The Pony Express The student newspaper of Center Hill High School
March-April 2019
Center Hill High School
Volume 2, Issue 5
Career Tech
Career tech offers ‘new kind of college pathway’ By Sarah Claire Miller Staff Writer Sophomores from Center Hill High School toured the DeSoto County Career and Technology Center East on Feb. 28. Career Tech East, located on Deerfield Drive, offers students from Center Hill, Lewisburg and Olive Branch high schools opportunities to learn about careers in Health Sciences, Law Enforcement and Public Safety, Logistics and Transportation, Information Technology, and Industrial Maintenance. Maggie Clifton, a participant on the field trip, said she does not know what her future career will be but going on the tour helped. “It’s between a few things,” the CHHS 10th-grader said. “I’ve been thinking about interior design, floral design and media arts. It just depends on what I figure out what to do. I think it’s better for you to figure out what you want to do early rather than waiting until the last minute.” Although she might not attend Career Tech East, Clifton said she liked what she saw. “The health science one gave you a lot of helpful information and it was my favorite,” she said. Chelsee Ayers, a CHHS junior, is in her first year of Law and Public Safety at Career Tech East. “I wanted to learn more about the law and policemen and the work they do in the field and to experience it,” said Ayers, who got to travel with her classmates March 1 to tour the sheriff’s office and
Photo by Sarah Claire Miller Tasheena Williams rides a lift while touring the Distribution Center at Career Tech East, where students can learn about careers in Health Sciences, Law Enforcement and Public Safety, Logistics and Transportation, Information Technology, and Industrial Maintenance.
jail in Hernando. “We learn about the history of law and policing, firefighting, CPR, physical training and everything we need to know.”
Not all students in career and technical education courses pursue that career path after graduation, but according to an article on
edweek.org, CTE is “a new kind of college pathway.”
According to the Career Tech East website, each career track
is designed to be a two-year program, and students can earn four credits toward graduation.
Mealer: Gold Ball changes nothing By Sarah Claire Miller Staff Writer After winning a Gold Ball state championship trophy at the Big House in Jackson, the boys basketball team’s goal for next season is simple. “Nothing changes,” said Newton Mealer, whose Mustangs beat Olive Branch 75-73 March 8 in Jackson. “Now that we’ve won a state championship, we want it again.” The first state championship in school history has put Center Hill High School’s basketball program on a pinnacle, Mealer said, but it didn’t happen overnight. “This has been a work in progress
over the years,” he said. “We’ve had a very successful basketball program in itself, but we haven’t been able to get over that hump of beating Olive Branch. We took the district championship away from them and we also took the state championship away from them. So I would say right now Center Hill is sitting on top of the mountain as far as basketball programs in our state for 5A are concerned.” Without seniors Marquez Berry, Cameron Goodwin, Kevin Henry, Antwan Honer, Kenneth Lewis and Calvin Temple, Mealer said the state championship run probably
Continued on Page 3
Photo by Nancy Toche Wearing their practice jerseys, seniors Calvin Temple, from left, Kevin Henry, Cameron Goodwin, Marquez Berry, Antwan Honer and Kenneth Lewis pose with the Gold Ball trophy they brought home March 8 after defeating district rivals Olive Branch 75-73 in the Class 5A State Championship. The win at the Big House in Jackson marks the first state basketball title in school history.
