The Renaissance Spring 2014

the student newsmagazine of dutch fork high school 1400 old tamah road/ irmo, s.c. volume 22. issue 2/ spring 2014

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Dutch Fork’s news nexus

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Editor’s Letter

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This quarter we had a variety of different stories and life-changing events happen. From becoming the number one public high school in the state to losing one of our classmates, Dutch Fork High School has kept going through it all.

Snow days are rare for Irmo, and the fact that there were two separate sets of snow days must mean pigs are flying. At the end of March, the District announced that we actually have to make up one more day at the end of the year (after graduation), so we have both a news story and an editorial about the aftermath.

In addition to a re-cap of the Miss Silver Fox pageant winners and a look at our Teacher Cadets program, we have a collection of stories covering the football, wrestling and, most recently, basketball state championships.

The year is almost over, and, for seniors, graduation is right aroud the corner.

I hope you enjoy the articles in this issue of The Renaissance; our staff has worked incredibly hard and I can’t wait for you to read through all of our work.

Congratulations, fellow Foxes on all of your accomplishments this year.

And rest in peace, Da’Von Capers: you will be missed.

www.foxfusion.org

Kirsten Arnoult, editor-in-chief

Have suggestions or comments about the issue? Write us!

Send all Letters to the Editor to room 252.

Include your name and 7B class.

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ox

On the cover: Junior Zhane Green and the Dutch Fork girls’ varsity basketballl team played against Greenwood for the state championship March 7. Dutch Fork won 62-55. See full coverage on page 30. Photo by Michaela Baker

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Table

of contents News 6 Snow hits twice 8 Tragedy strikes DF 10 Teacher cadets learn to teach

10

Opinion

14 Staff Editorial 15 Kids in the Hall 16 Reviews

Life 18 Light Smith creates art 20 Miss Silver Fox crowned 23 Mock Trial debates

18

Sports 24-31 State champs package:

26 Football

28 Wrestling

30 Basketball

TR

30 dfr.spring 2014/ 03

news

inBrief Senior named Scholastic Journalist of the Year, makes history

South Carolina Scholastic Press Association Executive Director Karen Flowers presents senior Jamie Mason with a letter recognizing her as South Carolina’s Scholastic Journalist of the Year.

Photo by Michaela Baker

Dutch Fork hosts District Dance Day Dance teams and classes from throughout District Five came together to hone their dance skills and show their talents as a team.

Throughout the day, dancers learned from various teachers and choreographers and performed as a group that night in the auditorium.

Admission was a canned good to support the Harvest Hope Food Bank.

04/ dfr.news.spring 2014

Senior Jamie Mason was named the South Carolina Scholastic Journalist of the Year on March 20.

Jamie won $500 and now advances to the National Scholastic Journalist of the Year competition. She will officially be presented with her check and a plaque April 22 at the South Carolina Scholastic Press Association’s Spring conference.

Jamie’s win is the first in Dutch Fork’s history.

“Being named Journalist of the Year is the best feeling in the world,” Jamie said. “All of my hard work paid off.”

In addition to being a reporter on The Renaissance staff, Jamie is also Co-Executive Producer of “The Silver Screen Report,” Dutch Fork’s weekly broadcast.

“We are so proud of Jamie and all she has accomplished,” newspaper and broadcast adviser Amy Medlock-Greene said, “and we wish her the best of luck in the national competition.”

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news

Snowfall leads to make-up days story by Maddie Mason photos by Maddie Mason, Kirsten Arnoult, Robin Hendricks, Jamie Mason and Madison Metts

I

t was all fun and games with the days off in the snow until District Five began discussing whether or not it would require students and teachers to make up those days.

Although one day has already been made up and another is to come in June, students looked at the positive side of the break and took advantage of the days off to relax and have a good time.

“I thought it was a good chance to get a break from school and chill out for a little bit,” junior Alina Cuttino said.

Senior Natalie White agrees.

“I was really happy to get a break from school so I could get some homework done and everything,” Natalie said, “but

06/ dfr.news.spring 2014

I was kinda worried about getting caught up in my classes because I know we had snow days before [in January].”

The South Carolina Legislature has decided to allow school districts to choose whether or not to make up the days, but only after all inclement weather days have been used. “[I do not think we should have to make it up] because weather is an element we cannot control,” Irmo senior Toddre Fulmer said. “Therefore, it would be foolish to make up for lost time that is always out of our control.”

Sophomore Jessie Gladish’s prediction that we will have to make up the days “at the end of the year” by “turn[ing] the

half days into full days” is partially correct: in addition to the make-up day February 19, June 3 will now be a full day and June 6 (the day after graduation) will be an additional half day.

“Our school district cares about going to school, and we would look better as a district if we went,” Jessie said.

Safety hazards including thick ice on the roadways led to the District’s decision to cancel school in the first place. Alina said this was an important decision.

“I thought it was good because we couldn’t get out on the road and for a lot of people the power was out,” Alina said, but a benefit was that “a lot of people got to spend time with their family."

Students participated in a variety of activities on the snow days including sledding, seeing friends, and just simply enjoying the snow by playing in it. “[On the snow days] I went sledding, hung out with my friends, and went to Denny’s,” Toddre said.

Even though she has mixed feelings, Natalie agrees that the decision to make up those days is ultimately best left to the District.

“I would probably be kinda upset [about having] to make them up,” Natalie said, “but I think it would be pretty fair because at the end of the day, the District knows what they’re doing. If they think that we need the extra days then I will eventually be OK with it.”

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ne news

Following tragedy, social media connects, unites community story by Kirsten Arnoult, Maddie Mason and Lacee Getter • photos by Kirsten Arnoult

W

ith the recent mur-

der of senior Da’Von Capers, students coped through Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

However, some of the events leading to Da’Von’s death also stemmed from those same social media sites, leaving his classmates and teachers to wonder whether social media helped create the conflict or deflated it.

