alumni much less a of practice, however, I started to get the hang of $10,000 donation. As first-year club founders, it. It’s super cool that I can use the tools I learned Kabir Rajendra ‘25 and Ben Magnus ‘25 did from the online competitions and apply them to not expect their club to have instant success. real-life situations. I was not one bit expecting to The pair formed Finance Club to share their be able to apply my knowledge but here I am.” passion with the community and display their

If the club wins big in the stock market the expansive knowledge of all things finance. A leaders have a plan of how they will use the money. typical day within the club consists of cov “We would use some profits from ering upcoming competitions, teaching memthe fund for school improvements,” said Magbers about the stock market, and analyzing the nus.

“They gave us this opportunity so it’s trends of stocks. In the first semester, memonly fair we return the favor to our commubers of the club took on multiple online comnity.

There are so many things students competitions in which competitors invested in plain about and knowing that I might have the stocks to create an online portfolio and expepower to fix that feels good.

We would also use rienced the ups and downs of the stock marsome of the profits to help improve the club.” ket. In two online competitions, Wharton and

The club recently finished drafting their Ithaca, Magnus, and Rajendra each held portbylaws which will ensure that in the future the folios in the top 10 among thousands of commoney will be handled ethically and in an orgapetitors. After the club’s immense success, nized manner. Moving forward, Magnus and Rafaculty sponsor Eric Gajar revealed that alumjendra hope to bring in guest speakers to educate nus Robert Wang ‘04 had donated $10,000 to the class from the Ross School of Business at the help start Greenhills’ first-ever hedge fund.

University of Michigan among other institutions.

“He mainly did projects for college

“We hope that bringing in speakers exgroups but decided that with the way the club perienced in the field will spark more interest in was progressing, investing in his alma manot just members of our club but the whole comter would be the right decision,” said Gajar. munity,” said Rajendra.

“The more Magnus and Rajendra were extremepeople we have in our club the better GENERATION TO GENERATION Finance club brought in a guest speaker, Rupeesh ly surprised at the news. The thought of real and the more people we have helpmoney being on the table never came close to Agarwal, who was a part of the first student-led fund at Michigan Ross and now works their heads. Having only led a club for one se- in investor relations for Xcel Energy, to talk about his experiences managing a fund and to ing with our portfolio the better.”

Gajar agrees and exmester neither could have seen this coming. share his knowledge in finance. “It was great to have someone so experienced in their field pects to see more activity and engage“This was a really cool opportucome and talk to the club and answer any questions members had,” said Ben Magnus ‘25. ment within the club. nity for us to have,” said Rajendra. “We “As the club founded this club not expecting much so g r o w s i t it was really exciting to be able to have something of this think they could learn many valuable lessons from it.” will create more magnitude happen. In the first semester, we only used Members of the club were e x - buzz and more fake money to invest, but now we get to use tremely excited to hear that they a n d more stureal money. It’s a whole different world.” could pitch in to a dents will join,”

portfolio w i t h said Gajar.

“Hopeful A s r e a l money.

The ly it continues to grow, and stumuch as the pair whole first semesdents will get more opportunities like the i s eager to use the ter members of the club ones brought upon by Wang’s generous donation.” fund to its fullest capah a d used fake money to invest and bility, they would also like to see n o n e of them had expected to be able to use other members of the club help with the portfolio. real money.

Just as Magnus and Rajendra did, Etienne Rouil“We hope to grow the fund and have our young-

Clubs launch into competition

Graphics by Megan Peng ‘25

Navigating through challenges and triumphs as competition season begins ARYA PRABHAKAR ‘26 School Staff

ROBOTICS

ETHICS

GEARING UP FOR COMPETITION The Robotics team creates a new robot for their upcoming competition. “We have field pieces built, which are actually in the lunchroom, in the tent, there’s a big wooden structure hidden by a tarp, which is part of the field for the robotic season,” said Sameer Kheterpal ‘26.

NAVIGATING THE MORAL MAZE Ethics Club is preparing to participate in the 10th Michigan State Ethics Bowl.

With the event being hosted at Greenhills for the second consecutive year.

Last semester the middle school team kicked off robotics season by competing in the FTC season. The eighth grade team went to states through the impact award for work they did in the community, including helping with service day and summer robotics camps.

Their success, rooted in community impact, set the stage for a new high school chapter.

The transition to the high school season brought about the unveiling of FRC 2024’s Crescendo challenge. Sameer Kheterpal ‘26 robotics team member describes their progress.

“We’re working on making the main parts. We are still in the beginning of the build season, competitions are still quite a few weeks out,” said Kheterpal.

The team, now in the advanced prototype phase, after working on a new system over the summer have begun the robot preparation. Kheterpal shares his insights on the new driving system.

“We’re using the swerve drive this year for driving, which is a fancy way you can drive in not just forward or backward and turning, like before,” said Kheterpal.

When competing, Ethics Club faces scenarios filled with various moral dilemmas.

Club leaders have been applying different strategies to help members reach a consensus on cases “We have two exponential leaders Charley Platt ‘24 and Anjan Singer ‘24, who have been diligently guiding the club through the various cases, applying various ethical frameworks,” said Randolph. “We’re working on what we would call table strategies, ways of being most efficient and to make the best possible ethical case, which is the beauty of the bowl is you’re not trying to defeat an argument, you’re trying to extend it to achieve the highest good.”

In the upcoming Ethics Bowl, Randolph said the club’s ambition is to qualify for Nationals.

“The Ethics Bowl tends to focus on the single competition which qualifies a Michigan team to then compete in one regional and then go on to the Nationals,” said Randolph. “We have done that three times but the third time we won was during COVID where they canceled the bowl. I’m hoping that we’ll get a chance to go back to the Nationals and Chapel Hill, North Carolina again.”