Mustang Spotlight
Sisters Mallory and Maggie Gaines are dynamic duo By Abigail Penfield Staff Writer Senior Mallory Gaines and junior Maggie Gaines are not just sisters, but also teammates. During the 2018-2019 season, the Gaines sisters helped the girls soccer team make it past the first round of playoffs while improving their personal stats by creating new school records and becoming leaders in Mississippi’s 5A class. “They have both been some of our most solid and consistent players for years at Center Hill,” head soccer coach David Burgess said. “They’re game changers.” Mallory, a midfielder and forward, began her high school soccer career with a torn meniscus but finished with the most goals (51) of any female player to pass through the doors of Center Hill High School and was the leading scorer in the Mississippi 5A class for the 20182019 season. Her other accomplishments include most goals in a single game (8), most hat tricks in a season (7), most goals in a single season (37), and reaching double digit goals in the shortest amount of games. “I may have scored lots of goals,” Mallory said, “but I didn’t make any single one without a good pass or a good play from one of my teammates.” Burgess called Mallory a true goal scorer and Maggie a playmaker. “Not many players have the ‘it’ factor to score goals consistently, but Mallory does,” he said. In a CHHS Player of the Week interview for Mustang Television, Burgess also said that Mallory “sets the example for the rest of the team, just getting after it hard every day, every game, every practice.” “Given time, she can place the ball wherever she wants and is also a great passer,” Burgess said of Maggie, who also plays midfield. “Those skills allow her to rack up assists and create opportunities for her teammates.” Maggie attributes her success this season to the team’s chemistry and “a great offense that’s so good at finishing” that includes her sister Mallory. Maggie finished her junior season with the most assists in school history and the second-most assists in Mississippi’s 5A class. “I wouldn’t be the player I am today without having played since I was four with my sister,” Maggie said. “Soccer has also brought us together. Playing with her is something I will always cherish.”
Photo by Jackson Smith Mallory Gaines (17) finished her high school soccer career with a record-setting 51 goals. She also scored the most goals in a single game (8), most hat tricks in a season (7), most goals in a single season (37), and reached double digit goals in the shortest time.
Photo by Jackson Smith
Photo courtesy of Mallory and Maggie Gaines
Maggie Gaines, a midfielder for the girls soccer team, finished her junior season with the most assists in school history and the second-most assists in Mississippi’s 5A class.
Senior Mallory Gaines, standing, and her sister Maggie, a junior, have been playing soccer together for more than a decade.
Burgess said the relationship counts. “I think them being sisters really helps them play well together,” he said. “Not just because they are sisters, but since they are close in age they have played on the same
The Pony Express Emily Merz Editor-in-Chief Ginny Shikle and Michelle Jones Advisers Doug Payne Principal
teams for over a decade. Any time two players play that much together they understand each others’ tendencies and learn to trust each other, which goes a long way on the field.” Mallory said her teammates
“are my best friends and I am so thankful for the Center Hill soccer program.” Maggie shares this sentiment. “This season was my favorite one by far,” she said. “I’m so sad it’s over because I don’t want my sister
The purpose of The Pony Express is to inform the students and faculty of Center Hill High School of events and issues that affect them. The Pony Express is an after-school club that is supplemented by students in the Foundations of Journalism class. As student writers, we try to reflect the thoughts of our most important readers – the students of Center Hill. Because of this, we attempt to approach many issues, some more controversial than others. The newspaper staff hopes to inform, to educate, to entertain and to question for the betterment of Center Hill, its students and faculty.
and the rest of the seniors to leave me. Although, I’m super excited for next season. There are going to be many changes but I can’t wait to see where it takes us.”
All opinion pieces are the views of the individual writer, with the exception of staff editorials, which are unsigned and reflect the consensus of The Pony Express staff. The Pony Express is a member of the Mississippi Scholastic Press Association, which named our publication Most Improved High School Newspaper for 2017-2018, and the Southern Interscholastic Press Association. To advertise, contact Ginny Shikle at ginny. shikle@dcsms.org. Submit questions, comments and letters to the editor to ponyexpresschhs@gmail.com.