“The death of Da’Von could have been avoided by people not saying anything and not starting anything between [Dutch Fork and Lexington High School],” sophomore TJ Shook said.

However, students tend to find out most of what is going on in the world by checking social media. Between retweets and reposts, thousands can know anything in minutes.

08/ dfr.news.spring 2014

With a tweet from @WIS10 announcing Da’Von’s death, a majority of the student body knew what happened before they went to bed that night.

Others learned once they got to school the following day.

“Basically everyone gets on

think that it highlights the positives that it should. I think that people become so big, bold and bad on social media instead of formulating what they want to say in a respectful manner.”

But in coping with this tragedy, students, faculty and the com-

the Internet now, so instead of watching the news and stuff, you can just find out [more details] on Google or the Internet, so you’re always connected to everyone,” senior Kayla Sparks said.

That connection, though, isn’t always a positive thing.

“I think the more that I learn about social media, the more I grow to hate it,” dance teacher Ginny Haynes said. “I don’t

munity also used Twitter and Instagram to post pictures and tweets in memory of Da’Von. The student body came together through Twitter by posting memories of their lost friend. One student reached almost 2,000 retweets from fellow followers showing support.

Timelines started filling up with Da’Von’s old tweets, the most popular one being

“Blessed to see another day.” Instagram filled with pictures of Da’Von and his football number, 48.

But after Da’Von’s alleged assailant was arrested and charged with murder, timelines filled with rage and anger about the situation.

“It worries me that people just immediately reacted because of the rawness they felt, [and] the hurt they felt,” Haynes said, “instead of going ‘How can we learn from this?’, ‘How can we make sure that we hold his name up in a high light that it needs to be?’” “[Da’Von] doesn’t want everybody to be fighting and to be angry,” Haynes said. “He would want people to learn so they can make better decisions for the future--not to react in a vulnerable, raw state.”

Spring blood drive hosted in memory of senior Da’Von Capers story by Kirsten Arnoult, Maddie Mason and Lacee Getter

Left: Banners from schools around the district were shared with slain senior Da’Von Capers’ family. Top: Students’ signatures cover a t-shirt in memory of Da’Von. Bottom: Students cheer with Da’Von (front row in black jacket) at Byrnes High school.

Hundreds of students, teachers, staff and community members lined up (and often waited hours to donate) as this year’s spring blood drive was held in memory of senior Da’Von Capers.

Hosted by the American Red Cross, the blood drive saw a record number of donors and collected 147 units of blood.

Sign ups for the blood took place in the senior cafeteria during all lunches. Because of the high number of donors, lastminute sign ups were not recommended.

“I’m giving blood because one I’m getting out of class and it’s helping others,” junior Taylor Holladay said.

In order to donate blood, students must be healthy, be at least 17 years old (or 16 with a parental consent form) and weigh at least 110 pounds. Males must be at least 5’3” and females at least 5’5”. Also, you may only give whole blood every 56 days (according to redcrossblood.org).

“I think it’s good to think about others when in good health, “ junior Jack Payne said. “You can use your healthy blood and give it to someone who needs it.”

People give blood for various reasons such as being helpful, dedication to a loved one, or for personal reasons. “[I’m giving blood because] Da’Von was a good friend of mine,” junior Sarah Wiggs said. “It’s dedicated to him and it is just a good way of giving to the community.”

Although Dutch Fork hosts at least two blood drives each year, this drive was popular because most students wanted to show their support for Da’Von and his family by giving blood.

According to the Red Cross, each unit of blood helps save three lives.

“I would [give blood again] because it’s a great and helpful thing to do,” Jack said.

“It’s just an amazing opportunity.”

dfr.news.spring 2014/09

news

Seniors learn skills for future as Teacher Cadets story by Carina Leaman and Maddie Mason The process for making schedules has already begun, and many rising seniors have signed up for the popular Teacher Cadet program for next year.

Although it originated in South Carolina, Teacher Cadets is a nationwide program that gives high school students the option to take a college credit class that allows them to learn more about the teaching field and explore career options.

English department chair Carol Jackson teaches the course at Dutch Fork.

Although Teacher Cadets is a college-level course, but it does not require an AP exam at its end. Instead, Columbia College awards free college credit for any student who passes the course.

However, the college credit awarded to students by Columbia College is not limited to their courses. The credit earned will transfer to any university within the United States that will then decide how many credit hours a student can exempt.

According to senior and Teacher Cadet KiKi Mayes, the class has a unique curriculum.

“We do a lot of projects and we do read alouds and focus on

the fundamentals of teaching,” KiKi said. “And [we focus on] the basis for understanding students and the reasons why they behave the way they do.”

The Teacher Cadets course is not limited to traditional classroom instruction. During the spring semester, students travel to District 5 schools to shadow teachers and gain classroom experience.

we learn great life skills that are helpful even if you don’t want to be a teacher.”

Hannah said the class will help students as they prepare for their future careers--no mater what those careers may be.

“I think that taking a class that basically shows you exactly what you will be doing in your chosen career field is one of the best things to happen to DFHS,”

“I love being in a class where I know everyone and love everyone.”

--senior Hannah Mount According to the Teacher Cadets syllabus, students must “recognize barriers to learning and develop methods of dealing with these problems effectively” and “develop one’s own vision of the transformation of education.” But participants say the course isn’t just for future teachers.

“We better our personal skills,” senior and Teacher Cadet Hannah Mount said. “We learn how to be teachers [and]

junior Karis Casterline said.

Teacher Cadets have a tightknit community. Students quickly form new friendships and relatonships with each other in the class.

“I love being in a class where I know everyone and love everyone,” Hannah said. “That doesn’t happen in a core class; it’s very unique.”

Coaches in Training is also a part of the Teacher Cadets program.

What are the requirements to apply?

• Rising senior with 3.0 GPA or higher • A two-page essay • Three teacher recommendations • Contact information form 10/ dfr.news.spring 2014

“I am interested in [Coaches in Training] because I’m in sports med right now, and I’m an athlete, so it would be fun,” junior Abby Schmidt said.

