HHS hosts informational meeting on early college acceleration program

Dual Enrollment Night will be held on Wednesday, November 7 in the Howell High School auditorium from 6:30 to 8 p.m.  The Dual Enrollment program allows students to start their college experience early by taking college courses for less cost in comparison to most colleges.

The evening program will begin with an introduction from a representative from the Michigan Department of Education who will provide information about recent changes in the laws.

Following that presentation there will be 20-minute breakout sessions with college representatives regarding the dual enrollment application process and information about the classes they are offering next semester.

The college representatives that will be attending are from the following colleges:  Eastern Michigan University, Lansing Community College, Cleary University, Washtenaw Community College, Mott Community College.

5 classes that you may not know are offered

Here at Howell High School, there are many offered classes that most students don’t have time in their schedule to take nor are students aware of their existence.

“I knew there were many choices, but there are still even more than that,” says sophomore Kayla McClain.

In order to help students make the best decisions possible for their four year plan, listed below are five classes some students may be interested to include in their schedule.

1.) Debate
Taught this school year by Jennifer Sebestyen and Amanda Malo, this class is an advanced elective that allows students to argue specific points and to put their speaking skills to the test. Class members are given the chance to commit themselves to any topic they choose, and through a variety of speech types, are able to argue their point to an audience that understands.

“It gives students the opportunity to dissect what is a good source and what isn’t,” says Ms. Sebestyen of her debate classes. “There’s no other class that gives students the opportunity to think on their feet.”

Offered to 10th-12th graders, debate class can also be useful for the future. Students will receive help learning MLA format, college speaking skills, and advanced performing techniques. Because of these traits, this class can prepare juniors and seniors for college as well.

“It improves reading skills and really helps with organization,” adds Ms. Sebestyen.

Students with challenging minds and strong speaking skills should fare well in this course.

2.) AP European History
For students with rigorous minds and challenging goals, this class can help those interested in taking a step towards college and learning important factors of European history.

Though offered the past few years, this class has had little success as there have not been enough students signed up to actually run the class. Though technically still an offered course, many students haven’t had a chance to put it into their schedule, or simply haven’t known about it.

Offered as a social studies elective, it is best to take World History before this class. Involving political, cultural, and social aspects of the European culture, this college course is offered to juniors and seniors.

3.) 3D Design
Taught by Ms. Rose O’Reilly, this brand new class will be offered next year in the place of jewelry. This class will involve a variety of media, more than any other art course offered, and will promote critical thinking through the study of aesthetics.

“There will still be a jewelry project,” assures Ms. O’Reilly, “but there is such variety that it will allow students to use more materials.”

This class will need many new students to make it a sure success, so sign-up if you’re interested in the artistic field or have ever been intrigued with 3-dimensional design.

4.) Ceramics
Also taught by Ms. O’Reilly, this class is loved by many students. Walking into the room, you will see everyone busy working and enjoying their time. Beautiful artwork covers the paint stained tables and almost every inch of the space in the classroom.

“It helps you get in touch with your creative side,” says sophomore Britney Winters of her experience in ceramics.

Ceramics class is designed for those interested in designing and creative thinking. Enjoyed by many as an hour away from the drama of normal high school, ceramics is the course to take for students with artistic ability.

“It benefits students because it’s more than just making things out of clay,” says Ms. O’Reilly. “There’s a lot of problem solving and we learn about different cultures.”

5.) Science Fiction/Fantasy
Two classes now fused together and taught by Ms. Margaret Breece is science fiction and fantasy which is offered to junior and seniors.

“I’ll be going over both class outlines and letting the students pick,” says Mrs. Breece of teaching the class. “It’s mostly up to the kids what subject they study.”

This literature based class involves reading popular novels and looks at current technology that warns of consequences. It also shows students how to find a place in the world.

“When students go to college, it’s a quest or an adventure,” adds Mrs. Breece. “This course can help them with that.”

These are just a few classes that students may not be aware that are offered. Be sure to look at the Howell High School course catalogue or talk to your counselor about other classes that may fit your interests and learning style.

