MATT MERRIFIELD
Writing Samples
Game Recap
Firebirds Roll Over Sting, 6-2
FLINT – Sam McCue buried three goals for a hat trick in his return from injury as the Flint Firebirds steamrolled the Sarnia Sting, 6-2, at the Dort Financial Center on Saturday night.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Firebirds immediately took control of the contest and jumped out to a 1-0 lead five minutes in. McCue put pressure on a Sarnia defenseman in the Sting zone and forced a turnover. McCue took advantage and stuffed the puck home, giving Flint a 1-0 lead.
The Firebirds started the second period with a power play opportunity and wasted no time, scoring 30 seconds into the frame. Matthew Mania drifted on the blue line, waiting for a lane to shoot. When he saw his chance, he snapped the puck towards the goal, and Alex Kostov tipped it past Nick Surzycia for the first of four goals in the period.
Playoff Preview
Previewing the Firebirds’ First Round Playoff Series With the Owen Sound Attack
FLINT FIREBIRDS: 44-17-4-3, 95 points, 2nd West Division, 3rd Western Conference
Leading scorer: Nathan Aspinall, 94 points (33 G, 61 A)
Top goaltender: Mason Vaccari, 51 GP, 36-9-3-2, 2.70 GAA, .907 SV%
GPG: 3.84 (T-4th)
GAPG: 2.93 (6th)
PP%: 23.5% (7th)
PK%: 78.9% (9th)
Head Coach: Paul Flache (3rd season)
Feature Writing
The state of Michigan steps closer to making volleyball for males possible
Michigan State’s men’s volleyball club and head coach Sante Perrelli have played a key role in the sport's growth in the state of Michigan. Since 1987, Perrelli and his teams have made the sport more popular and attracted new players, thanks to camps and other opportunities to play volleyball.
There’s been enough growth in recent years that the Michigan High School Athletic Association is adding boys volleyball as an official sport for the 2025-26 school year.
“There are more boys playing volleyball in the state of Michigan than we ever have,” said Perrelli. “[The club’s] claim to fame for many years was that we taught lots of boys to play. We've been at this for many years, to try and provide an opportunity. We've done camps and clinics all over the state and country for many years trying to promote boys volleyball.”
Local News Coverage
East Lansing residents oppose potential affordable housing
A new plan for affordable housing in East Lansing led to public disproval at the city council meeting on Oct. 3. Residents voiced their concerns about a potential development at 530 Albert Ave.
It was expected that there would be a council vote on the building plan following a public hearing, but the agenda was changed at the beginning of the meeting.
“I’ll move approval of the agenda with a couple of changes here,” East Lansing Mayor Ron Bacon said. “We’re going to retain the public hearing. I’m going to remove site plan special use permit approval for property at 530 Albert to date certain on Oct. 17.”
New ELHS Principal presents goals for 2023-24 school year
Newly appointed Principal of East Lansing High School Ashley Schwarzbek spoke at the East Lansing school board meeting on Oct. 23 about the goals set for this school year.
At the meeting, the board opened with the swearing-in of Estrella Torrez to her position on the school board. Only one member of the public spoke during public comment, and Principal Schwarzbek’s presentation was the bulk of the meeting, lasting over 30 minutes.
Schwarzbek said they have three overarching goals for the school, and she went in-depth into each of them during her presentation to the board.
“We received a ton of feedback, as I know the board did as well,” Schwarzbek said. “We also had formalized data that we collected through student surveys and also some staff surveys, so out that process we got just a ton of feedback about things that our community felt like we needed.”