FORENSICS

MODEL UN

COMPETITIVE VOICES BUILDING TOMORROW’S LEADERS With their first competition on Feb. 10, th Foren- Nations United at the MUNUM conference, delsics club , continues to work on their strategy. egates from each nation navigate international relations and diplomacy.“Conferences are The Forensics team, the previous state really fun,” Ethan Hess ‘26. “I enjoy being able chamipions, prepare to take on States to hopefully repeat their title this year. With the hope of multiple to meet new people and engage in debates.” people placing, forensics coach Ben Bellamy, continues to provide the club with a readiness strategy.

“The whole team is required to be competition ready a couple days before,” said Bellamy. “If they’ve got a script or a speech that they’re giving, it has to be memorized, blocked, and ready to perform in front of peers.”

In Forensics there are multifaceted aspects of preparation, ranging from scripted performances to impromptu challenges, requiring a lot of practice.

“There’s some people in an event where they get a prompt and are required to respond live, so they don’t have something prepared in advance,” said Bellamy. “They’ve been p u t - ting the practice work in so that they’re ready to do that.”

After their first competition Forensics has four more invitationals before Regionals and States which take place in April and May. “Before Regionals the team will get cut down based on how people have performed throughout the season,” said Bellamy. “After that we will create our State Finals team.”

After the MUNUM (Model United Nations of University of Michigan) and CASC (Canadian-American Security Councils) conferences, Model UN prepares to take on their last conference of the year, SIMUN XXII (​​Saint Ignatius Model United Nations), in Lansing Michigan. Members from the Model UN club secured awards at various conferences, this includes Nicole Zhong ‘24 for the best delegate.

Club member Ethan Hess ‘26 explains how they prepare for these conferences during their weekly meetings.

“During these meetings we talk about the general format of what the committee is and how to write resolutions,” said Hess.

“Then we have the e-board members who are always there to help write papers and such.’’

The club’s approach emphasizes the value placedon individual and group growth and support.

“Compared to ours, some schools have more structured Model UN clubs than we do, but I think what we have works well,” said Hess. “It’s a lot of independent research and then advice from the e-board who come talk to us at meetings. I think it’s a great environment and a fun experience.”

Photos coutsey Katherine Vane, Dhruv Nallamothu‘25, and Arya Prabhakar ‘26

PAGE 4

MARCH 8, 2024

Poll of students, faculty predicts “Oppenheimer” Oscars win

MARCH 8, 2024

“Barbie,” “Killers of the Flower Moon” runners up in poll of 100 students, teachers Best Picture: “Oppenheimer” (41 percent of votes)

Best Actress: Emma Stone (“Poor Things”) (57 percent of votes)

Best Actor: Cillian Murphy (“Oppenheimer”) (85 percent of votes)

Best Original Song: “What Was I Made For?” [From the Motion Picture “Barbie”] (Billie Eilish, FINNEAS) (59 percent of votes)

Biggest Snub: Greta Gerwig did not get nominated for Best Director (50 percent of votes)

Kirtan Palapattu ‘27 “‘Oppenheimer’ should win an Oscar because the acting, writing, and seriousness of the film displays how intense the events that took place actually were. All of the scenes where they were constructing the bomb were really cool. It was my favorite movie that I saw in 2023 and Cillian Murphy did a really great job.”

Anjali Brahmasandra ‘25 “Emma Stone will win an Oscar this year. She was amazing in ‘La La Land’ and it won her an Oscar in 2017. I think that ‘Poor Things’ is the best movie that she’s made since then and one of the best in her career. As a person, she’s really good at singing and acting, especially doing both at the same time very well, and the chemistry that she has with her co-stars is also really good, both on and off-screen.”

Ajay Purohit ‘26 “Cillian Murphy is a really robust and dynamic actor. In ‘Oppenheimer’ especially, his performance highlighted how cerebral acting really is. He’s inspired me to want to go into acting. I appreciate a lot of his scenes and I think that he did a phenomenal job of implementing a multifaceted approach into his acting in ‘Oppenheimer’.”

Inaaya Nazmeen ‘24 “‘What Was I Made For?’ should win an Oscar because it represents how we are all trying to find ourselves and how we keep on growing. It’s a song that you can relate to at any point in your life because you’re always trying to figure out what you want to do and what you want to be.

‘What Was I Made For?’ encapsulates that feeling of the teenage experience and girlhood.”

English teacher Kelly Williams “Greta Gerwig should have been nominated for best director because ‘Barbie’ is an extraordinary achievement. One of the things that she has done as a director is really focus on telling womens’ stories, and often the films and directors that are nominated don’t center around womens’ lives and stories. I worry that people didn’t like ‘Barbie’ or vote for Gerwig for Best Director because ‘Barbie’ seems like it’s just pink and frivolous on the surface but it is far more profound than that. One of her talents is turning things that seem very mundane, like in ‘Little Women’, ‘Lady Bird’, or ‘Barbie’, into being very profound.”

Oscars poll: the full results This black square is a visual representation of 100 votes.

The colors of the other squares correspond with Oscars nomin- ation catagories and the size of each square represents that

nomination or nominee’s share of votes.

“If never went away” 4 percent of votes “poor things” 4 percent of votes

emma stone 57 percent of votes

“what was i made for?”

4 percent of votes

paul giamatti 6 percent of votes “The fire inside” 2 percent of votes “anatomy of a fall” 4 percent of votes

“I’m Just ken” 32 percent of votes

annete bening 5 percent of votes

“barbie” 37 percent of votes bradley cooper 7 percent of votes

Margot robbie did not get nominated for Best Actrees for her work in “Barbie” 5 percent of votes sandra huller 5 percent of votes

“killers of the flower moon” 9 percent of votes

“oppenheimer” 41 percent of votes

colman domingo 1 percent of votes

“Barbie” wasn’t snubbed

ANIKA BERY ‘24 Lifestyles Staff

This summer “Barbie” took movie theaters in a storm of pink and glitter. The movie broke the record for the highest-grossing movie directed solely by a woman, surpassing 2017’s “Wonder Woman”, and has made $1 billion in global ticket sales. Many movie goers dressed up in Barbie themed outfits and seemed to have a great time. I thought it was amazing.

