Varsity Football Playoffs

Sports

By Katlyn Mathers
Husky Herald Reporter

  All great things must come to an end, but sometimes you get the chance to extend your time. Luckily, captains Mike Mahaffy (‘16), Tyler Westbrook (‘16), Nick Miller (‘16), and Shane Sheridan (‘16) have the chance to lead Port Huron Northern’s varsity football team into playoffs.

  “As of right now, playoffs are very manageable! If we win our last two games, we are in. This has been our goal since day one and we almost have it,” Mahaffy says.

 Out of the last two games Port Huron Northern's varsity team will face, one of them is the team's rival.

  “Our last two games are against Sterling heights on October 16th,2015 and Port Huron High on October, 23rd, 2015. We are very excited for our rival game against Port Huron,” Westbrook said.

  If Northern makes playoffs, it will be exciting since this has not happened in a while.

  “2010 was the last time Northern’s varsity team made playoffs,” Miller said.

  One would expect harsh conditioning, and extended practices, but Northern is going to stick to their roots.

  “Practices will be more intense. I would say they will not be ran different, we just need to keep the intensity up,” Westbrook said.

  With the final games ahead, fans need to cheer louder and show more spirit than previous games.

  “The biggest thing fans can do is get rowdy when we are on defense, especially 3rd and short, and 4th and short,” Mahaffy says.

  The team this year has really stepped up to the plate, and is fighting harder than ever.

  “Seniors are fighting harder than they ever have because it could possibly be our last games. And this year we have more young starters in comparison to years in the past. With no doubt in my mind, next year's team will be just as successful as this year's,” Westbrook said.

  The season is almost over, and the spirit has rose higher than previous years.

  “Overall the season was good. We have done things that have not been done in a while; the last time varsity won 4 straight games was around 1995. And to be the most recent year to complete that at Northern is really amazing,” Westbrook said.

Football Team Wears Jerseys in Support of WWP

Sports

By Chris Baunoch
Husky Herald Reporter

  On October 9th the Port Huron Northern football team wore special jerseys to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project.  While the team didn’t get the win that night the jerseys did.

  The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is a military and veterans charity service organization empowering injured and retired veterans and their families. The program was created following the events of September 11th, 2001.

  All of the proceeds that were raised from the jerseys were given as a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project. With the money the WWP helps to pay for veterans medical bills or therapy caused by injuries received in combat.

  The money could also be used to help the veterans get a higher education.  

  The WWP jerseys were designed in the PHN home blue with the numbers and names in camouflage.

  Each player was in charge of finding a sponsor who was a member of some branch of the military whether it was Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, or Air Force. Some of the players had their parent’s name on their jerseys while others had their uncles, grandparents, or friends of their families.

  Many of these jerseys had special meaning for the players wearing them. Mark Robbins (‘17) wore his jersey in honor of his uncle, TSGT Mark Robbins of the United States Navy and Johnny Wurmlinger (‘16) wore his in honor of his grandfather, SGT John Wurmlinger also of the United States Navy.  

  “It felt really good to represent somebody with a name on my jersey,” Robbins said. “Unfortunately I was unable to play due to injury, but it was still an honor.”

  “It was a tremendous honor to wear the jersey. That night I wasn’t only playing for the name on the front of my jersey, but also for the name on the back of it,” said Wurmlinger.

  The game was played against Marine City, unfortunately the Mariners came away with 41-13 win that night.

  While the outcome of the game didn’t go in favor of the Huskies, the game had special meaning for the players and many of the fans in the stands.  

Girls Soccer Kicks off at Northern

Sports

By Sarah Vanderheuvel
Husky Herald Reporter

Every year, the month of March means one thing for Port Huron Northern athletes: the start of the spring season. Spring season means the start of girls’ soccer.

  The girls’ soccer program is coming off their most successful season in over a decade. The team maintained a 14-5-5 record, while winning two tournaments and their first district game.

