HiLIFE
September 2010- Issue 1 2305 East Main, League City, TX 77573
In this issue: Creek loses teacher Anya Herrera Shannon O’Neil
Creek football off to great start p. 15
New iPod models released p. 13
Homecoming mum history p. 7
Healthy food law p. 4
On August 19, 2010, a teacher from the Clear Creek family passed away after a long battle with cancer. Anya Herrera was an English teacher at Clear Creek High School. Herrera was able to relate to her students in a unique and special way. Herrera, a Creek graduate herself was not always the good girl in high school. She made her mistakes and hung out with the wrong people. After moving to Florida, Herrera turned her life around and became an influential teacher to many students. Herrera had the unique ability to relate to those students who most teachers just couldn’t understand. She was young and hip and brought all that to her classroom. Many students loved her class just because she was there. When Herrera was diagnosed with cancer, the faculty and students began working together to raise funds for Herrera and her family. Herrera was the mom of three boys, who were her joy in life. Herrera’s battle with cancer began in September of 2009. When she was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Stage 4 Cancer, cancer that affects the brain, Herrera never gave up and throughout her tough and long battle she remained herself and kept her spirits up. Herrera passed away on August 19, 2010 at the young age of 27. Her memorial service was held at Carnes Funeral Home on August 22. Students of Herrera, as well as faculty from Clear Creek, attended the memorial service. The father of two of the boys is the guardian for all Herrera’s three sons, Jaysen, Jaylen, and Jayden. Around fifty attended the funeral to honor their teacher. Students cannot say enough good things about Herrera, from her style to her personality. “We’ve never had someone like her. She was more than a teacher. She was special. We could tell her anything and relate to her,” senior Laura Lyon said. Losing a member of the faculty that was so influential on students has had a big impact on the school. Head principal, Scott Bockart took a moment on the first day of school in honor of Herrera. Pennie Ya n c e y
remembers Herrera from a young age. “My favorite memory of Anya was when I was team mom for Boogie Bears, [League City Little League Team]. She was the youngest. She would always pick the wildflowers on the softball field. We all took care of her. She was like our mascot,” said Yancey. Yancey will miss Herrera’s integrity. At the end of the 2009/2010 school year there was a short assembly dedicated to Herrera. Students performed a rap and a dance dedicated especially to her. Herrera was in attendance and she spoke to the whole student body and left them with a message. “I don’t know what you believe in, but my God is bigger than cancer.” Herrrera always focused on the positive things in life. She never dwelled on the negative. In a letter to the HiLife Staff,, Herrera said, “ I hope you find a reason to smile today. Then go further to make someone else smile.” Herrera was an inspiration to many students and influenced students in many positive ways. “Ms. Herrera [influenced me the most during high school] I had her in 10th grade but she has continued to make me smile through today,” said former Creek student Andrew Smith. Herrera was known for her faith and trust in God. She was a member at Christian Tabernacle Church in Houston. Instead of a message of sadness, Herrera’s memorial service focused on her faith and how she wished to share it. “The funeral was not focused on death. It showed the legacy she left and preached to others how they could live like she did,” said senior Windy Wike. Herrera was known for being supportive of students and knowing when to lend a helping hand and listening ear. Even though her life was not always easy she made an effort to be there for her students. “She was so strong. She lived for her church and kids,” said Laura Lyon. The students interviewed talked about the memories they had with Herrera, a favorite being
when she wrote all her students a Christmas card. They were so taken back that a teacher cares so much for her students to take the time to hand write something for each of them. Herrera had a way of making students feel special and comfortable around her. “She was so real,” said senior Chantay Lowe. Though Herrera has passed, she will always remain a member of the Clear Creek High School faculty. She will always have a place in the heart of teachers and students. Her family will continue to be in the thoughts and actions of the school and donations are being accepted on behalf of her sons. “She was my hero. She still is,”Wike said. Herrera’s father is collecting all donations for Herrera’s sons. Students over Creek have also all pulled together to donate funds to the Herrera family. The girls’ volleyball team collected donations during the first week of school to benefit the family. They also donated concession profits in the Friendswood game to Herrera’s family. Not only is the volleyball team commemorating Herrera’s death, but also the Creek Cavaliers dedicated their first performance to Herrera.
How to further donate (to benefit the Herrera children send all donations to the address below)
Joaquin Herrera Sr. 5903 High Meadow St. League City, TX, 77573
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Opinion Hey, CREEK
!
What is your
Freshmen “Going to see Lady Gaga with my best friend Alexandra Mattingly.” -Sergio Hernandez “Going to football conditioning camp.”
-CJ Green
“Sailing to Mackinac Island, Michigan and to Canada.” “Finishing my summer course to get my extra credits.”
-Sarah Morlan -Linh Dao
favorite 2010 summer memory?
Seniors “I went parasailing in Hawaii.”
-Victoria Perez
“Going to Singapore and buying a bunch of Korean albums.” -Christopher Fursh “Church camp was the bomb-diggity!”
-Sarah Johnson
“My favorite memory is scuba diving at the Underwater Music Festival in Key West.” -Ryan Ward
Sophomores “Going to New Mexico to see my family.”
-Shelby Cook
“Taking a cruise to Norway, Sweden, and Russia was my best summer memory.” -Alyssa Cannon “My favorite memory of the 2010 summer is when I went crab hunting with Valerie Hellinghausen in Galveston.” -Michaela Pinder “My 2010 favorite summer memory was going to Schlitterbahn with Kelsey McMahon.” -Jacqueline Koonce
Juniors “Spending the week at Purdue and living in a college dorm.” -Taryn Leeney “I sailed in the North American Championships this summer.” -Brad Shaw “Moving from Heidelberg, Germany back to the states.” -Annie Von Seggern “Going to Colorado for Young Life camp.”
