Seventh grade basketball ends with a come from behind victory over Hamilton

By: Brendon Freeman

Trailing 17-0 after the first quarter was the last thing the Sailors wanted on their home court. But their second quarter squad brought them back in the game chipping away at Hamilton's lead. After the second quarter the score of the game was 18-25. Out of the locker room the Sailors were fired up and took the lead 28-25 behind Marcus Collins’ eight points. Hamilton came back strong, but not strong enough and the Sailors ended up winning 37-34. “I wanted to show the home crowd that we were made of something,” Collins said.

Competitive cheer team springs into the season with a great victory

By: Kara Green

On Saturday, December 3, the competitive cheer team traveled to Rockford Middle School and blew away five other teams in their division,  winning by a total of 76 points. During the first round 14 cheerleaders performed required skills including a back hand spring, which is the most difficult skill performed in middle school and scored a total of 82.396 points. In the second round they performed flawlessly, earning a total score of 348 points from the judges. The team finished with a score of 284.396 points and took first place out of the five teams in their division. “Our teams best performance of the day was their sportsmanship,” competitive cheer coach Shelley Dykstra said.  “They were kind and cheered other teams on and they were respectful to the other teams and fans.”

Mona Shores spreads Christmas cheer by giving to Toys For Tots

By: Jamie Gibbs

On December 5th, Toys for Tots boxes were placed in in classrooms to collect toys and presents for people in need. Third hour teachers collected the presents. Student congress heads the initiative to collect toys by organizing the event and sponsoring pizza parties for the three third hours who average the most number of toys. The top three classes will win a pizza party.  Every year the middle school collects toys to be given to local charities. The toys are organized into age-group appropriate gifts and are then wrapped and given to local families in need for Christmas. The middle school collected nearly 800 toys last year and are hoping to collect more this year. ” I think it’s a good thing because they get toys and things they don't usually ask for,” sixth grader Sebastion Frasier said.

A successful night at Mango’s raises money for the swim team

By: Kara Green

On Monday, November 7th, the swim team held a fundraiser at Mango’s Grill and Bar to raise money so that they could have busing to away meets, equipment, rent  Muskegon High School’s  pool,  and pay for other expenses. The fundraiser was a great success, raising $2,381. The students on the swim team were required to contribute to the fundraiser by going to Mango’s and buying a dinner. The swim program was given 30% of the money raised from each dinner bought at Mango’s on the day of the fundraiser. They also had an auction where people could buy things such as flat screen TVs, box seats for a Lumberjacks game, and other items with the profits going back to the swim program.  “We raised a ton of money, more than expected,” coach Meghan Barnett said. “The money helped us ensure that we can keep the program up and running.”

Swim team kicks off the season with a victory against Whalen

By: Jamie Gibbs

On November 17, 2011 Mona Shores beat Whalen with great swimmers, great passion, and great fans to encourage them. Eighth grader John Hunt finished in first place with a time of 2:20.10 on the first mixed 200 free. ”It felt like the world was mine,” Hunt said. “Even though I had a bad pad, I still did it.” Eighth grader Dava Lakatos also took first place with her clever, yet fantastic dives and eighth grader Jackie Seward finished  the 100 free individual medley with a time of 1:22:18. Swim coach Meghan Barnett coached her team to a great Sailor victory.