The Eagle | Issue 3 | May 2024

PlymouthNorth LeadershipOfficersOliviaEufrazio, CaitlinRicher, LilyJohnson, and CassieTucker

Plymouth North's Marketing Program has been attending DECA competitions for many years

However, this year, the program made an extraordinary advancement As 19 marketing students from North have qualified for the international competition, 4 of those students are attending the competition for reasons other than actually competing

The DECA international competition is being held in Anaheim, California this year North's students left on Friday April 26th, and returned Thursday May 2nd The 15 students who attended either competed at the national level or were awarded a leadership opportunity

Though 11 of the students competed, four spots remain These "spots" have been awarded to Caitlyn Richer, Cassie Tucker, Lily Johnson, and Olivia Eufrazio Their marketing teacher, Holliane Sprowl, said giving each of these girls the opportunity to attend ICDC in a leadership position was "a no brainer" for her and her colleagues

The four profound students will be attending the competition in a leadership position This is the very first time Plymouth North has had the opportunity to apply for leadership academy positions This took extreme hard work and dedication from the program as a whole, but specifically the students who are now attending

Plymouth High Schools Phase Out CP2 Courses for the Class of 2028

By Nicole Ryttel

The Eagle

Plymouth North's Marketing Leaders Headed to ICDC

By Gabrielle Colorusso

Sprowl said, "There were three areas of criteria which we had to meet Those consisted of membership, promotion, and community service "

Depending on their role in the marketing program, the students had to network in order to meet the asked criteria Caitlyn Richer, Vice President of membership for North's DECA chapter, was in charge of assembling 20 Plymouth North Marketing alumni students to support the cause

For Cassie Tucker, Vice President of Service, Sprowl said, "She had a crucial role in getting the community involved in the program " Tucker and her team managed to acquire all the necessary sponsors from local businesses

The 20 sponsors, along with the 20 alumni supporters, provided Plymouth North with 4 spots in total for the competition Lily Johnson, Vice President of social media, has been in the program since her freshman year Now a senior, Sprowl said "Lily created an instagram account as a sophomore, and now she has over 700 followers on it It’s been incredible for the recruitment of businesses wanting to be a part of our program It's really helped with the eighth graders who are coming to our school ”

Liv Eufrazio, who is on the Competition committee, assisted in running every single Glass Class Sprowl said Olivia is a “phenomenal leader” and overall is simply “very excited” about DECA

For the incoming freshman class of 2028, College Prep 2 (CP2) classes will no longer be offered by high schools in the Plymouth Public Schools District This decision is part of a larger process of gradually deleveling classes to promote high expectations and equity for all students

“Part of the conversation that went into this decision was that we were seeing grades not matching learning growth in [CP1 and CP2 classes],” Mr Parcellin, Plymouth North Principal, said “We’re hoping that this decision will give students previously enrolled in CP2 the opportunity to take more risks and push themselves further ” The decision to phase out CP2 classes is not

For those who went to the competition with a leadership role, their days looked a bit different They departed into the Thrive academy Essentially, this is where they explored how to build up their chapter, how to create an outstanding program, along with how to better themselves as a leader

The days that their peers were competing, those in Leadership academy attended seminars, workshops, and lectures, with fellow students from across the world, also in the DECA program

Johnson said, "I learned how to become an even better leader, thanks to these networking opportunities "

uncommon In fact, Mr Parcellin and other PPS administrators have used feedback from neighboring schools to develop a strategy for implementing and communicating the de-leveling of classes

“In regards to the CP2 switch, meetings have been conducted at both North and South High School,” Mrs Jill Furtado, Freshman Academy Assistant Principal, said “We present the model, gather teacher feedback and concerns, and talk about what professional development we can consider providing ”

In addition to these staff meetings, letters have been sent to current eighth grade students by members of PPS high school guidance departments Continued on page 2 An

These letters direct students to look into the revised Freshman Course Guide that no longer lists CP2 level classes

PPS staff is largely optimistic about the effects of deleveling on these incoming freshmen “ I think that with this change, we’re going to see the kid who struggles a lot in class inspired by the kid who does well in class,” Ms Angela Velino, math teacher, said “Specifically in math, students are going to have more opportunities to work on problems collaboratively, which is going to be very beneficial ” Mrs Shari Kahle, Guidance Department Head, said, “I think that de-leveling will allow for more options after high school because it sets students up for producing work at an increased level ” Like any district decision the choice to phase out CP2 classes has its drawbacks as well

