Th e Pony Ex press The student newspaper of Center Hill High School
Dec. 1, 2017
Center Hill High School
Volume 1, Issue 4
AChristmasCarol Drama students to stage holiday play Dec. 1-3 By Paige Brick and Nadia Sumlar Staff Writers
The annual school production is now in the works. Under the direction of Melanie Caffee, the Center Hill High School Drama Department is spreading a little joy this holiday season with ?A Christmas Carol.? ?This play is very intimidating because it is a classic,? Caffee said. ?You have to do it right.? Though she may be the director, Caffee said she is giving her actors creative liberties. ?A lot of this is their show,? she said. ?Ideas change based on what they find and what they think. I have visions of what I want, but one of the actors might do something and I might like that idea better.? Kaitlin Moore, a sophomore, is one of the performers in the play. ?I play five different parts, a shopkeeper, a collector, an elderly woman, a prisoner and a wealthy person,? Moore said. ?I?d have to say that the hardest part of the audition process was deciding to go
Photo by Kayleigh Miron
Melanie Caffee, director of " A Christmas Carol," applies Logan Vandevender's stage makeup during a recent rehearsal.
after my friend because I was nervous.? Amanda Reese, a senior, also has multiple parts in the play. ?I play parts in the chorus,? Reese said. ?I play big business woman, Mrs. Fezziwig, a thief, pretty sister and a wealthy woman.? Reese said her favorite part about the preparation for the play was when the performers learned their roles. 1
?I liked having my costume and voice in mind before I go in for rehearsal so I can visualize what it?s going to be like,? she said. Dates for the show, to be performed in the PAC, are Dec. 1 at 7 p.m., Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. Admission is $5. CHHS students may also use their activity pass.
Creatinggreatness Boys basketball off to a winning start By Paige Brick Staff Writer
The Center Hill High School boys basketball team is starting the season strong with four wins to its credit. ?Our goals are for our team to play hard, be exciting to watch, keep up the team mentality and win our fifth championship,? head coach Newton Mealer said. The team has adopted a new slogan for the 2017-2018 season. ?I want people to equal Center Hill basketball with greatness,? Mealer said. The players are just as excited about this season as their coach. ?Starting off the season 4-0 is great for the team,? said Kevin Henry, a junior and small forward for the Mustangs. ?I think the season is going to be great.? Point guard Johnny Marion, a senior, also shared his opinion on how he thinks the season will go. ?The season has been good,? Marion said. ?We have to keep being consistent. I think we have a good chance of winning state.?
Henry said that is possible because of the coaching staff, which includes Mealer and assistants Josh Barnett, Chase Brown and Luke Chapman. ?I think this team can do big things in the future if we focus and keep working hard,? Henry said. ?None of this would?ve been possible without the Center Hill basketball coaching staff and Coach Mealer, who has been trying to build a championship culture for this team.? Also this season, shooting guard Brien Kimmons has been lauded for his scoring. ?That Brien Kimmons?he?s hot! Four games and no less than 26 points in any of them,? John Varlas of the Commercial Appeal newspaper tweeted Nov. 14. Kimmons, who was named the Commercial Appeal?s Player of the Week and Center Hill?s Player of the Week, said the recognition feels great but it?s a team effort. ?It?s a team sport,? Kimmons said. ?We all play our roles great, and if we continue to play our roles we should continue to be undefeated.?
Photo by Annie Chan
In the first four games of the season, Brien Kimmons scored no less than 26 points.
UPDATE: So far this season, the Mustangs have posted victories against West Lauderdale, 85-34; Corinth, 88-68; Ashland, 85-78; Munford, Tennessee, 83-66; Horn Lake 86-51; Cleveland Central, 69-61; Houlka, 91-68; and Clinton, 68-57. The Mustangs are now ranked 8th by mshoopreport.webs.com.
