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The 2026 season for the South Lyon East High School Girls Varsity Tennis team has been one of the best seasons the program has had in years. The team finished the regular season with an 11-1 record and qualified for the State Finals for the first time in four years.
After all the hard work the girls put in this season, making it to states was a huge accomplishment for the whole team.
At regionals, South Lyon East had an incredible day and finished in second place overall behind Mercy High School Girls Tennis with 20 total points. The Cougars had strong performances in almost every flight and proved they could compete with some of the best teams within the region.
One of the biggest highlights of the tournament was junior Sharvani Bikkummalla winning the regional championship at 4 singles. She played great all day and stayed focused under pressure to bring home the title for South Lyon East. “I’m really proud of our team and how hard everyone worked this season,” Sharvani said.
The Cougars also had several other players make it to the regional finals. Sophomore Isla Tucker had a great tournament and after battling some tough matches and became a finalist at 2 singles. Senior Grace Stoyanovich also made the finals at 3 singles, and at 2 doubles, Chloe McNamara and Rayna Kim worked together to defeat cross town rivals South Lyon to also grab a spot in the finals.
Senior captain Julia Winter said the team’s success came from how close everyone became this season. “This team worked so hard from the beginning of the season,” Winter said, “Everyone pushed each other to get better every day, and qualifying for states after four years was such a big moment for us.”
Junior captain Aditi Kongara also talked about how much the team has improved throughout the season. “I think everyone really believed in each other this year,” Kongara said. “We stayed positive even during tough matches and kept pushing ourselves to improve. It’s exciting to see all our hard work pay off, especially making it to states together.”
This season also brought excitement because of the team’s new head coach. Coach Craig Clark has brought a lot of energy and positivity to the program, and the girls really connected as a team. Throughout the season, the team improved more and more each match, and it showed during regionals.
Grace Stoyanovich said the team chemistry was one of the biggest reasons for their success. “We all became really close this season,” she said, “Coach Clark made practices fun while still pushing us to work hard. Everyone supported each other, and I think that helped us play better.”
Now the Cougars are looking ahead to the state finals and are excited for what’s next. Even though the team has already had an amazing season, they are hoping to keep the momentum going at states. The players are excited for the opportunity to compete against the best teams all over the state.
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Rork played Sharpay Evens and Austin played Gabrialla Montez in the recent school musical, and award adjudicators adjudicators came to see them perform during the show.
There are 3 judges who come and judge based on acting, singing and dancing and pick out of 2 leads who were in the running for the nomination.
The Sutton Foster Awards recognizes talented high school musical theater students from across Michigan. Being nominated is considered a major accomplishment for students involved in theater and performing arts.
Before the finals, the nominees shared how they are feeling about the experience and talked about the songs they will be performing.
Austin said, “I’m performing Secrets from The Addams Family Musical. I am very nervous about being nominated but it’s been a super fun experience so far to be around so many people that love theater as much as I do.”
Rork said, “I’m performing Roxie From Chicago The Musical. The Sutton Foster Awards, for me, has been a very eye opening experience because it’s helped me get to know more professional people and others who have been doing theater for most of their lives, and I really appreciated getting to surround myself with people who share the same passion as me.”
As the finalists prepare to take the stage at the Wharton Center, both students said they are grateful for the opportunity to represent South Lyon East and share their passion for theater.
]]>This event was much more than just a volleyball game, it showed how one program can change the perspective of women’s sports around the country.
Nebraska volleyball has built a reputation of power on the court and insane fan support. According to their official website, the Huskers, The program holds an NCAA record sellout streak of more than 350 consecutive home matches, a streak that began in 2001. That level of consistent support is rare in women’s college athletics and has turned Nebraska volleyball games into some of the most intense environments in sports history.
The impact goes beyond Nebraska’s home court. In recent years, something fans call the “Nebraska Effect” has started happening across the country. When the Huskers travel for away matches, opposing teams often see record-breaking crowds. Schools such as Northwestern and Washington have even experienced their first ever volleyball sellouts when playing Nebraska.