-Kyndall Hadley
“I went to Washington, D.C. for a conference named N4LC. I made a million friends!” -Jasmine Cook
“Going to Shanghai, China with Lauren was the most amazing trip ever.” -Madison Musler
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201 HiLife Staff Principal:
Scott Bockart
Advisor:
Wynette Jameson
Executive Editor:
Jan O’Neil
Editors-in-Chief: Advertising Manager: Centerspread Editor: Features Editors: News Editor: Teen Interest Editor: Sports Editors: Around Creek Editor: Creek Speeks Editor: Online Editor: Photo Editor:
Kaitlyn Blake Kaitlyn Boryk Shannon O’Neil Ashley Farmer Ellen Gaudet Tracey Griffith Amber Arnold Madison Borowitz Jacob Arredondo Derek Gay Jacob Mancini Ashley Farmer Mary Veedell Shauna Ferrero-Donahue
Staff: Ashley Barba Hannah Brinsko Brooke Griffis Marie Nelson Gabrielle Renwall Sarah Wallace
Ashley Bentley Tianah Brewer Emily Cruz Morgan Greenen Stephanie Johnson Kara Lowenthal Selina Olivas Olivia Payne William Sheffield Aimee Sierra Valerie Hellinghausen
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Editorial Shannon’s Space Respecting others and loving life
Shannon O’Neil
As I begin my last year at Clear Creek High School, I am giving myself the ultimate challenge. It seems that everywhere I go there is some new drama brewing because somebody is talking badly about another person. It amazes me how we can be disrespectful to others. My challenge is to stop talking about others and focus on building my peers up and making myself a better person. I will be the first to admit that I can say some pretty hateful things to make myself feel better. How selfish is that? Instead of focusing on the problem within myself, I turn around and gossip about a fellow classmate. Lately I have been
catching myself before I open my mouth. I try to think about what I’m about to say. I ask myself if I will regret this later. I know what it feels like to have people say things behind your back. I bet most of us do. Sophomore year was the hardest year during high school, but it also taught me a lot about myself. I had other people talking about me behind my back. At first I began to react and do the same to the people who started the gossip. Looking back I know it was wrong and I regret the things I said. Looking back, I realize that taking the high road would have been my best move. I know taking the high road by not reacting to others is not always the easiest thing to do, but it is the most rewarding. Too many times I get caught up in arguments, trying so hard to prove myself right, but at what cost? My character deeply diminishes every time I lose my cool and lash out at others. When I respond to the gossip, I become the type of person that I am frustrated with in the first place. Just as they spread gossip about me, I in return, do the same. Gossip hurts, no matter what. Spreading rumors hurts others. I just don’t see why high school students continue to hurt one another. The girl’s restroom is a great place to find out who wore the wrong outfit, dated the wrong guy, or didn’t hang
out with the right people. Gossipers may think they are popular, but to me they seem the exact opposite of cool. Why would anyone want to hurt others? That’s a question I probably will never be able to understand. Gossiping and talking behind other people’s back is a form of bullying. I think too many times students see the classic sitcoms showing bullies throwing kids into trashcans. While I have never seen that type of bullying, I have seen plenty of verbal bullying. I admit at times I have been the bully. I understand the challenge of not gossiping. My challenge to everyone, including myself, is to try and stop the gossip and rumors. Look at yourself, and find the real reason you wish to say the things in your head aloud and change your way of thinking. Remember that your words can and usually do get back to the person you are talking about. This is hurtful. Bullying is serious. Many times kids feel bullied and nobody even knows about it. The media is flooded with tradegies that stem from bullying. Last year I wrote a story about a girl who killed herself because she was constantly harassed for dating a boy from her school. Some of the students who bullied her are now undergoing criminal investigation. It
makes me wonder how many incidents like this occur and nobody thinks twice about finding the bullies in the school. I think we all need to think about our words before we speak. No one knows what that person may be going through. I had the opportunity to see a show called If You Really Knew Me on MTV. Students from one school gathered in groups and went around telling the intimate stories of their lives. I watched as one girl gave her life story as the others around were shocked to learn the truth. The students began to feel compassionate and supportive. What if our school could be like that? What if we decided to look at everyone in a new light and appreciate his or her qualities? What if we stopped the gossip? Would the school be a happier place filled with more friendships? The answers to these questions can only be found in taking the challenge ourselves to look at others in a different way. Say only positive things and build our peers up instead of tearing them down. I am ready for the challenge. Are you?
Kaitlyn’s Korner Stop and smell the roses, let life shape you
Kaitlyn Blake I can clearly remember the first day of my junior year. I remember going down to the counselor’s office to fix my schedule because I did not have a second period. I remember being incredibly upset when my counselor told me that I would not be able to have both my band class and my newspaper class since they were during the same period. I remember what I was wearing. I remember what I had for lunch that day. I can distinctly remember every part of that day. It feels as though it was just yesterday. As I look back on junior year, I remember
how quickly it went by. At the time it felt like junior year would never end, bet it actually went by much faster than I realized. As a senior this year, I realize that my final year of high school will be over just as quickly. In almost no time at all, I will be walking across the stage to graduate. This thought is frightening to me. On the first day of school, my English teacher gave all of us a paper plate and told us to draw everything that is “on our plates.” By this he meant for us to write down everything that is stressing us out and everything that we worry about. As I added more and more items to my plate, I realized that my plate is, metaphorically speaking, full. Band, newspaper, AP classes, college applications, and both of my grandparents in the hospital may seem stressful to me now, but I know that when I look back on my life, I will see that these are all minor issues that shaped me for the future. I know that band will teach me kindness and friendship; my wonderful newspaper teacher has taught me to care about things that are happening to other people around the world; AP
classes have taught me time-management and have prepared me for the “real world;” and both of my grandparents being in the hospital has taught me that life is precious. When I was told that my grandmother had a stroke and was life-flighted to the hospital, it didn’t seem real to me. I had seen her just two weeks prior, and she was completely fine. We didn’t know anything about her condition and my entire family was devastated. My dad left on the next morning and took the first flight to Ohio. My grandmother had a major stroke and was completely paralyzed on the left side and had developed a heart disease. About two weeks later, my dad called home and told us that my grandfather had a stroke and was also in the hospital. With my grandparents in the hospital, it makes me realize that every single day that I live is precious. Every new day is a new opportunity to make memories. When I look back on my life in 20 years, I will not think about all of the small details or petty high-school drama, but rather I will think about all of the good times I had with my friends. It
won’t matter to me how stressed I was or how long it took me to study for a test. The only things that I will remember are the silly inside jokes, the sweet things that my friends have done for me, and all of the fun days that we had together. So I need to cherish all of the time that I have. I need to, as they say, stop and smell the roses. As we grow older, and the days go by faster and faster, the days will soon turn into weeks, weeks will turn into months, and months will turn into years. I know that, just like junior year, my final year of high school will be over before I know it. Before I know it, I will be walking across the stage to graduate. And then, something that is even scarier, I will be living on my own in college. While I am very excited for my future, I mainly just want to make the best of every day that I have now, while I am still a child. So I am going to live my life and cherish every single day of my life.
