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Springbrook 7th Grade Girls Basketball Team
Opportunities Don't Happen, You Create Them
Strength, Discipline, and Growth
by Annie Eichorn
This year’s 2026 Springbrook wrestling team is coached by Brandon Reed and Josh Marcum, and so far they are 1–0 for the season. The coaches say they would like to see all of their wrestlers become better students. Coach Marcum and Coach Reed both believe that academics come before athletics, and their goal is for every athlete to reach their full academic potential.
Coach Reed also said he wants all of the wrestlers to know that they can do hard things. He wants them to face and overcome the adversity that comes with a wrestling season. “It is always cold, dark, and their bodies are always sore. I hope they learn that they’re stronger than they think and that they’ll be able to accomplish what they start if they believe in themselves,” said Reed.
He also shared that he really likes this team because they have great chemistry and work well together while pushing each other to be the best athletes they can be.
Coach Reed explained that a friend he coached football with asked him to join the wrestling staff. He originally encouraged his football linemen to wrestle during the winter to improve their footwork, but he ended up falling in love with the sport. He enjoys how inclusive wrestling is and how it rewards hard work and effort. That is when his wrestling coaching career began. One standout for the coaches this season is how many students have shown up and how hard the wrestlers push themselves every day to improve.
A schedule of upcoming meets will be provided, so check your availability and come cheer on the Springbrook sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade wrestling team!
Bringing Home Some Hardware!
Congratulations to our Sand Creek tournament champions !
by Natalia Pena
The 8th grade girls’ basketball team is 6–6 right now, and Monday is their last game of the season. Their coach, Bowens, had coached for 13 years for Benton Harbor Schools. She had led quite a few teams to championship games, and they were always ranked in the state. Bowens had taken a break for a couple of years when she found out she was going to be a mom, then started to get back into coaching when her daughter decided she also wanted to play. Coaching basketball was her outlet when she was younger.
The girls’ best game was when they played against Monroe and went to overtime. Jayliah Donald shot the game winner and helped them win the game. This team was the first to beat Tecumseh in middle school girls’ basketball in over 10 years!
The team took a vote and decided the most improved players this season are Lucy Tamara and Asya Powers.
“The best memory I’ve had thus far is watching the girls work together and communicate. That makes me happy as a coach,” Coach Bowens said after being asked what her best memory is, “and the way that we rallied around our opponents last week after learning that they had a player they lost to suicide. It spoke to the value of who we are outside of the court.”
She also said that things they could have worked on more were communication, working together as a team, and adjusting when they don’t get things right. What they do best is entertain her and encourage each other.
Overall, the season went pretty well, and they just won the Sand Creek tournament - Congratulations girls!
BOYS
MEDLEY RELAY - Levi Pummell, Rowan Brunk, Colin Krill, Xavier Williams - 3rd Place
200 FREE - Rowan Brunk - 5th Place, Colin Krill - 24th Place
50 FREE - Xander Williams - 25th Place, Levi Pummell - 27th Place
50 FLY - Colin Krill - 31st Place
200 FREE RELAY - Xavier Williams, Colin Krill, Levi Pummell, Rowan Brunk - 7th Place
100 BACK- Levi Pummell - 4th Place
100 BREAST - Rowan Brunk - 3rd Place
GIRLS
400 FREE RELAY - Emma Santos, Mary Beutler, Sydney Judson, Sophie Cox - 22nd Place
Proud Performances at the MISCA State Swim Meet
7th Grade BOYS BASKETBALL 8th grade
The first meet of the season for our Springbrook swim team!
Harrison Smith
Harper Murray: Strength, Skill, & the Story Behind Number 27
by Austin Rivier
Meet Harrison Smith. He plays strong safety for the Minnesota Vikings. He went to college at the University of Notre Dame from 2007 to 2011. Although he did not play in 2007, he got his chance at Notre Dame in 2008 and never looked back. In 2008, he played 13 games and recorded 57 tackles. In 2009, he had 69 tackles and a forced fumble. In 2010, he set a career high with 93 tackles and 7 interceptions. Finally, in 2011, he became a Notre Dame team captain and led the team in tackles with 91.
Now onto his NFL career. He was drafted in 2012 by the Minnesota Vikings with the 29th overall pick.
