Spark

Bring on the Madness

Everybody wants to be the one who picks the correct champion in their bracket. These ten teams are the ones who have the best shot at cutting down the nets in March.

Ethan Keller, Staff Writer • May 20, 2025

With the men's college basketball season heating up, it is time to start looking ahead to March. There has not really been one dominant team thus far as three teams have been ranked at number one as...

Man Up, Man Down

In the world of men’s sports, toxic masculinity overshadows the health, emotions, and performance of athletes.

Julia Viviano, Staff Writer • May 18, 2025

Be a man, not a boy. Walk it off. Quit being soft. Stop playing like a girl. Toxic masculinity is defined as the way men are culturally trained and socially pressured to behave, typically including...

Playing with Purpose

East senior Max Wilcox has been playing lacrosse his entire life, and leading the East Boys Lacrosse team for the past two years, with his passion for the sport all stemming from his late father’s support.

Gwen Gilbert, Sports Editor • May 18, 2025

The clock hits 0 seconds as the East Boys Lacrosse team rushes the field and drowns out the noise of the buzzer with cheers, securing a win against West in the 2023-24 season. East junior Max Wilcox...

Don’t Get Hit

East senior Emily Baker has played on multiple teams for different sports to find the one perfect for her and she has learned skills that are not just physical ones.

Yen-Nhi Bui, Staff Writer • May 18, 2025

After attempts at soccer, basketball, cross country, tennis, volleyball, and almost any sport that first comes to mind, East senior Emily Baker landed on martial arts as her sport, specifically Muay Thai. At...

From Team to Family

East’s Boys Volleyball is a blossoming program. The hard-working culture set in the program helps the teams to succeed. Both family-like teams show a balance between competitiveness and enjoying the game.

Elizabeth Vernon, Staff Writer • May 16, 2025

“Those five minutes I was on the court were some of the best moments of my life,” Senior Jackson Rupp told Spark. Rupp is a defensive specialist on East’s Varsity Boys Volleyball team. Rupp...

Farewell to Varsity Lacrosse Seniors

Varsity Lacrosse face challenges with seniors leaving while striving to strengthen the team.

Elliana Celis, Staff Writer • May 16, 2025

With the east girl’s varsity lacrosse team losing 14 seniors next season, the importance of gaining and maintaining members through the youth program grows. Breaking the record for the year, East...

Fast Pitch to Success

Sophomore pitcher Kaleigh Crawford has been absolutely tearing up the competition this season. A strong group of supporters has allowed her to thrive and adapt quicker than most others.

Ethan Keller, Staff Writer • May 16, 2025

As pitchers are often credited for the outcome of the game, it is imperative to have a player that can navigate through tough situations. This is where sophomore pitcher Kaleigh Crawford has been...

Who-Dey Drafted dis Who-Dey drafted

Spark Sports associate and NFL analysis expert Max Earl gives the Bengals draft a B+ grade

Max Earl, Sports Associate Editor • May 16, 2025

Round 1, pick 17 Shemar Stewart, Defensive End From University of South Carolina Grade: B+ It is no secret that the Bengals need all the help they can get on the defensive side of...

Wrapping Up Wrestling

The 2025 wrestling season for boys and girls has officially ended with many exciting twists and turns along the way.

Ethan Keller, Staff Writer • May 16, 2025

Boys An exciting season continues as the Greater Miami Conference (GMC) champions Lakota East Thunderhawk's are sending two boy's wrestlers to the State tournament in Columbus. Seniors Cohen Reip and...

Best in the Nest: Ariel Reed

Ariel Reed is a senior, four-year gymnast at East. Reed helped lead the team to place fifth at the Turpin Invitational on Feb. 2, 2025 with a total of 125.5 points.

Elizabeth Vernon, Staff Writer • May 16, 2025

Q: What is your greatest achievement in gymnastics? A: My greatest achievements would probably be coming back from injuries, just because in club, I never used to get injured. And then once I...

Swimming to Success

Being a homeschooled student does not prohibit senior AJ Gomez from being a team leader in the lane and pursuing his passions.

Macie Manzardo, Sports Editor • May 16, 2025

As the swimmers take their mark on their starting platforms and prepare for the race to start, the audience goes silent while swimmers enter their starting blocks. One wrong move and the swimmers could...

Changes in the Jungle

After the 2024 season, there are many questions surrounding the Bengals front office on what moves can be made to get the team back in a position to compete for the Super Bowl. If the Bengals navigate through this offseason right, then they should go into next season with high expectations.

Ethan Keller, Staff Writer • May 13, 2025

Going into the 2024-25 National Football League (NFL) season, the Cincinnati Bengals were projected by many to be atop the AFC North, and certainly make the playoffs. All of this hope was abruptly put...