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News
Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” Campaign Derek Gay First Lady, Michelle Obama, asked Congress to reimplement the 2004 Child Nutrition Bill. Mrs.Obama has seen the nation struggle with child obesity, and she wants children to ease into adulthood at a lower weight. The Capital Times paper predicts the nation is spending almost $150 billion on obesity related diseases and health problems. However, it would only cost $4.5 billion to implement this bill. With this money, Congress will re-work the school breakfast and lunch programs. The new program will offer more fruits and vegetables on the menu, without the junk food. A campaign called “Let’s Move!” has one single goal: to stop childhood obesity in Chris Collins during football game against Pasadena Memorial
a single generation. This program is trying to find a way to keep kids physically active and eating healthy. Reuters International News has estimated there is a 15 percent obesity rate in most states, and in some states, even a staggering 30 percent. Michelle Obama appeared on “Larry King Live,” promoting her “Let’s Move!” campaign. During the show she stressed she isn’t promoting it for physical appearance, but for overall health and nutrition. School cafeterias have banned sugary drinks and replaced them with replaced with fresh squeezed juices, water, and milk. Smaller meal portions will now be served, and desserts will be excluded from the menu. To determine whether a child is overweight or not, doctors use Body Mass Index or BMI as a measurement of body fat. This is not always the Photos by: Shauna Fererro-Dohue
most accurate test because it does not “Let’s Move!” hopes account for muscle. Someone can be the passing of this bill will determined overweight and have much less eliminate the risk of heart than 10 percent body disease and other food related fat according to this defects and diseases. test. With children For more in elementary information about the school this may “Let’s Move campaign, not play a huge visit www.letsmove.gov. factor but in For, this means there high school and will be new regulations of the young adulthood, food served at school. Students will the BMI measurements not be able to take any food purchased may not be accurate. in the cafeteria outside the doors of the While the Obamas cafeteria. Also, no sodas, candy or foods were campaigning, Mrs. high in fat will be served during outside Obama admits to letting lunch. The Child Nutrition Bill limits her kids eat more fast how many grams of fat can be consumed food than before, and it from a student during lunch to 28 was not until they visited grams of fat, which is nearly half of the their pediatrician that recommended value for a whole day. she realized the dangers. Eliminating fatty and unhealthy foods in the school may solve part of the problem, but experts would like to make an impact on students to make health Courtney Boyes serving at volleyball eating choices away game against Deer Park from school as well.
NASA to bring first human-like robot to space Amber Arnold
Starting in November, astronauts won’t be the only people going into space. The International Space Station will be bringing in a Robonaut 2, which is the most advanced human-like robot. Robonaut 2 is also known as R2. It will be launched into space with space shuttle discovery STS-133 mission on the next shuttle mission, which is scheduled November 1, 2010. Astronauts have been testing the robot to determine whether it can help the crew perform simple tasks aboard the space station. They will monitor how the robot operates in weightlessness. According to the Galveston Daily News, NASA would eventually like R2 to help
with repair work done during spacewalks, which is usually a risky job for astronauts. Ateam of NASAengineers at the Johnson Space Center and General Motors Corp. created R2. It took them three years to build. The 300-lb R2 has the same features as a human such as the torso, arms, hands and head. The R2 runs on a battery and can touch and feel heat. Astronauts will observe the R2 in space’s microgravity environment and test its use for basic tasks. Engineers build the robot to the size of a human because for it will need to work with the same tools astronauts use. Unlike small robots, the R2 can latch on to the station and still have two free hands to take that small step beyond the space ship.
According to Space.com, astronauts inside the station using a virtual reality interface will control R2. They will wear helmets and gloves to record their motions and immediately transfer those intentions and actions to robots outside the station. Engineers shipped R2 to Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, where it is packed in a module of the space shuttle ready to launch. R2’s support team will provide Twitter updates from the ground and the space station, which is where the robot will remain permanently. R2 is going to be tested for a number of things like vibration, vacuum and radiation testing along with other procedures,which will benefit the team at GM. Technology developed for R2 will
help GM engineers develop advanced vehicle safety systems that will help when future automobiles are being built and for manufacturing plant applications. NASA is also coming up with animal-sized robots to fly around the surface of Mars and other planets. The space station already has a maintenance robot, called Dextre, which is mounted to the exterior of the orbiting laboratory and designed to make routine repairs and equipment replacement. Unlike R2, Dextre has to stay outside the space station.
Obama is bringing troops home from Iraq Stephanie Johnson President Obama, carrying out a promise made during his 2008 run for presidency, announced on August 31, through his second Oval Office address, that the United States’ involvement in the war in Iraq is coming to a close. “We’ve now been through nearly a decade of war. We’ve endured a long and painful recession. And sometimes in the midst of these storms, the future that we’re trying to build for our nation -- a future of lasting peace and longterm prosperity -- may seem beyond our reach,” began President Obama. “The United States has paid a huge price to put the future of Iraq in the hands of its people. We have sent our young men and women to make enormous sacrifices in Iraq, and spent vast resources abroad at a time of tight budgets at home. We have persevered because of a belief we share with the Iraqi people—a belief that
out of the ashes of war, a new beginning could be born in this cradle of civilization. Through this remarkable chapter in the history of the United States and Iraq, we have met our responsibility. Now, it is time to turn the page,” declared President Obama in the middle of the speech. About 47,000 United States military personnel remain in Iraq for the sole purpose of advising Iraqi soldiers and police. About 20,000 of these troops will accompany Iraqi soldiers in various missions, 4,500 Special Forces will help to find high-threatening terrorists, and others are assigned the purpose of guiding government ministries. However, President Obama is striving to have all troops out of Iraq before the end of 2011. This time period looks promising, as he has managed to reduce the amount of troops to below the 50,000 target before the first deadline, of August 31. Annie Von Seggern, a junior, responsed to the address, “I believe it’s a good idea
to bring the troops home. We need to support the Iraqi people in forming their own independent government (support being the operative word), not fight a lengthy war for them. Obama makes a good point; we’ve done what we could in that regard and it’s time to move on.” President Obama has stated that he believes the country is now ready to operate on its own, though the Primary election that occurred in March did not reveal a clear winner creating some controversy over how the government should be run. President Obama, however, believes Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki are on their way to resolving this conflict and can help Iraq take its responsibilities as an independent country. “Operation Iraqi Freedom is over, and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the security of their country,” proclaimed Obama. Though the war with Iraq is coming
to a close, President Obama assured the nation that The United States will not shy away from its global responsibilities. In fact, the central focus now of American foreign affairs has become Afghanistan and Pakistan in search of an al-Qaeda defeat. In the address, President Obama reiterated his praise for the men and women who have served their country as well as to their families for the sacrifice they have had to endure. He made it clear that he is proud of their contribution and sacrifice, and explained that the American-led juncture of the war is over. President Obama concludes, “Our troops are the steel in our ship of state. And though our nation may be traveling through rough waters, they give us confidence that our course is beyond true and that beyond the pre-dawn darkness better days lie ahead.”