With more diverse CP1 classes, teachers will have to adapt their instruction techniques to meet the needs of all students

“For teachers, there is going to be a little bit more work on the forefront,” Ms McCarthy, English teacher, said “We will have to create more materials and documents, and overall be really thoughtful in evaluating the needs of the kids in front of us ”

To help teachers navigate class diversity, the number of co-teachers in each CP1 class has increased These certified educators have degrees in special education to assist students with IEP requirements in more difficult CP1 classes With this added support, and without a CP2 label, PPS staff members hope that students can reach their full potential

“There’s such a stigma around the concept of CP2, with people thinking that those students are incapable,” Ms McCarthy said “I think that when both classes are morphed together, you’re not going to be able to point out who’s a CP1 and who’s a CP2 student For our school culturally, that’s going to be super positive ” Mr Parcellin said, “This decision requires a change in mindset As staff, we have to teach ourselves that all students can achieve and that’s ultimately what deleveling promotes ”

School Store accommodates to modernizing times

With advancing times, the local Plymouth North School Store stays up to date by incorporating marketing strategies to keep customers coming back

By: Oliver Durgin

The school store is a place all Plymouth North students have grown to love because of how it eliminates their midday hunger with delicious snacks But there's a lot more that goes into the store than just tasty treats

Given that the school store is a part of Plymouth North, certain restrictions have to be followed to maintain healthy pallets for students and keep them on the right track

Ingrid Anderson, the school store manager, orders food and maintains the general upkeep She said, “No Venmo, no caffeine for students during school hours restrictions on some of the food that I can purchase, candy wise, sugar wise, caffeine wise ”

Along with these restrictions the school store is not a cheap endeavor It costs roughly $800 per week to keep the store fully stocked Despite the costly expenses the chool store still commands a profit of over $5000 per year This money is taken and put right back to the store and the marketing program

Vaping Epidemic

With such a successful store, Mrs Anderson can’t do it alone Brian Russell is a Plymouth North senior whose contributions substantially impact how the school store is run

One of the main contributions is implementing a presence on social media Russell said, “We’ve helped use Instagram to reach out to people via social media It also helped increase our publicity ” Another Plymouth North contributor is Eliza Terman

She shares a similar role as Russell She said, “The school store is a great resource for students to have students involved with it is great because it makes a stronger connection to our customers ”

Customer connection is crucial For students to see familiar amicable faces only further entices them to continue to show up and shop

Russell and Terman were most recently accredited to their school store additions at the DECA marketing competition, placing first in the state competition The school store advertises their victory with a trophy as well as a pamphlet regarding their win at the front desk of the store

The school store is a great spot to hang out, grab food, and catch up with friends But there's a lot more to the store than just meets the eye So next time you stop by to purchase their most popular item the honey bun embrace all of the effort that goes into making the school store possible

By Nyla LaVoie

High schools everywhere are hit hard by the vaping epidemic, which is targeting teenagers

Plymouth North is not the only school that is affected by vaping High school students all over the world have turned to vaping, and it is becoming a serious problem But, what exactly is vaping? Kelly Macomber, family and community engagement specialist, states that “Vaping devices are battery-operated devices that people use to inhale aerosol ”

To start off, nicotine can permanently change a teenager’s brain, because it is developing Nicotine is highly addictive, and with that it can harm parts of the brain that control your mood and ability to learn The biggest myth about vaping is that it is healthier than cigarettes, and what many high schoolers fail to recognize is that vaping is just as harmful as cigarettes, possibly even worse

“Vaping exposes the lungs to a variety of chemicals, including those added to e-liquids, and other chemicals produced during the heating/vaporizing process,” said Macomber

Students may think that vaping is not harmful due to the flavoring, but it causes many irreversible long-term

effects such as lung disease, brain damage, and many types of cancers

While this epidemic is affecting teenagers all over the world, Assistant Principal A J Butters shares how Plymouth North is being affected by this epidemic

“It's been a major problem here for quite some time Probably for a couple years, but lately it has been worse,” said Butters