How to survive in the wilderness – or the hallways of HHS

Attempting to walk through the hallways at Howell High School is like fighting one’s way through the thick of a jungle. The trek needs basic survival skills, like darting and weaving through the crowd or a tangle of vines. One must also have a sturdy knowledge of what kind of wildlife will be encountered along the way.

There are varieties of species that will be found. There are the “gangstas” who insist on swaggin’ their way down the hall with their boxers hanging out and their pants headed south toward their ankles. You can easily get caught behind one of these gentlemen and stay there for the entire five minute passing time, when you can visibly see your classroom, just out of reach. Steer clear at all costs.

The “lovebirds” enjoy their courtship in the middle of the hallway, or even better, right in front of your locker where even a polite “excuse me” cannot help your case. (See the “locker blocker” below.) They get it on right in the full view of the student body. Avoid these lovely couples by evading the infamous “make-out reef,” the darkened area near the auditorium. If your locker is located there, surrender and get your stuff at the beginning and the end of the day. Buy a big backpack. Hopefully this year goes by quickly for you.

And then there never fails to be the presence of the students who stand directly in front of your locker and stay there for the entire passing time. The “locker-blockers” do not care that your Trig textbook is inside that locker, or the fact that you already have three tardies in the class and a fourth will give you time in Saturday School. This unfortunate tradition entails a lovely morning spent in the company of whichever unlucky teacher has the duty of sitting with the kids who sharpen their rulers into a handy pocketknife. No, the “locker blocker” does not respond to politeness. They also tend to congregate in large herds. This is the tricky part. The giant blob of kids standing in your way can seem as daunting as parting the Red Sea.

You must use verbal force. “Hey, can you move? Like, now?” usually works best. Note: Do not actually get physical. In addition to that Saturday School, you will also have a suspension and possibly a trip to the E.R.

Navigating the hallways is a tough job, but at least one doesn’t actually have to deal with lions, tigers, and bears.

HHS moves forward with plan to “self-contain” buildings

Howell High School’s move to a seven-hour day isn’t the only change making noise in the district, as the school will move forward with a plan to self-contain both the Freshman Campus and the 10-12 building next year.

What exactly does that mean? The plan, initiated by a team composed of Deputy Superintendent of Instructional Services, Ms. Sandra Moore, Howell High School principal Mr. Aaron Moran, and other school officials, is designed to limit the travel between the two buildings between classes as much as possible.

Currently, numerous students make the walk to and from both buildings in order to attend classes they want to take. With this plan going into effect in the next school year, “what we would like to do is self-contain the two buildings as much as possible,” Ms. Moore said.

There are a couple of reasons why the school is looking to move in this direction. The number one reason was to get the Freshman Campus back to how it was intended to be run, as a self-contained building, when it opened in 2002.

“Ask yourself this, if it was just intended to always be mixed, then why was it called the Freshman Campus? Why wasn’t it just called Building A and Building B or something?” Ms. Moore said. “It was set up for this to be self-contained.”

One of the advantages to self-containing the Freshman Campus is also one of the reasons it was intended to be set up that way. Containing the ninth grade building will immensely help the freshmen succeed at an age where success isn’t a sure thing, Ms. Moore explained.

“Ninth graders are one of the ages that are most at risk of failure,” she said. “One of the things we want to do is help build connections with students. Research shows that if you put those students with a fewer number of teachers, and develop a school within a school, if you will, then students will be more successful academically.”

A second reason for the self-containment is that the plan would allow students to not lose the instructional time that traveling between the buildings takes away.

“There’s not going to be any traveling back and forth, which to me, the instructional time when students are coming and leaving disrupts things and shortens things up,” Mr. Moran stated. Generally, teachers dismiss students who do travel to leave three minutes early from class.

“If you’re just at one building, it can keep it tighter and controlled over things,” he said. “Instead of them going to another building, the teacher they have will be at the Freshman Campus. We can have more awareness with what’s going on with everybody and try to help support them better.”

Even though this is the plan the district will be going forward with, Mr. Moran and Ms. Moore will work over the summer on getting necessary questions answered.