After its smashing success, “Barbie” received eight Oscar nominations. Including a nomination for best picture. Even so, this was not enough for the movie’s fans. Fans who follow the Oscars are in uproar that Greta Gerwig was not nominated for Best Director and Margot Robbie was not nominated for Best Actress. Despite numerous claims of snubbing, Gerwig and Robbie were not completely erased from the 2024 Academy Awards. Gerwig received a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay and Robbie received a nomination for Best Picture.

Barbie is a cultural icon, but she’s not a character that really did anything major. Movies like “I, Tonya” exemplify Margot Robbie’s talent and skill as an actress, but Barbie does not. In “I, Tonya”, Robbie’s performance was praised for its depth, complexity, and the way she brought the ice skater Tonya Harding’s story to life on screen. Robbie captured the nuances of Harding’s character and even underwent physical training to perform the difficult skating scenes herself, demonstrating her commitment to the character and the film. In “Barbie”, Robbie did not have to use half of her skills to portray the doll.

Robbie already looks just like “Barbie”, and while “Barbie” told us all an important message about fem-

jeffrey wright 1 percent of votes Leonardo dicaptrio did not get nominated for his work in “Killers of the flower moon” Greta gerwig did not 4 percent of votes get nominated for best director for her work “Wahzhazhe” on “Barbie” 4 percent of votes 50 percent of votes carey mulligan 7 percent of votes

Poll conducted and briefs compiled by Eva Bernstein ‘25

inism, the doll’s discoveries and ultimate revelation wasn’t exactly complicated.

Similarly to Robbie, “Barbie” was not Gerwig’s most complicated movie that she has ever directe d . Gerwig’s most popul a r movies focus

o n complex h u m a n emotions and relationships, as can be seen in “LadyBird” and “Little Women”, her other two biggest hits. While “Barbie” spoke to the feelings of millions of girls and women, it didn’t happen in a

lily gladstone 29 percent of votes

way that was natural or anything like real life, as it does in her other films. Gerwig was previously nominated for best director for “LadyBird”, a movie that was realistically much more relatable than “Barbie” ever could be. “Barbie” was flamboyant and loudly declarative, but it did not contain the subtlety characteristic of Gerwig’s other films. Gerwig’s groundbreaking film was recognized through its nomination for best adaptive screenplay. Gerwig should definitely be acclaimed further for being the first solo woman director of a billion-dollar grossing film, but that accolade is not going to come from the Academy.

A few women who made history at this year’s oscar nominations were America Ferrera as the first actress of Hondruan descent for Best Supporting Actress, in “Barbie”, Lily Gladstone as the first Native American nominated for Best Actress for her role as Mollie Burkhart in “Killers of the Flower Moon”, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph was nominated for her role in “The Holdovers”. In total, one third of Oscar nominations this year were women, a higher portion than the previous three years.

So while the academy has a ways to go regarding inclusivity, it is not true that the women who have made some of the biggest impacts in the filmmaking industry were robbed of awards.

There is a huge, underserved market for entertainment that takes the feelings of girls and women seriously. “Barbie” was a cultural event and a revolutionary movie on business and social scenes. Women

should continue roes, Babrie spected.

Barbie truly symbol creativpotenwho

cillian murphy 85 percent of votes to insist that their heincluded, are reSo let’s celebrate for what she is: a timeless of imagination, ity, and endless tial. After all, needs an Oscar when you’re already an icon?

Recent alum writes, sings, releases single with record label

PAGE 5

NICOLE ZHONG ‘24 music and language. At eight, she completed her first show at with.”

Lifestlyes Editor the local Marquis Theatre in Northville, and from there she McGow understands that not only

For Devyn McGow ’23, the lifelong dream of be- did 15 shows with them.” can people resonate with the song’s lyrics, but also coming a studio recording artist came true with an unexpected For “Dear Society” in particular, McGow elaborated on her dreams of becoming a singer. For those aspiring students, interaction. how the songwriting process stood out to her compared to she had some advice.

“It’s actually a crazy story,” McGow said, “I was other songs she had written before. The song hints at many “Just say yes to things,” said McGow. “Try things walking on campus different situations, such as monitoring weight, out and do things. Even though I’m not studying music for one day and there was losing family, and mental health. my major, I take really this guy performing “The day I wrote the song was cool classes that relate in front of the Union. very healing. There was just so much to film and the music He was really good I wanted to process and so much I industry, and I attend and so after his set, wanted to say,” said McGow. “These campus music events I walked up to him weren’t really topics people were all of the time. The and began a convertalking about in a high school envimusic industry is so sation about music. ronment, so when I wrote this song difficult to break into, I found out that he at sixteen, I was in a really different and if it’s something was considered for a place. The lyric ‘I learned how to you love, go for it.

Grammy in 2023. He live when you just want to give up’ Even if it starts out as asked me what music is my favorite because I see it as a just a few close friends I do, and I replied that grounding point – it sends out a messupporting you, you I’m also a songwriter. sage of ‘I got through this, and you never know the impact SINGING FROM THE HEART McGow records the song in you can have unless He asked me to send BEYOND THE BEDROOM Devyn McGow ‘23 posing in the re- can too.’” him something, so I cording booth that became a second home. For McGow, being Patrick was aware of the song’s the studio with professional equipment. Although the song you try.” in a “legit” studio was a surreal experience. “Stepping in for the came together quickly, McGow had worries about the maemailed him a demo commentary on society, especially Patrick first time, I fully understood that this isn’t my bedroom, this isn’t terial itself. “Releasing it for the world would mean outof ‘Dear Society.’ me with a microphone and a panel – this is a real experience.” the influence that social media has side reactions, and there were times when I’d get super attributes her successHe emailed me right on teenagers today. in my head about it, with it being my first single and all.” ful release to her devoback writing ‘we need to get you into the studio and record “It’s pretty deep, which is how Devyn tion to her dreams. this.’” McGow beamed as she recounted the memory. “It was rolls,” said her father. “Images of people can make anybody “She had the initiative to go and meet these recording definitely the right time and right place, but I was prepared for feel bad abou people, drive to Indianapolis to record the music, and go from it.” themselves, especially teenagers growing up. Her song has having a good song to signing and releasing something as an

As for the actual recording of the song, McGow a powerful message that so many can and have resonated artist,” said her father. “That follow through is something that stressed the difference between self-releasing compared to a lot of eighteen year olds may not have.” working with a label.