Both courses require an application process to be accepted into the program. Students must fill out an application form, get three teacher recommendations, answer an essay prompt, and sign up for an interview.

“I’m taking Teacher Cadets to improve and refine my teaching skills with children as well as just teaching,” junior Sara Alston said.

Current Teacher Cadets encourage juniors to sign up for the course.

“They should sign up for Teacher Cadets because the education system needs great teachers and society needs great people,” Hannah said.

The juniors have been chosen for the program next year and have begun a fundraiser.

Although they are not officially signed up for the class yet, they are still considered Teacher Cadets of 2014-2015.

“I think that Teacher Cadets is a really good program,” Abby said. “It prepares the students for their future.”

Top: Teacher Cadet instructor Carol Jackson begins the class period and addresses her students. Photo by Carina Leaman; Bottom left: Seniors Keysha Munson and KiKi Mayes experience various disabilities during a classroom activity. Photo by Carol Jackson; Bottom right: Seniors Josh Rogers, Rashida Williamson and Danielle McCaw demonstrate dances created for developmental stages in educational psychology. Photo by Carol Jackson

What do you do in class?

• Explore different types of learning and curriculum • Understand the psychology behind education • Develop leadership skills in and out of the classroom • Gain teaching experience in a classroom dfr.news.spring 2014/ 11

ne news

Dutch Fork tops US News’ list of South Carolina high schools

W

story by Maddie Mason, Lacee Getter and Kirsten Arnoult • photo by Lacee Getter

ith good academics, athletics, teachers, students and staff, Dutch Fork has made its way to the top of US News’ list of South Carolina high schools.

Because of its improvement in AP and other test scores, Dutch Fork was named the magazine’s number one public high school in South Carolina.

Only Charleston’s Academic Magnet High School and the Charleston County School of the Arts rank above Dutch Fork, in positions one and two respectively. So although Dutch Fork ranks as number three on the list, it is the top-rated public high school.

Although its academic standards are what have put Dutch Fork at the top, academics aren’t the only defining factor of a top-notch school.

“I think as a school we have really rallied around our sports teams and really gave them 12/ dfr.news.spring 2014

more support than previous son to have even more school years,” senior Harrison Potts spirit than the school already said. “I think we have a good expresses through its teachers, base for the future of athletics students, sports and academics and the dynasty.” on a daily basis.

Senior Graham Sizemore “We’ll have all the more reaagrees. son to have more school spirit “I think and support this shows our school,” “I think this s o p h o m o r e how strong our commu- shows how strong Hailee Beltnity is: com- our community is: zhoover said. ing together the coming together endButofat the to rival excellent teams to rival excellent day, it is the and working teams and working students’ acahard every- hard everyday,” demic work day,” senior that has con-senior G r a h a m Graham Sizemore tributed to Sizemore this particular said. “From ranking. the fans that “ O u r support our teams to the coach- school is the number one pubes to the players, it shows great lic high school in the state [and dedication and a desire to suc- is] nationally ranked,” Graham ceed.” said. “That says it all.”

Students also think the Students say there are varischool’s new title is another rea- ous things about Dutch Fork

that make it a good school.

“My favorite thing about our school is the atmosphere,” senior Derrian Moreau said, “[including] the different types of people and the variety of sports and clubs.”

With many successful clubs and departments to offer, according to junior Brionna Bennett, the school tends to stand out above the rest.

“Grades, sports and just the closeness we share: that’s what makes us stand out,” Brionna said.

With the student body having a great deal of school pride, students it is impressive that we have become the best high school in the state.

“I feel that it is very impressive on our part to earn that title,” Derrian said, “and I think our school is number one because we have the best educational system and variety of programs in the state.”

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opinion

Staff

Editorial

More make-up snow days scheduled for June

T

he summer solstice heralds the first official day of summer for most Americans, and this year it falls on June 21 at exactly 6:51 EDT. However, for those Americans under the age of 18 and who are locked in the prison known as “school” for 180 days, the beginning of summer usually falls around the end of May or early June.

The arrival of summer for those prisoners who are sentenced to 180 days of captivity is a merciful and glorious day.

Shouts of rejoicing and glee fill the halls as the caged birds take flight for the first time in months, and stream from the doors of the penitentiary, elated they survived the ordeal.

But as a caged birds’ muscles will atrophy during its confinement, so have the incarcerated students’ muscles (used for relaxing, cooking out and spending entire days on the lake or

the beach) deteriorated during their imprisonment. It takes merely a few days to rebuild those muscles with adequaete exercising, and then the excons are back to living life on the outside, and reveling in every moment of freedom.

In light of this, the cells of the Dutch Fork High School jailhouse will remain locked for an additional day at the end of this year, to make-up for time lost during the snow days in January and February. In addition to reporting for a half day on June 5, June 6 (the day after graduation) will also be a half day.

There are multiple issues with this mandate: To begin, June 5 is graduation day for the class of 2014.

Depending on how many students come to school that day, they will move those students who do show up into a consolidated number of rooms,

and if teachers go to graduation (which is expected), their absences will be excused.

But this begs the question, why would you schedule school when more than half of the students and teachers will not be in attendance? Doesn’t it seem a little pointless if the most important people at school won’t even be there?

Next, and arguably most importantly, all exams will have been completed prior to those two days, and teachers will not be teaching any new material on those last two days.

Unless the rules have changed, wasn’t the entire driving force behind school to teach the youth and educate them on the subjects of the world? And if that is not even going to happen, why would you even have school at all?

The entire situation revolves around the poor planning of those in the District Office.

They should have scheduled the make-up snow days in a way that didn’t create these meaningless half days, when students will not be here to learn, but to serve their full sentence of 180 days.

All and all, this is just a disappointing situation, as it delays the arrival of freedom for all those who are incarcerated, and forces them to endure--if only for two more days--the punishment that is school.