Two of the areas that will be examined are building usage and staffing. Because travel between buildings will be limited, the school will have to look at whether or not new classrooms will need to be added to the 10-12 building.

Drawing and art classes have been used as examples for this scenario. Currently, if students want to take a drawing class, they have to take it at the Freshman Campus. Due to travel being limited next year that will be one of the things the school will look at addressing.

“Would we need to create some new rooms here, with the space we have, and open up some stuff? What would it cost to create another drawing room here, based on numbers and things like that?” Mr. Moran asked, foreshadowing the discussions the district will have internally over the summer.

The classes freshmen are required to take will mostly stay the same (Algebra I, World History, Biology, and English 9), but starting next year health and physical education classes. will be mandated.

“[The requirement] is probably going to be only for one year because the following year, there is going to be a requirement of world language in ninth grade. So either way, whether it’s health and gym or world language, one of those electives is going to be taken, and then that will leave you with another elective,” Ms. Moore explained.

The 2016 graduates will be required to have two years of a world language, so the health and gym mandate for the next school year will be “kind of like a placeholder,” Ms. Moore said.

Early research shows that it would cost the district about $115,000 to put the policy of self-containment into place.

“The $115,000 refers to some bond money that we want to use to ‘retrofit,’ to change a couple of the rooms at the 10-12 building,” Ms. Moore said.

The bond money comes from a bond passed in 2002-2003 to help improve the school. That money can only be spent on certain assets, not for things such as teacher salaries or textbooks.

“Those are bond monies that would not fall under general fund money,” Mr. Moran added. “It’s money specified to infrastructure, and that’s where that money would come from.”

As of now, the money needed for staffing is unclear.

Regardless, change is coming at Howell High School, and coming fast.

“We feel that this is the best use of our resources for our students,” Mr. Moran said.

Junior beats the ACT: perfect score highlights genius student

The number 36 has always been a rare, untouchable figure for the ACT.  Few students have been honored to reach the mark of a perfect score.  Howell High School is pleased to announce such a student, Claire Kwan, as the only junior who received a 36 composite score on the 2011 ACT.

“I was surprised and happy about it [ACT score],” says Kwan.  “Everybody kind of made a big deal about it.”

Ms. Deb Solowczuk, ACT Coordinator and HHS Freshman Campus counselor, states that Kwan’s score of 36 is indeed a big deal.  It’s more common for some students to receive a 36 in a certain area of the ACT, such as English or Science, but not for the total score.

“It’s huge. Usually the 36 composite scores will open up a lot of doors for colleges,” Ms. Solowczuk says.

Kwan knew the significance of the ACT, so she prepared for the exam well before March 1, the starting day of all HHS ACT testing.  And since the ACT was a three day process, she made sure to study hard.

“I took some practice tests and we did some stuff in English [class],” she says.  “I didn’t take the whole thing, though.  I just did a couple sections.”

Kwan took the whole version of the ACT before it was required by the state of Michigan.  Kwan completed the ACT in Fowlerville during the month of February, which led to her initial score of 36.  When it came time for all juniors in Howell High School to take the ACT, Kwan’s total composite number fell to a 35.  Her lesser mark was still highly notable, and there were no worries on it affecting her image negatively because her top score of 36 will be the official grade recorded for the ACT.

Kwan grew up as an intelligent child from the start.  Originally born in Taiwan, Kwan moved to the United States at age two and left the state of California at the end of fifth grade.  By the time she entered sixth grade, Kwan was settled in the state of Michigan and her student career began to excel.

“I’ve always gotten A’s mostly,” she admits shyly.

The achievements continue to multiply now that Kwan is in high school.  Besides the academic alliances with Quiz Bowl and Student Council, Kwan takes part in HHS track, HHS girls swim team, and Women’s Chorale.  She is also very musical with the piano.

“I started playing [piano] when I was five,” Kwan says.  However, her vocal days are soon coming to an end.  “This is my first and last year in choir.