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Creek Speaks
New Teachers Join CCHS Administration Brooke Griffis
A new teacher has the ability to change the way an old school sees itself. The teachers who are well-established blend in with the school; they know the culture, they know the traditions, and they know the way the students work. They have established a routine, and they nearly always follow it. A new teacher, on the other hand, brings rejuvenating new life to the school. Teachers who are new to Clear Creek this school year, who may not e new to the teaching profession, share their unique and refreshing perspectives on the school. New Creek staffmember Coach Philip McAdam is a committed golf coach and a dedicated Special Education teacher. He took the place of retired Coach McWhorter as the boys’ golf coach. Mr. Adams has found the athletic program at this school to be excellent. “The golf athletes have been receptive to everything I have asked them to do in the classroom and on the course,” McAdam
said. Having graduated from Texas A&M, McAdam is enthusiastic about working at a school with maroon and white as its school colors. Last school year he was a boys’ golf coach and a Special Education teacher at Clear Brook High School, so Creek has offered him a sort of reunion with the school colors of his college alma mater. Looking at our school with fresh eyes, McAdam finds meaning in Clear Creek’s athleticism and school pride. Ms. Christina Varsos has discovered similar positives among the students in her Spanish I and Spanish II classes. She has found that, as she puts it, the students at Creek “are motivated to learn, work hard, and are very well-behaved.” She feels that Creek staff and students are friendly and warm, and she is glad to be a part of what she calls “the Clear Creek High School family.” For Varsos, the students at Creek have made it a
Coach McAdam Photo by Mary Vedell
treat to come to work in the morning. The new Business SLC counselor, Ms. MichelleWilson, who like McAdam, has come to Creek from Clear Brook. She is very dedicated to her work. “She’s motivated and ready to help,” says Armiya Humphrey, 12th, who has personally worked with Wilson when she needed her schedule changed. According to Humphrey, Wilson was great at helping her make decisions on changes. Wilson has been welcomed openly by the numerous students she has already helped. Yet another new teacher, Ms. Tracy Arlington, comments warmly on the overall feeling she has when she is on the Creek campus. Many students think that Creek is very large and that the students are anonymous, but Arlington, who worked for Houston ISD before this year, says that in comparison to the downtown district Creek has a “small-town environ-
Ms. Varsos Photo by Mary Vedell
ment and friendly laid-back nature.” She appreciates Creek’s sense of community and the way that all of the other teachers, the administration, and the staff have welcomed her into the Creek family. Mr. Nick Kregel had ties to Creek even before he came on staff as the boys’ athletic trainer. His mother, Ms. Jeanne Kregel, is a Pre-AP Chemistry teacher here as well, so Mr. Kregel had a head start on his relationship to Creek. But hearing about the school and functioning as a part of it are two different things, and Mr. Kregel still has to settle into Creek, seeing it for the first time as a faculty-member. Several other teachers also joined Creek’s staff as teachers this year. Although we are only a few weeks into the school year, all of these new teachers are able to confidently express strong and optimistic feelings about Creek. Viewing the school with new eyes, they are able to bring muchappreciated fresh light to the great things about our school.
Ms. Arlington Photo by Mary Vedell
The Anniversary of Ike spurs Lawsuit Deadlines Ashley Farmer
As the month of September comes to a close, the two year anniversary of Hurricane Ike passes through our thoughts. Students, teachers, and administrators at Clear Creek High School do not have to struggle to remember the devastating impact the storm had on their community. “My friend Caroline lived in Glen Cove and her house was destroyed. Because of Ike, she had to live with her whole family in a one bedroom apartment from the hurricane until the week before school started...this year. They she lived there for almost two years and hated every second of it.” said sophomore Katelynn Barba. Many students in the Houston area were displaced from their homes, while others remained without power for a week or more. The Houston Chronicle report-
ed up to 3 million people were without power during this time, and essentially the entire city was without electricity. Not only did the damage in League City affect the lives of those walking the halls at Creek because of the reconstruction at the ninth grade center, but it also affected many in our community who have personal ties to people, places, and memories on Galveston Island and the surrounding areas. “Hurricane Ike affected lots of communities, not just the people that live directly on the coast. I didn’t lose my home, but my family was still affected. My grandma, my uncle, and my aunt’s houses were all destroyed in the storm,” said Jessica Studer, a junior at Creek. The two-year anniversary of this catastrophe, however, is not just important for remembrance. It also marks a legal deadline for insurance companies and their clients.
According to the Statute of Limitations, a common law set forth by the state of Texas, an insurance company is no longer required to pay an insurance claim two years after the disaster. If a clients claim is not filed and worked through within that time frame, there is no guarantee the client may receive all the money to which they are entitled. According to the prominent Mostyn Law Firm located in Houston Texas, the extent to which the law is applicable may vary depending on the insurance company, the specific
Volunteers needed for clean-up
Sara Wallace
It has been two years since Hurricane Ike destroyed the Gulf Coast, and the homes in Galveston are still in need of volunteers to help rebuild them. One mission: Galveston is an organization created to rebuild the city. They provide opportunities for citizens on the coast to get involved in hurricane much needed cleanup effots after Hurricane Ike and other major hurricanes damaged the area. Hurricane Ike was Photo Courtesy of Ms. Kathy Ribb thought to have damaged as many as 100,000 homes in Texas alone, One Mission: Galveston is accepting making it a very costly disaster. Many volunteers as young as fourteen. Students of those homes have yet to be rebuilt. have the opportunity to bring a group to-
gether to volunteer. This includes school clubs, groups of close friends, Sunday school classes and families. Volunteers are needed to install sheetrock installation, paint, replace trim, roofing, flooring, and siding, and general clean up. No previous skills will be needed because training will be provided to all groups on site. All tradesman and skilled workers, however are encouraged to volunteer. If you are interested in volunteering go to onemissiongalveston.org to sign up and for more information.
policy, and the steps already taken torwards resolving the claim. The firm provides the following six suggestions when seeking advice regarding Ike claims: Bring a copy of the Insurance Policy on your home that was in effect during Hurricane Ike or the closest policy to the date of Hurricane Ike, photos of the damage to your property, any correspondence, such as letters and emails, between you and the insurance company, your agent or any adjusters any estimates, engineer reports, receipts, invoices or bills, including bills for hotel, food, cleaning, etc, any public adjuster documents pertaining to your insurance claim and all information about any payments you received from the insurance company, your agent or any adjusters. The devastation caused by Hurricane Ike will be remembered throughout the history. Citizens of Galveston, Kemah, League City, Clear Lake, and many other communities throughout the Gulf Coast Region of Texas will require time and resources to continue to heal and rebuild through the upcoming years. Insurance companies and assistance organizations have been and will continue to be an important part of this recovery.
Features
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Ike second anniversary marks end of lawsuits Ashley Farmer
As the month of September comes to a close, and the two year anniversary of hurricane Ike passes through the thoughts of students, teachers, and administrators at Creek. Many do not have to struggle to remember the devastating impacts the storm had on their community. “My friend Caroline lived in Glen Cove and her house was destroyed. Because of Ike, she had to live in an apartment from the hurricane until the week before school started...this year,” said sophomore Katelynn Barba. Many students were displaced from their homes, while others remained without power for a week or more. The Houston Chronicle reported up to three million people were without power during this time, and essentially the entire city was without electricity. Not only did the damage in League City affect the lives of those walking the halls at Creek, because of reconstruction and repairs occurring in the ninth grade center, but it also affected many in our community who have personal ties to people, places, and memories on Galveston Island. “Hurricane Ike affected lots of communities, not just the people that live directly on the coast. I didn’t lose my home, but my family was still affected. My grandma, my uncle, and my aunt’s houses were all destroyed in the storm,” said Jessica Studer, a junior.