Even with Massachusetts becoming the first state to ban the sale of both flavored tobacco and nicotine products, addiction will not stop at that Companies that sell these products target teenagers through flavors and designs that are appealing to teenagers The use of social media for advertisement and promotion can also make it seem trendy

A student at Plymouth North (prefers anonymity) shares, “I feel like I can’t even go to the bathrooms anymore If the vape detector goes off while I am in there, I may be the one accused of vaping ”

Students may feel pressured by others to start using

electronic cigarettes It is important to recognize that as a high schooler, individuality is important, as is making good choices and not following trends just because other friends or family members are a part of them Some teenagers may use nicotine as a coping device for stress, or other health related issues

Stress can trigger vape cravings, and it makes it more addictive Reaching for a vape may be tempting during these moments, but vaping is not an acceptable way to cope Plymouth North offers multiple programs, and adjustment counselors as well to help with feelings of stress, anxiety, depression, etc

School is supposed to be a safe and healthy environment for students and faculty If you know someone who is struggling with addiction of any kind, it is important to know that there is no “One-size fits all" approach to getting them help

Kelly Macomber recommends these tips; “Recognize it, address it, and don’t give up If you, a friend, or a loved one is struggling, it is important to reach out ”

From a Plan to a Project

What the Senior Project Class is and a highlight of a student’s project

By Annalise Lopes

For the past 12 years, the Senior Project class at North has allowed students to choose their own topic Seniors report to the library every other day just like any other class, and the expectations are strict, but with the help of an advisor, students get to focus on one of their passions

Seniors come in with many ideas, but which one will stay? It can be career related, passion related, and some projects can benefit the community

“Students who take this class are self-motivated, self starters, and have good time management,” said Mrs Lauren Allen, senior project advisor She has advised the senior project class for 6 years and every year she sees a wide range of project focuses

“It is like a college class You follow a syllabus and check in with your advisor, but there aren't consistent reminders to get your work done,” said Mrs Allen

One of her students, Max Santos, is passionate about retail and marketing He is selling wholesale items through Amazon to obtain a profit

He worked under Mayflower Mobile for 4 years This company is owned by his neighbors, who introduced him into the process of buying discounted items in bulk in order to resell For his senior project he broke off and made his own company, Dymatrends LLC

Santos sells electronic items like hotspots and chargers through this online Amazon business He finds suppliers

and creates listings His profits go towards investing in the business If he needs help he can still reach out to his mentor at Mayflower Mobile

His retail strategy is not the same as drop shipping Drop shipping is when an item is shipped from a warehouse right to a consumer's home, but Santos has an inventory

The end result of his project will be a video explaining what he does and how others can too “My goal with this project is to spread awareness to high school students who could do this as a job,” said Max

Since the beginning of the school year Max has been reporting to the library to brainstorm, plan, research, then execute He has written up progress checks for his advisors to make sure he is on task It is his job to get the project done

Max suggests this class to incoming seniors “You get to focus your time on something you enjoy, which makes you put more effort and time into your work,” said Santos

While Mrs Allen and Santos suggest this class, there has been a decrease in the enrollment Mrs Allen averaged about 10 students per year, but this year she only has 3

Mr Shawn Loughlin is the head of the Senior Project class and has been an advisor for 11 years “About 4

Be the Light Benefit Show

year said T were Also expe if th works out, said Mr Loughlin

Mr Loughlin mentioned there is a bounce back in the enrollment and hopes to keep the numbers growing This year there are around 15 students which is about 5 more than last year

Plymouth North and South Interact clubs come together to put on a memorable show for a good cause

By Maeve Geary

On Thursday, March 28th, students from both Plymouth North and South participated in the second annual Be the Light Benefit Show, organized by students from both schools’ Interact clubs From singing to dancing and even poetry, the show was a night of music and entertainment What truly made the night special, though, was that all the money raised from the event was donated to three non-profit organizations in support of local veterans