Besides pursuing extracurricular activities, she has enrolled in many advanced classes, including AP Physics B, AP Calculus, AP Government, and Advanced American Literature.  One of the most challenging classes Kwan currently attends is AP Physics, taught by Mr. Paul Webster.

“AP Physics B is one of the toughest classes offered at Howell High School,” says Mr. Webster.  “It covers approximately a year and a half of second or third year college Physics.  Claire is doing very well in the class.”

Of course, AP Physics B will be a critical component in Kwan’s future education.  Since AP Physics B deals with the science of energy, motion, and other mechanical principals, the class will be especially beneficial to her future possibilities in healthcare or mechanics.

“I like math and science.  I’m not sure yet, but I think I either want to go into some type of engineering or into the medical field.”

Kwan’s family members are also a brainy bunch.  She has two younger sisters: one in eighth grade and the youngest in third grade, along with two older step-brothers.  Her family’s Asian culture still remains intact despite moving to the United States, since they often speak Chinese Mandarin around the house.  Blended in with the other clever relatives, Kwan remains to think indifferently about her family’s reaction to her newfound accomplishment.

“I guess they were happy about it,” she shrugs.

Kwan may seem nonchalant sometimes, but she’s surely grateful for the opportunities her ACT score has provided.  With basically free reign to attend any college, Kwan has so far selected four schools that have gained her interest: University of Michigan, Northwestern Michigan, Stanford University, and University of California, Los Angeles.

“I’m hoping to get scholarships but I haven’t done any applications, so I don’t know yet,” she says.

Mr. Webster can confirm her potentially victorious future without question.

“I think Claire will be successful in whatever she decides to pursue,” he says.  “She works hard and is extremely bright.”

 

Engineering class inspires student to build desk-bike

Senior Ryan Rozek, one of Intro to Engineering’s stars, smiles as students take turns trying out his new invention.

“People were chopping up desks for their projects [last year] and I wanted to build a vehicle around its original frame, so I made a bike.”

It is made with a spin cycle, like a three wheel bicycle, with casters that turn freely. Though he has had the bike at his home for a while, Rozek brought it back to school because of the current interest in it.

Rozek is constantly challenging himself with new projects and ideas. “I just build things for the challenge,” he stated. Some of his projects have included model airplanes and boats.

In the fall of 2009, Rozek started production of a hovercraft that he hopes to have completed by this spring. Building a hovercraft is no easy feat. It requires welding skills, fiber glassing, and thinking skills. When asked why he decided to start this project Rozek replied, “It’s just something no one else would.”

Rozek’s teacher, Mr. Randy Schafer, is extremely proud of the progress that he has made. “Ryan is the type of student we want in technical education: hard working, trustworthy, good problem solving. A student we strive for,” Mr. Schafer stated with a smile.  Mr. Schafer told how Intro to Engineering has inspired Rozek to be more involved in school and how he blossomed to become one of the most talented students he has ever had.

“Ryan keeps life interesting because you never know what he’s going to come up with,” continued Mr. Schafer.  Rozek hopes to continue engineering after high school by building movie set props. He told how usually movie props are something that no one else has built before, so it would be continually challenging and progressive.

Engineering is a growing field with many new job opportunities. With Rozek’s talent continuing to develop, who knows what he will come up with next.

Girls, boys basketball deliver with wins at Palace

Senior Kathryn Wright has sung the national anthem at many Howell basketball games before, but never did she expect to sing it on Saturday, January 8. This basketball game was different. This one was played at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Wright’s singing was just the start of a great day for the Howell basketball program, as both the girls and boys teams beat the Milford Mavericks in a doubleheader at the home of the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Detroit Pistons.

The senior was forced to sing the national anthem when technical difficulties wouldn’t allow for a recording to be played.

“I was really put on the spot,” she said, “but it upped the enthusiasm for everyone. The fact that I stepped up to do that and that my team had my back by singing with me showed how we’re a unified team.”

The Howell girls (2-5 overall, 1-1 division) beat Milford 54-45 to start off KLAA West play. They forced eight Milford turnovers and jumped out to a 17-6 lead after the first quarter and never looked back.

The fast start was key to winning the game, coach Tricia Clark said.