Staff Vote: Agree: 14 Disagree: 0 Indifferent: 0

The

Renaissance

Co-editors-in-chief: Kirsten Arnoult Michaela Baker Staff Eddie Bates Lacee Getter Jamie Gilbert-Fitzpatrick Mendy Harris Robin Hendricks Josh Imholte Carina Leaman Jamie Mason Maddie Mason Madison Metts Sean Riehm Hayley Younginer Adviser: Amy Medlock-Greene Principal: Dr. Greg Owings

14/ dfr.opinion.spring 2014

The Renaissance is an open forum for student expression at Dutch Fork High School.

The purpose of The Renaissance is to inform the student body about events affecting them, to influence its readers through responsible editorials, to entertain through feature content, to reflect the overall personality of the school and to bring buyer and seller together.

These goals will be achieved through fair, accurate and responsible reporting.

Unbylined editorials reflect the views of the majority of The Renaissance staff, but not necessarily the view of the school board, the administrators, the faculty, the adviser, the

entire staff, or student body. All bylined editorials and cartoons reflect the opinion of the writer or artist. Advertisements do not reflect the opinion of The Renaissance or its adviser.

The Renaissance encourages letters to the editors as they constitute a constructive avenue for opinion. All letters must be signed by the writer to be considered for publication.

The staff reserves the right to edit letters for poor taste, libel, grammar and space.

The Renaissance is published four times a year by students in the journalism classes. The online edition, updated regularly, is available at www.foxfusion.org.

Kids in the Hall

Should the snow days be made up?

“I don’t understand because exams happen first and then we have to make up the day after all the exams and graduation.”

“I don’t think it’s fair because the day after graduation is typically our day off.

It makes no sense.”

junior

freshman Jakob Beane

Emmanuel Derrick

“It’s unnecessary because attendance won’t be taken.

Nobody is going to come.”

“I don’t think a lot of people are gonna show up. Seniors aren’t going to show up at all unless they say you can’t have your diploma unless you come to class.”

sophomore

senior Aaliyah Bond

Kelsey Guard

Student athletes must find balance column by Hayley Younginer After players run around the field, they fall asleep at their desks. As players memorize new runs, they fail their vocabulary tests. But with the introduction of sports into the high school experience, it is imperative that student athletes not lose sight of what is most important: their education.

Let me break that down for you.

The key to being a student athlete is time management.

Time management is the effective use of the 24 hours one is given to do what he or she needs to do in a day.

Eight of those hours are

spent in school---11 if you include after school practice most athletic teams have.

Then, in order to get a healthy amount of rest, the athlete must get eight hours of sleep every night. This leaves five hours in the day for the student-athlete to do their homework. One of those hours is spent getting ready for school, another is spent eating.

Now we are left with three hours. Three hours to do homework for four classes.

Student athletes must often decide which is more important: a full night’s rest or a passing grade. Even now as I write this I sit in the training room icing my ankle.

There has to be a balance.

In middle school, student ath-

letes were allotted an hour of “study hall” before a game or practice. This emphasized the academic side of being a student athlete---the idea that school should always come first.

So how come it feels like that value is becoming less and less common?

In college, athletes are required to have a certain number of hours in study hall in order to ensure they are making time for their education. After all, the NCAA requires a set GPA of 2.0 for all collegiate athletes.

Why are we not utilizing this system of time management at Dutch Fork?

Introduce it to students early and they will become accustomed to it and adopt a way of learning that suits them so they

may better understand it in college.

After all, a player cannot rely solely on her ability on the field to get into college.

Sure, an athletic scholarship would be nice, but how will the player maintain her GPA without the ability to manage her time effectively? One cannot get far in today’s world without a college degree.

Too many student athletes miss the field goal in the classroom, fumbling on a test or other assignment because of poor time management between school and sports. In order to find balance, students must put their future in perspective.

For what will matter more in 30 years, a touchdown or a degree? dfr.opinion.spring 2014/ 15

opinion

Zendaya takes center stage

becomes smash hit

review by Maddie Mason

review by Sean Riehm

S

ince she was a little girl, Zendaya has always been a singer/performer because of her parents’ love for music.

As a girl, Zendaya went to an arts school so she could improve her singing and acting, which helped her get roles in local plays.

Zendaya’s career began when she auditioned for the Disney show “Shake It Up” in 2009; ever since, her career with Disney has skyrocketed.

She does not only have a career with Disney, but she also has a modeling career with Macy’s, Old Navy, Sears and Mervyns.

Zendaya has been on Disney shows and now has her own album with 11 songs ranging from pop to urban.

Her album, Replay, came out this year after Zendaya signed with Hollywood Records.

When her first big hit “Replay” came out, it reached over four million views on YouTube in four days. Zendaya’s other songs on her album are also big hits.

After listening to the song, it is easy to tell that it is targeting a certain audience, mainly pre-teen females.

“Replay” is a pop song,

16/ dfr.opinion.spring 2014

but surprisingly it does not sound like a former Disney star is singing it at all. The song has a very professional sound, as if it was written and performed by a more experienced artist.

It is a very appealing song and it keeps the audience listening the whole time. It is fun to listen to and it does not get boring.

The artist really shows her voice in this song, as it shows a wide range and shows how talented she is. Her talent for dancing is also shown in the edgy and upbeat music video.

Although she is only 17 years old and got her fame from the Disney channel, Zendaya is a young girl with a lot of potential and talent.

Every time her song comes on it’s hard not to sing and dance to it. It’s very edgy and very easy to listen to, but the album is a fun and interesting album.

Zendaya is a young artist and did a great job with putting herself out in the music business and by releasing “Replay” her career will probably grow a lot and will most likely earn her a lot of chances of becoming a big star.

S

mash Hit, released on March 6, was the first game to navigate its way through the post-apocalyptic wasteland left by the fall of Flappy Bird, and rise to the top of the app store charts.

The concept of the game is stupidly simple, yet it is perfect: one must journey across a strange and futuristic landscape, hurling metal spheres at glass obstacles that attempt to hinder your quest.