This year, the Interact club chose the American Legion Post 40, the Town Veterans Affairs Organization, and the Sandpiper Inn CRC Group Home as the beneficiaries of this year's Benefit Show The show featured performances from all of Plymouth North and South’s Acapella groups, along with individual performances from talented Plymouth musicians and singers Going beyond just singing, there were also performances by Manomet School of Dance, Poetry Out Loud winner Evan Johnson, and even Irish step dancing Junior Lily Caple is one of Plymouth North’s most avid performers As a member of North’s Acapella group Spectrum, as well as the lead singer of the student band WINA, Lily noted how special it is to be able to support veterans “It’s great when we can do what we love in support of people in need I think that’s the best reward,

when you can use what you love to help others ”

Last year, the Interact club’s first Benefit Show raised around $6,000 toward Lucy’s Love Bus, a non-profit organization that provides for pediatric cancer patients and their families At the end of this year’s show, club president Emma Baggett was proud to announce that they had raised over $6,500 in support of local veterans

“The show itself I think of as three kind of phases, there is the performance, there is donations, and there is publicity, and they are involved in all stages of that,” Mrs Michelle Lewison, World Language teacher at Plymouth North and advisor of the Interact club, said She has taken a step back this year in the organization of the event, letting the students take the reins “We have a nice little group in Interact, and they have done everything from making calls to local businesses to try and get donations, we have somebody who takes care of our Instagram page and does promotion We have others who are contacting individuals in the community for other types of donations like those yard signs they put out before events,” she said

Emma Baggett considers the Interact club successful in drawing enough people to ensure a lot of donations “We decided to choose veterans this year because we wanted to attract a certain crowd We wanted to attract veterans and active duty and get a good amount of people here in order to raise enough money for these charities This is our second annual show, and we want to keep doing this for years and years to come ”

Overall, the talent of students in Plymouth’s VPA program has been put to good use, as they come together once again to support a wonderful cause “We really have a big pool of talent that are able to bring people here,” said junior Chase Kingston, Benefit Show host

“We do have really good performers You look at all the acapella groups, and then the groups like WINA who formed from those acapella groups ” It’s clear to see why a benefit show was the final choice and a sure way to get people interested

With the success of this year’s Benefit Show, the Interact club hopes to keep the tradition going The event showcases not only the talent of Plymouth students but also their ability to take initiative and find creative ways to support important causes and make a positive impact in the Plymouth community

Billy Tavares, Lily Caple and Brody McGraw performing with WINA at the Benefit Show Photographed by Maeve Geary

Billy Tavares and Ally Chamberlain performing at the Benefit show

Photographed by Maeve Geary

Planning Our Future

Exploring the growing trends of high seniors’ college plans

By: Lily Johnson

As you scroll through your Instagram feed, it’s likely you’ll stumble upon another glimpse into the future plans of a 2024 senior Taking a look at the page reveals many students choosing to stay closer to home, rather than venturing far Interestingly, this trend is not exclusive to Plymouth North High School

Research from the Cooperative Institutional Research Program at UCLA found in 1999, only 16% of students cited that living close to home was a key factor in their college decision making process By 2009, this figure had risen to 20% and by 2019, a quarter of students listed it as one of the leading reasons

Aislyn Kelliher, a senior from Plymouth North, embodies this growing trend Despite initially considering colleges in Florida, she ultimately chose Bridgewater State University

“I chose New England because I mostly thought Florida was going to be a vacation, not just going to school,” Kelliher said “Now that I am more focused on the education piece in-state schools are less expensive which is what really made my decision ”

Forbes reported a staggering 180% increase in college cost from 1980 to 2019 As a result, many prospective students are opting for in-state and regional tuition to avoid these financial burdens

Out-of-state private schools typically have the most expensive tuition rates For instance according to US News and World Report, Kenyon College in Ohio charged $69,330 for undergraduate tuition in the 202324 academic year In stark contrast, Worcester State University, an in-state public university, had a 2023-24 full year undergraduate tuition of $10,786 (Massachusetts Department of Higher Education Data), representing a difference of approximately $60,000

Data from Naviance highlights the prevalence of instate college attendance among Plymouth North students compared to out-of-state attendance For example, while 229 students have attended Bridgewater State University, only 2 who have attended Central Connecticut State University

However, not all Plymouth North seniors are following this trend Maggie Kusmin, for instance, will be attending the University of Miami in the fall “I wanted a change of pace from Massachusetts life and I prefer to go somewhere with warm weather,” Kusmin said

Kusmin admitted that although Miami is new scenery, Massachusetts will always be her home “I know I want to move back to New England after college so I want to be able to have a different experience,” said Kusmin