“It was a huge confidence boost for our team,” she said. “It helped because we had a cushion to work with when Milford was coming back.”

Senior Bre’Ana Strong scored 11 points in the game and was happy with the effort.

“We played as a team,” Strong said. “Even when things got hard, we kept each other in high spirits.”

Strong, who drained a three-pointer from NBA range along with senior Emily Lorkowski, said it was an “once in a lifetime opportunity.” Seniors Kaytlin Stroinski and Katie Kubiak also had big games for the Highlanders, with Stroinski going for a game-high 17 points and Kubiak adding nine points and nine rebounds of her own.

Ms. Clark took a laid-back approach in talking to her team before the game.

“It was just a game,” she told her team. “Even though we were playing at the Palace and the girls were excited, we had to keep in mind that we were playing our first game in the KLAA West and we have a goal to repeat as champions.”

The team got dressed in the same locker room the Detroit Automotion, the Pistons’ dance team, uses, and Strong said the nice rooms helped the team adjust to the facility. The girls also ran through the same tunnel the Pistons run through before their home games.

“To run through the same tunnel the Pistons run through was pretty intense, and helped us realize the magnitude of the game,” Strong added.

The girls showed poise on the court in front of a crowd of over 500 and even had a lead as high as 23 points in the third quarter, eventually winning by nine. “Even when they started chipping away at our lead we picked each other up,” Strong said.

On the boys side, the Highlanders used a stifling defense to beat Milford 47-34. Senior Aleksander Antic had a game-high 16 points for the Highlanders (2-3 overall, 1-1 division) and Howell held Milford without a field goal in the first quarter of the game. Senior Torey Williams said communication was the key to the defensive effort.

“It was just communicating,” Williams, who had 11 points in the game, said. “Just calling out picks and cuts, and knowing where your man is at on the floor was key.”

Just like the girls, the boys team shared similar feelings about playing a game at the Palace.

“I was just excited beyond belief knowing I had a chance to play on the same court that NBA legends have played on,” Williams said. “Not every high school basketball player gets that kind of opportunity.”

While he said the team wasn’t nervous, there was certainly a lot of excitement around the locker room before the game.

“I don’t believe any of my teammates were nervous, just excited,” he noted. “We found a way to convert that excitement into results on the court.”

Both Strong and Williams said that it didn’t take long to adjust to the NBA court. “We got so used to seeing the three point line further out, so that’s why all of our shots were from so far out,” Strong said. “We just gravitated towards that line.” Getting used to the rims was one of the few things Williams and the boys team had to adjust to.

Now, all that’s left for the players is adjusting to a new accolade: winning a game at the Palace.

Fellow Highlander emerges as national athlete

Hours upon hours in the weight room, training harder than most athletes in America, junior Alex Calandrino proves to be one of the top wrestlers in the country. Even though many know him as just a Howell High School wrestler, Calandrino spends the rest of his time with family and friends.

“I am most like my uncle,” Calandrino says with a smile. “He’s crazy . . . and outgoing.”

Even when he is training, his family is still with him. Calandrino’s younger brother, Ben, wrestles at 103 pounds as a freshman. Coming from a wrestling family, outside the mat he is still very focused on his goals. Calendrino carries his work ethic into the classroom, as well as the weight room, or the wrestling room.

Calandrino started his wrestling career twelve years ago, and has loved it ever since. “Wrestling isn’t a sport where you have a coach pushing you as much as other sports. You have to push yourself in order to succeed,” Calandrino says.

Even though Calandrino is self-driven, he has people along the way that has helped him succeed.

“He is hard-nosed,” Mr. Dan Hutchinson, Howell’s athletic director says. “He has a college mentality work ethic already. His sky is the limit.”

The morning before meets and tournaments, he makes sure to stay focused and quiet. Directly before his matches, Calandrino loosens up, listens to a few songs, and goes over in his head what he is going to do.

Ending up third in the state in 2010, Calandrino looks to be the best this season.
When the high school wrestling season ended last year, he spent his time working with national teams, and wrestling in national tournaments to improve his game and push it to the next level. When Calandrino wasn’t wrestling, he was in the weight room getting stronger.