The team’s success on the court has also increased their popularity. As stated by the Huskers, in 2022, Nebraska finished the season with a 26–6 record and reached the NCAA regional semifinals. The following year in 2023, the Huskers went 33–2 and finished as the NCAA national runner-up, showing they were one of the best teams in the country.
Their supremacy continued in 2024 with another strong season that ended in the NCAA national semifinals. Ans, tThe 2025 season added another memorable record moment. Nebraska started the year 30–0 in the regular season, won the Big Ten title, and entered the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 overall seed. The undefeated run and the popularity they have gained, showed just how influential the program had become.
Although, Nebraska’s program influence has been way bigger than winning and losing. This program has completely changed many people’s outlook and perception of women’s sports.
A filled football stadium, packed volleyball stadiums, record attendance at home and away, demonstrates to us how women’s sports have evolved in ways that fans are now excited to watch women’s sports.
For many young girls and other young athletes, seeing thousands of people get together to watch women’s volleyball sends a message that women’s sports can get the same attention as men’s sports. Women’s sports deserve the same attention, time and respect as men’s.
Nebraska volleyball didn’t just form a winning team, it inspired many others. With record breaking crowds and a program that continues to have constant success, the Huskers are proving that the future for women’s sports is bright.
And people DO watch them.
Snack Attack Episode 2: Kung Fu Boba Drinks
Kung Fu Tea, located in Novi, Michigan, is a great spot if you’re looking for a fun drink with a cool vibe!
KFT is in the Twelve Oaks shopping area, along with Chuck E Cheese, Emagine, Powerhouse Gym, and more! Due to this area being pretty populated throughout the day, KFT gets loads of customers going in and out, or even hanging around their lounge area, which features some aesthetic sitting areas along with board games sitting out on every table.
When walking in, there are self-ordering kiosks if you’re looking to read the menu more in depth, or you can order with an employee at the front table if you have any questions. After ordering drinks, you will get a receipt with a number, which will be your “call number” when your drink is ready. Typically, the employees are pretty efficient and quick about getting orders out.
When Julia and I placed our order for two drinks and two food items, it took about 10 minutes to receive all of our items, making this perfect for anyone who is either on the go or looking to sit down and enjoy the atmosphere.
KFT also tends to have specialty drinks released pretty often, either when a new movie or trend comes about; keeping their menu interesting with loads of options.
In this episode, we tried the Care Bear special edition matcha; a mix of matcha and honeydew milk tea with boba pearls. In comparison, we also ordered the regular brown sugar boba, which is one of KFT’s staple drinks, available throughout the whole year.
In the end, we did find the brown sugar milk tea to be more appealing due to the Care Bear matcha being “unsurprising.” For a specialty drink, we expected a cool cold foam or topping, but in the matcha, there was just matcha and honeydew. With the price also being about $10 for a medium drink and only about $6 for the “plain” brown sugar boba, the Care Bear matcha overall was a drink we would get once, and probably not again.
If you are looking for a fun drink to brighten your day while staying affordable, we would recommend the brown sugar boba as a nice staple milk tea.
See our fill video review in the Spotify app!
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Snack Attack Food Review: Croffles
Sometimes you just need a mid day pick me up, and Kung Fu Tea is a great place to satisfy that craving. Located in the Fountain Walk in Novi, this cozy boba shop immediately stands out thanks to its vibrant atmosphere and welcoming design.
As soon as you walk in, you’re surrounded by a mix of Japanese and Korean inspired decorations that give the space a fun trendy vibe. There’s always something to look at, which makes the experience feel more immersive than a typical drink shop.
Beyond just the decor, there are also interactive features that make the visit more memorable. Customers can take a picture in the photobooth, play board games with friends, or relax in the swinging egg chairs. These details make it more than just a place to grab a drink, it feels like a spot where you can hangout and spend time.
Ordering is quick and convenient, with the option to use a self-serve kiosk or order directly from an employee. The menu offers a wide variety of drinks and snacks. Once your order is placed, the process is efficient, and your order is called when everything is ready.
