Berkley Bears Varsity Football team is currently 1-2 but hopes to see improvement as the season goes on. The Bears started off the season with three exciting games. They put up a good fight against Franklin High with the game ending Franklin 34, Bears 7. They then played Oak Park and once again lost, with the game ending Oak Park 32, Bears 0. In their most recent game they showed their skill against Pontiac with the end score being Pontiac 0, Bears 43.
The team is led by senior captain Collin Richardson, who believes that the team has improved from last year, and this will help them throughout the season. Even though they have had a rough start, the student body stands behind them, encouraging them for the games to come. Richardson says they have high hopes for the rest of the season, hoping to “win the league”. They started off playing the two hardest teams on their schedule, so the season is looking only upwards from here. Throughout the highs and lows, the team has always stayed connected; one way they do this is by doing team bonding. The team builds chemistry through pre-game dinners the night before each game, Richardson explained.
They play Ferndale next on September 19 at Hurley Field. The football team and the Berkley students are looking forward to the games to come.

Berkley Girls Swim and Dive opens their season with many new freshmen and upgraded pool equipment, as they prepare for the season ahead.
The swim team lost a lot of seniors from last year, but also gained a lot of new freshmen who are bringing “a different perspective to the team,” Senior captain Scarlet Buick said. The season seems to be going nowhere but up, and the team is looking forward to the rest of it and competing against new teams. Throughout the meets and practices, the team spends lots of time together. In previous years, they have done chants and cheers at meets and brought cowbells to encourage their teammates. The encouraging atmosphere creates “a good sense of belonging,” says Buick.
Brian McNeff was new to the Bears swim team last season, but has been coaching swim for 21 years. McNeff says the team is looking forward to their county meet in addition to Royal Oak and various travel meets to Holland. The team also got new equipment, including new starting blocks, lane lines, scoring system, and more. McNeff says, “it is going to be really good for the pool”.
The swim team has competed in two relay meets and one dual meet; they lost the first dual meet, but are looking forward to the next. Overall, the swim team lost some seniors but gained many fast freshmen and new equipment for better practices. The team is excited to continue their season and for the meets to come.