Donna also stressed McGow’s drive to pursue music

“It was an incredible experience. I worked with Andespite being a teenager. drew Young and Alan Johnson, who are both incredible peo “A lot of people are musical, but she had the initiaple with incredible stories,” said McGow. “The first time I met tive to go walk up to someone and begin a conversation on with Andrew and walked into the studio, I felt tears welling up music,” said Donna. “She has managed everything along the in my eyes. It was a legit studio.” way and that’s quite impressive being a college student.”

Although this experience came from a spontaneous

Despite being a freshman in college, McGow is alconnection, McGow’s parents always had a hunch that Mcready working on her next musical single.

Gow would become a professional songwriter, or at the very

“I’m going to be working with John Mellencamp’s least, always love the stage. band,” said McGow. “It’s going to be very different from

“She has always been a musical performer – at two ‘Dear Society’ and definitely more like a self-empowerment years old she would start to make up songs on the piano,” Mcsituation.”

Gow’s mother, Donna McGow said. “I still have her first song

However, McGow said that one thing will never from when she was four, saved on a piece of paper. I think it change about her songwriting. was about how the trees were green and the sky was blue, and

“I write my music for myself to process, but I release how everyone should love each other.” it for everyone to connect with. You have no idea who may

McGow’s father, Patrick McGow, elaborated on how connect with your message,” said McGow. UNEARTHING THE PROCESS McGow poses for concept phoneither of the parents were musical performers. tos. “Signing with a label meant getting the full experience. I could

“That was totally her thing,” said Patrick. “From a feel my dreams getting more and more real, and I was so grateful.”

Photos courtesy of Devyn McGow ‘23 very young age, she always had a very natural connection to

Sophomore produces poetry in the form of music

MANYA TIJORIWALA ‘26

Vivekanand has always been interested in perform- DaSilva. “It was the most insane thing I’ve ever seen. I’ve Lifestyles Staff ing music, been playing the piano for like eight years, and he was just im Sitting in a dark room, harmony flowing through playing instruments in elementary talent shows and showcas- mediately up to that skill. He’s very geared to what he likes to your mind. Song and emotion expressing the inexpressible, es. In recent years, he has become more inclined to composing do, and he has branched out to working digitally and actually the feeling of rhythm coursing through your veins. Experienc- and releasing his own music. producing songs.” ing an entire lifetime of emotion in just three to four minutes.

“Eighth grade is when I started recording music, Now Vivekanand is working on releasing a new alMusic is everywhere and in everything, especially for and then I started teaching bum in the upcoming couple of weeks, drawing inspiration Rykken Vivekanand ‘26 who started his everlasting pasmyself music production,” from many different and powerful artists. sion for music at a preschool show and tell circle. said Vivekanand. “I think “I think I’ve been trying to find my sound, and I think

Vivekanand plays a vast array of instruments, writing songs out of emo- I’ve landed on it with this next album that’s coming out soon,” including the piano, ukulele, bass, and guitar. He started tion and letting my feel- Vivekanand said. “This sound that I’ve been able to kind of playing the ukulele when he was five years old, which ings kind of guide how that manifest in a way, has come from me listening to music, but was his first introduction to music, song shapes and morphs mostly from what makes me feel. When I listen to Radiohead, sparking his flourishing interest in into what it becomes.”

Lizzy McAlpine, Billie Eilish, or people such as that, I feel the art.

Singing and dis- a very specific set of emotions that I’m able to draw from to

“In the second year tributing lyrics comes with create my own music, and it ends up sounding similar to those of preschool, this girl difficulty, particularly for people because those are my inspirations.” named Quinn did a Rykken, who says that it Vivekanand’s mother and published author, Jennifer little show and tell, was originally hard for him Vivekanand is a huge supporter and enthusiast of her son’s and she played ukuleto share his tunes with oth- music. le for all of us,” said er people.

“He’s been in a lot of creative things. He’s a creative Vi v e k a n a d .

“I was like, ‘wow, that

“I hated the kid,” said Jennifer, “He did a piano recital at the Saline Music is really cool, I want t o way I sounded back then center, and it was music that he wrote and composed all on his learn ukulele.’ So I in eighth grade, and I own. His music teacher got up and said that he was really began taking didn’t show anyone my sophisticated for his age and also that he wrote everything ukurecordings,” himself. I just remember looking CENTER STAGE Rykken Vivekanand ‘26 caplele lesVi v e k a n a n d around and the reaction tures the crowd with during a performance. “I said.

“But at the of the other parents, and love creating and performing music,” Vivekanand end of eighth I felt really proud said, “I feel a very specific set of emotions he had done all that I’m able to draw from on stage.” grade, the beginning of ninth that work himgrade, is when I reached a point where I wanted self.” to start distributing this music. I needed to get

Music over this anxiety of other people hearing my is and always will singing. Honestly, that was exposure therabe an integral part py where anyone who would listen, I’d be of Vivekanand’s like, ‘listen to my music.’ So now I don’t life. Whether or care, I really don’t care if someone hears my not he chooses to voice.” pursue it in the fu The process of drafting new music ture, it is bound is different for everyone, but for Vivekanand, to always hold a it is less like a chore and more like a hobby. special place in

“Whenever I feel sad, or I have

his heart. this emotion or something, I try and capture “My entire life there’s always it in a song,” said Vivekanand. “I’ve been IN THE MOMENT Vivekanand gets lost in the music while playing been music doing that a lot lately. In the last couple of the piano. “Piano is probably the most expressive instrument,” said and at months, I’ve probably written 30 to 40 songs. Vivekanand. “Nothing conveys what I feel like the keys that I play.” every moment It’s crazy how cathartic it is for me, and I there’s music think that’s what really drives me. I want to share my in my head,” said Vivekanand. “Sometimes I can’t sleep at message, and I don’t know what it is yet, but I’m finding night because there are songs in my head, it.” some exist, some do not, and I don’t think that’s going away

Alexandra DaSilva ‘26, a friend of Vivekanand, says anytime soon, so even if I don’t pursue music it’s not going he has an immense talent for songwriting and as an instru- anywhere.” mentalist. sons.”