  The Huskies return their leading scorer from last year, Hannah Jones (‘16). They also have five other returners from last year’s varsity team.

  However, this year the girls’ soccer team features a new coach. Coach Bryan Becker will be the head coach for the Lady Huskies.

  Marie Mullally (‘15), a four year varsity player, has big expectations for the upcoming season. “My number one goal for the season is to win our league,” said Mullally.

  “We are playing some harder teams, but I think it will be good for us,” added Mullally. “I know playing tougher competition will help us in the long run.”

  “My favorite part about soccer season is getting the opportunity to play every day.”

  Junior Lizzy Berra (‘16) shares the same goal as Mullally. “I think we will have a successful season this year. I want to be number one in our division.”

  “We have great team chemistry and we will dominate when we are at our full strength. We have a great defense and we pass very well,” added Berra.

Fellow junior Sophie Reinhard (‘16) also has high hopes for the team this year. “I think we have a lot of great players and we all work together really well.”

“We had such a successful season last year and it can only go up from here. I think it’s going to be a great season,” said Reinhard.

  Sophomore Jenna Koppinger (‘17) returns in net for the Huskies. “I feel really confident about this season because I already have a year of varsity experience and I know I have great players playing in front of me,” said Koppinger.

  “My goals for this season are to win our league and make a run at districts.”

  The season looks super promising for the girls’ soccer program.

Senior Make Final Preparations

Feature

By Steven Dolinski

Husky Herald Reporter

  With the end of the year approaching quickly, it is now time for high school seniors to prepare for college. Most seniors already have committed to the college of their choice and now it is all about scholarships loans and grants.

   “I am already in middle college but preparing for college can be difficult” says Zach Darhower (‘15). Nobody wants to pay for the full price of college so many seniors are spending their time applying for the hundreds of thousands of scholarships available.

  Scholarships and grants are essentially free money that you do not have to pay back. But getting this free money takes some work and loads of research. Most scholarships require essays and or answers to essay questions.

  Orientation is also an important thing for seniors on their way to college. It is an opportunity for incoming college freshman to visit the college, see where they will live and to schedule their classes.

  As the end of the senior year approaches there is a lot of stress on college and how people will pay for it. With senior parties and scholarships there is barely ever enough to pay for one hundred percent of college.

  Student loans are necessary to pay for the stuff that is not covered by scholarships and grants. It is money that is borrowed and that you need to pay back eventually.

  Most seniors do not apply for many scholarships and sadly every year there is hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of scholarship money left unclaimed. “I still have yet to apply for scholarships, it is too much work” said Cody Baum (‘15).

  Many college students make the mistake of maxing out their student loans in their first few years, leaving them thousands of dollars in debt and leaving them to find another way to pay for college.

  To save money many students have decided to stay in their hometown and go to community college for two years to get their associates degree. “I am staying back for 2 years to get my associates degree then I am going to Ferris” said Austin Stevens (‘15).

Clay Smiles Spread Smiles

Feature

By Dylan Maheu

Husky Herald Reporter

“Everyone can use a little smile…”

  The clay smiles are a project that has been done by Port Huron Northern High School’s art department for several years now.   This phrase truly represents what this project is all about.

  “The project was first started in 2013,” said Mrs. Brown, a teacher in the art department at Port Huron Northern.

The smiles are a simple and fun little project for the art students to do. It takes just two minutes to make one of these clay smiles.

  The original idea of the project was given to Mrs. Hussey, the Port Huron Northern ceramics teacher, by the mother of one of her students. “She was a kindergarten teacher and she said that she wanted something that she could give out to her students,” said Mrs. Hussey.

  After it proved to be a rousing success Mrs. Hussey continued the project in hopes of getting more student artwork outside of the building.  Once a smile is made, they are attached to a card that details what they are and who they were made by.

  The back of the card also features a QR Code that provides a link to http://phnmadeyousmile.weebly.com/.

This website provides more information on what the project is about.