People assumed he was going to be pretty decent, and he exceeded those expectations by making himself known around the league. He recorded 74 tackles, 1 sack, and 3 interceptions in his rookie season. He used his quickness and stamina to play the safety position at a high and unique level. But in 2013, he took a step back. He was battling injuries most of the season and only played 8 games, but he still recorded 47 tackles and 2 interceptions. In 2014, things were different—he bounced back with 72 tackles, 3 sacks, and 5 interceptions. He finished 2nd in Comeback Player of the Year voting.
In 2015, he led the league in pass breakups with 36. In 2016, he led the league in tackles with 97. And in 2017, he led the league in interceptions with 8. He almost led in every major defensive category during that stretch. In the years 2018, 2019, and 2020, he missed only one game total and recorded 84 tackles in 2018, 85 tackles in 2019, and 89 tackles in 2020. The next year, in 2021, he almost broke the all-time single-season tackle record with 144 total tackles. The NFL all-time record was set by Ray Lewis in 1997 with 156 total tackles. In 2022, he planned to retire or sign with another team, but Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman convinced him to sign a four-year deal worth $64 million.
That is why people considered him one of the most loyal sports players ever. Most players at the end of their careers want to join a championship team before they retire. But not Harrison—he wanted to stay with the team that drafted him. And that turned out to be one of the best choices he ever made because that same year, in 2022, he had arguably the best season of his career. He recorded 85 tackles and a career-high 5 interceptions. He was 33 at the time. Most players that age are either riding the bench or already retired. That’s why fans called him one of the greatest players ever.
In his most recent years as a Minnesota Viking—2023, 2024, and 2025—he took a little bit of a step back. Fans still considered him a great player, just not the same playmaker he had been a few seasons earlier. He still put up strong numbers, recording a combined 213 tackles and 3 interceptions over those three years. He still plays for the Vikings in 2025 and already has 33 tackles this season. He said he plans to retire at the end of the year. We might just be watching one of the greatest players ever walk away from the game.
by Hadley Hayden
This article is about Harper Murray and her life! Harper's life has been rough, but she still kept going. Her dad, Vada Murray, died when she was six years old of stage 3B lung cancer. That's why she wears number 27—because her dad played football for Michigan and was number 27. Harper plays volleyball for the Nebraska Huskers and is an outside hitter. Her sister, Kendall Murray, played volleyball for Michigan, wore number 27 in honor of their dad, and was also an outside hitter. Harper is a junior at Nebraska, and she surpassed 1,000 career kills during her game against Michigan State in October of 2025.
Harper made a very important documentary about all the hate she received—about her dad and just online in general. Her mental health was really bad at one point, and she wanted to quit volleyball, so she decided to share her story for other athletes like her and tell them that they were enough. She went to Ann Arbor Skyline High School and was an outside hitter. She had 726 kills, 86 aces, and 407 digs in high school, becoming the Gatorade National Player of the Year and earning Michigan's Miss Volleyball in 2022. Harper is 20 years old, and her birthday is Feb. 24, 2005. She is 6’2”. She quickly developed a passion for her sport in 6th grade and was recruited by Nebraska in 2022. Harper had a .405 hitting percentage in her senior year alone!
Winter Sports Update
By: Annie Eichorn
Winter is coming in fast, so this is your sign to join some winter sports! These are some fun and cool options for you to choose from!
BOYS BASKETBALL:
First, we have 7th grade boys basketball. Although they already started their season, they’re doing great with a record so far of 1–1. The 7th grade boys basketball team is coached by Jay Roback.
The 8th grade boys basketball team has also already started and is doing great! So far this season, they are 2–0 and coached by Steve Moore.
GIRLS BASKETBALL:
Girls basketball hasn’t started yet, so it is the perfect time to practice before tryouts! Unfortunately, 6th graders can’t join basketball until they are in 7th or 8th grade, and it’s the same for boys basketball.
7th and 8th grade tryouts are on January 6th, 2026.
7th grade is coached by Tucker Wilder.
8th grade is coached by Dionne Bowens
As you can see, there is still a while until tryouts, so use this time to practice, condition, and get better!
SWIM & DIVE:
The swim and dive team includes all middle school grades (6th, 7th, 8th) and both females and males. A great thing about Swim & Dive is that there are no tryouts needed to be a part of the team. So this is a perfect opportunity to join and see if you like it! Nobody is going to be perfect at first, so it is good to remember that this is just a learning experience, and the more you practice, the talent will follow!
The Swim & Dive first practice is November 21st at the high school pool, and the first meet is December 1st. Swim & Dive is coached by Jacob McKenzie, Eric Powell, and Makayla Gardener.