Law Firm located in Housto, Texas, the determination on your claim easier: extent to which the law is applicable may 1. A copy of the Insurance Policy vary depending on the insurance company, on your home that was in effect t h e during Hurricane Ike or the closest s p e c i f i c policy to the date of Hurricane Ike. p o l i c y , 2. Photos of the damage to your property. and the 3. Any correspondence, such as letters and s t e p s emails, between you and the insurance a l r e a d y company, your agent or any adjusters. taken by 4. Any estimates, engineer reports, both the receipts, invoices or bills, including c l i a n t bills for hotel, food, cleaning, etc. and his 5. Any public adjuster documents insurance pertaining your insurance claim. company 6. Information about any payments to resolve you received from the insurance the claim. company, your agent or any adjusters.” The The devastation caused by Hurricane f i r m Ike will be remembered throughout history. provides Citizens of Galveston, Kemah, League City, t h e Clear Lake, and many other communities following throughout the Gulf Coast Region of Texas s i x will require time and resources to continue Ike Damage in Galveston companies and Photo by Wynette Jameson suggestions for presenting to heal and rebuild through the upcoming Ike claims to an attorney. years. Insurance companies and assistance their clients. “Here is a check list of organizations have been and will continue According to the Statute of Limitations, a common some documents about your Hurricane to be an important part of this recovery. law set forth by the state of Texas, an Ike claim that ask you to bring with insurance company is no longer required you in order for us to make the SOL to pay an insurance claim two years after the disaster. If a client’s claim is not filed and worked through within that timeframe, there is no guarantee the client may receive Ellen Gaudet bigger than most people’s too, so it all the money to which they are entitled. Homecoming is one of the biggest was hard to walk with, but it was so According to the prominent Mostyn traditions in a Texas high school. Creek’s fun!” said Jessica Studer, a junior. Mums are decorated with three-foot win over Baytown Lee last year and the long ribbons in Creek colors of exciting spirit week before the big game maroon, white and silver, bells, were great, but everyone remembers the charms, banners, and small trinkets essential Homecoming item- a mum. that represent what the wearer The tradition of the mum has laid out. The miners used the battery from is involved in, such as sports a truck to power lighting and to charge been around since about 1911, or extracurricular activities. the batteries in their construction hats. when the University of Missouri White and silver mums Most of the miners are in fairly good played the first homecoming are worn only by Creek’s condition, though according to cnews.com, football game in history. seniors. These colors health officials have estimated that each of The first mums were simple stand out from the usual the miners has lost about 17 to 20 pounds corsages, which gradually maroon mums to represent from their lack of food. Most of the miners got bigger to include actual their seniority over the rest flowers. are surprisingly cheerful despite their Chrysanthemum of the students. Seniors predicament and in some of the first video Now mums are made with silk also wear silver crowns footage that was taken of the miners they flowers, and are only found to let the underclassmen had given a patriotic display by singing in Texas high schools. It’s an know who is “royalty.” their national anthem. Recently one of the understatement to say that Garters are worn by miners has even proposed to his girlfriend Creek students go all out. boys, which are smaller After asking a girl to while in the confinement of the mine. versions of mums that go The trapped miners have received Homecoming, a guy has around their arms. The numerous amounts of support from their the hard task of making garters are just as sparkly families as well as the Chilean community or purchasing his date a and gaudy as girls’ and president. Their families have been mum. If he is lucky, his mums, but are toughened camping out at the site of the mine since they mom or sister helps him out. up a little by tiny footballs and learned of the roof collapse, and never gave Some couples make their “guy things.” Dates put each up hope that their loved ones were alive. mums and garters together other’s names on their mums Who the trapped Chilean citizens are to coordinate. Girls without and garters so everyone not receiving support from is their company dates to Homecoming knows who they are going of employment. The San Esteban Mining sometimes create their to Homecoming with. Company has taken no action in retrieving own mums to still enjoy the “I like when there are the miners, because it claims it does not have fun of wearing one to the game. whistles on the mums and garters “I like that no garters or the money or the equipment necessary. The because you can be loud at the game, company claims that with the mine not in mums look the same. My garter and last year my garter had lots of school use it cannot even pay the miner’s wages. was really cool because my date spirit,” said Chris Niakian, junior. The shock from this accident has personalized it with fun things, Mums and garters are only worn driven the president to take more safety like music notes and inside during the school day and for the actual precautions concerning mines. According jokes,” said Sean Jackson, senior. Homecoming football game and are Creek’s students take to guardian.co.uk since this accident, 18 traded out for corsages mums mines have been shut down because of Homecoming Creek graduate wearing mum and boutonnières safety risks. Accidents like these are a as seriously as the Photo by Amanda Compton for the dance. itself. The reminder of the hazards of the mining game Mums and garters are and more profession. Guardian.co.uk states that bigger a fun way to show school the average number of deaths per year original the mum is, the better. Some in Chile due to mining accidents since girls actually have trouble walking spirit and continue the traditions established 2000 is 34 people. It is also a reminder down the hallways with their mums on. long ago. While only one girl is crowned “I loved my mum last year, because Homecoming Queen in the end, mums of the recent tragedies in the USA. it was super cute and original. It was help every girl feel like royalty for a day. September 13, 2010 marked the twoyear anniversary of this catastrophe and it marked a legal deadline for insurance
Accident traps miners Tracey Griffith
On August 5, 2010, 33 miners were trapped 2,300 feet below the surface of a Chilean mine due to a large collapse in the mine’s roof. According to www.guardian. co.uk/ the Chilean president has now announced that it could take more than four months to drill a passage deep and wide enough to allow the rescue of the miners. During the two weeks after the accident, rescue workers desperately tried to find the location of the mine’s shelter through the use of rescue probes, drills that created tunnels under the surface. Finally, a rescue probe was able to locate the shelter and contact was made with the miners on August 22. The miners made contact by attaching a message to the end of the probe stating that the 33 of them were fine and living in a makeshift refuge in the shelter. Now that the shelter has been located, rescue workers plan to use the tunnels that were created by the probes to send supplies to the miners like foods high in protein and nutrients, hygiene items like toothbrushes, and medicine. Before the miners were discovered they had only the food and water that was available in the shelter. The miners had survived 17 days eating small portions consisting of 2 spoonfuls of tuna along with a sip of milk and a biscuit every other day. Video cameras have now been sent down through the probes so rescue workers have seen both the miners and the conditions of the shelter in which they are living. The shelter has been described as about 50 square meters and the temperature in the shelter is rather warm at about 85 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The miners have created an organized set-up with a place for sleeping, a table where they entertain themselves by playing dominoes, and have all of their supplies
Mum tradition revealed
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Around Creek
Schedule during Homecoming 10/1 CCISD Celebrates 1st period- 7:20-8:00 2010-2011 2nd period- 8:06-8:46 Jacob Mancini
On Thursday, August 19 all staff members of the CCISD came together in a dynamic convocation at Grace Community church to celebrate the start of school. Faculty from each school arrived in school busses. Creek’s Mighty Wildcat Band kicked off the event by playing pep music and drum cadences. Teachers, principals, and the entire faculty who make CCISD an exemplary-rated district in Texas flooded the church auditorium. Staff from every school in the district exploded with cheer and fervor in anticipation of the 2010-2011 year as the superintendent introduced the schools. Some groups had glow-sticks, others had swords, and all had spirit. “The best part was everybody coming together as one,” Mr. Malueaux said. “Seeing all the people from different schools was exciting. And knowing that I work for an exemplary school district, what’s better than that?” Creek’s JROTC presented the colors before the audience and the Clear Creek symphonic and chamber choirs sang the Star Spangled Banner followed by Bridge Over Troubled Waters. During the convocation Creek’s Cavalier captain and officers danced for the audience in a brief performance. CCISD superintendent, Greg Smith spoke to the district in an encouraging address about the upcoming school year. Videos featured students in their appreciation of teachers throughout the district. Boys and girls, including some with special needs, spoke into the hearts of CCISD. An all faculty-comprised band led by Chad Stevens, the director of technology, sang their own lyrics to the popular tune of Rockstar by Nickelback and Knock, Knock, Knock On Exemplary’s Door. Long Chu, the Associate Director at Writers in the School, spoke at the convocation about the impact teachers have on their students, even beyond the realm of their classrooms. Chu works with schools in the Houston area to encourage reading and writing skills amid students of all ages. He graduated from Creek and has retained his passion for education throughout his life. He emphasized what a mark teachers leave on their kids and how students are more prepared for life ahead because of them. “My favorite part, aside from the wonderful performances by our students, was the pure enthusiasm that the teachers showed,” Paul House, Associate Pricipal, said. The last thing Chu did was read a letter that he wrote to his favorite teacher, Wynette Jameson, just before graduating his senior year from Creek. “You have taught me a lot,” Chu said. “Not necessarily about journalistic jargons, but most of all about life.” The convocation concluded with the band playing pep tunes as CCISD faculty left the auditorium, motivated to make a difference.