Williams nationally ranked, sets state swim record Championships on Oct. 28 in Tupelo. He is also now ranked No. 1 in the country for Taylor Williams, a the 100-meter sophomore at Center breaststroke. Hill High School, brought home his ?It?s cool to have second and third state gotten one in ninth titles and set his second grade then two again state record at the in 10th,? Williams MHSAA State Swim said. By Randi Terry Staff Writer
Williams, 15, is Mississippi?s champion in the 100-meter breaststroke and 200-meter individual medley. He set a new state record in the 100-meter breaststroke with a time of 56.84, beating
his 2016 winning time by nearly two seconds. CHHS swim coach Josh Barnett said even though Williams improved from last year, ?He was already good to begin with.? Taylor Williams
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Center Hill cheer team r eaching new heights By Emily Merz Staff Writer
5! 6! 5! 6! 7! 8! The Center Hill High School cheer team is working hard to be the best they can be. ?I am not sure people realize how much work it is to cheer,? sponsor Kristie Cohea said. ?We have cheered at every varsity game with exception of West Point. We will cheer all home basketball games (girls and boys) and away in district, all while preparing for competition season as well.? This year is the first time the high school has competed in the Mid-South Regional cheer competition. The team earned the title of Regional Champions and a bid to the National High School Cheerleading Championship in February. ?We have worked a lot harder this year,? said Cameron Fuell, one of five seniors on the cheer team. Cohea said she is very proud of the girls, especially the seniors. In addition to Fuell, other seniors are Madyson Durand, Jessica Gibson, Camaryn McClelland and Sherrice Wright. ?We are so proud of their leadership, unity and lots of possibility to cheer at the next level,? Cohea said, adding that she hopes that they will be able to
Photo by Emily Merz
The CHHS cheer team, shown practicing in October, earned the title of Regional Champions at the Mid-South Regional cheer competition. The team also earned a bid to the National High School Cheerleading Championship in February.
continue cheer after high school on college teams. On the topic of this year?s freshmen, Cohea said she is impressed. ?These ladies have worked really hard to advance and are doing great,? she said.
Cohea said the school can support the cheerleaders in a simple way. ?Cheer with us during games and pep rallies, really just get involved with us,? she said. ?It is hard to cheer when no one wants to join in.?
Soccer ?s Tiffany Ogden signs with I tawamba By Paige Brick Staff Writer
Tiffany Ogden signed a letter of intent Nov. 16 to play soccer at Itawamba Community College. ?It feels exciting,? Ogden said after the signing in Center Hill High School?s Performing Arts Center. ?I?m ready to go to college. It?s going to be very different.? Ogden, a center mid for the Lady
Mustangs who also played volleyball at CHHS, said she started playing competitive soccer for Lobos when she was six years old. Ogden said she first played for girls soccer head coach Dave Burgess when she was a student at Center Hill Middle School. ?She came in in seventh grade already talented, but worked hard to add things to her game,? Burgess said. ?She was a great two-sport athlete. She?s always kept her grades 3
up in the classroom and we?re very proud of her. ICC is getting a great person and player.? Women?s soccer at ICC, located in Fulton, is Tiffany Ogden coached by David Strother.
Students offer r eflections on Chr istmas The Pony Express asked a few other CHHS students about their holiday traditions.
By Sherrice Wright Editor-in-Chief
Christmas is a feeling like no other. The connotation of the word itself brings forth a flood of precious memories, warm fireplaces and steaming hot chocolate. More than anything, Christmas means togetherness. ?To me, Christmas means family and being together and spreading kindness,? senior Stephen Shol said. Christmas is when the memories we hold very near and dear to our hearts take place. It is often the holiday where we feel most complete, surrounded by loved ones. Christmas is holds such a special place in our hearts because our favorite Christmas traditions. ?My favorite part is definitely baking cookies and cooking with my mom,? Shol said. ?I like to make things for people to enjoy.? Of course, Christmas wouldn?t be Christmas without gift giving. Shol said that his favorite Christmas gift was a pair of tickets to see ?Wicked.?
Alex White, sophomore
?My favorite part of the holidays is probably all the really good food I get to eat while I get to see my whole family.? - compiled by William Wright Shelby Bailey, sophomore
?On Christmas Eve, my family and I go to my cousin?s house, eat food and play Secret Santa. On Christmas Day, my grandparents come over and we open presents.? - compiled by Amanda Adams Sarah Hennan, sophomore
Photo courtesy of Stephen Shol
To senior Stephen Shol, seated in center, " Christmas means family and being together and spreading kindness."
?Like three years ago, my mom got me and her tickets to go see ?Wicked? at the Orpheum and it was pretty amazing,? said Shol, who plans to hold his family close and remember how thankful he is during this season.
?On Christmas Eve, my mom buys my sister and me matching pajamas and that?s the only gift we open. One Christmas, my family and I put real coal in my grandma?s stocking.? - compiled by Amanda Adams Tyr ese Fr azier , sen ior
?We always dress up in funny Christmas pajamas. On Christmas Day as a family we all eat sausage casserole.? - compiled by Amanda Adams
Hanukkah, Chanukah or Hanuka? All of the above So still, why SO many spellings? Isn?t it excessive or just plain confusing? Maybe to us, yes, but typically in languages such as Arabic and Hebrew the English translation is simply phonetic, meaning you spell it how it sounds. It truly is that simple. Now that we?ve put the debacle to rest, let?s all just enjoy the holidays together.