These contrasting future plans are noticed by the guidance department who works tirelessly to support students in their future plans

“There's always trends in applications There's always these schools where each class is clearly talking about,” said Mrs Shari Kahle, PNHS guidance department head This year, the focus seems to be on proximity to home as shown by students, such as Cassie Tucker who will be attending Stonehill College “I knew that being closer to home meant that I would be saving money and I could work at the job I have now while at school It just seemed like a smart decision,” Tucker said Seniors seem to be in general agreement The choice between staying in Massachusetts and heading to California ultimately comes down to your beliefs and values However, the college search is different for everybody

Facilities and the Trades

By: Maggie Kusmin

While the prospect of college may seem overwhelming, students can rely on the guidance department for support and information Ultimately, the key is to make choices that align with your aspirations and goals

A tech program provides students with a basis to pursue a different route instead of attending traditional college

Many students are in the facilities program and plan on pursuing jobs in the trades Taking this path is a good alternative to attending college or enlisting in the forces

David South, the Plymouth North facilities teacher, feels that going into the trades really benefits students

“When you work in the trades you’ll be making money right out of the gate You’ll have an annuity, you’ll have medical and dental benefits, you’ll have a pension plan and you’ll get training and education,” South said.

Many students feel as though college is not for them “I plan on becoming a licensed diesel mechanic because the U S is severely short of them and it's a very specific job Going into the trades I will have a good chance of making money right away,” Spencer Katz said Trade jobs can vary from jobs in construction, agriculture, plumbing, electrical, and many more With this vast array of options there is a field for all different types of students

Faculty Advisor: Michelle Terry

Photographers:

Serena Ball

Lily Johnson

Ava Galindo

Gabby Colorusso

Maeve Geary

Layout Editors: Emmy Spinale, Amy Lee, Caelan McNiff, Maeve Gaery

A large number of students think college is the only path after high school, and many are unaware about this alternative path

There are a wide array of reasons students believe attending college isn’t for them South wants more students to become aware of this path through the facilities program “Facilities management has prepared me personally for anything I will come across as a homeowner, saving me from having to call a technician and spend hundreds if not thousands,” Katz said.

The facilities programs at Plymouth North High School provides a great baseline for working in the trades Former facilities student Everett Paskowski said, “Freshman through junior year being in Mr South’s class introduced me to a broad array of skills that a facilities manager needs to know as well as who I work for now which is an independent general contractor ”

“I chose to work in the trades because I have always loved working with my hands as well as being able to take things apart and put them back together,” Paskowski said

South knows that students could be hesitant about pursuing this path, but has advice for those who are: “Take some time off if you ' re trying to balance the decision between the trades and college Weigh out the pros and cons and look ahead to your future and what will benefit your career path the most ”

Managing Editors: Bella Piekarski

Mya Boyd

Avabella Tassinari

Chief Editor:

Ava Galindo

Copy Editor: Connor Curow

Extend Plymouth Airport Runway, or Not?

The Plymouth Municipal Airport is considering potential new extension with a runway

By: Sadie Turrell

The Plymouth Municipal Airport, located in West Plymouth, is considering extending its main runway, runway 6/24 (the numbers of the runway refer to the compass coordinates) The current runway is 4,650 feet long, and the airport commission is looking to extend it to 5,001 feet The reason for this is safety The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recommends that the runway should be 5,000 feet long

Tom Hurley, Plymouth Airport Commissioner and executive director of the Massachusetts Airport Management Association, said, “The reason for this extension is to increase the margin of safety One of the comparisons I like to make is comparing it to automobiles We’re suggesting painting new stripes on

the road, and putting up better guard rails If we do these things it’s better and safer ”

“The extension of the runways can’t bring bigger planes in, because the airport is designated to be its particular size The runways are of a certain thickness and width, they are 75 feet wide which is not wide,” said Hurley In this case bigger airplanes will not fit, and the airport is not designed for large aircraft

Nearby residents in West Plymouth are raising concerns about the discussion Many have mixed opinions

Lisa Lantange, a West Plymouth homeowner against the airport extension said, “There’s been an increase, especially in the last couple of years, of more and more training school airplanes circling overhead, and low flying aircraft ” Lantange has attended meetings with the airport commission with other residents who feel similarly