3rd period- 8:52-9:32 4th period- 9:38-10:18
A Lunch5th period- 5th period10:24-11:09 10:24-11:15 10:24-11:15 5th periodB lunch6th period11:15-12:12 11:21-12:06 11:21-12:12 6th period- 6th periodC lunch12:18-1:03 12:12-1:03 12:18-1:03
7th period- 1:09-1:22 PEP RALLY- 1:30-2:30 Club Adrenaline pumps Creek up Brooke Griffis Weeks before school started, a group of seniors felt that Creek’s overall school spirit could still use a little push. The school had seemed to lack a certain ferocity of pride and spirit that every high school should have. Rather than complain, they decided to do something about it. Club Adrenaline was formed long before the bell rang on the first day of school, and by the time the first students arrived on campus Monday morning, the members had put up signs around the school so that every student would see that this year was going to be special. “Last year was kind of boring,” explains Club Adrenaline founder Dustin Hobaugh, 12th. “There wasn’t a lot of school spirit.” Dustin Hobaugh and cofounder Brooke Lera plan to change all that.
Club Adrenaline sends squads of spirited students to Creek sporting events to cheer on the athletes, hoping to push the athletes to a victory and to encourage more students to attend the games. “They want to have Courtside
Crazies for volleyball and Left-side Loudmouths for baseball,” said Ms. Latulippe, giving examples of how Club Adrenaline will support Creek’s teams. “They want to get all fired up.”
On Friday, August 27, 2010, at Club Adrenaline’s first official meeting, founders Hobaugh and Lera dove right into business with a cafeteria full of new members. Everyone participated in the brainstorming, chanting and cheering. The energy in the room was flowing as every member practiced chants like, “Way down in the African jungle, we can hear the wildcats rumble. Rumble, Wildcats, rumble!” “There’s not a lot of spirit at Creek right now, and I want to help change that,” says Laura Paige Brightwell, 10th, a new member of Club Adrenaline, expressing an idea that many shared. Brightwell, like so many others who came to the first meeting, is glad that there is finally a movement to improve school spirit. Club Adrenaline rouses the crowd at a volleyball match Photo By Kaitlyn Boryk
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Teen Interest Teens having trouble finding jobs Amber Arnold Summer time is when teenagers look for a summer job so they can have money to spend. This past summer was harder for teens to find jobs compared to past years. Most teens choose to find their summer job through someone they know working at the place they want to work at. “I found my job because one of my friends worked at the place, and he got the manager to hire me,” senior John Schoellkopf said. According to MSN.com most unemployed teenagers will struggle to find work at least until the holiday season. The U.S unemployment rate was 9.5 percent in July, but for teens it hit 26.1 percent and July is usually the peak of the summer employment season for teens. It marked the worst summer hiring season for teens since 1949 according to an analysis by Challenger, Gray & Christmas, an outplacement firm. The problem teens are facing is that millions of older workers are being hired before teenagers. Employers often choose to hire adults in their 20s who don’t need as much training as teenagers. Sometimes adult workers have
been unemployed for months or longer. According to the International Labor Organization by the end of the year there will be 81.2 million jobless adults, which will be the most since at least the end of World War II. According to the government’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover survey, U.S job openings fell for the second straight month in July and it is expected to continue dropping. Unless the economic recession ends, teens will face tough competition into next year. Teens are searching for work to save for college or provide support for their unemployed parents. Some teens come from low-income families, and they need a paycheck to help support their parents with household bills or for their own spending money. “ I got a job because I want to be independent and buy my own things instead of relaying on my parents to pay for my things,” said senior Natalie Vargas According to a July report from the Center for Labor Market Studies, teens that work in high school are less likely to drop out before graduation. It also showed that teens unable to get work are more
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likely to have trouble finding employment in the future. The first step teenagers need to do is decide on the job they want or need. They need to know the type of job, the location, the hours, and the pay they want. Creek Clear Wildcat Spenser Arlington thinks about the future. Photo taken by Shaunna FererroDonahue. Edited By Madison Borowitz.
Apple designs new products Jacob Mancini
Monday- Tacky 80`s Wear all your crazy neon colors and pull your hair in a side ponytail
Tuesday- CREEK GEEK
Put on your glasses, pull up your pants, and show your Creek spirit
Wednesday- Hippie Day Show off your bell bottoms and tie-died peace signs
Thursday- Jersey Shores Day Set you hair up in a bump-it, and flaunt your fake tan!
Friday- freak out creek out Support Creek! Wear all your Creek-shirts and homemade wildcat attire!