By Connor Hutto Staff Writer
This year, the Jewish holiday Hanukkah, also known as ?The Festival of Lights,? takes place from Dec. 12 to Dec. 20. However, the problem at large is that a majority of people can?t agree on a spelling, and very few people know why. According to time.com, there are technically about 16 correct spellings of Hanukkah/Chanukah. However, Hanukkah/Chanukah have become the two most popular spellings. Only within the past five years has Hanukkah beaten Chanukah for the No. 1 spot on the list, due to a very simple reason ? too many people who spoke English were confused by the ?ch? being pronounced with an ?h? sound.
How do you spell Hanukkah? All of the following are considered technically correct spellings for The Festival of Lights: Hanukkah, Chanukah, Hanukah, Hannukah, Chanuka, Chanukkah, Hanuka, Channukah, Chanukka, Hanukka, Hannuka, Hannukkah, Channuka, Xanuka, Hannukka, Channukkah, Channukka and Chanuqa.
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Givingback Mighty Mustang Meals helps hungry children
Photo by Sherrice Wright
CHHS students who have helped with Mighty Mustang Meals include, from left, Flannery Egner, Madalyn Sloan, Morgan Atkins and Savannah Steen.
By Randi Terry Staff Writer
The Mighty Mustang Meals Program at Center Hill High School is a community-based program that helps provide meals for underprivileged children at Overpark Elementary and Center Hill Elementary. Every Thursday, high schoolers get together and pack each child in the program enough food to last them the weekend and send it home with them on Friday afternoon. Mighty Mustang Meals started with Center Hill senior sponsors Danielle Brown and Roben Nobles and Interact sponsors Alisha Green and Toni Coleman. Brown and Nobles were originally looking for a way for the senior class to get involved in a community service project, and ended up pairing with Interact to create a schoolwide project.
?When this program started, we were providing for 22 students,? Nobles said. ?We are currently providing food for 33 students, and the number seems to grow every week.? Kristy Hale, assistant principal at Center Hill Elementary School, said the children who benefit from the program are appreciative. Photo by Randi Terry ?To see the happiness and even sometimes relief on Karina Prado is one of many Center Hill High School the students?faces when students who helps feed underprivileged children they receive the food is through Mighty Mustang Meals. something that cannot be you don?t have a child in described on a piece of that so many kids in our the Center Hill school paper,? Hale said. ?The little community wouldn?t system, you can still feeling of sincere gratitude have food over the donate to this great is expressed when the weekend,? said Karina cause. Donations can be students hug us and Prado, a Mighty Mustang brought to the front desk vocalize the appreciation Meals Ambassador and of the school. All checks that the organization CHHS senior. ?It really should be made payable provides them.? made me realize how truly to Mighty Mustang lucky I am with how I grew The program doesn?t just Meals, and all food items up and never having to affect the elementary kids should be non struggle.? involved, however. perishables such as Food is gathered through ramen noodles. ?I definitely never thought food drives at CHHS, but if 5
Boys soccer hopes for another winning season By William Wright Staff Writer
After winning the district championships last year, the Center Hill High School boys soccer team is ready to repeat. And the student body is more than happy to facilitate, even chanting ?complete the sweep? at the winter sports?pep rally Nov. 17. The team graduated a lot of seniors last year, but head coach Andrew Yeoman insists that they are not in a rebuilding year. ?We are returning starters at key positions,? Yeoman said. ?I think a large amount of the county will think that, but by no means is this year a rebuild.? Coming off a great season last year, Yeoman had one word for his team: Prove. ?They?ve got to prove to themselves and this community that they can win a division title,? he said. ?It?s too early to tell for sure, but their undefeated 6-0 start is certainly impressive.? Brayden Hellums is a junior on the team. ?Our team has brought in a lot of young talent, mixed in with
Photo by Emily Merz
Defender Dylan Riley races for the ball during the Nov. 10 game against New Albany. The Mustangs defeated the Bulldogs 1-0.
talented juniors and seniors, and we have a great coach to guide us,? Hellums said. ?That?s why we have been winning, and will continue to win.? This year?s senior captains are Erick Mendoza and Cyle Paulino. So far, the Mustangs have defeated
New Albany 1-0, South Panola 7-0, Pontotoc 2-1, Horn Lake 2-0, Southaven 2-1, and Senatobia 7-0. The Mustangs will host Lafayette Dec. 1 before traveling to Saltillo Dec. 2.