The 2010-2011 season looks to be good for Calandrino and Howell this year. He remains undefeated, and intends to stay that way.

Winter sports season kicks into full gear

Varsity Hockey

Key players: Kenny Miloser (senior, defense), Dakota Olvin (senior, defense), Jordan Simmonds (senior, forward), Branden Burton (senior, forward), Jake Henrikson (senior, forward), Gabe Daavettila (senior, forward), Andrew Brownlee (junior, goalie)

Season Outlook: Howell Varsity Hockey looks forward to another successful season after reaching the state finals the past two seasons. Team chemistry and leadership will be the key factors that will determine how far they go this season. Howell is very experienced this season with six seniors who will play significant roles on the team. The Highlanders aspire to advance deep in the post season and make it to their third consecutive state championship game.

Coach Comment: “This team has a lot of players that have played in one or both of the State Final games and have experienced the success over the past two seasons. Hopefully these players will be the catalyst to start the fire burning again and spread to the entire team by late February.” – Coach Montrose

Player Comment: “We hope to win states after two years of losing in the finals. We have several returning veterans that should help us reach our goal.” – Jordan Hawkins (Junior)

Rivalry: Brighton, Hartland

Gymnastics

Key players: Jordan Phifer (Junior), Amanda Pompilius (Junior), Katelyn Beno (Senior), Courtney Schippers (Senior), Samantha Leventis (Freshman), Emily Laupp (Freshman)

Season Outlook: Howell Varsity Gymnastics plan to be very competitive for this season. Senior leadership will be key for the team’s success.  All the girls have and continue working extremely hard to upgrade their routines. The two freshmen are learning fast and should improve quickly throughout the season as they gain experience. The girls are determined to all qualify individually for the State Finals.

Coach Comment: “The team should easily qualify for Regionals and could potentially be very competitive for a spot at the Team Finals.  The team goal is to have all team members qualify for Regionals to give them a chance to qualify for State Individual Finals.” – Coach Gregory

Player Comment: “This year I feel that our main goal is to do the best that we can and have fun.” – Jordan Phifer (Junior)

Rivalry: Brighton, Walled Lake, Plymouth

Wrestling

Key players: Alex Calandrino (Junior), Troy Root (Senior), Taylor Moore (Senior), Mitch Faulkner (Senior), Jimmy Dobson (Senior), Kyle Barjon (Senior), Jimmy Walsh (Senior), Trevor Loge (Senior), Joe Brancheau (Junior), Marcus Wendel (Junior), Josh Spisak (Junior), Hayden Hughes (Sophomore), Chad Czerneski (Sophomore), Cam Englund (Sophomore), Ben Calandrino (Freshman)

Season Outlook: Howell Wrestling is ready to start another successful season in the KLAA West division. They have several upperclassmen that should make a very strong impact this season. They return one wrestler who made it to the state wrestling meet. They want to improve upon last season, hoping to earn the league championship and get to states as a team.

Coach Comment: “Our goals are always the same, win the league and go to team states.” – Coach Minock

Player Comment: “We are hoping to improve this season and have more guys make it to states.” – Junior Alex Calandrino

Rivalry: Brighton and Hartland

Boys Basketball

Key players: Aleksander Antic (Senior), Torey Williams (Senior), Brandon Nazione (Junior), William Ainsworth (Senior),

Season Outlook: Howell Varsity Basketball aspires to do great things this season. After a losing record last year, they strive to improve and surpass expectations. The boys want to make a serious run into playoffs with their main goal of winning a state championship.  They have several returning players from last year who they will look to for leadership and experience.