“He learned how to play the piano in a year,” said

Graphics courtesy of Megan Peng ‘25 and Jade Zhang ‘24 and by Nicole Zhong ‘24

Photos by Manya Tijoriwala ‘26 and courtesy of Rykken Vivekanand ‘26

Images acquired from Apple Music, Universal Pictures, Searchlight Pictures, and Wikimedia Commons

PAGE 6

Small fish, big pond

MARCH 8, 2024

Swim team nearly sunk when membership neared zero, then seven freshmen tossed it a life jacket

JUST KEEP SWIMMING “Freshman are a key [asset] to the team’s success,” said Tag Dershimer ‘27. “Without the freshman I don’t know what this team would be.”

Photo Courtesy of Greenhills School

Varsity girls hoops starts three freshman

FAST FACTS YEARS AT GREENHILLS: 13 years, but it was nonconsecutive. I was here for seven years, away for six, and back for six.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND HIM: My office, but now that’s its tucked away, I like walking around. You can find me at the front door in the mornings or at the salad bar.

FAVORITE LUNCH: Corn chowder. I love that corn chowder.

QUICK QUIPS

HUGO ANDRE ‘26 shots and and stealing the ball which has helped Sports Staff lead the team to winning.

Adding to a recent trend for girls varsity “I think my best qualities for the team basketball, the team has added three freshmen are my scoring and distributing,” said Alumkal. to their starting lineup for the 2023-24 season.

Libby Schuster ‘27 has been playing basBeyond the new freshmen the team is being ketball for rwo years, but this is her first time coached by a new playing for the head coach, Taylor Greenhills team.

Parker.

She is also a guard “The three who is good at freshmen contribshooting the ball. ute to the team and In the teams 35-21 play well together,” win over the acadsaid the new head emy of the Sacred coach Taylor ParkHeart Schuster had er. four steals .

The varsi“I’ve been playty girl’s basketball ing basketball for team is starting two years but this three freshmen this is my first year season for the first for the Greenhills time. Parker is in team it’s a differthe middle of her ent level of comfirst season with petition from midthe girl’s team and dle school but its has assigned the working out,” said freshmen to startSchuster. ing.

Maia McSparThe team ron ‘27 has been has been improvplaying basketball ing each game with since sixth grade four wins so far and has been on this season. While the Greenhills IT ALL ON THE COURT “I’ve been playing bastketball for two years, but this this is not as many LEAVING team since sevis my first year for the Greenhills team,” said Libby Schuster ‘27. “It’s a different level of as the coaches competition from middle school, but it’s working out.” enth grade. She Photo courtesy of JD Scott Photography would hope for, it’s plays a forward a good start and the team has improved a lot over position but also shoots the ball as she had two the season leading to higher scoring and a more three-pointers in the game against Roeper. Mcsecure lineup of who’s going to play and what Sparron has helped out in the games that the their contribution is going to be to the team. The team has won by scoring and stealing. freshmen in particular have been a large part of “I’ve been playing basketball since sixth the team and have helped the team in each of grade and have been on the greenhills team since these four wins. seventh grade,” said McSparron.

“In each of the games we’ve lost the team A point that all three of the freshmen got to know each other better and kept scoring have agreed on is that the varsity level is a step more and more points,” said Parker. above every other level they have played at. AlCate Alumkal ‘27 is a guard for the though they all agree on this point the impact team, and has played basketball for Greenhills they have had on the team has helped out a lot. since last year. She is a scorer and helps assist “Varsity is the hardest level I’ve played her teammates. In two of the four games the at, it’s a lot different than middle school, the team has won Alumkal has helped by blocking competition is a lot tougher,” said McSparron.

DOMINIC SCHUSTER ‘24 Sports Editor When the team runs out of members then the team does not have purpose and is removed. That is what happened to ice hockey; the same destiny that swimming was headed right for when only two seniors and one junior remained after last year. Introducing the freshmen class to keep the team afloat.

With seven of the ten members on the team being freshmen the team is looking at a future here, but there is another thing about these freshmen.

They are very fast. With two of the freshmen qualifying for Michigan Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (MISCA) which, according to Jibreel Rehman ‘24, are very competitive.

“The times are very hard to get to as they are very fast but given how the team has done, it doesn’t surprise me if they can swim faster,” said Yoel Bechar ‘24.

However, with this young and fast team it can be tough as they can sometimes be more focused on future years when they will be older and stronger.

“We have high hopes for the future years and are all very excited about the upcoming years, especially with the incoming eighth graders who have shown interest, but we really have focused on this year. We all bond really well, swim together, and have put up times that make us focused on this year,” said Tag Dershimer ‘27. “We are focused on states now as many of us are just off the cut and if we focus on it we will do it.”

The belief of making it to states is shared amongst the freshmen and team as many are posting times only seconds off

of what is needed to get to states.

“My season has gone well, I have a little more to prove and more to show with my time,” said Ethan Hong ‘27.

“Only a little bit and then I’m into states but right now I’m fully locked into this season. Making MISCA proved to me I can do it, even though it didn’t go well for me I still proved a lot to myself.”

According to the team, getting to the MISCA relay is tough enough given the fast times, however, to get to states the times need to be even faster.

Given that two freshmen made it to the MISCA meet it is a thought that they cannot shake off making it to states.