Winter tennis tryouts scheduled for January
Photo by Annie Chan
Tennis is a fun, social and life-long sport. If you enjoy competition, learn sports quickly, and are coachable, trying out for the 2018 Tennis Team may be for you. Winter Tryouts for the 2018 CHHS Tennis Team will be held Jan. 29 or Jan. 30. The winter tryouts are for new students to the school or existing students who didn?t try out in May 2017. See Coach Gayla Arvin in C3 if you are interested in tennis or will be trying out.
Jada Spratt, a point guard on the girls basketball team, helped the Lady Mustangs beat Corinth 45-36 on Nov 7.
From staff reports
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Girls soccer prepares to ?go to war together? By Abigail Penfield Staff Writer
With the loss of eight seniors who received a great quantity of playing time and recognition last year, the Center Hill High School girls soccer team is moving forward with new leadership. Four seniors, Annie Chan, Chynna Lee, Tiffany Ogden and Kiersten Smith, have stepped up into the leadership roles the team needs this year. Seniors ?tend to get the stereotype of ruling over others, but anyone can take leadership,? said Chan, the team?s captain. ?I might have the title of being a senior, but I make sure everyone is included and has a say. It?s more about having an influence or impact that directs someone in the positive path that defines leadership rather than having a dictatorship.? The girls have a difficult schedule, playing opponents such as Southaven and DeSoto Central, but Lee is optimistic about their chances. ?Nothing is going to come easy, but everyone on the team has worked hard and I can?t wait to finally put all our talents together this season and hopefully come out with some wins,? she said. Coach David Burgess said the team is changing things up this season. ?Last year we had our first losing record in eight years,? he said. ?We are determined not to repeat that. We lost eight seniors last year, but the other players have been working hard. Now, it?s their team and their turn to rep the Hill.? Burgess also said that the team is
Photo by Abigail Penfield
Seniors on the girls soccer team are, from left, Kiersten Smith, Tiffany Ogden, Chynna Lee and Annie Chan.
Photo by Mary Catherine Miller
Kiersten Smith, above, helped CHHS defeat South Panola 9-0 on Nov. 11.
playing a new formation this season with players in different positions than they had previously played. Olive Branch High School has also been added into their district, but he believes the team will still do well. He said that the team wants to ?win the [district playoff game] and cause some havoc in the playoffs. My goal 7
for the players is to come together as a team and step on the field to go to war together. Everything we do, we have to do together.? Center Hill girls are now 5-1. Senior Night is against Olive Branch on Jan. 16.
McClelland signs with Austin Peay State University By Paige Brick Staff Writer
Camaryn McClelland, a senior at Center Hill High School, has signed a letter of intent for track and field at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. ?She is one of three that moved up in the eighth grade,? head track coach JJ Downs said. ?I knew the potential she had.? McClelland is a three-time state champion in track and field. Her events at CHHS are the triple jump, 100-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles and the 4X400-meter relay. ?To my parents I want to say thank you for raising
Photo by Paige Brick
Camaryn McClelland, a three-time state champion in track and field at CHHS, signed with Austin Peay State University on Nov. 10.
me into the young woman I am today,? said McClelland, who was joined at the signing Nov. 10 by her mother and father, Candace and Carlton McClelland.
Select Women named Grand Champion at choral festival By Connor Hutto Staff Writer
On Oct. 7, the CHHS Chorus traveled to Oxford to compete in the Ole Miss Choral Festival. This year, however, was one in which Select Women not only wowed the judges, but came back with the trophy to prove it.
Not only did they win Best Treble Choir, but out of the 52 choirs that entered the competition, the Select Women came home with the first-place trophy and title of Grand Champion. ?We were a little timid at first, but right now, we?ve grown into a mature sounding choir,? said Katie
ThePonyExpress The Pony Express student newspaper was established in order to keep Center Hill High School updated on the latest stories and events while promoting creativity, individuality and freedom of speech. Editor-in-Chief is Sherrice Wright. Advisers are Michelle Jones and Ginny Shikle. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @chhsponyexpress. We are online at chhsponyexpress.com.
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McDaniel, Select Women President. ?We sound like women.? The two pieces chosen by director Catherine Feazell for this year?s competition were ?Cantate Domino? by Hans Leo Hassler and ?truth? by Andrea Ramsey, with Andrew Clifton accompanying on the djembe.