PHENOMENAL FRESH MEN

byLucyPoppleton content editor

The Class of 2027 showcases their talents outside of the classroom

Marin Weber started dancing at the age of four as a way to burn her energy. Since then, dance has transformed into both a passion and a mode of expression for her. “I [love] the fact that you can say so much, except you’re not saying anything,” gushes Weber. “You can express yourself…through your movement.” Dancing with Company Dance Traverse, Weber performs many different styles of dance from traditional ballet to contemporary to jazz to tap. As for her favorite mode of expression, it would have to be “a tie between ballet and contemporary,” says Weber. “I just have more of a connection to those dance types.” In addition to movement, Weber loves the activity because of the people around her. “The community is also a really great part of [dance],” shares Weber. She is at one of the highest levels in her company and dances with other outstanding high school dancers, working dedicatedly at her craft five days a week.

At the end of this past dance season, Weber’s hard work paid off as she returned to New York City Dance Alliance nationals for another year. In order to make it to New York, Weber first auditioned at regionals. “If they select you to be an Outstanding Dancer, you have the option to go to New York…and that’s where you compete to be the ultimate Outstanding Dancer,” explains Weber. Though she ultimately was not named the overall winner, Weber received a platinum ranking—the best ranking possible—for her performances at both the regional and national levels. “It was very good, and I’m pretty proud of myself,” reflects Weber.

Looking forward to the future, Weber cannot wait to continue dancing, especially as she enters high school this year. “I’ve…never not wanted to go to dance,” Weber says, recalling her many years devoted to the sport. She knows that dance is definitely in store for her, possibly as a profession. “I’m starting to think that dance might be a career that I might want to pursue,” ponders Weber, “but I know that I [definitely] want to do it when I’m older [even if not as a career].”

Not many people can say that a cow is their best friend, but Kane Brooks proudly does so, taking every opportunity to share his love for the animals. Brooks has successfully raised two championship cows throughout his years of participating in 4-H, a program that allows youth to experience the joys of raising livestock. He has raised cattle for six years now, and he has four years of high school left to bond with and raise four more calves. “[I love that it gives] me a responsibility and…shows me how to take care of something [with] determination,” describes Brooks. He began the program by raising goats before later switching to cows, which has certainly been successful, as he has been named Grand Champion of the Northwestern Michigan Fair not once but twice. Brooks puts “in a lot of hard work,” each day, usually around four hours, as he explains. “Morning or night, [I spend time] washing him, blow drying him off, taking care of him, making sure he has clean bedding, [and] making sure he has a clean pen.” Raising one calf for show at the Fair usually takes around nine or ten months. “Right now I have my cow, and the fair starts in August,” Brooks explains as he looks forward to another competition.

Reflecting on his titles as Grand Champion, Brooks considers it an honor to win. “It felt great because I [earned] a lot more respect, and it was just nice knowing that I was the number one showman that day,” conveys Brooks. The cows are judged based on how well they are raised and how much muscle they have on their bodies. “It’s just crazy that when that judge walks up and shakes your hand and says ‘good job,’ then that’s when you start to know you did really [well],” Brooks says. Ultimately, what Brooks loves most about raising cows through 4-H is the connections he is able to form with the calves. “When you see them go by, you cry because you just love that cow so much because you sit there and make TikToks with it, and you just love it a lot,” explains Brooks. “I will continue doing it until I can’t do it anymore.”

Lorelai Zielinski has only thrown shot put since sixth grade, yet she has gone to nationals each year since she began. This year, she was finally named the national champion of her age group. “It was really exciting,” exclaims Zielinski. “I had been waiting two years to get that high [of a score] in the nation.” She certainly got there through her hard work. During the off season, Zielinski practices about three days a week, but she spends time throwing six to seven days a week during the shot put season itself. Zielinski notes that she has continued to improve the distances of her throws by “practicing more [and more].” Zielinski’s mom and coach, Amanda Zielinski, has also helped her improve, as she threw shot put when she was in high school.

Looking back at nationals this spring, Zielinski remembers the path she took to get there. Throughout the season, she continued to build, throwing longer and longer distances and approaching her goal of a 50 foot throw. At regionals, she “got first in [the discus throw]” before moving on to shot put. “My first throw was over 50 feet, [and] I [felt like] there was a weight lifted off my shoulders,” reveals Zielinski. “Then I progressively got better and then threw 53 feet.” She then continued to work hard for nationals, where she would face many of the same girls she competed against in previous years. This time, after taking home eighth place in sixth grade and third place in seventh grade, Zielinski won the title of National Champion in shot put. “I was just really excited and really happy that I had finally done it,” recalls Zielinski.

As Zielinski transitions from middle to high school, the weight of the shot she throws will increase, but her enthusiasm for the sport will remain. “I’m very excited [to throw],” concludes Zielinski.