Lantange also said, “I heard a jet at 5:45 AM which I was woken up by, and there were many complaints about that ”

There are many other neighbors that are upset about the extension of the airport In The Action Network’s article

Stop the Plymouth Airport Expansion, it stated, “Residents experience excessive noise that interferes with their daily lives, they have soot and particles covering their home ” In response to these concerns, Chris Hyldburg, President and Owner of Alpha One Flight Services said, “The extension actually extends the runway in the direction towards Carver The aircraft that are departing from the Carver end to fly over Plymouth are higher and quieter ” Some other concerns being raised are that more aircrafts will fly into Plymouth because of the extension Hyldburg responded to this and said, “The 351 feet extension increases the safety margin to the standard for those aircraft that are already operating to Plymouth ” The decision has been in the works for two years, and will still take another two to finalize Currently there are still a few tests being conducted, as Hurley said, “There is an environmental assessment that is being conducted now The engineering plans have all been drawn up ” If the decision is made to go through with the airport extension, then the airport commission will apply for the federal and state funding to make the extension happen If this passes 95% of the funds will be paid for by the state and the FAA, and the other 5% paid for by the budget of the Plymouth airport

There are many different views on whether extending the runway is a good thing for Plymouth or not Those in favor feel it will improve airport safety, while those opposed are mainly residents who live close by who feel that it will increase air traffic and noise levels

Mr. Americana: The Entrepreneurial Journey of Mike Polvere

From fighting in an octagon to running multiple businesses, Mike Polvere’s unique passion for MMA has stuck with him throughout various entrepreneurial pursuits

On March 30th, pedestrians flooded the streets of downtown Plymouth to watch Cage Titans 64, a fighting championship held at Memorial Hall Cage Titans is a clear “fan favorite” in the Plymouth area However, ultimate fighting did not always have a strong reputation, inspiring a local trailblazer, Mike Polvere, to literally change the game

Modern MMA competition was introduced in the U S in 1993 with the advent of the Ultimate Fighting Championship In spite of the rapid popularity of mixed martial arts, the sport faces many criticisms from the general public When Mike Polvere, owner of Cage Titans, was a young fighter, he had to overcome the stigmatization of MMA in order to pursue his dream

“Back in the early days, MMA was viewed as a grimy sport,” Mike Polvere said “It wasn’t the most upstanding business, but that is what sort of forced me to pursue it ”

Identifying his passion for MMA was just the first step for Polvere He additionally found a liking towards the functions of small businesses with his first job at a Mr Tux chain The store was run by a family, gaining Polvere great insight to the operations of business management He proceeded to work at another familyowned business, Lombardo’s, to further his work experience

Solidified in his love for small business operations, Mike Polvere fused his passion for entrepreneurship and MMA Like all great entrepreneurs, he started from scratch

“My first fight, I made my own poster, hung them up, and sold the tickets,” Polvere said

Polvere had fought from 2008 until 2010, reigning 30 by the time he was 29 years old However, in the midst of his fighting career, Polvere felt as if he had more to contribute to the sport

In 2010, Cage Titans was created with the pursuit of promoting fighters reputably, and giving the sport of MMA positive recognition

“When you go to these fights, it’s more than just two guys going at each other Mike does a great job at marketing them as people, rather than just fighters,” said Tony Lopes, a regular Cage Titans fan

Polvere recognized that running a local fighting championship opens up the opportunity for fans to relate to the fighters Cage Titans 64 on March 30th showcased Erica Valentin versus Melissa Santos In a podcast with Chris DiCarlo regarding her matchup, it is revealed that Santos balances work as a flight attendant, mother and fighter

As a result, the target audience of Cage Titans has expanded throughout the Plymouth community People of all ages are growing interested in MMA, and even following in the footsteps of Mike Polvere

Brian Russell, Plymouth North marketing student and wrestler, hopes to chase his passion for business and fighting once he graduates While transitioning from wrestling to mixed martial arts, Brian trains at the South Shore Sportfighting about six days a week

“As of now, I have learned a lot from Mike I realized I don’t have to pick and choose a passion Like Mike, I can do both,” Brian Russell said Russell is trains in hopes of fighting for a Cage Titans event, emerging into the world of professional fighting Additionally, he will be studying finance and