“We are fast. We are getting faster each day, but we are fast even for our age,” said Brian Magnus ‘27. “We swim fast, bond fast, we are a team that [while young] incorporates each other into everything we do.”

The bonding and incorporation of freshmen was shared amongst the team as many of them felt like they weren’t a part of a team but rather a family. This bonding has helped the team to faster relays and stronger swim times.

“Everyone plays a part from the coaches to the swimmers,” said Atley Atienza ‘27.

“We bond really well as a team and have a lot of fun.”

The team has high goals and high hopes for the remainder of the season as they approach states. While having a young team they are pushing through staying focused on this year’s goal of states. With the team aware of how close they are, everyone is pushing to make the cut as the freshmen lead the wave.

PHOTO FINISH Ethan Hong ‘27 swims breaststroke during practice. “Credit to the coaches, when they push us it brings out the best in us and I can’t wait for [the freshmen] to get stronger, bigger, and then [with the help of the coaches] improve to being the next team we can be,” said Atley Atienza ‘27.

Photo courtesy of Greenhills school and Jibreel Rehman ‘24

What current trends are baffling you and why?

Why do I need to know, and why does everyone need to know, what everyone is spending money on, on Venmo? I watch all these people on Venmo, like oh, you gave Nicole $40 for her hair, you bought a coffee for Dave.

I don’t need to know that, it’s weird.

What is a typical Saturday night like?

A typical Saturday night is movie night with my kids after dinner, or movie night by myself after dinner.

Movie night snack?

Nacho chips, microwaved with cheese on top. When I was your age, microwaves first started coming out.

Movie recs?

Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse and Oppenheimer.

Were you a good student in highschool?

I was. I was Ferris Bueller, but I was a good student. I was President of my school, so that clearly hasn’t really changed. I also liked English classes.

MARCH 8, 2024

PAGE 7

The big Serb

Nikola Sarcevich ‘24 moves from Serbia, shines on American basketball court

MATTHEW STREICHER ‘24

Lead Sports Reporter Moving from another country is a complete change in lifestyle for anyone, including Nikola Sarcevich ‘24. But there is one familiar element that has always been there for him even since his elementary school days; basketball. He has gone from playing overseas to being named the MLive Athlete of the week in January, and it has been a long journey. Sarcevich began his playing career in Serbia where he joined a local team there as a fourth-grader. From there, he continued playing all the way until he moved to Ann Arbor six years later, one month before beginning his sophomore year. He spoke English well when he arrived, allowing him to overcome one of the barriers for players of any sport coming from another country.

This year, leading his team alongside the all-senior starting line- up, they finished ing two includ14-10, Father wins over rival ard.

Gabriel RichstatisticalSarcevich is his best ly playing

late.

season yet, especially in recent games.

Head coach A n d r e w Wright has been with impressed as his performance of

“Offensively, he’s a huge part of the team,” said Wright.

“Other coaches will try and game plan for him but so many times I’ve seen him make a shot over top of someone and the coach will just drop their head. He’s a very skilled shooter and certainly a great ball handler.”

“I’ve definitely improved from last season, and I’m taking more threes than last year. Just trying to get every win.” said Sarcevich.

While being a great offensive player, Sarcevich and Wright both agree that he has some work to do on the defensive side of his game, but has shown some good improvement this season. defensively, improved “I’ve [Wright] would definitely agree with that.” said Sarcevich. “He knows how much I want to see him improve defensively, and I can see him putting in the effort. Every time he gets better at something, it makes a huge difference.” said Wright.

Sarcevich’s size has contributed a lot to his accomplishments this season.

Standing at six feet six inches tall, being a big target in game has given the team an option on almost every push up-court.

“Having him as a big target is a big part of the team’s success,” said Wright. “He has big hands and can calmly distribute the ball back out to other people which is great.

We have a lot of guys that help us in that way but having somebody that size that can handle the ball is just basically like having a big guard out there. He’s an easy target.”

“With his height and his skill set, it’s really hard for other teams to defend him. He creates a lot of mismatches for us that way.” said Isaac Hess ‘24.

Sarcevich does not credit himself with the team’s accomplishments this season. Instead, he believes that it is his teammates who have just as big a part in this season as he has. get“We’re ting better each game,” said Sarcevich. “I don’t think we have one single player as a leader for the team, but I think the whole starting lineup, we’re all leaders for sure.”

Being a senior, Sarcevich is playing his last Gryphon season.

The Big Leagues

Recent alums overcome obstacles, humbling experiences in collegiate sports

Mert Oral ’22

SHOOTING HIGH Nikola Sarcevich ‘24 shoots above a Roeper player in a home game. “Even though we’re missing guys, we still find a way to win,” said Sarcevich.

However, he has not ruled out continuing to play elsewhere or at a higher level.

“I think I could play somewhere,” said Sarcevich. “I don’t think at a super high level, but maybe division three or something similar.”

Sarcevich has led his team through a promising regular season and is now ready to take the team all the way back to the district semifinals where they suffered a final minute loss to Plymouth Christian, 55-58, last season. With a well-seasoned starting lineup, the team is looking to Sarcevich as they prepare to make a run.

Game changer

Matthew Streicher ‘24: How did you deal with all of the hype around you as a tennis player heading into your freshman season?

Mert Oral ‘22: “It was a huge shift for me. At Greenhills, I had gotten used to being the best player on the team and one of the best in the state. All of a sudden I’m on a team with 10 other guys who are so much better than I am, so I ended up being one of the worst on the team my first year.

It was a really stacked team in terms of talent and depth, so it was a unique, humbling experience but one that I’m really grateful to have had.”

MS: What was it like to live out your dream of playing tennis at Michigan?

MO: “Being from Ann Arbor made playing at Michigan a dream that I’ve always had. It was pretty difficult to process when I started playing, and it gave me a thought of, ‘well, now what?’ That thought definitely didn’t help me stay motivated, so I wasn’t pushing myself as hard as I could have. This year, I definitely started to rise to another level again. I’m feeling really motivated and am working hard.”

