Hunting For A Title

By: Bradley Dillon & Isabelle Goodnite

With the boys basketball teams’ growth this season, everyone is wondering– can they win the league title? The league title is divided into two tiers based on the size of the school: Scarlet and Grey. This year the boys hope to win the Grey Tier championship. The Pirates are standing on top of the MVAC with a record of 15-3 (10-2 in the MVAC). This leaves the Pirates in first place after they recently overcame Newton Falls in a close battle of 67-61. Newton Falls went on to lose to Labrae costing them 3 losses in the MVAC. Southeast has not won a league since 2012, but we hope that this season will prove to be a change in that status. The boys basketball team here at Southeast has grown in unimaginable ways through hard work and determination. These athletes carry the team, not alone, but with the help of their coaches. Head coach Matt Dillon and assistant coaches Zeddie Pollock, Douglas Craver, and Nick Dillon help to push the boys to their utmost potential. 

The brilliance of this young team lies in the raw talent and tenacity that their coaches have helped to mold over the past three years. The recipe for success lies in the bump and grind on the floor and fortitude of the Pirate defense. Pollock stated “Considering our lack of upperclassmen and experience in big games, I’ve been very pleased with how our team has handled pressure. We understand we’re not going to win every big game, but these kids consistently find a way to compete, and sometimes that leads to wins”. The number of wins has superseded the original plan set by the coaches and team for this year, which was to perform a little better than last season – Pirates ended the 24-25 season 13-12. The hunt for a title was supposed to commence in the 2026-2027 season when the team would be older and more experienced. However, “Sometimes you have to take advantage of opportunities when they are presented. This year we have the opportunity to win a championship” stated N. Dillon. 

Pirate Nation is optimistic that their team will bring home a final win, and a league championship title. The Pirates must win their next two MVAC games to win the title outright or win one game to share the title.They play Brookfield on Thursday, February 12th at Brookfield. JV starts at 5:30 and varsity at 7:00. Gather friends, carpool, or join the Southeast party bus, and come support a momentous night for the basketball team. Let’s crown our boys the victors!

Winter Sports Recap

 By: Ava Lenze and Caden Dillon

As the winter sports season comes to an end, we would like to look back and recognize our winter teams and athletes for the seasons they’re having. Our winter sports include wrestling, boys’ and girls’ basketball, and girls’ bowling. 

Our wrestling team has a great outlook on the season as the top team in the  MVAC. Coach Shane Kuberry has helped lead winning seasons the last couple of years. The wrestlers have four seniors: Dominic Kemble, Landon Durstine, Braeden Martin, and Trevor Osborne. Recently, the wrestlers have been a part of a couple of tournaments, including Top Gun and Hephner Memorial, where Dominic Kemble and Gavin Cantera had top-place finishes. Cantera was able to remark on the success of the season. He related that the Pirates have been triumphant this year because “Everyone has come together and filled their roles”.The team’s ultimate goal is to place in the top three at State. The MVAC tournament will take place on February 21st.  

The Southeast girls’ basketball team has a winning record this season, standing at 14-7. Alaina Hutson, Hannah Thols, and Bailey Morris are the seniors for this season and have been working hard to end their season strong. They have one game remaining on the 14th versus Crestwood and their tournament draw on the 21st. The girls have shown what it means to be a team and will keep pushing forward no matter what.                                                                                                                                                                

The boys’ basketball team is currently 15-3 on the season with one league game to go. They have two seniors, Devon Chanell and Joe Sharish. Currently, the Pirates have to win one more conference game to become league champs. Coach Matt Dillon stated on the season, “We want to compete every night, find ways to beat good teams, and to build relationships with our teammates and coaches that last a lifetime.” The boys last game will be a home game against Western Reserve on the 18th, come out and support the seniors for their last home game.  

The girls’ bowling team, coached by Michael Hammond, has a good projection for the end of their season. They are holding a record of 10-8 and still have upcoming matches and tournaments like the Sectionals tournament on the 9th at Spins Bowl in Kent. Emma Smith, a freshman on the Southeast girls’ bowling team, stated, “Some goals we have are to try our best as a team and go out there and win.” Even when faced with losses, the girls want to work harder and get better every time they are face-to-face with a lane. 