The more balls you acquire, the longer you play, but when you eventually run out, the game is over.

Smash Hit has mastered the fine art of being fun and exciting, while remaining challenging.

The game is very easy to play, but hard to master (which adds the element of something to work for), and in turn extends the longevity of the app in the eye of the consumer.

Smash Hit demonstrates the true graphical and technical capabilities for gaming of the iOS operating systems and retina display.

It transports players into another dimension, and guides them along in a hypnotic and near-meditative state. The futuristic, minimalist art style is sharp, clean, colorful and inherently beautiful.

The ambient soundscapes are well-suited to the style and aesthetic of the game, and provide the zen and mesmerising atmosphere the game is quickly gaining a reputation for.

The physics engine, collision detection, and the rest of the technical instruments running the game are tuned to an

almost inhumanly accurate degree, which is very satisfying to someone like me, who very much appreciates realism within his video games.

Thrown balls follow realistic flight paths and glass shatters in spectacular fashion, which is coupled with smooth, responsive, and fun gameplay that makes Smash Hit very addicting.

Up to this point, I have not breathed a word of disapproval for Smash Hit, but in my own personal quest through the other dimension, I have found some cons: It takes a certain degree of skill.

One must possess astute reflexes and superb timing to traverse the many worlds.

If one does not possess these necessary prerequisites, then the game can quickly turn tiresome and frustrating.

The degree of skill required to excel at the game can be attained through dedication and practice, but most people don’t have the time or the patience to sit down and get really good.

In additon, games have the tendency to be incredibly long.

With the absence of a time limit, one can theoretically play forever so long as they have enough spheres to sustain them.

Aside from a few dislikes, Smash Hit is overall a magnificent game.

It combines the stress relieving therapeutic nature and fun of smashing objects with wonderfully alluring physics-based puzzle gameplay that will test your wits, coordination and reflexes.

The result is one of the best portable games available.

Advice from the front lines: live life today column by Josh Imholte L i f e 10 years ago was so easy and different for us, when worrying only about nap time and what cartoons were going to be on in the afternoon were our biggest concerns.

But now that we’re in high school, we have to worry about more than that. Things like homework, extracurricular activities and relationships complicate our everyday lives.

But these problems are secondary to the one big problem we face in our future: college.

College is the one thing that adults have been preparing us for since we could talk, and most of us are still not ready for it.

We’re expected to leave from the comfort of our homes as we’re thrown into the world. But most of us are scared to show our faces to society.

We act like we’re ready for the sake of our friends and family when we’re really horrified.

It’s hard to think that a few years ago, we were sitting on the floor in our pajamas watching old Looney Tunes reruns and now we’re getting ready to take on the world and possibly make it a better place.

It seems so surreal because some of us have no clue what we

want to do with the rest of our lives.

Granted, there are some who have known what they wanted to be when they grew up since they were five, but there are also those who are so clueless about their future that they don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Some of us will grow up to be football players, business people, mechanics or even the President.

The rest of us don’t know what to do.

This is probably because we never tried to see what was out there for us to participate in.

We’ve always been told to get involved in school but that’s not what this is about. This is about getting involved in life.

Go out and make something of yourself now so that you won’t be scared about college and your future.

Go make some great memories that you can tell later. Don’t just sit in class or your room and contemplate your life choices.

At first, society will judge you and it will knock you down. But why do we fall? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up.

Although you may not know what to do, know that you have the support of those who have tried and failed at doing so.

So my advice?

Either make sure you’ve lived these past four years to the fullest or make sure that you do from here on out.

Stop making out in public: A PSA on PDA column by Hayley Younginer We have all seen it.

We have all been a victim of it.

It happens in the hallways, the stairwells, the parking lot, the cafeteria...everywhere.

That’s right; you guessed it. I’m talking about public displays of affection.

If you’ve ever felt personally victimized by a couple sucking face at school, my thoughts are with you.

It seems that in high school, every couple is stuck with this idea that if they do not see each other between every block, at every lunch, or in the parking lot, the forces that be will inevitably end their relationship and banish them from ever publicly displaying their affection again.

Sorry to be a Debby-downer, but in a recent study, data revealed that only 2 percent of high school relationships last.

If I just broke your heart and you ran to go delete your wedding board on Pinterest, you have my apologies: but it’s reality.

When it comes to high school relation-

ships, the best bet is probably just not to have any expectations whatsoever.

Like, at all.

Girls: please stop expecting to see your boyfriend outside of your window at midnight with a stereo over his head playing your favorite song. It will NOT happen--especially not in highschool, of all places.

If you have yourself a sweet boyfriend/ girlfriend and they listen to you, respect you, and only annoy you 75 percent of the time, you have a keeper for the next month or so (or however long it takes for you to break up).

Ah, break ups.

In this glorious technological era, we have taken break-ups to a whole new height.

If anything, you fight with your significant other, don’t talk to them for a week, turn your read receipts off, and then proceed to block them on Twitter (ooh, burn).

This is what high school relationships have come to and quite frankly, it is embarrassing.

Guys: You need to be respectful. Understand that privacy is valued among rela-

tionships and once that is broken, so is the bond you and your girlfriend had.

Oh, wait...I forgot. Nowadays, us high school students do not have girlfriends/ boyfriends, instead we have people who we “talk to.”

I get it, guys. You don’t want the whole boyfriend “title” thing because it adds pressure, blah blah blah. Honestly, if you cared enough about the girl, you would want everyone to know. You would not hide her or pretend you didn’t know her whenever you saw her in public.

Likewise, girls should value a good guy.

The whole concept of the “friendzone” drives me insane. We would not have “friendzoned” you in the first place if you would have just been honest and told us up front about your feelings.

So, if you take anything away from this, take away the fact that high school is for finding out who you will be.

Everyone says it will be the best four years of your life; however they lied.