MS: Were you well prepared for the environment at Michigan by your playing career here?

MO: I don’t think Greenhills could’ve prepared me any better. There is a natural shell shock that I was going to feel no matter what. I didn’t fully appreciate what the demands of playing on a top five tennis program in the country was going to be like.

In high school, I was never spending more than eight to 10 hours on the court per week. All of the sudden I’m spending 20 hours a week between the court and the gym. The people you play with are also much more serious about the sport. At least six of my teammates have aspirations to be professional players.”

New referee opportunities connect middle and high school athletes students are participating,” said Ward. allow you to be a better sportsperson and to However, the program’s success is think about sportsmanship differently.”

School Staff solely by numbers but by stomeasured not This program comes with rewards, From the tweet of your whisand discovery. growth of ries refa as well. If a student signs up to be tle, the game starts. Players start ensuccess by the indimeasure “We hours eree, they can either get volunteer couraging their teammates, students referees,” said student the of stories vidual serfrom it, to complete their 10 required start to cheer the team on from the for someone space a allowing are “We Ward. vice hours, or, they can get paid. stands, and then there’s you, in enjoy.” they that something discover to its in Even though the program is the middle of it all. This is what beneficial only isn’t program This trial year, Ward envisions potential some high school students get to as it caphowever, students, school high for growth for future years. experience when they sign up athletes school middle of attention the tures may“If this program is successful, to be a referee through the new well. as club a be we could meet every week as referee program implemented at Kavni Latchamsetty ‘29 is deeply and talk and watch games to help each Greenhills. in Greenhills athletics and believes involved other out,” said Ward.

This program, estabof the most fun aspects of school. one be to it the of Abhinav Shastry ‘25 is one lished by Athletic Director Tom interesting and different to “It’s with first to sign up for the program, Ward, allows high school sturefereeing a game, and it schoolers high see excitement and curiosity. dents to referee middle school do it when I get to high to want me makes in “I’ve always had this interest games of their choice throughLatchamsetty. said too,” school watchsports,” said Shastry. “I grew up out the school year.

Latchamsetty believes that high ing a lot of NBA and Michigan games, “There are similar being able to referee will positiveschoolers now.” it so it’s cool to be able to referee programs like these in other the entire middle school, not just impact ly proShashtry’s training

schools, but this is the first time play sports. who those emgram was low-stress but thorough, Greenhills has had any sort think that having high school refs “I making phasizing the importance of of refereeing program,” said more middle school students to encourages difficult split-second and sometimes Ward. in sports at the school,” said involved get decisions as a referee.

It is not surprising that Latchamsetty. be to “I didn’t expect it Abhinav Ward specifically wanted to give TIMEOUT Shastry ‘25 referees easy,” said Shastry. “Coaches and parThe presence of older students this opportunity to students. his first middle school serves as both inspiration and a referees as made ents yell a lot if they think you “I refereed in college,” basketball game. middle school and high between connection unbe a bad call, but you just have to said Ward. “It was so much fun school sports. biased and and such a great way to watch high With not let it get to sports. I wanted to be able to get back in the students school you.” swing of refereeing to help our students who becoming role Shasare going to give it a try.” models for astry sees this new Ward sees the program as an opporpiring middle program as an tunity for high school students to grow their school athletes opportunity to leadership skills, and for middle school stulike Latchaminvolve himself dents to witness the high schoolers actively setty, the new in the athletic contributing to the community. proreferee at community “We are always excited to find ways to constands gram Greenhills. As nect the high schoolers to the middle schoolas a beacon of the program proers,” said Ward. opportunity gresses, finding a Being a referee creates opportuand connection way to measure nities for people to grow, not only in their the viwithin success is key.

TWEET TWEET Charlie Rich ‘26 referees a middle school girls’ sports skills. culsports brant basketball game.

“I really liked helping middle schoolers play “The ob“One of the huge benefits of getting their game and supporting them as they worked hard,” said Rich. school. the of ture vious metric we involved in officiating is that you learn to be look at is how many empathetic,” said Ward. “Naturally, that will

MIRA JAYARAMAN ‘26

Meezan Hamzavi ‘23

Matthew Streicher ‘24: How were you affected by the injury you sustained in your senior season?

Meezan Hamzavi ‘23: “When I first tore my ACL I felt like there was no point in playing anymore, I wasn’t planning on playing basketball in college. I started talking to my coach at Grinnell pretty late, right around the time I got injured, and after a lot of consideration, I decided to take the opportunity. I was still rehabbing in August when team practices started, so I was a good amount behind everybody. It was more of trying to get back on the court rather than trying to get better, and I’m still getting used to my knee and listening to my body. ” MS: After everything that happened on the road to were you are now, what were you feeling when you finally walked into your first college game?

MH: “I was so nervous. I was so worried about my knee because the retear rate within a year of the first injury is about 20 percent, which is decently high. I was really worried about moving around on the court and transitions where there would be some pressure on my leg, so I was moving pretty slow. It was pretty frustrating because you do rehab for so long and you work at getting better for months and you just expect to be able to get right back into it and be right where you were, but that’s just not how it works.

MS: How was your career here different from your first season at Grinnell?

MH: “The women’s basketball program at Greenhills has a great team environment and great coaches, but it’s a bit less competitive than the environment at Grinnell.

Everyone here loves the sport they’re playing, and you’re surrounded by strong, independent women.”

Briefs compiled by Matthew Streicher ‘24

Photos courtesy of JD Scott Photography , Matthew Streicher ‘24, and Mira Jayaraman ‘26

MARCH 8, 2024

GRYPHONS

PAGE 8 Boys Basketball

WINTER SPORTS RECAPS

Boys basketball finished their season last Friday losing in districts against Ypsilanti Arbor Prep. The team entered the post season with a winning record of 13-8 with close losses in many games. With a powerhouse lineup consisting of many seniors the team was very experienced, with two of the starters playing on varsity since their freshman year. The coaches and players set high expectations for themselves as they believed they had a real shot at making a run into the postseason. Sadly the team fell short with a close loss. The final score being Ypsilanti Arbor Prep 61, Ann Arbor Greenhills 44. A tough fight and a true power of a team; one that will not be forgotten for a long time. Sports staff players of the team: Lucas Nor ‘24, Bennett Formicola ‘24, Nikola Sarcevich ‘24, Issac Hess ‘24, Alex Ye ‘24, Harshal Vempamakula ‘24, Jibran Ali ‘24, Andrew Wang ‘27.