  This includes an image gallery, some project comments, and a location where you can submit comments or questions that you have about the project.  The site also provides a link to an article from the Port Huron Times Herald about the project.

  The clay smiles can be passed out anywhere that you go. You can leave them sitting on a bus, on your desk at work, the counter at a restaurant, or even at a funeral home.

Student Chooses MVP Candidates

Sports

By Brannan Dortman
Husky Herald Reporter

  The Most Valuable Player award in the NBA is what all basketball players aim for in their careers. There are three players this year that are playing on a MVP level. Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, James Harden of the Houston Rockets, and Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

  James Harden leads the NBA in average points per game with 26.8 points. His scoring has taken a huge leap this season just like every season since being traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Houston Rockets.

  Since being in a Rocket uniform he has been the face of the franchise. With his beard he has built a brand with "Fear The Beard" and many players in the NBA are doing that this season

   Russell Westbrook might be one of the top three most athletic point guards to ever play in the NBA. Westbrook has faced nothing but criticism from  all NBA fans because he has been the sidekick to last year's MVP Kevin Durant. but with Kevin Durant being out for an extended time with injury, Westbrook has proved that not only can he lead the team by himself, but he might be just as good as Kevin Durant himself.

  He is doing it by blowing by everyone by having the most triple doubles this season. He has had stat lines like, 43 points, 12 rebounds, and 18 assists. WOW is the only word that describes those numbers.

  Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors might be the favorite to the award as the NBA most valuable player. He has taken a huge leap this year along with his other half of the Splash Brothers over in Oakland this season.         

Stephen Curry is proving this season that he may be the best pure shooter the NBA has ever had.

  Putting his name with guys like Larry Bird, and Ray Allen. Stephen Curry is leading the Warriors to the best record in the Western Conference which is the most stacked conference in all of sports.

  In my opinion I want Stephen Curry to win because every minute of every game he has played in is exciting.  His flashy passes, incredible shooting range, and his ability to make a shot with defenders all over him over creating something out of nothing.

  My next favorite would be Russell Westbrook because just like Curry his brand of basketball is amazing to watch. His leap this year has been extraordinary with him making shots this year that last he he took them there would be thousands of fans wanting him gone or to just pass out of it.

  He is also an extreme hustle player who is always a part of every play on offense and defense.

  James Harden's numbers are crazy and he is leading his team to a playoff berth but his basketball can get a little boring to watch with him just throwing up 3's every time he is on offense and he is not a great defender but he gets the job done. But the MVP award is going to be hard to choose but whoever does win has earned it.

Students are Pumped for Spring Break

Feature

By Mikala Kish

Husky Herald Reporter

  Spring break is only two weeks away! How are you going to start your break off?

  Many students are going to begin their break by leaving and going out of state. Some on the other hand are just going to laying in bed and enjoying their break off.  

  Student Desiree Jemison (‘15) says “I'm going to Alabama for break to go and visit my dad’s side of the family.” Im sure her dad and all her family will be excited to see and spend time with Jemison.

  Rachel Congdon (‘17) says “I will be relaxing at home hanging out with my family I have in this town.” Congdon is one of many students that actually wanted to stay in town and is satisfied with staying in the same area because she finds it more comfortable.

  Staying at home seems more fun than going out of town and packing up. Spring break is one of the most exciting break’s we have.

  A bunch of people go to different places to enjoy themselves for about a week or so. Noah Blossey (‘18) says, “I’m so excited for spring break, I’m going to Florida with my family and I can only imagine how much fun I’m going to have.”

  Blossey is one of many that actually likes going out of state during break and getting away from home and experiencing different places.

   Everybody is enjoying themselves this year. Blossey says, “I think I’m going to come back with a very very nice tan.”  It’s always nice to come back with a little bit of a tan after spring break to show how much fun you had.

  Some kids have many different opinions on how they feel about spring break.

  Many want to go out of state and be somewhere sunny to come back with a nice tan however some might want to just stay home they feel more comfortable.