Just focus on who you want to become and learn to be independent. Because nothing but hard work and determination will get you to where you want to be. dfr.opinion.spring 2014/ 17

T

hroughout history, high school students have gone day to day just existing, going through the motions and not making something of themselves, waiting for the glorious college years.

Junior Light Smith strives to destroy this norm. His self made tshirt company Soul Canvas is already well known around Dutch Fork.

“Soul Canvas is not actually the endpoint; it is part of a bigger picture,” Light said. “Right now I am trying to build the biggest audience I can artistically.”

The evolution of Soul Canvas has been dramatic over the past year. What started out as a few sketches put onto a white t-shirt landed 16-year-old Light with a photoshoot for his personally designed shirts, which are now in full color. “[The models from the shoot] are people from all different places, of all shapes and sizes and they are not actual paid models or anything,” Light said. “The people I have talked to say that the shoots have gone really well.”

This shoot has given Light the head start of his dreams.

“I have been getting a lot of attention from different people and different professionals around the area,” Light said. “I don’t look 16 so whenever people find out I am 16 people tend to support me more.”

Along with some influential people Light has met through the shoot, he has several already successful people at his back.

“Friends of the family and people I grew up with that own their own company give me tips and pointers and different things like that, but it’s not so much that they are giving me tangible things so much as giving me advice,” Light said.

With his eyes set to the horizon, Light plans on graduating from high school this year. “[I am] taking a year off before college so I can earn scholarships for stuff such as entrepreneurship,” Light said.

In addition to the attention he has been getting from businesses around the area, Light also plans to take Soul Canvas out of Dutch Fork.

“I am going to go from one concert to the next selling my art as a vendor so that way [Soul Canvas] can be very lucrative,” Light said.

Light said he went to more concerts this past November than he has in his whole life.

“I just love the whole scene. I love selling stuff but even more than the people, it is the interaction,” Light said. “It is sort of a meeting of the minds and so it’s a better idea of, ‘yeah there are people like me out there.’”

Light eventually plans to buy a car with the money he earns, and will travel the country with several of his college friends.

“I plan on getting as many photo shoots and video shoots that I can,” Light said. “This is a cool adventure in a sense; this is a lot of people’s dream, so we’re going to make a documentary of the whole thing.”

Light said he truly belives this is his calling.

“The main goal in life is to know your purpose,” Light said. “[It’s] like when you first learn to drive: for me, anyway, driving at night was always a little weird. I couldn’t see around me; I could only see what’s in my headlights. It’s like if I’m driving from here to Charleston: I can’t see Charleston I can only see what’s in my headlights, but I know the road only goes to Charleston. Also if you are just looking in that headlight you can’t keep a straight line; you have to keep your eyes on the road ahead of you.”

Set up and networked with the road ahead of him holding an unseen adventure, Josh plans on earning his spot in the world.

“I don’t have a plan B, so regardless of who’s with or without me, this is what I’m doing,” Light said. “You can only see so far in front of you, but you just have to have faith.”

“You have to keep your eyes on the road ahead of you.”

-junior Light Smith

Man pursues his dreams Junior Light Smith chases dream at only 16

story by Eddie Bates, Josh Imholte, Madison Metts • photos by Eddie Bates

life

CONTESTANTS and WINNERS FRESHMEN Da ja Scott • Freshman Sponsorship winner Breanna Audette • Overall Sponsorship Award • Freshman Themewear • Miss Freshman Za’Kia Alston Morgan McCrary • Freshman People’s Choice

SOPHOMORES Prentiss Edmond • Miss Congeniality • Sophomore People’s Choice • Sophomore Themewear • Miss Sophomore Sarah-Emily Rish

JUNIORS Merideth Terrell • Miss Congeniality Tamsen Boaz • Sponsorship Princess •Junior People’s Choice Haley Plemmons • Junior Sponsorship winner Kyra Ross-El • Junior Themewear • Miss Junior Madison Campanella • Miss Silver Fox Hannah Anderson

SENIORS Natalie White • Miss Congeniality • Senior People’s Choice Raven Smith • Senior Themewear Anna Brooks Elizabeth Slusher • Miss Senior Chantale Smith 20/ dfr.life.spring 2014

Miss Silver Fox 2014

Dutch Fork crowns new royalty story by Robin Hendricks • photos by Carina Leaman With winning smiles and confident strides, 17 Dutch Fork ladies strutt across the stage in the Miss Silver Fox pageant.

Dutch Fork’s annual Miss Silver Fox Pageant was held in the high school’s auditorium March 1, from 7-9 p.m.

The pageant is an opportunity for both contestants and the audience to see what the school is like outside of academics.

“I’ve never been to [a Miss Silver Fox Pageant] but it seems like it’s going to be fun,” attendee Christen Enoch said.

The pageant opened with a choreographed dance number performed by all the girls, freshmen through seniors, where each got a turn in front of the judges’ eyes.

Soon after, the girls oneby-one reappeared on stage to show off their chosen costume.

Most of these outfits consisted of floppy hats and sundresses to correspond with this year’s Derby theme.

During intermission, audience members roamed about.

Among these were winners

from the Junior Miss Silver Fox Pageant held for Dutch Fork Middle School girls earlier in the afternoon.

At that pageant, eighth grader Jordan Webb won the honor of Junior Miss Silver Fox. “I didn’t really know what to do,” Jordan said. “It was my first pageant, so I just kind of went and had fun. I took tips from former pageant people but that’s it.”

The next part of the competition was the evening wear section.

As each girl was on stage, the host would speak about each girl.

She would talk about their accomplishments, their favorite foods, their favorite singers, and, of course, why they love Dutch Fork.

Soon after the evening wear portion, it was time for the judges to tally the scores for each girl and decide who would win each of the five titles.

“Each of the judges has a scoring sheet that they use for each level of the competition,

the interview, the theme wear and the evening gown,” judge Leigh-Ann Hansell said, “and they take all of the components into consideration for each contestant from 1-10 and then my job is to record those scores and to make sure of the accuracy of the totals.”

