The Dryden Red and Black

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by Jacob Burgess

On December 8th, 2023, David Clayton came in to Dryden High School to speak to the seniors. In terms of the speakers that we have had this year, David was by far the best, most interesting, best message, etc out of all the speakers we had and it’s not even close. The entire time Mr. Clayton was talking I was engaged and locked in. His story was so interesting and his message was even bigger.

To start off, David started off by telling his story beginning in 8th grade. According to him in 8th grade he was a weird, scrawny kid that got made fun of every day. In 9th grade he set his mind on playing baseball that year. He worked out with the team all offseason throughout the school year. Then, tryouts came and he did his thing at tryouts. However, when he went to check the papers with the rosters on them he couldn’t find his name anywhere on the Freshman or JV rosters. He walked away completely broken, until one of the seniors came and grabbed him. He then guided David to the paper with the varsity roster was and there was his name. David instantly was happy again he was so proud of himself. One day the older players on his team asked David to go to a party with him. At that party he found himself in a situation where he felt he didn’t belong, he ended up smoking weed and drinking in order to fit in and be accepted. This started David’s problem where he would end up smoking a lot and drinking occasionally during high school. However, he was still able to be very successful and receive a Division 1 baseball scholarship offer. He would then go off to college to play baseball at the Division 1 level.

In college is where David’s life began to go downhill. He started to party a lot and became the life of the party. He would drink, smoke, and do hard drugs everyday of the week. One day he was up until 5 am doing drugs the whole night, that very morning he and his team had a workout. He was sluggish, out of it, etc and everyone knew it. He ended up breaking his wrist that day, meaning he did not have to travel, practice, or play in the games with his team. This made his partying and substance addiction even more heavy. He would then be kicked off the team and out of college. He made an excuse to his mom for why he was coming home, she believed it and allowed him back in the house.

Lastly, when David came home he linked up with some of his high school friends who weren’t really doing much with their life and were addicted to heroin. He fit in right along with them. He would end up getting kicked out of his house and lived a long 8 years of homelessness and taking all sorts of drugs in Detroit. At 28 years old, he woke up in the back of a beat up minivan in which he was living in. He couldn’t do it anymore, he was in so much pain, his mom didn’t want him anywhere near her, and he had no one. He decided he was going to kill himself and he went to a house that sold drugs so that he could overdose. When he arrived at that house, it was raided by the police. They took him into a treatment center and from that day forward he was sober.

In conclusion, David Clayton came into Dryden High School to tell his story that you would only think you would hear in a movie. On a day he thought he would end his life, his life was completely reset. It’s so inspiring that he was in such a low low place and managed to turn his life around in such an amazing way. His story shows miracles can happen because studies would show that he should be dead or incarcerated and he beat all the odds to turn his life around.

by Audrey Napolitano

On Friday, December 15th, Wayne Hanley from Farm Bureau Insurance came to Dryden High School to speak to seniors. He evaluated the importance of insurance and finances as individuals assume responsibility for their own expenses. He spoke of the importance of investing money into protection for the “what if’s”. Anything could happen in a split second, that it is only appropriate to act early on, while you still can. Ensuring that things like your car, house, business, and even life are protected are very important.

The most intriguing thing that Wayne Hanley shared was about credit scores. Credit scores are calculated based on your ability to pay off loans. Credit scores then help you to get any other loans and to purchase items in the future. Wayne Hanley advised students to get a credit card as soon as they turn eighteen years old. He advised students to make small purchases with the credit card (like gas) each month, and to then pay off those purchases each month. Students will then have good credit scores which will help them make purchases in the future. This is very valuable advice that helps students develop a good credit score to ensure that they can have a reliable credit score as they get older.

Maturing into an adult takes a lot of trial and error. Lessons learned are guaranteed to occur because not everything can be handed to you as you become a dependent. It is important to invest in insurance for those “what if?” situations as emphasized by Wayne Hanley. You never know what’ll happen, so it would be of great value to you in the future to prepare yourself for any potential situations that may arise. Preparing yourself with a good credit score also helps you to have the ability to make important purchases, like property or a car, in the future. All of these financial decisions make it easier to gain equitable safety as you mature.

by Claire Wright

Hailee Soule is an 8th grader who has been going to Dryden since March of last year. Hailee is involved in cheerleading, and she is excited to make more friends when she gets into high school. Her favorite thing about Dryden is how "everyone is so welcoming and the teachers are amazing". When Hailee is outside of school, she likes to do her and other's makeup, and she loves music. Finally, when Hailee is older she wants to become a Pediatrician.

by Claire Wright

Eliniah Fitchett is a 6th grader at Dryden. Eliniah has been going to Dryden since kindergarten. She is involved in Cross Country and Drum Line. Her favorite thing about Dryden is "even if it is small, it is still a great school. I also love the opportunities that a small school has that big schools don't." When Eliniah gets into high school, she is looking forward to "graduating, going to college, being older, and being able to drive". Her dream career is to become a doctor. Finally, she likes to do crafts, bake, play with her four siblings, and play with her two cats.