The first item I tried was a featured dessert called the chocolate cruffle, which cost around five dollars. It consists of two small waffles topped with chocolate syrup. In terms of presentation, I would rate it an eight out of ten. It was served in a simple cardboard to-go box, which made it easy to carry and enjoy anywhere. When I took my first bite, I was expecting a richer chocolate flavor. Instead, it tasted more like standard Hershey’s syrup, which was slightly disappointing. However, the waffles themselves were soft, warm, and flavorful, which helped make up for it. Overall, I would rate the taste a 7.5 out of ten.
Next, I tried the strawberry Dubai chocolate cruffle, which was priced at about ten dollars. This version included the same waffle base but was topped with pistachio kataifi, chocolate, and fresh strawberries. Visually, it was very impressive, earning a 9.5 out of ten for presentation. The bright red strawberries and textured pistachio topping made it look appealing, particularly for people who enjoy Dubai style chocolate desserts.
However, the taste didn’t fully match the appearance. The pistachio flavor was very strong and somewhat overpowering, which made it difficult to enjoy more than a few bites. On the positive side, the strawberries were fresh and added a nice sweetness that balanced the dish slightly. Because of the overpowering pistachio flavor, I would rate the taste a six out of ten, and I was not able to finish the entire proportion.
My experience at Kung Fu Tea was very positive. The shop creates a welcoming and entertaining environment that goes beyond just serving drinks and snacks. It’s clear that the effort has been put into both the aesthetic and customer experience, making it a place people would want to return to. While some of the flavors in the desserts could be balanced better, the creativity and presentation are impressive. I would definitely come back again, whether to try new menu items or simply to enjoy the fun and relaxing atmosphere.
]]>The biggest highlight of the season came from lifters Nora Anulewicz, Catherine Schwegler, and Zac Varhol who competed at the Varsity State Championship Meet on Saturday March 7 at Lake Orion. Varhol ended up placing 7th. Additionally, Daniel Schlaff placed third at the JV State Championships.
Coaches said Varhol’s performance showed how much dedication and consistency can pay off. “This didn’t happen overnight,” Coach Robinson said, “Zac put in the work every single week, and it showed when it mattered most.”
The success wasn’t limited to just one athlete. Throughout the season, lifters across multiple weight classes continued to hit personal records in squat, bench press, and deadlift.
Team members say the competitive atmosphere made a big difference.
“Everyone pushes each other to do better,” Owen Waller said, “When you see your teammate hit a big lift, it makes you want to step up too and perform to the best level”.
That team energy helped South Lyon East stay competitive at every meet they attended this year. The team didn’t just focus on one lifter but rather focused on everyone. The season also required a lot of commitment. Between balancing schoolwork and strength lifting, lifters spent hours preparing each week to improve their form and build strength.
Early practices and long meet days tested athletes physically and mentally, but the results were even better then expected. With several experienced lifters expected to return next season and new athletes already showing interest in joining the program, the future looks bright for South Lyon East powerlifting.
Beyond the results and final standings, this season helped build a stronger feeling of identity and strength of the South Lyon East powerlifting program. Athletes didn’t just improve their totals on the platform but they developed discipline, patience, and responsibility in one another. Meets often lasted multiple hours requiring competitors to stay focused, and uphold their job. That experience brought the group closer and helped newer members learn from returning lifters.
Another key factor in the team’s success was preparation. Training sessions allowed newer liftings to get a grasp on good form and technique. Coaches consistently stressed safety, recovery, and goal-setting, helping athletes stay consistent throughout the season. This way of training allowed lifters to stay healthy all season.
The growing popularity of powerlifting at the school has also created excitement heading into next year. More students have shown interest in joining offseason workouts, and returning athletes are already setting goals for higher totals and stronger finishes. With momentum building and confidence at an all-time high, South Lyon East’s program continues to prove that consistent effort and teamwork can turn a good season into a memorable one.
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