During this time, the host and reigning Miss Silver Fox senior Mary Catherine Keith told cheesy jokes to the audience.

When the final scores were tallied, the contestants all walked onto the stage still in their evening gowns, forming an array of colors in front of the audience.

With country music like Hunter Hayes and Parmalee playing softly in the background throughout the competition, this year’s was truly a southern pageant.

“It was such an enjoyable pageant, and I definitely would do it again in a heartbeat,” overall winner Madison Campanella said. “I made so many new friends, and I can’t wait to take my journey as Miss Silver Fox.”

Above: Breanna Audette is crowned Miss Freshman.

Above: Prentiss Edmond is crowned Miss Sophomore.

Kyra Ross-El, Elizabeth Slusher, Maddie Campanella, Breanna Audette and Prentiss Edmonds pose after the pageant. Photo by Chris Record

Above: Kyra Ross-El is crowned Miss Junior.

Above: Elizabeth Slusher is crowned Miss Senior.

dfr.life.spring 2014/ 21

life

#nofilter#Oscars

#DuckDynasty#Fashionweek #Grammy’s#wcw #CapeStrong #Subtweet

#PopeFrancis #bully

#iPhone

THINK BEFORE YOU POST:

#RoyalBaby #ladygaga #earthquake #selfie #TeamUSA #starbucks #google #instagram #DuckDynasty

#humpday #Broncos

#Twitterfight

#USC Tweets can lead to #school #MarchMadness #Divergent #Frozen #MarchMadness negative #throwback #sochi2014 #summer consequences #CapeStrong #flappybird #followback #happy #statechamps

#confession

#dance

#statechamps

#senioritis

#gravity

#district5

#JustinBeiber

#happy

#followback

#DFStrong

#getalong

story by Carina Leaman, Jamie Mason and Robin Hendricks

W

ith the increase of online bullying and threats and insults posted on social media sites such as Twitter, students must be careful what they say on the Internet.

Cyberbullying has become an epidemic among teenagers.

Without seeing a person facetoface while speaking to them, it is much easier to speak harshly and cruelly.

“If you’re not face-to-face then you feel a little bit powerful and you think ‘oh I can just say what I want because they’re not actually there with that person’,” junior Supachai Siebers said.

There is no sudden lost smile, or look of pained confusion when insults fly on Twitter.

And small arguments quickly spark into Twitter battles.

Lashing out in the hashtags can start as harmless passiveaggressiveness, but it is easy to get carried away.

“I think it can escalate,” junior Krystal Veney said. “It can

escalate because fighting online hurts more of the feelings. It can hurt more than physical [pain] and I think that’s the most damaging: emotional pain.”

And then, a cyber push can turn into a real-life shove.

“Somebody was cyberbullying me and calling me out on Twitter and then I responded back and we ended up getting into an actual fight,” Supachai said.

There are better ways to handle a cyberbully or Twitter confrontation than to become involved in a physical fight, but Twitter fights should not escalate that high to begin with.

The lasting repercussions of what people tweet are much larger than what many believe.

Most students’ Twitters are completely open to the public because they don’t see any harm in them.

“My Twitter is open because they’re just tweets; it doesn’t matter who sees them,” junior

Cherise Daniel said. “I really don’t care.”

But tweets are highly influential when applying to college. “[Students] definitely should watch what they say because everybody can see it and colleges also look at that,” senior Kristen Jensen said.

Once a tweet is published, it is in the public domain and therefore fair game for college admissions staff to view.

How each student represents the college whose name could be plastered on their t-shirts is vital to the college’s decision of who they should and should not accept, and social media sites are highly telling of how students will behave in social situations in college.

One question that is hotly debated is whether or not school officials should become involved in altercations online.

Krystal said she believes they should.

“It’s the school’s job to protect its students,” she said, “and

now with the Internet it’s more important to try to [protect them.]”

Whether or not teachers become involved, students should be careful regarding what they say online.

While that moment of anger may seem horribly motivating, the repercussions of the student’s actions may be enormous.

“I don’t know why but a lot of people feel more open to talk about stuff online because you’re not even seeing the person you’re talking to,” senior Michaela Sanford said.

“A lot of people are open to talk more and just talk about stuff on the Internet,” she said.

“And we all know that [with] everything you [post], they can pull back records.”

But even though they know the potential consequences of their actions, Michaela said “people are [just] more willing to talk about [other] people online.”

TWITTER ETIQUETTE: • Remember once you tweet, it’s out in the open • Watch what you say to others

• Think before you post

• Add meaning to your tweets

• Avoid negativity

• Pay attention to your privacy settings

22/ dfr.life.spring 2014

Juniors Zoey Johnson and Twinkle Loungani discuss their cases in Mock Trial.

Cases in mock trial heat up story by Jamie Mason • photo by Robin Hendricks As the Mock Trial meeting comes to order, club members prepare themselves to learn how to debate, present themselves, and defend their case on the floor.

Mock Trial has encouraged students to become confident in the hot seat.

“Basically, every meeting we do different things. Either we prepare our direct or cross examinations with our witnesses and we collaborate with them or we start preparing our opening and closing statements,” junior Twinkle Loungani said.

Mock Trial has been a prominent club, attracting new members each year to the excitement of defending a case.

“This is my fourth year in mock trial. I started in middle school,” junior Zoey Johnson said. “I didn’t really want to, but my friends pressured me into it. But it turned out that I actually really loved it so I kind of stuck to it. And the past two years, I’ve gotten Most

Effective Witness so I guess I’m pretty good at what I do.”

All the preparation and practicing does not go to waste, as the club eagerly prepares for competitions each year to show off its skills.

“Right now, we’re getting ready to compete at the regional competition where we go and try half the case against other schools, and they’ll have their half of the case prepared,” sophomore Alan Wilbur said. “We hope to be able to make it on state and then maybe nationals.”

Students have different roles in the club to practice for future careers or just for fun.