by Lily Finnigan

On December 6, 2023, the Dryden bowling team had their first match of the season against Merritt Academy at Hideaway Lanes. The boys team started with baker games of 190 and 160, putting them in the lead by 10 points. Following the bakers, the boys all won their five on five’s, winning the match 30-0. Best efforts of the match include 190 team baker, 861 team game (team average 172), and Connor Wolff with a 235 game. The girls started off down 4 points after losing the first baker 186-146. Lily Finnigan closed out the 10th frame with three strikes to keep the deficit at 40, which turned out to be big. The girls went on to win the next baker 138-89 and won baker totals by 9 pins. Mikayla Fleming marked in both of her frames, Josclyn Mohler got nine counts after spares, Chloe DeLoy and Raeshell Richardson both put up marks to set up Lily Finnigan covering a seven pin. This put the girls up 6-4. Once the girls got onto the two five on five games, they got more points and ended up winning 25-5. Best efforts of the day include their comeback during bakers, Lily Finnigan with a 177 and a 151 game, Chloe DeLoy with a 163, and Mikayla Fleming with a 140 and 148.

In a non conference match on December 7, 2023, Imlay City came to Hideway Lanes to go up against Dryden. Boys ended up winning the first baker by 14 and losing the second by 62. This left the score at 6-4. The boys then went on to shoot a 922 team game where every boy would win their point increasing the score to 13-6. They then earned another three individual points ending the game with an 18-12 point win. Best efforts were the team game of 922, Connor Wolff with games of 205 and 182, and Matthew Hickmott with a 198 game. The girls started out the night with team bakers of 131 and 142, winning both. After the bakers, Dryden took a 10-0 lead. Chloe DeLoy and Mikayla Fleming put up two high games, but failed to beat their opponent. Fleming then went on to get a 175 and had enough support by her teammates to take home the win with a final score of 24-6. Best efforts were the team bakers, Mikayla Fleming with 169 and 175 games, and Chloe DeLoy with a 189.

At the Bay City Baker’s Dozen tournament on December 11, 2023, both the girls and boys teams would bowl 13 baker games over the span of four hours. Both teams faced schools from all divisions where they would both go 7-6. The boys finished 14th, just missing the cut. They put together games of 190, 186, 181, and had some other consistent games as well. Girls had an up and down day involving lots of learning experiences. They had games of 188, 164, and 132. They ended up making the cut taking the 12th spot where they faced the eventual tournament champions, Kearsley.

Away at Port Huron Lanes, the Dryden bowling teams bowled against Landmark Academy. The boys started off strong with winning baker games of 167 and 154 where they took a 10-0 lead. Tyler Biggs would lead the boys with a pair of 162 games. He was backed by Connor Wolff with a 169 game and Matthew Hickmott with a 162 game. All the boys would get their points, securing them with a 30-0 point win. Best efforts were the team bakers, Tyler Biggs with two games of 162, and Connor Wolff with a 169. The girls also started the match with two winning baker games of 146 and 125 where they would take a 10-0 lead as well. Lily Finnigan then left the girls with games of 169 and 157. Raeshell Richardson also put up a 164. Collectively, the girls has a first game total of 695 which helped them win 28-2. Best efforts were the team bakers, Lily Finnigan with a 169 and 157 game, and Raeshell Richardson with a 164.

Just before break, the Dryden bowling teams made their way out to Holly Meadows where they went up against Capac. The boys started off with a 162-141 win, followed by a 118 game loss which put them down 6-4. The boys were able to come back in the five on five games where Sean Finnigan led the team with a 232 game. Going into the final game, every bowler would get their point which was led by Michael Hickmott with a 218 game. Best efforts of the day were the 905 team game (181 team average), Sean Finnigan with a game of 232, and Michael Hickmott with a game of 218. The girls scrimmaged themselves and the rest of the Capac bowlers where they were led by Lily Finnigan with a 168 game and Kaitlynn Knuth with a 148 game.

As of now, the boys team is 4-0 (3-0 conference), and the girls are 3-0 (2-0 conference). Next week, both teams will go up against Memphis. The match will be held at Hideway Lanes at 3:30 p.m. following exams on Wednesday, January 10, 2024. Good luck to our bowlers, keep up the good work!

by Audrey Napolitano

On Monday, December 18th, the Dryden Varsity Boys Basketball team played at Marlette High School for a non league game. Dryden earned a win against Marlette, ending the game 57-45. Jacob Burgess attained 20 points. Sonny Coscione notched 14 points. Hunter Hughes landed seven points. Hayden Blair earned six points. Gianni Coscione and Luke Taylor each secured four points. David Insley obtained two points. Coach John DelCampo stated “(W)e had contributions from quite a few players. We will need that as we go into league play”.

During the first game of the Paul Grondin Classic Tournament hosted by Dryden High School, the Dryden Varsity Boys Basketball team faced Capac, winning the game 43-39. Jacob Burgess secured 15 points. Sonny Coscione landed 11 points. Gianni Coscione obtained 10 points. Luke Taylor earned five points. Hayden Blair notched two points. “We played well in the 4th quarter to pull out a big win. Give Capac credit. They played well”, stated Coach John DelCampo, “Our defense won the game for us”.