The winter sports teams have labored for the successes they have achieved this season. With only a few tournaments left, our teams have shown perseverance and a strong work ethic.

GIFTS FOR LOVE

By: Abi Lenze & Garret Davis

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and many people are struggling to pick out the perfect gift for their lover. These Valentine’s Day gift ideas are effortless and simple while still having a personal feel.

Valentine’s Day gifts don’t need to be over-the-top to be meaningful- the best gifts are thoughtful, well-chosen, and show that you actually know and care for the person you are buying for.

The Heart of Our Halls: A Southeast High School Spotlight

By: Emma Wood & Alexis Crum

Any adult will tell you that the four years of high school are some of the most important years of your life. They are the years when students begin to discover who they are, confront challenges, and grow through moments of adversity. From freshman to senior year, many experience profound personal change. In this spotlight, we will highlight a student that has shown courage, grit, and growth from freshman year to senior, as well as a teacher who has fostered these characteristics in students despite struggles of his own. 

KYLEE MAYVILLE: FINDING STRENGTH THROUGH STRUGGLE

For Senior Kylee Mayville, the transformation from freshman to senior year did not come easily. Her high school experience was shaped by moments that demanded courage, perseverance, and strength beyond her years. She deserves to be spotlighted for her demonstrated bouts of courage, grit, and growth. Even though she often comes to school with a light spirit, sometimes that’s not always the case. Even those who shine the brightest often feel dim. Mayville expressed how she deals with anxiety and depression; “I try to distract myself with healthy people and activities”. Some of those being her older sister Abbey and her parents she says, “…they’re all incredibly hard-working individuals, musically talented, self-less, and successful.” As for some activities, she uses Softball, Bowling, Choir, and Drama Club to distract herself during rough times. Mayville commented that her favorite class is Choir because, “everyone is involved with each other. I love being able to sing something I enjoy. There’s never a dull moment and you can always make new friends.” One thing that makes the choir so special for her and those that participate in it, is the amazing director Joel Kithkart.

MR. JOEL KITHCART: GUIDING GROWTH THROUGH GRIT

While students like Mayville navigate adversity as they grow, there are educators who stand beside them through it all. For our choral director, Kithcart, resilience has been built not only by years of music, but by experiences that have influenced how he teaches, leads, and continuously supports students through various moments of uncertainty.

He shared that when he first came to Southeast High School, following the director Holly Wickersham, he struggled with imposter syndrome. “Many students were deeply connected to her, and she was amazing. I can never be her, but I also realized she could never be me”, he said. While at first, he had suffered, and questioned whether he was living within her shadow or not, he eventually came to realize that they are two different people. He cannot be her, and she cannot be him. They are both amazing in different ways, he said, and his doubts were overcome through consistency, authenticity, and a genuine commitment to his students. He shared that he himself has struggled in his life, that he has seen hardship same as any other teacher and student, and yet through his actions he has shown up and has used it to let other students grow. 

To Kithcart, courage in a choir setting means vulnerability; being willing to sing out, make mistakes, and try again. He believes setbacks, whether missed notes or difficult rehearsals, are essential to growth. By balancing high expectations with compassion, he creates an environment where students feel both challenged and supported. He said he understands that, “…you are all human. You are not professional singers, I cannot expect that from you. You will make mistakes, wrong notes happen, and we just have to work through it”. So while he has these high expectations for his kids, he also understands that there are limitations. He encourages anybody to, “Take a solo, like for Solo & Ensemble, and continue to make music even after choir is done. Even after you graduate. That is the one thing I hope for beyond everything else”. That is what courage is to Kithcart and his students: singing through it, and showing up, even when you are scared or exhausted. 

TIED ALL TOGETHER

Though their roles differ, Mayville and Kithcart share something essential: resilience shaped through adversity. One navigates the halls as a student finding strength through struggle, while the other leads from behind a music stand, guiding students through growth and challenges that he himself has faced. Together, their stories reflect the heart of Southeast High School: a place where courage is cultivated, community is built, and growth is not just encouraged, but lived.