By Gabby Lopes

business management at Endicott College in the fall of 2024

Eager young fighters like Brian Russell represent the legacy of Mike Polvere in the Plymouth community

After a career of commitment to his passion, Polvere has proven that mixed martial arts is truly what it sounds like: an art

A Ball in Both Courts

Amidst changes, the tennis program is growing stronger than ever

By Simon Paquette

Spring sports have started up again, and North teams are prepared to leave it all out on the field Boys Lacrosse continues to tear up the turf, Baseball and Softball fight to defend their tournament spots, and even track is pushing themselves to go the extra mile this year However, an air of confusion hangs over the tennis courts as the boys team faces changes

At the end of the 2022 to 2023 school year, Boys Tennis had an incredibly uncertain future; with the loss of nearly half the team to graduation, coupled with the rumored departure of their coach, Robert (Bob) Cooney, players couldn’t be certain there would even be a team to play on Luckily, with the arrival of Mrs Kesha Nielsen as the new boys head coach, as well as a new practice rotation put together by Mr Carl Nielsen, the boys team is given the chance to be just as successful as the girls

After Bob Cooney officially resigned mere weeks before the start of the season, coaches and captains alike worked to address the issues on the boys team as soon as possible

“The biggest problem they had was really just a lack of people,” said Emily Goulian, a Captain for girls tennis “Ten is barely enough for a full varsity team, and since a majority of them don’t practice in the off-season, we were just really concerned about how strong they’d be as a unit ”

It was clear that the boys team needed a significant amount of attention if they were to rebuild their skill level, and Mrs Nielsen was charged with whipping them into shape However, this is her first time as a head coach, and many were skeptical of her ability to bring the boys back to life

“Since it's her first year, we decided to try a more collaborative coaching model than we’ve done in the past,” said North Tennis Coach Mr Nielsen

To ensure each team gets equal amounts of experienced coaching, the Nielsens attend both girls and boys practices, allowing them to efficiently divide their time and address the needs of every player “We’re trying to make sure the boys don’t get the short end of the stick,” he said “It’s all about growing as a tennis unit, you know, rather than as a ‘boys team’ or ‘girls team ’”

The time is definitely ripe for a leveling of the tennis courts, so to speak, as the twenty-two students on the girl’s team dwarfs the boys, who only have ten While a large team may leave some players with less time on the court, a small team puts an incredible amount of pressure on the few guys available Freshman, sophomores, and even juniors or seniors that play recreationally could be expected to perform at the varsity level because there

Pom Poms Meet Palm Trees

By: Avabella Tassinari

A Plymouth cheer team, made up of our North cheerleaders, recently made their way to the National Cheerleading Championships held in Orlando, Florida The team's performance led them to finish at an impressive second place, marking their spot as a top contender in the nation

The journey to get to nationals was not easy for the cheerleaders; funding, practicing, and commitment were all key factors to getting these girls to nationals Led by Coach Brianna Lohr, the team was able to showcase their skills and hard work when achieving silver

The competition took place over two days, with teams from all over the country competing for the title, but even before that the team was preparing

Lohr said, “I had the girls going around to local businesses trying to raise money for the team, if we didn't try and offset the cost of $25,000 we wouldn't have gotten to experience the success we got ” Luckily, with support from Plymouth businesses, they met their goal for fundraising and flew to Orlando where they stayed for the competition

Even while there the cheerleaders were still practicing to perfect their routine, when it was announced that Plymouth had gotten second place,

Lohr said, “It was good to see hard work pay off ” The perseverance seen by these cheerleaders throughout the whole year was really able to shine at nationals

Senior Captain Marin MacDonald was a part of the process when getting her team to nationals, practicing 3 days a week to make sure their team is ready MacDonald said, “I was used to preparing for competitions, but the title of nationals made us all feel a little pressured especially since we had to raise money this time ” MacDonald’s nerves didn't stop her and her team from doing the best they could as they advocated their needs to locals and practiced their routine any chance they got

The Rise of Ultimate Frisbee

The inside scoop into the growing ultimate frisbee club at Plymouth North

By Emerson Spinale

With Plymouth North becoming more involved in creating clubs at school, the ultimate frisbee club is the first to involve playing a sport The game consists of seven players on each team attempting to get the frisbee from one end of the field to the other without running with the frisbee in hand, which can earn them a point The defensive side is trying to block the opposing team from making their way down the field The team with the most points by the end of the game wins

“We practice twice a week from 5:30-7:00 p m , and we play around seven to eight games a season,” said North teacher and ultimate frisbee club leader Mr Dana Perlow The club was started seven years ago by a student named Tom Belcher, who made it his senior project “He fundraised for pinnies, and asked me to become an advisor When he asked me, I said absolutely!”