WRESTLING:
Wrestling is like swimming; it includes all middle school grade levels (6th, 7th, 8th) and also both females and males. Wrestling is a great winter sport, and they encourage you to come and see if you like it! Wrestling’s first practice will be on December 1st and is coached by Josh Marcum and Brandon Reed.
One Team, One Dream
Eighth Grade Dominating the Field with Heart & Hustle
by Andrew Veres
The eighth-grade football team kicked off their season with energy, grit, and a goal to make it their best season yet. Their total record for the beginning of the year is 3-2. They have beaten Bedford, Pinckney, and Jackson. While they were playing in week four, they went into halftime 20-6. At the end, they still ended up winning the game by a touchdown. Coach Sarbia said, “Even though they were down by halftime, they fought through and pushed themselves and defended their home, Maple Stadium.”
The hardest challenge for Coach West is to keep them organized and get them all on the same page. Coach West's goal to develop the kids as students and athletes is to keep giving them opportunities, and that every day is an opportunity to get better and to continue to encourage them. The hopes for Coach West are to win as many games as possible this year and to keep building strong and dedicated players. Coach West says, “To emphasize that as soon as summer starts, you're in the weight room, on the field, conditioning, and doing training.” The most rewarding part for Coach West is seeing them grow. The biggest challenge for Coach West is that when they start doing games, it is a quick turnaround. Coach West’s favorite memory is when the coaches had to do 120 because they won by 24 and had to do five push-ups for every point they won by. Coach West keeps them motivated by keeping them up with the team goals.
The eighth-grade football team looks forward to improving their record. They face their cross-town rival, Tecumseh, and they play at their home stadium, Maple Stadium. A quote from Ricky Veres, the eighth-grade center, says, “Tecumseh is a good team, but I think if we do everything right, we can beat them.” The Maples look to improve their record to 4-2. Cruz Borton, the eighth-grade wide receiver and middle linebacker, says, “I think our season has been great. Our team has grown a lot since last year, and we have progressed in many aspects.” It should be a great game to end their middle school football season and career.
8th grade Volleyball
The Underdogs
7th grade started from the bottom,
but now we have arrived
by Bentley Proffitt
The seventh-grade Adrian Maples’ record is currently 3-3. The Maples have three more games in the season. Their defense has been strong, and their offense has been pretty good. Coach Reed has been a coach for a long time. He’s a coach because he loves football. He has had some breaks from coaching football, but he can’t just leave football behind. Coach Reed loves football. As a kid, he played football. He mainly played tight end, wide receiver, and some defensive tackle.
The seventh-grade football team has a lot of great plays. Some people say our kick returns have been taken to the one. Coach Reed says when Ben Dayharash got a fumble recovery for a touchdown and when Bentley Proffitt scored a receiving touchdown were great moments.
The seventh-grade football team has had amazing defensive plays and amazing offensive plays. Seventh grade could do better as an offensive unit. The seventh-grade football team has a 31- or 30-man roster. Coach Reed and most of the team think they could work more and harder on offense because their defense has worked hard and put in a lot of effort all season with fumbles, sacks, and picks. Coaches like to run defensive drills the most, especially because they are defensively strong, and hitting is just fun.
A strong and confident team that is putting their all in every time they step on the field. It’s been tough for some people to play both sides of the ball. The Maples are a strong team, and they are working to get better every day—practicing hard and putting in lots of effort most days. It’s tough sometimes, but you have to get back up and improve as much as you can. They just beat Tecumseh 22-8. The whole team was excited, and everyone wanted to rub it in their faces, but they knew as a team they are better than that—or they will wait until they meet them off the field.
Cross Country
Inside the Grit and Glory of Cross Country
Springbrook runners push past pain, power through the hills, and prove that XC isn’t for the weak.
by Julian Kleinow
Cross country is one of the most rugged rough sports on the planet. We all know people who are like, “It’s not even bad,” or, “You guys are babies for not doing football.” When it turns out, they might be the babies. The race starts out with at least 300 other kids in the race and when that gun goes off it’s madness. You run like the gun was pointed at you, it starts out pretty wide but it just keeps getting more narrow. But once you start getting out from the start line, don’t stop, keep going. We all know it hurts, it hurts bad, but if you want to do well, stay with the people ahead of you. Like my dad says, “When they go, you go” and also like Coach Emmendorfer says, “Embrace the suck,” because unless you trained to be comfortable, you're not trying to be comfy and cozy out there.