Raise The Curtain

By: Cali McPeak & Alaunte Massrock

Our drama club is doing the play Freaky Friday on April 17th and 18th . Multiple hours spent on remembering lines, choreography, and multiple hours spent at the school shows the hard work and dedication as the club prepares for show time. The actors and actresses started rehearsal after school until 6:15. Our two lead actresses senior Aubree Varga and junior Laine Streem play mother and daughter.   

Despite the late hours, the energy during rehearsal is always up. Starting their rehearsal with improv allows the actors to have spontaneous performances rather than being stiff on stage. Junior Laine Streem says, “My inspiration theatre wise would be my older friends. I would not have the acting ability that I do today if it weren’t for them having faith in me my freshman year and trusting me to fill in for them any time they missed rehearsal. Through standing in, I learned to read, and move with purpose, and truly embody the technique that comes with acting, and if it weren’t for them, I would never have been taught so well.” By trusting a freshman to fill in during rehearsals, these older friends provided a safe space to fail, learn, and grow.

When bringing the character to life actors have to go through challenges. There are going to be things that you don’t like about the character. Senior Aubree Varga says, “What I dislike about Katherine is in the beginning of the show she has a need for every little detail to be perfect.” Aubree overcomes this challenge by reflecting on things she admires about Katherine. Varga says, “Something I’ve learned through this character so far is that there are times where she doesn’t have to act big and demanding, there are moments where she lets her emotions out and acts softer. I really reflect on these moments within myself.” Varga uses self- reflection to find a way to connect with her character, bringing authenticity to the play.With a stellar cast and a timely, relevant theme, Freaky Friday is shaping up to be the theatrical event of the season. Catch it in our cafetorium April 17th and the 18th!

IS MAP TESTING WORTH THE TIME?

By: Leila Evans & Tyler Shaw

Map testing is a relatively new form of testing implemented at Southeast. Students take long tests in math, English, and science to gauge how much they know, and how much they’ve improved throughout the year. Many students don’t like map testing because it can take up a lot of time. Even students that don’t have to test dislike the full week of block days during testing periods. In general, it is easy to conclude that students don’t like map testing- but what do teachers think about it?

English teacher Jennifer Baker stated, “As frustrating as it can be, I think it is necessary to have some concrete data for teachers as well as students and parents on where students are showing strengths and weaknesses and overall success and growth… It’s hard to get students to ‘care’ about the MAP test and I do think, overall, that students can be overtested. I can understand the frustration on their end.” As far as replacing the midterm goes, Baker thinks that Map testing is a good replacement. If midterms were added, it would be too much testing for the students. Although map testing is extensive, it is a good way to see academic improvement. Baker thinks that a sufficient way to improve the testing process is to make it shorter. Instead of doing map testing all week, it would be good to get it done in just one block period.

When asked about positive and negative effects of map testing, Math teacher Brady Deremer said one major positive of map testing is that, “Map testing helps us identify students who are struggling.” Not all parts of Map testing are good though: Deremer stated that, “ Most students believe that the tests are almost punishments for not doing well in class.” It is important for students to understand that these tests are not punishment. They are a way for teachers to see where students are struggling, and where they can improve their teaching.

While map testing has its imperfections, it is important to our education system and the growth of students. Many teachers don’t necessarily enjoy map testing, but they see the benefits, and the general consensus is that these positives outweigh the negatives. Teachers say that having valuable information on students is very important to helping the growth of all students. Teachers and students alike can agree that map testing takes too long, but overall, it is profitable for everyone.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Leap Year Rarity: The odds of being born on Feb. 29 are roughly 1 in 1,461, with these individuals called “leaplings” or “leapers”
  
• No Full Moon: February is the only month that can pass without a full moon, with the last occurrence in 2018.

MEET OUR CREW

Writers:

Abi Lenze, Ava Lenze, Cali McPeak, Alexis Crum, Emma Wood, Jocelyn Nowak, Isabelle Goodnite, Bradley Dillon, Caden Dillon, Tyler Shaw, Garret Davis, Alaunte Massrock

Pictures:

Photographer: Kristen Dillon, Southeast Athletic Boosters, YSN 

Editors:

Kristen Dillon, Isabelle Goodnite, Jocelyn Nowak, Mrs. Dillon