On September 1, 2010 Apple unveiled its latest line of iPods: an all new iPod touch, iPod nano, iPod shuffle. Lustrously remade and outfitted with new features, Apple’s products are in stores and selling fast. The iPod touch has lived through four generations now. The latest model includes a Retina display, a screen with 326 pixels per inch. With that level of pixel density, the naked eye is incapable of distinguishing individual pixels from the LCD display, making images and text exponentially sharper. The new iPod touch also has two cameras—one front-facing and the other on the back. The camera on the front is primarily used to interact with other iPod touch and iPhone users via FaceTime. Meshing a speakerphone conversation and a live video chat, FaceTime allows users to literally talk and see each other through two iPod touches. Both parties, however, must have access to wi-fi. The touch comes in 8GB, 32GB and 64GB models. Combining a novel Retina display with FaceTime and other features like 720p HD video recording, the iPod touch is “stateof-the-art fun,” as Apple describes it. The fifth generation iPod nano has redefined the device completely. Innovative beyond the four models before it, the most recent iPod nano is now all multi-touch. A small, square touch screen covers most of the iPod nano trimmed with a colorful metal body (silver, green, pink, yellow and blue and red). The nano comes in 8GB and 16GB models. It has a metal clip on the back and a earphone jack on the bottom. Displayed on the screen are four app icons at a time. More pages can be revealed with the swipe of a finger. A bult-in FM
radio and a fitness app that works with nike+ footwear are two more of the features that come with a new iPod nano. The fourth-generation iPod shuffle largely resembles the second-generation model in design. Small, only 1.14 by 1.24 inches, and colorful, with the same colors and clip as the nano, the shuffle is the most petite of all the models. With 2GB of storage and VoiceOver, a feature on the device that audibly names the song being played, the new iPod shuffle is “the perfect mix,” as Apple says. Also released on September 1, the new tv is a completely different product than its precursor. It is 80 percent smaller and has a much smaller footprint on the environment. When not in use the device uses less enery than a night-light. HD TV shows, HD movies, pocasts, iTunes, MobileMe, photos, Flickr, YouTube, and Netflix all streams to tv wirelessly, bringing a simplified media experience that melds the best of Apple together. The iPhone, iTouch and iPad are work simultaneously with tv as controllers. Furthermore, Apple will soon implement their new policy: if it is on iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch it is on tv.
Apple products Photos taken and edited by Madison Borowitz
14 Teen Interest VMA’s excite viewers across the country Stephanie Johnson MTV’s Video Music Awards (VMA’s) aired September 12 with host Chelsea Handler. It was a tremendous night for Lady Gaga and her fans, as she was nominated for an astounding 13 awards. The other leading nominees included Eminem for “Not Afraid” and 30 Seconds to Mars for “Kings and Queens,” both nominated for four awards. Lady Gaga took home eight VMA’s including Best Collaboration, Best Female Video, Best Pop Video, Best Dance Video, and the coveted Video of the Year. As for the Professional VMA’s (those chosen by MTV staff as opposed to the others that are fan voted), the video for her song “Bad Romance” won Best Choreography, Best Direction, and Best Editing. With Gaga’s big wins, came some big speeches. With each, she thanked her record
company, her director, and her fans most of all. “Tonight, little monsters, we’re the cool kids at the party,” Lady Gaga said after receiving her first VMA of the night. After racking up eight total, that was a pretty safe assumption. When she won Video of the Year, she announced the name of her new album, Born This Way, and sang the chorus of the title song to thank her fans for the win. In doing so, she not only provided perhaps the best vocals of the night, but also a memorable end to an interesting evening—and that’s not to mention her fashion statement, which included a dress made of meat. Other fan voted VMA winners consisted of Justin Bieber for Best New Artist, 30 Seconds to Mars’ “Kings and Queens” for Best Rock Video, and Eminem’s “Not Afraid” for Best Hip-Hot Video and Best Male video.
As for the professional VMA’s winners, Best Art Direction went to Florence + the Machine for “Dog Days Are Over,” Best Cinematography went to Jay-Z and Alicia Keys for their “Empire State of Mind” video, Best Special Effects went to Muse for “Uprising,” and Breakthrough Video went to The Black Keys for “Tighten Up.” Being a music awards show, the VMA’s provided nothing short of incredible performances. The show opened with Eminem’s “Not Afraid” followed immediately by a surprise appearance by Rihanna, who swiftly transitioned the song to “Love the Way You Lie.” Other big performances were that of Justin Bieber, Paramore, Linkin Park, Florence + The Machine, Usher, and Drake. The most memorable of all of them, however, was both Taylor Swift’s “Innocent” and Kanye West’s “Runaway.”
Both were performed in reference to the debacle of last year’s VMA’s when Kanye interrupted Swift’s acceptance speech for Female Video of the Year. Taylor’s song was indisputably about the intrusion as a clip from the event was shown before she began her song. Kanye’s performance, on the other hand, was not as clearly tied to the event, but it sure fell well within the theme. Chelsea Handler proved to be a lively host. She was first woman to host since 1984. She certainly provided funny transitions, but they were inappropriate and unfit for a live awards show. Because of this, the VMA’s was not “family friendly,” but for that matter, most of the videos nominated for awards are hardly anything less then vulgar (most notably Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance,” which was the biggest winner at the event).
Eat Pray Love fails to satisfy most audiences Stephanie Johnson Eat Pray Love, starring Julia Roberts, Javier Bardem, and James Franco, is a best-selling book adaptation that takes a middle-aged woman around the world in an effort to find herself. At the beginning of the film, Liz Gilbert’s, played by Julia Roberts, life takes an abrupt turn when she discovers she no longer loves her husband. Liz begins a relationship with a dashing young actor played by James Franco. Unfortunately, Liz finds herself unhappy yet again causing her to blow all of her money on a yearlong sojourn that takes her to the gorgeous settings of Italy, India, and Bali where she eats, prays, and loves. The beginning of the movie seems to drag on, leaving viewers wondering about the beautiful scenery depicted in the trailer. Liz takes her time in all three locations making the movie last a whopping 133 minutes. Viewers will quickly tire of watching Liz eat pounds of pasta in Italy,
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grapple with a Texan over how to forgive herself in India, and fight the love she finds with Felipe, played by Javier Bardem, in Bali. This is very disappointing for those looking forward to this film. Eat Pray Love has little character development. Viewers do not feel compassion for Liz at all. Her character is almost flat, lacking any emotional weight, making her seem shallow. In most parts of the movie, she seems incredibly selfish, constantly feeling sorry for herself despite the amazing life that she had before she decided to take off. She was a successful author traveling to fabulous places while living in New York
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City. It is great that she has the means to the novel Eat Pray Love did for millions spend a year of her, but the viewer should around the world. This fact, however, is not have to come up with excuses for the surprising in that Elizabeth Gilbert, the bad actions author of the book, collaborated with of the main Ryan Murphy, the director, to ensure c h a r a c t e r . the movie was brought properly to life. On a good note, the movie did not The target shy away from showing the beauty of audience for the locations Liz visited, and if there the movie is is only one reason for watching that not high school film, this would be it. The brilliance and students, architecture of Italy could not have been which may more wonderfully captured, and the food explain why made even my butter-smothered popcorn it did not seem incredibly unsatisfying. In addition, resonate well with me at the wedding in India was possibly the all. Even after most colorful scene I’ve ever marveled discussing it at in a movie outside of Moulin Rouge. with adults Furthermore, I’ve never wanted to visit both younger Bali in particular, but I imagine people and older than will soon be flocking to Indonesia the Liz Gilbert, it seems it was not successful moment their pocketbooks allow it. in touching any variety of viewers the Photo and photo illustration by way it was intended, compared to the way Shannon O’Neil