THE RACE
First up a small hill, then down it then again. We do that and turn into the woods, down the woods trail we follow it all the way to a hill named “Killer” but luckily we were not going up it, we were using it. Our whole team is passing kids left and right but we also have to know we have to keep moving up, but this isn’t easy. We slip and sink in the sand behind some pine trees then up a giant hill named Bertha that's steeper than Killer, luckily not longer. After Bertha is up through the trail we follow into the woods then through a swirl of mini woods all the way out and you can hear the crowd go wild. Every teams’ coach is leaning over the barrier screaming at their runners to start kicking since there's only 400 meters left. If you don't know how far that is, it's one lap around the track. All of us finish strong, pumping with nothing left in us to keep going. Our head and arms are screaming at us to stop, but we refuse and all push and muscle through the pain. And that's only one race. We have to do that nine times every season, but at the end it's the greatest feeling you'll ever experience.
HOW IT WORKS
Now, probably a lot of people don't even know how cross country works. Points are scored by each person placing. Whatever place you get, that's how many points you scored and the lowest score wins. Most races have 4-5 runners score, but some are top 7. The race really starts weeks before the season with hard work and dedication running mile after mile. But we”ll skip to the day before the race with everyone preparing, taking ice baths, heating, cooling, rolling out muscles that are sore and much more. Then a good night's rest and waking up for school. We drink plenty of water that day and we even need to have Gatorades and drinks that have electrolytes. After school we get dressed into our running clothes, but we stay warm before a race with jackets and pants on. The girls race first this year, so when our lead girl runner hits the mile mark we start warming back up, stretching, and get a positive mindset when coach Emmendorpher was asked, “What is your biggest tip to do better during race time?” he said, “Have a positive mindset, it will help you like nothing else.” Then it’s our race, we know it doesn’t matter how well we do, and it won't be the end of the world if we do badly, and we know to just try our best, but we’re always still nervous for some reason. It's always the same thing for us every time we finish, no matter if we PR or not, we had fun, we worked hard, and it feels good to have it off our chest and to be ready for next week.
MILES AND MILES OF EFFORT
If you're asking what a PR is, it means personal record and what Coach Emmendorffer said after nine years of coaching "what is the most rewarding part of coaching?” The response was, “I just love seeing the kids' faces light up in joy and happiness after getting a PR. It's just amazing and doesn't just make them happy, it makes me happy too.” Something funny about Coach E. is that he never ran cross country in middle school, but he did baseball, football, soccer, and swim. He still became the best coach there is. I mean I think both of our coaches are the best. What I think I love best of all is that we get to hang out as a team, joke around, have fun, then run our guts out, then have fun again, realizing we just hit our PR, and making so many memories out of it because we deserve it after giving blood, sweat, and tears to you, XC.
Ace in Your Face
You don't have to win it, just don't lose it
by Annie Eichorn
This year's 7th grade volleyball team is coached by Alexis Baughey and so far in their season they are 6-5 with two more games left to go! Coach says when she thinks of this team she thinks of family, all the girls get along and there is never team drama. No matter if someone needs water, tape, or wrap the girls are always there for each other. Her goals for the season were to teach the girls a proper rotation and overhand serves, but most of the girls already knew most of the basic volleyball knowledge. She also wants to make a lifelong relationship with the girls. In the season, the volleyball team has handled tough and hard matches against many teams and she likes to handle pressure by telling the girls every single one of them can make a good pass, get a good hit, get a serve over and in. A stand out this year for Coach is everyone soaking so much knowledge on rotation, positions, court numbers, etc. She mainly focused on running 5-1 and 6-2 rotations. She specialized in coaching the knowledge of the game this season, which includes positions, rotations, terminology, running plays, and teaching higher level playing. Most of the girls had the basic techniques for the skills needed to play. Although they worked a lot on passing, setting, hitting, and serving, all of them already knew how to do those things. Couch Baughey has been coached by some of the most amazing people that she still keeps in touch with to this day (some 5-10 years later). She has also been on the other side, experiencing some not so great coaching which unfortunately ruins your relationship with the sport. “I never want to be the coach that ‘ruined a sport’ for someone.” Coach Lexi says that volleyball has been a part of her life ever since she was born. Her older sister and mom played competitively and the second she was old enough was enrolled in volleyball at the YMCA. After years of little league, travel, middle/high school it wasn't until her junior year when she fell out of love for her sport because of a coach and strives to become the reason you fall in love with volleyball. She's excited to be a part of all these girls' lives and can't wait to start their next season.
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