Player Comment: “Our ultimate goal is to win our league, make it far in the playoffs, and win the state championship. The whole team has worked really hard in the offseason and we’ve tremendously improved.” – Aleksander Antic, senior

Rivalry: Brighton, Hartland

Girls Basketball

Key players: Kaytlin Stroinski (12), Bre’Ana Strong (12), Katie Kubiak (12), Emily Lorkowski (12), Mackenzie Cleary (12), Kathryn Wright (12), Shelby Demeuse (12), and Ashlyn Samples (12)

Season Outlook: The Lady Highlanders are excited to improve upon a very successful season last year. The girls have worked very hard in the off season to prepare themselves. Howell will have great post play this season. The key to their success will be for the guards to step up and make big plays despite their inexperience. Howell wants to repeat as West Division champions and as the KLAA conference champions. They also strive to make a deep run into the state tournament.

Coach Comment: “It should be a great season for this group. I as a coach love coaching them, and they always are willing to go the extra effort for the team which says a lot about these young ladies.” – Coach Clark

Player Comment: “I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do as a team. All the girls on the team are unselfish and will do whatever it takes to win.”- Bre’Ana Strong (Senior)

Rivalry: Brighton

Boys Swimming

Key players: Joe Brosnan (Senior), Zac Cain (Junior), Christoph Hohenfeld (Senior), Garrett Murphy (Freshman), Bryan Stroinski (Sophomore)

Season Outlook: Howell Swimming has high expectations coming into the winter sports season. They have a mix of great talent and potential from the upperclassmen as well from the underclassmen. The team has a great turnout this season with over 35 swimmers. Howell lost seven seniors of their top ten swimmers from last year’s team that went to states. However, many people on the team have stepped up, and two foreign exchange students are expected to make a great impact this season.

Coach Comment: “We want to win the KLAA west division, win the KLAA Lakes conference, and place top 10 at the state championship meet.” – Coach Kasprzak

Player Comment: “Our goals are simple. We want to score top ten in the state meet, and we want to defend our title as returning champs. Initially, I didn’t think it was possible but now, looking at these brave boys who walked on deck the first day, well, maybe we might just be able to do that.” – Joe Brosnan (Senior)

Competitive Cheer

Key players: Kelly Frazier (Senior), Megan Salas (Senior), Melanie Eastman (Senior), Michelle Michailuk (Senior)

Season Outlook: Howell Competitive Cheer is excited to show that they can compete among the best in the conference as well in the state this season. However, every meet will be battle in the tough KLAA West division for the girls. The team’s goals are to advance as far as possible in states, win the KLAA, and come closer in the standings to Brighton and Hartland. They have made great improvement since last season and have several seniors that will provide leadership.

Coach Comment: “The team has worked very hard and has improved incredibly.  We are trying to prove that Howell is a solid program and a force to reckon with.” – Coach Rossman

Rivalry: Hartland and Brighton

Bowling

Key players: Boys – Austin LaCarter (Senior), Justin Halstead (Junior); Girls- Danielle Robson (Junior), Heidi Maxwell (Senior)

Season Outlook: Boys – Boys Varsity Bowling will be dealing with a great amount of inexperience this season. Austin LaCarter is the only returning member from last year’s team.  However, the team has great talent since the junior varsity took first in the JV State Championship tournament last year. The boys expect to compete in the middle of the pack or better in the KLAA West Division.

Girls – Girls Varsity Bowling expects to have an outstanding season. They are returning all five starters from last year’s team which won the first KLAA Division bowling title in school history. The girls have good experience and they will strive to win the KLAA West division for the second consecutive season.

Coach Comment: Boys: “Even with the boys being young they have a lot of potential after finishing 1st in the JV State Championship tournament last season.” – Coach Collopy

Girls: “With another year’s experience under their belts the girls team this year will look to win the KLAA West once again. Not only does this team have the potential to win the division they have the potential to compete for a Regional and State title.” – Coach Collopy

Player Comment: “Going from winning the JV state championship to varsity was a big step up and I’m expecting our team this year to have huge accomplishments.” – Justin Halstead (Junior)

Rivalry: 1-18-2011 vs. Brighton @ Pinz Bowling Center; 2-12-2011 vs. Brighton @ Whitmore Lanes

Skiing

Key players: Girls – Erika Vichcales (Junior), Amanda Depuydt (Senior); Boys – Nick Borchardt (Sophomore),  Lames Maize (Sophomore), Lee Mersch (Sophomore), Keegan Zemper (Sophomore)

Season Outlook: Howell Skiing is determined to have a strong season this winter. They will again compete in the Mt. Brighton Ski league.  This league consists of 11 teams from Ann Arbor to Okemos.  Howell Varsity Ski Team will again compete in the Mt. Brighton Ski league.  The girls’ team is led by two upperclassmen that have a large amount of experience and who are capable of winning any race. All the girls will be pushing each other to get better. The boys’ team is dealing with a lot of inexperience with no upperclassmen on the team. However, they all have great talent and will be working hard to improve every day.