Girls Basketball

Girls basketball played their senior night game last Thursday against Lutheran Westland and their opening district game against Manchester on Monday.

The team had a record of 4-15 entering into the post season and while the record is low the team’s morale was high. Even through the losses the team showed high potential with the leadership from the freshman and sophomore classes. The team looks to the future as these young freshmen and sophomores improve and get stronger, even with a loss of four seniors the team is still looking with high hopes of what is to come. This team is one to remember not for their record but for the foundation of a future champion. Sports staff players of the team: Katie Malloure ‘24, Lexi Magdich ‘26, Libby Schuster ‘27, Maia McSparron ‘27, Cate Alumkal ‘27.

Boys Swimming

Boys swimming started the season with no home. With many places on the road, many uncertainties with how the season would go arose. With 11 freshmen, two seniors, and one junior, the team lacked experience. However, the team took this in stroke and swam like the water was on fire. They powered through to winning multiple meets, many by a large amount, sending many athletes to MISCA and a relay to the State Championship Meet. The team graduates few but gains many as multiple incoming ninth graders have indicated that they wish to be on the swim team. With these additions plus the fast freshmen the team has many future wins ahead of them, many records to break, and many races to swim. Sports staff players of the team: Jibreel Rehman ‘24, Yoel Bechar ‘24, Nico Dettling ‘25, Ethan Hong ‘27, Tag Dershimer ‘27, Manuel Garcia ‘27.

HOME LOCATIONS SPRING SPORTS CONCORDIA UNIVERISTY Baseball

Track and Field Girls Soccer Girls Tennis Lacrosse Softball

WASHTENAW GOLF COURSE Boys Golf

Girls Soccer

Girls soccer had a successful season last year with a disappointing playoff run. With two seniors graduated last year and the incoming of six freshmen the team has a very diverse year level. High expectations have been set by the coaches as they believe they can make a deep run in the playoffs. Girls soccer opens the season on the road against Everest Collegiate kicking off at 5:00 p.m on April 9. Sports staff players to watch: Maia McSparron ‘27 and Cate Alumkal ‘27; both are on Elite 64 national teams with McSparron playing on a team ranked in the top 150 for their ages.

Boys Golf

Boys golf made the state championship final led by Max Shulman ‘24 and Arjun Prabahkar ‘23. After finishing 13th out of 18 at the MHSAA state finals the team is looking to come back this year and win the state title for the first time in two years. The team has their first match on the road on April 4 against Lincoln High School. Sports staff players to watch: Max Shulman, ranked in the top 10 for Division 3.

Lucas Nor ‘24 Number 33 Shooting Guard Starter for Varisty Baskteball for all four years

SPRING SPORTS

Winning states is a feat many players will never meet, however, the girls tennis team repeated the title last year for the first time ever.

Now looking for their third title in a row after graduating one senior, the team is looking strong going into the season. With one tough competitor from Division 3 coming down to Greenhills’ D4, it’ll be interesting to see how the team adapts to this challenge. Girls tennis hosts their season and home opener against Dexter High School at 4:00 p.m. on April 4. Sports staff players to watch: Maddie Morgan ‘25 and Shangyang Xia ‘25 who were both individual champions in the MHSAA tournament last year and Ellie Kim ‘27 ranked in the top 12 for her age.

Baseball

With the boys baseball team coming off a 20-14 season and only graduating one senior, the team is looking to capitalize on the returning team and is looking to win the CHSL, Districts, Regionals, and make a run into the state tournament. The team also boasts one of the hardest schedules and districts in their division this year, kicking off their season on April 3 against FGR at Eastern Michigan University, first pitch is at 4:30 p.m. Sports staff players to watch: Talen Pilz ‘25 and Jeremiah Bowman ‘25, both are standout players with Pilz winning All-Catholic last year and Bowman winning All-League.

PREVIEWS Girls Tennis

GREENHILLS

Softball

The return of softball was a challenge for the school as the numbers were too low. After graduating the last of the team in 2022 and no new recruits the team fell away from Father Gabriel Richard and ceased to exist. That is until this year when the team gathered together a group of players coached by Caitlyn O’Neal to play as the Greenhills Softball team with no help from any outside school; the first time since 2020, which was cut short due to COVID. The teams schedule is still currently being created, however, if you want to learn more you can head to the Greenhills athletic page.

Boys Lacrosse

A 2-13 lacrosse team last year is coming back again after graduating a talented class of 11 seniors. This young team is looking to turn around and find a fire to win. Playing against some of the hardest schools the team is staring titans in the face. The boys lacrosse team opens the season on April 4 at University Liggett School at 5:00 p.m. Sports staff players to watch: Ben Berstein ‘27; played club lacrosse for a few years prior to Greenhills, known as the red-head sniper it’ll be interesting to watch the performace throughout the year.

Co-ed Track and Field

Girls and boys track and field finished last year both winning the CHSL tournament. Both teams have hope of repeating this feat, however, with the challenge of graduating many seniors and a new head coach, the third in four years, the team has dreams of glory but is hoping for miracles. The team hosts the opening meet on March 21 at 4:30 p.m. on the track. Sports staff players to watch: Lauren Sheffield ‘25 in the field with shot put throws around 30’ 2” as well as placing in the top ten in all events at the CHSL finals last year and Liam Dutta ‘24 running sub 12 seconds on the 100m and placing in the CHSL Finals meet last year.

All In-Actions photos courtusey of Greenhills School Photo of Lucas Nor by Dominic Schuster