#Championship Mentality Continued from Page 1 couldn’t have been possible. “Their leadership, their accountability, their determination and their will to win is really what brought this team together,” he said. “As a high school coach, it was a joy to watch those guys become not only basketball players but leaders amongst their own teammates and basically leaders in our school.” Mealer calls that the championship mentality. “I wanted the guys to understand every day we had to play as champions,” he said. “We wanted them to be champions on the floor and off the floor, and they had to bring their work ethic every day. My assistant coaches, my managers, my players, everybody underneath me had to set that mindset.” Shooting guard Kenneth Lewis said championship mentality is always on his mind. “We practice with it, go into the game with it, we just always think championship mentality,” he said, noting how the concept helped them beat Olive Branch and bring home the Gold Ball trophy. “It says that we’re very resilient,
’cause you know we lost the first two and we didn’t give up,” he said. “We just stuck with the game plan and we just played hard.” Following the plan and winning state “was the best way to go out as a senior,” point guard Cameron Goodwin said. “It’s the best moment for sure, the best moment of high school, to end my career like that was in high school was just the best way possible.” His best game, however, wasn’t at the Big House. “My favorite moment was when we played Sapulpa this year and I got I think three or four straight defensive stops and a layup to help win the game,” said Goodwin, whose efforts propelled the Mustangs to a 78-77 victory over the Chieftains, from Oklahoma, in the Western Kentucky Hoops Classic. For guard Braxton Morris, his defining moment of the season was a 50-foot shot at the first quarter buzzer in Jackson that his coach calls a “big, big momentum changer.” “It was probably one of the times of my life I will never forget,” said Morris, who tied the game 17-17 with the 3-pointer.
Photo courtesy of Newton Mealer In recognition for winning the Class 5A State Championship, the boys basketball team was recognized March 27 at the state Capitol in Jackson. They were presented by state senators Kevin Blackwell and David Parker.
Winning state showed that the Mustangs worked as hard as they could to accomplish the goals they wanted, the junior said, adding that
next year’s team will have to recover from the loss of six seniors. “I mean, it’s going to hurt,” he said. “But we’ve just got to come
back next year with the same intensity that they brought this year to go back-to-back state champions.”
News Briefs From staff reports The Pony Express MTv, Pony Express staffs win state journalism awards
Mustang Television and The Pony Express staff members attended the Mississippi Scholastic Press Association’s spring convention and high school journalism competition on April 1. More than 500 students from 37 schools attended the event at Ole Miss. MTv won for Best Opening Sequence. MTv was also a finalist for Best Daily Newscast. MTv staff member Dallas Kiner was a finalist for Best Feature Story, Emily Merz was a finalist for Best PSA, and Trinity Baynham was a finalist for Best Longform Story. The Pony Express was a finalist for Newspaper of the Year. Newspaper staff member Sarah Claire Miller was a finalist for Best News Photo, Candice Buford was a finalist for Best Feature Photo, Emily Merz was a finalist for Best In-Depth Reporting, and Ana Le was a finalist for Best Editorial Cartoon. 2018 graduate Mary Catherine Miller was a finalist for Best News Story and Annie Chan won for Best News Photo. Emily Merz, editor-in-chief of The Pony Express, was named one of the state’s All-Mississippi Student Journalists. Ginny Shikle, co-adviser for The Pony Express, was named a finalist for Newspaper Adviser of the Year. Bill Hatch was named MSPA’s Scholastic Journalism Ally for his support of student journalism programs at CHHS. Archery places third in state tournament At the state archery tournament in Jackson April 2, the CHHS archery team placed third in Class 5. The team set a new record with a team score of 3264. Hannah Willard was the No. 2 female overall.
Winners named in poetry, spoken word, photo contest The second annual Snapshots & Stanzas program was held April 4 in the PAC. Poetry winners were Caleb Jenkins, first place; Mary Lindsey, second place; and Nancy Toche, third place. Spoken word winners were Mary Lindsey, first place; Z Brown, second place; and Lyndsey Bailey, third place. Jackson Smith dominated the photography contest, winning first place in the animal, people, action and things categories. Caleb Jenkins won second place in the animal and things categories. Sarah Claire Miller won second place in the people and action categories, and Marissa Heath won third place in the things category. MHSAA recognizes Downs as Coach of the Year JJ Downs was honored April 4 as the Mississippi Track Coach of the Year by the MHSAA. “Thank you for all of the support and help,” Downs said. “I could not have received this without all the great teachers, administrators, kids and parents that give tirelessly to not only track but the CHHS community. I am humbled to receive this award but honored to accept this on the team’s behalf.”