When the club started seven years ago, there wasn’t enough student interest to have a single team of seven students However, with the help of Dana Perlow, the sport of ultimate frisbee is more popular

at North than ever before

In addition to it being a popular extracurricular at North, it is one of the few co-ed sports the school has “I think it's good, because it makes it a true team game because you have to play with everybody,” said Mr Perlow Although the team is made up of only a few girls now, the club looks to get more girls interested in playing

“It's just fun to be able to play a sport that’s more about having fun than being competitive or to win,” said junior Will Palmer After being convinced by his older sister Kelly his freshman year to join the team, Palmer has been a large part of the club’s success “Whoever wants to play can, it doesn’t really matter who you are as a person,” said Palmer

The ultimate frisbee club continues to get new players joining every year For example, North junior Quinn Hales is stepping onto the field for his first time this year “I think it’s great Getting to play with a diverse group of kids has been fun,” said Hales

Compared to any other school sport at North, ultimate frisbee is a club that is not considered an MIAA sport This means that students that are already involved in spring sports and school activities can still have the ability to join the group

simply aren’t enough players to form a JV team

“I was definitely nervous about our lack of manpower going into the season,” said Jack Cleland, a senior on the team “And so far it hasn't really been a problem, but every time we have an absence, you can feel it ”

Cleland, like many others on the boys team, was unsure about returning to tennis for his senior year after so much turnover that included their coach

“The vibe has definitely changed from last year, you know, things aren’t as organized But Mr Nielsen has been really helpful keeping things on track,” Cleland said

After this year’s seniors graduate, there will be only five returning members on the boys tennis team, meaning they will likely face this issue again Hopefully, the continued collaboration of the Nielsen’s will ensure the longevity of the program for years to come

With the help of Plymouth's local businesses, they were able to travel to Orlando, and put to use their weeks of practice and bring Plymouth’s spirit south, winning silver

“Most of the time when we were not enjoying the attractions we were practicing our stunts,” MacDonald said Needless to say the cheerleaders did not go unrecognized when receiving their placement MacDonald said, “I was relieved to know the extra time was spent well, even if it wasn't first place ”

Junior Kendall Sherwood was led by Lohr and MacDonald during the weeks leading up to nationals, getting them to the skill level they needed in order to place

While in Orlando the team was able to enjoy time together Sherwood said, “Marin and all the other girls were great at keeping everyone's spirits up, the laughs and hangouts we had in between is what really got our team to be as stable as we were ''

Along with bonding and practicing, Sherwood had to raise money with her team by asking local businesses to donate money to be a sponsor in support of the team, and one of their final steps to solidifying their place at nationals which was something they hadn't been able to meet in past years Sharing her experience, Sherwood said, “We each picked different places to go to and we all asked as many people as we could if they wanted to make a donation to help us, I was honestly surprised at how helpful the community was ”

“Ultimate frisbee is a low commitment, a great way to make friends, and get involved in more activities outside of the classroom,” said Hales This is one of the few activities at North that allows students to take part in sports without worrying about the balance of being a student-athlete There has been talk at North and the MIAA to get the sport of ultimate frisbee to take off as a spring sport “I would love to make it an MIAA sport It would be kind of nice to have committed players and appreciate the game with a good attitude,” said Mr Perlow

Although the club has not yet been approved as an official sport, the club has the ability to intermix different students amongst their classmates, be involved in some friendly competition, and improve their physiological health

The future of the club is up for debate on whether it will take the steps in becoming an official school sport However, for now, the club strives to get all students involved in an activity that will create longlasting memories that will be remembered beyond their high school years “I think it’s such an awesome game

You don't have to feel bad about smiling, having a good time, or making a mistake ”

Plymouth North Girls Tennis Team