Coach Comment: Girls – “Our girls’ team is strong this year with eight members.  Six girls returned from last year lead by Amanda Depuydt (Senior) and Erika Vichcales (Junior).” – Coach Gorton

Boys – “The boys’ team is very young this year.  We have four sophomores and two freshmen.   We look for Nick Borchardt to be the fastest of the boys.  Lames Maize, Lee Mersch, and Keegan Zemper will be working hard to catch him.” – Coach Gorton

Player Comment: “We’ve put in a lot of hard work and are hoping to go far as a team this year. We all get along very well and push each other to do better every day.”- Erika Vichcales (Junior)

Rivalry: League races are held at Mt Brighton on Tuesdays and Thursdays in January and February.  First race will be January 6th.

Howell football team enjoys most successful season in history

It was a record setting year for the Howell football team, going further than any team in Highlander history has gone before.

The Highlanders ended the year with an 8-4 record, reaching the third round of the state playoffs. It was the first time any Howell football team had made it to the quarterfinals.

Coach Mr. Aaron Metz attributed the success to the dynamic of the team.

“We had great team chemistry between our sophomores, juniors, and seniors,” he said. “Our seniors really led the way. They knew they couldn’t do it by themselves and realized they just needed a team to do it.”

Among the key senior players was Anthony Patritto, whose nine sacks on the year led the team.

“I think our team work was a big part of our success,” Patritto, who also averaged 4.77 yards per carry rushing the ball, said. “We’ve all been playing together since we were in instructional football so we knew each other very well.”

In addition to the great chemistry, Mr. Metz said that it took everyone on the team that played to put together the winning record.

“I don’t know if you could say that we had one superstar, and that was also a big part of our success,” he said.

Senior Derrick Palma, who led the defense with five interceptions, agreed with Mr. Metz.

“Everyone was in it for each other,” Palma, who also rushed for five touchdowns and 658 yards (according to MaxPreps.com), said. “We all had the same ultimate goal.”

The Highlanders started off the season on a high note. They thrashed Utica Stevenson in the first game of the year, 35-0, which was played at Eastern Michigan University. Howell then went on the road to Plymouth and beat the state runners-up 18-10.

“The game at Eastern was just the beginning for us,” Palma said. “It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and a very exciting place to start off the season.”

A home loss to Hartland in their next game was a wakeup call for the team, Mr. Metz noted.

“I think the Hartland game was a turning point for us,” he said. “We made a big stride in learning how to be successful. That taught us that you can’t just turn it on for Friday nights. You have to practice and be ready to go each week.”

Patritto added that the game was big for the team.

“We overlooked them,” he said. “But from there on out, we learned not to overlook any teams.”

They followed up the loss with wins against Pinckney, Grand Blanc, Milford, and rival Brighton before stumbling in the KLAA championship game against Walled Lake Western.

Wins against Brighton and Holt got the Highlanders to the third round before they lost to Rockford.

Palma, while saying the season was amazing, reflected on the Rockford loss.

“If we would have been able to score more or been able to hold them to fewer points in the first half,” he said, “it would have been different.”

This team featured a very good offense, scoring more points than any other Howell team in history with 292.

Senior Matt Sullivan led the team in offense, gaining 750 yards on the ground and getting another 282 receiving. He was also second in tackles with 101, behind senior Jimmy Dobson.

In the end, Mr. Metz was very happy with how the season went.

“We hit some bumps in the road in a couple of places but our kids played hard every game and did the best they could do every week. They did everything they could do to be successful.”

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