Photo by Sarah Claire Miller Gwen Riecke, sophomore, performs with the Center Hill Varsity Winterguard during a Friends and Family show March 28. At the Mississippi Indoor Association championship March 30 in Jackson, the performers earned bronze medals after competing three levels higher than they did last year. Also at state, the JV Winterguard earned bronze and members of Indoor Winds received silver medals.
Laws, Lewis, Payton, Mealer and Temple earn honors
Seniors Calvin Temple and Kenneth Lewis, along with sophomore Kaeden Laws, were named to the MHSAA All-State Tournament Team. Additionally, Temple was named to the Clarion Ledger’s All-State Team and head boys basketball coach was named the newspaper’s Coach of the Year. Mealer was also selected by Mississippi Hoop Report as its Coach of the Year and junior Decorian Payton was chosen for Mississippi Hoop Report’s All-State Second Team.
Photo by Kymoria Mottley Ron Thompson, second from left, poses April 3 in the CHHS Commons with members of the community-based classroom during a balloon release for Autism Awareness Month. From left are William Jones III, Michael Green-Owens, Corey Craine, Thompson, and Ernest Gaines Jr.
#theHillBoys
Photo by Jackson Smith
Photo by Jackson Smith
Christian Dunn, freshman, at bat against Olive Branch on March 29. The Mustangs beat the Quistors 3-1.
Zach Wright, senior, pitches against Olive Branch in a district game March 29.
Artist Review: Ateez By Nadia Sumlar Staff Writer
As kpop continues to blow up throughout the world, a new group runs its way into the smoke. Ateez is a kpop group under the company KQ Entertainment. Ateez consists of eight members: Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Wooyoung and Jongho. Ateez’s pre-debut name was KQ Fellaz, with another member by the name of Joonyoung. Unfortunately, when Ateez debuted, Joonyoung did not debut with them. Ateez debuted on Oct. 24, 2018, with the songs “Treasure” and “Pirate King” from their EP: “Treasure EP.1: All to Zero.” If you ask me, this was an amazing start from Ateez. They really made their music very known; if you did you did not know who they were, you knew their songs and energy. Their music is based on many hip hop and R&B elements. On Jan. 15, Ateez released their second EP called “Treasure EP. 2: Zero to One.” I have to say I like this comeback better than their first one. It was more my style of music. They released their title track, “Say My Name,” on this date as well. On Jan. 7, Ateez released
CHDT Rings
With Ateez’s power vocals and insane choreography, there is no telling where this group will go. The only prediction we can make is that they are going to the top. another music video under the EP called “Hala Hala.” Hala means “hearts awakening, live alive,” and with this particular track, Ateez definitely surprised me. The song starts off like a ballad with the piano. Not too long after Hongjoong comes in with his rap that brings in a more upbeat vibe. However, youngest Jongho brings surprising vocals that has an epic build up. Then finally the song has a hip hop breakdown. With Ateez’s power vocals and insane choreography, there is no telling where this group will go. The only prediction we can make is that they are going to the top. Tracks on Treasure EP.1: All to Zero include: Intro: Long Journey, Pirate King, Treasure, Twilight, Stay, and My Way. Tracks on Treasure EP. 2: Zero to One include: HALA HALA, Say My Name, Desire, Light, Promise, and From. I definitely give this group a 5 out of 5 stars.
Photo by Sarah Claire Miller Center Hill Dance Team members, from left, Devyn Baker, Kaitlyn Wilty, Katie Huey, Kenzie Sandridge and Jillian Wiggins show off their state championship rings after a reveal ceremony March 19.
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