Sports Creek football rocks the stadium Jacob Arredondo
With a three game winning streak to start out the year, the Clear Creek Wildcats are on the prowl and are ready to make a big splash on district 24-5A. The success for the Wildcats started during spring ball practices that lasted for two months and answered many question regarding roster and depth chart changes. But with the start of the new season, the Wildcats set out to prove that Creek would be back to the state playoffs. Creek has returned thirteen starters and has many players returning from last year as sophomores and juniors on the varsity and junior varsity level. The defense is stacked with a senior defensive line and linebacker corps, along with a strong defensive back group that is anchored by senior, Tom McCullough. On the flip side of the ball, they have returned a starting offensive line that has playing time on the varsity level. The players on offense have been working on catching, running, and scoring for the Wildcats. The new starting running back, Colby Davis, has had a strong three games and has accumulated over 200 yards and 3 rushing and 1 receiving touchdown. Senior wide receivers, Tevin Jones and C.J. McElroy, have been the main scoring threats for Creek, and have been responsible for over 60 percent for the touchdowns scored. The conductor of the offense has been
the three-year lettermen Chris Collins. Collins has been on the field as a quarterback since his sophomore season. He went in for an injured Marcus Mata and took over for the rest of the game. Unfortunately for Collins, he was sidelined after the game because of injuries. But this season, Collins h a s kept the offense in check, throwing for 259 yards, 3
Creek rushes to victory
Photo by Kara Loewnthwal Graphic organizing by Derek Gay touchdowns, and a completion rate of 61.7 percent. The first game was against the Pasadena Memorial Mavericks. Creek was a predicted as the pre-season number six team by many people in high school football media. This was a chance to prove to everybody that Creek’s offense wasn’t a fluke, and that their defense has improved. A 49-14 win, raised eyebrows and and helped project McElroy to a statewide audience by becoming the Houston Chronicle’s athlete
of the week. McElroy’s 5-touchdown performance, (2 rushing, 1 receiving, 1 returning, and 1 passing) coupled with the power house performance of the defense that forced and recovered 2 fumbles and an interception gave Creek a huge opening win for the season. The offence had a total of 581 yards, 378 of which came from the run. In their second game, Creek pitched a shutout and beat the Kingwood Mustangs 31-0. The Creek defense forced 4 fumbles and held the Mustang’s to only 119 total yards, giving Creek’s offense many opportunities to score with the short field possession For the final non-district game, Creek went up against their toughest opponent yet, the Deer Park Deers. The Deers were a pre-season favorite to win their district, and was on a two-game winning streak when they met the Wildcats. The Creek defense played unbelievable and let all doubters know that they were back. The defense limited the Deer Park offense to only 191 yards while giving the Creek offense great field possession each time they went out on the field. Another 300-yard rushing performance by Creek gave them the win 40-7. Davis scored on a 1-yard carry over the goal line, and a 31-yard sprint to the end zone. McElroy plowed through the end zone with a 1-yard run and a 16-yard run as well. Jones scored his second touchdown of the year with a 35-yard pass from Collins. An interception by Brandon Martin sealed the deal for the Wildcats and gave Creek their first 3 game winning streak at the start of the season since the 2003 season. With Creek’s defense on a roll and their offense putting up the yards and scores it needs, Creek is becoming a strong contender in district play.
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Athlete of the month
C.J. McElroy Boy Athlete of the Month Jacob Arredondo
The three-year letterman is a threesport athlete playing football, baseball and track for Clear Creek. McElroy was on the first team all-district and allcounty playing baseball and football. During his juinor football season, McElroy had 600 yards receiving, 372 yards rushing and 9 total touchdowns. This season he has 392 rushing yards with 6 touchdowns with a 16.33 average yards per rush. On his first game of the season, McElroy rushed for 149 yards and two touchdowns, had four receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown, a 74 yard touchdown pass and had a 97-yard kickoff return. His performance gave him the honor of being named the Houston Chronicle’s Boys Athlete of the Week. McElroy has committed to the University of Houston to play football and baseball for the Cougars.
Photo by Mary Veedell
Wildcats causing a racket on court Aimme Sierra
We all have a preconceived idea about what tennis is, just a game where two people stand on the opposite side of a net hitting a ball back and forth, but that’s not it at all. Our school team, trains hard, and works hard, and most definitely plays hard. Tennis is not just a physical sport, it takes cunning and of course guts, and our players have plenty of both. The Clear Creek Wildcat tennis team leaves it all out on the court. This year the team is “pumped and ready!” says junior Haley Albro, she is on the girls’ varsity starting lineup. Bianca Quintanilla a senior on the girls’ varsity stated in a recent interview, “ Our team feels like a family, whenever we are playing a match the guys and us girls stand behind the court and cheer on whoever’s playing! Just hearing them helps us play a better game.” The team started practicing before
school began during the summer heat, some of the players said practice is even harder due to the sun beating down on them. Once school started they began staying after school too from 7th period until 4:30 doing drills, playing matches, and conditioning for the fall season. They also play at tournaments every weekend to keep their game up. “Coach Marrie is really cool, he helps our game a lot,” says sophomore Austin Belknap on the boys’ sub-varsity team of the boys’ head coach.” “I am very proud of all of them, they are very dedicated,” says the girls head coach, Coach Cornwell. Coach Cornwell works with the girls on the team to make them better players and better people too. The girls when asked said that Coach Cornwell always knows what to say at the matches to keep them
in the game, and help them to better their attitudes toward the opposing teams. Our team doesn’t fear any other competition but they know that Lake is going to be hard to beat. “We’re going to beat them this year, we all want it really bad,” says junior Ryan Behrle on the boys’ varsity team. As we all know Club Adrenaline is bringing tradition and spirit back to creek this year! We are all excited for every game, “Hopefully Club Adrenaline will be at this years Creek vs. Lake home game! Just knowing that we will be supported will help us stay focused.” Says Rachel Smythe a junior on the girls’ varsity starting lineup. Obviously this year’s team is prepared for anything, they’re ready to dominate on the court. This years seniors plan to enjoy their last year on the Creek Tennis team. The rest of the team just wants to enjoy being a family and playing together. And as Coach Marrie says “ Love the Battle!” Varsity tennis member serves his opponent
Photo by Mary Veedell Graphic Organizing by Derek Gay
Rachel Houbaugh Girl Athlete of the Month Derek Gay Senior, outside hitter, Rachel Hobaugh, has shown great dedication to her team by providing them with support on and off the court. Hobaugh is a four year letterman since play-offs freshman year, and she started her sophomore season. This season, Hobaugh has played a huge role in pushing her team to a 3-0 district record and a 19-10 overall record. During her co-leading 81 games played, she has 275 kills this season and an average of 3.4 kills a game. She has sevred 46 aces and has 264 total digs this season, giving her an average a 3.4 digs a game. “Rachel has had a great season. She provides us with great serving, defense, hitting, and leadership,” said Coach Simmonds.
Photo by Tianah Brewer
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