Sports

Heartbreaking Loss

By My'Shion Davis, Donald Harrell, Jaiden Thompson, La’Trell Johnson, Toney Bennett, Rashun Cooper, Olivia Bell-Anderson, and Elijah Williams-Cooper

Friday, September 19, 2025, was a night full of energy and emotions as the Tigers returned to Filstrup Field for Senior Night. 

Benton Harbor hosted Muskegon Catholic Central after losing to them last year by a score of 8-49. 

This year, the Tigers put 26 points on the scoreboard with a new spread offense. Jaiden Thompson, playing his first year of varsity football at center, said, “Everybody understood their assignments, and we executed better.”

Four-year varsity football player Donald Harrell said, “It was a wonderful feeling, everyone was hyped and felt like this was the game we would win.” The Tigers were on a roll towards winning Senior Night, but they lacked defense in the end of the 4th quarter, and an onside kickoff caught the Tigers off guard. 

Two-year varsity football player La’Trell Johnson replied to the lack of defense by saying, “I felt alright. We could’ve did better with plays and better defense.”

Even with the mistakes, the Tigers battled until the very last second, keeping the crowd on their feet. The final score was 26-27. Players and fans walked away proud, knowing they gave everything that night.

Senior Night ended with heartbreak, hugs, cheers, and support from the community, proving that Senior Night was more than just a scoreboard. It was about the teamwork and the memories that were created that night.

Senior Night 

By Samyah Crenshaw, Camry Williams, Mariah Singh, Honesty Parnell, Jaquan Lee, and Mariyah Black

Senior Night, Friday, September 19, 2025 presented a special challenge for the cheer team on a special night, when the cheer team seniors were recognized for all their hard work and dedication. 

Camry Williams, a senior who's been cheering since middle school, said “A hard thing about cheer is putting the differences aside and working with other females.” She also mentioned how she wants to do competitive cheer. 

We asked other people on the cheer team like Keaira Lewis and Diamond McCalvin, both seniors, “Why would you want to be a cheerleader?” and Keaira said, "Because it brings me joy.” Diamond said, “Because it's fun and it helps me get out of my comfort zone.” 

Diamond's response shows the challenges the cheer team could go through, yet it turns out to create fun experiences and memories for them. Keaira's response also shines a light on how an extracurricular activity can become a safe spot for you to express yourself freely and bring you happiness and joy!

We tried to branch out to many other teammates, so we decided to ask Nevaeh Williams “What makes cheer special and how long have you been cheering?” Nevaeh responded by saying, similar to Diamond, “Cheer brings me out of my shell and creates lots of opportunities.” All of the girls on the cheer team expressed to us how they were mostly feeling excited yet nervous before senior night. 

Now interviewing them post-senior night, they all talked about how much fun they had, how this night created many memories for them, and how cheer has helped them. We believe their performance last Friday night showed exactly that! So, when we hear about how long these team members have been cheering, some for all four years of high school, it creates a better understanding on just how necessary and beneficial it was that our fellow seniors were recognized for their hard work, consistency, and overall courage they had to show, while sharing their school spirit.

Varsity Volleyball Wins First Home Game

The Lady Tigers won three games to one against the Covert Bulldogs on Monday, September 8, 2025.

The varsity volleyball team had to play at Fair Plain Middle School, because the high school gym is being restored after the water damage to the floor. 

There were several supportive family members and friends rocking the bleachers and singing fight songs for the first home game.

Jamariana Christian, a senior playing varsity for the first time, said, “The teamwork and coaching brought us together and supported our serves, sets, and digs.”

Tigers Lose Home Opener

By My’shion Davis

Benton Harbor Tigers lost Thursday night, August 28, 2025, against the Battle Creek Bearcats in a score of 0-52.

La’Trell Johnson, a senior playing wide receiver and cornerback said, “Our energy went well at the start of the game. We need to improve in our confidence. I learned that we need to keep fighting and not give up.”

Donald Harrell, a senior playing guard, said, “The team’s energy for the first quarter was better than last year’s. What I think needs to be improved on is the full-time effect of going hard the whole game. The whole team needs a lot more time working with each other and remembering their assignments.”

The Tigers were upset to learn just before the game that Ja'Byrion Broyles, a transfer student, was ineligible to play. The MHSAA officials notified the coaches moments before the game of the ineligible player. Other players were upset with the decision, and there was a scramble to fill his position at fullback.

Cheerleaders Return to Filstrup Field

By Keaira Lewis

After an extended renovation that had closed Filstrup Field for the 2024 football season, the Benton Harbor High School Cheerleaders were fired up for the first home game in over a year.

Coach Nicki, Earla Reynolds class of 1990, returns from a break in coaching to lead the varsity cheerleaders through the new school year. She plans on “restoring the roar” with cheerleading.

Camry Williams, a senior who has been cheering since 7th grade, said, “I feel like with a new coach we’re still learning to adapt to all the new rules, and within the team I also feel as if we’re still learning each other. Being around new people with new energy and new bonds feels like we gotta get more comfortable to cheer with each other.”

During the game, the Benton Harbor varsity cheer team decided to attempt to restore the bond between the two cheer teams, after not being able to play against each other for three years because of an altercation that had occurred following a basketball game in Battle Creek.

Lovi Douglas, a senior varsity cheerleader said, “I’m glad that we made peace this year, and I had fun cheering with them.”