During the second, and last game of the Paul Grondin Classic Tournament hosted by Dryden High School, the Dryden Varsity Boys Basketball team faced Brown City High School. Dryden pulled out a win against Brown City ending the game at 64-40, notching the tournament’s title. Coach John DelCampo stated “(I)t was a great team win. We got contributions from quite a few players.” Jacob Burgess notched 25 points. Sonny Coscione earned 10. Gianni Coscione and David Insley each secured eight points. Hunter Hughes racked up seven points. Josh Harris acquired three points. Hayden Blair carried two points. Luke Taylor earned one point. “We really played well defensively”, stated Coach John DelCampo. “It was the first time we had won the Paul Grondin Classic. It was a special night.” Congratulations to the Boys Varsity Basketball team on your Paul Grondin Classic win!

Dryden started the new year on January 5 with a league victory over North Huron, 79-21. "We played very unselfishly offensively and had 8 players score, including 4 in double figures. It was a complete win," Coach John DelCampo reflected. The Cardinals were led by David Insley and Jacob Burgess with 18 points each. Sonny Coscione added 14, and Gianni Coscione put up 13. Luke Taylor contributed 9 points to the winning cause. Josh Harris had 3, and Brady Schneider and Santi Perales followed with two points each. Dryden's record is currently 7-1 overall and 1-0 in league play. The next Boys Varsity Basketball game will be on Tuesday, January 9th at home against Kingston High School at 7:30pm. Good luck boys!

by Lily Finnigan

On December 18, 2023, the Cardinals played Marlette to win 49-46. Their record now stands at 4-1. The majority of the points were made by David Insley with 11, followed by Gianni Coscione who put up 9.

The team traveled to North Huron on Friday, January 5, to face the Warriors, and came away with a win by a score of 54-33. Santi Perales put up 18 points. Rowan Handley added 10, and Brady Schneider followed closely with 9.

by Ava DeVlaminck

On January fourth, the girls played against North Huron. Although most players dread the long bus ride, the team was very happy when they came out victorious. With an ending score of 52-41 with Dryden on top, the two hours on a bus going back to Dryden didn't seem as long. Some stats that led to this win are as follows: Keira Miller with 24 points, Dakota Deel with 13 baskets, Sophia Peter adding 6 onto that total, Olivia Reynolds fighting for Dryden and scoring 5, Delaney Wolle assisting with 2, and Isabella Weier with 2 as well. Great job to Dryden for another win of their season!

by Ava DeVlaminck

Dryden played against North Huron last week and lost with a score of 14 to 29. Despite the final score, they had fun, learned a lot, and will come back stronger next time. Good luck!

5:30 PM-7:00 PM Drumline Rehearsal

2:30 PM-4:00 PM - Game Club - Room 159

6:00 PM-8:30 PM - Varsity only Girls Basketball vs Kingston - Varsity game @ 6:00 pm

7:00 PM-8:00 PM - School Board Meeting - High School Library

7:10 AM-7:20 AM Weekly Encouragement Club Meeting

2:30 PM-4:00 PM - Homework Club - Room 133

6:00 PM-9:00 PM - JV/Varsity Boys Basketball vs Kingston - JV @ 6:00 pm, Varsity @ 7:30 pm

Wear it Wednesday: Pajama Day

7:25 AM-10:35 AM - 1/2 Day - Exams - High School Only

3:30 PM-5:00 PM - Bowling vs Memphis @ Hideaway Lanes

7:25 AM-10:35 AM - 1/2 Day - Exams - High School Only

CANCELED NJHS Meeting

10:30 AM-11:30 AM - Color Me Green - Room 153

CANCELED Homework Club

7:25 AM-10:35 AM - 1/2 Day - Exams - High School

4:30 PM-9:00 PM - Basketball vs Deckerville - JV boys @ 4:30 - Varsity girls @ 6:00 - Varsity boys @ 7:30

Previous Riddle: What has four wheels and flies?

Answer: A garbage truck

Winner: Jacob Buffo!

Current Riddle: What is 3/7 chicken, 2/3 cat, and 2/4 goat?

I got a hen to regularly count her own eggs.
She’s a real mathamachicken!

January 8

February 12

March 11

April 8

May 13

June 10

All meetings begin at 7:00 p.m., will be held in the Dryden High School Library, and are open to the public.

Check out the 2023-2024 Dryden Community Schools District Calendar here!

Editor:

Ava DeVlaminck

Reporters:

Willow DuBois

Lily Finnigan

Audrey Napolitano

Claire Wright

Faculty Advisor:

Ms. Sheryl Czerwinski

Email: Cardinal@drydenschools.org
Website: https://www.drydenschools.org/
Location: Dryden High School, Rochester Road, Dryden, MI, USA
Phone: (810) 796-2266
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drydencommunityschools

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