From lawyer to witness, everyone has a role and a specific duty for each role.

“If you wanted to become an attorney, (which is what I am), we did an opening statement and we also did a direct examination and basically what we did through auditions was to mimic what really happens in a

court trial,” Twinkle said. “So with the opening statement, I gave an introduction of our case and then I had to ask brief questions with a witness.”

Many students have found a career path through Mock Trial and use that career choice as their reason for joining or staying with the club.

“I want to be a lawyer and I thought it would be good practice,” junior Lexis McNeal said. “I plan on majoring in political science in college and minoring in psychology.”

Whether working to gain skills for a future career or just to meet some new friends, Mock Trial members say the club is wide open and always accepting new members.

“I would recommend [people who are interested in pursuing a career in law to join mock trial] because it’s very exciting,” Twinkle said. “It’s very different and it’s a great learning experience.” dfr.life.spring 2014/ 23

Foxes’

Firsts

Football team wins first state championship story and photo by Sean Riehm

I

n December 2012, for the first time in school history, the Silver Foxes reached the Class 4A football state championship. But because of early mistakes and numerous turnovers, the Foxes couldn’t triumph over Gaffney, and fell 34-22.

“Losing state last year gave [the team] a greater appreciation for the game,” junior and cheerleader Kyra Ross-El said, “and made them more determined: they had extra motivation to win this year. Sometimes you have to lose and reflect on why you lost to make improvements on how to win.”

This fall, The Foxes returned to the title game for the second time in as many years, riding the momentum of clutch, back-to-back upset victories over Spring Valley and then 26/ dfr.sports.spring 2014

Byrnes.

And for once, history did not repeat itself.

In a show of sheer dominance and superiority, Dutch Fork claimed its first state title with a momentous 40-point win over their opponent, the Sumter Gamecocks, with a final score of 54-14. Racking up 565 yards of total offense while only allowing a mere 15, it was clear from early on that the Foxes were in the driver’s seat.

“It was surreal,” junior middle linebacker Kendall Eady said. “We put in so much work, time, sweat, and tears with my brothers, and to get the ultimate reward is such a relief, like the weights of the expectations to win state after all we have done was lifted off our shoulders.”

The game remained close

through the first quarter. Dutch Fork started with a three-andout and a punt, which Spring Valley then answered with a fumble on their very first offensive play.

With a short field, junior running back Matt Colburn ran for 14 yards on the initial first down, and on the ensuing play, senior quarterback Derek Olenchuk threw 15 yards to senior wide receiver Daniel Jurgensen for the score.

Down 7-0, Sumter got the ball back; on their second play from scrimmage, the Gamecocks fumbled yet again, leaving Dutch Fork with another short field.

It took two more plays for the Foxes to score, with Matt fumbling the ball into the endzone and senior tight end Austin Ruger falling on it for a

touchdown.

Nothing came out of Sumter’s next possession, and the Foxes forced a punt that put them on the Sumter 30.

A holding penalty negated a 3-yard Matt Colburn touchdown run; on third and goal from the 13, Derek Olenchuk’s pass was tipped, intercepted, and returned 76 yards

by Sumter’s Demarcus Harris for a touchdown.

With Sumter now on the scoreboard, the Foxes drove down the field, but were forced to settle for a field goal.

Up 17-7, Dutch Fork kicked off to the Gamecocks, and 82 yards later, Sumter’s Xavion Burson stood in the endzone, having returned the kick all the way back for a touchdown. At the close of the first quarter, the score

stood at 17-14 Dutch Fork, despite the Sumter offense only running 5 plays for -7 yards.

“We had the lead the entire game but I could tell they started to get a little cocky,” junior Dazzler Nesha Frierson said. “Then Sumter started to score, so I think they then refocused themselves and tried to stay humble.”

But the end of the first quarter signaled the end of the Gamecock threat. The Sumter offense would not score or move the ball for that matter, and the Sumter defense couldn’t stop the train that was the Dutch Fork offense.

Junior kicker Tyler Bass put three field goals through the uprights on three consecutive drives, and Matt scored

on a three-yard run to end the first half.

In the second half, as they have all season, Dutch Fork rode upon the legs of standout running back Matt, who found the endzone three more time on carries of 4, 11 and 5.

In yet another stellar performance, he led the scoring with four touchdowns on 35 carries for 210 yards.

Though slightly overlooked, quarterback Derek Olenchuk ended his high school career with a superb showing, passing for one touchdown on 18 completions for 299 yards.

“At the end, KJ, Deion, and Ruger all were getting yards and catches, but Matt Colburn was really the entire offense,” senior Harrison Potts said.

The Silver Fox defense was impregnable. In arguably

their best performance of the season, Dutch Fork held the Gamecock offense to 15 total yards and no scores, with their only two touchdowns coming off a pick-six and a kickoff return.

The Foxes held Sumter to four total first downs, forced the Gamecocks to punt eight times, and forced three fumbles (all of which the Foxes recovered).

“The defense went right,” senior tight end KJ Williams said. “We only allowed the opposing team 15 yards, and we had over 500 yards of offense.”

As the clock wound down at the end of the fourth quarter, it was clear to everyone in the stadium the Foxes would be crowned champions.

When the time finally came, the entire Dutch Fork

team exploded in celebration, while the loyal student section and entire Dutch Fork nation erupted in cheers that would not quiet for the better part of an hour.

“Winning state was unreal,” junior offensive tackle Glenn Niles said. “It was a time of happiness with tears of joy.

When I kissed the trophy, I knew our hard work payed off.”

The state title was meaningful not only to the players, but to everyone who supported the football team throughout the season, and, in the words of varsity football coach Tom Knotts, shared “The Dutch Fork Experience.”

“Winning has brought us closer,” Neisha said, “We all came together to support our boys. For once, there weren’t cliques. We were one school.” dfr.sports.spring 2014/ 27

Players wrestle to state championship story by Madison Metts, Mendy Harris and Michaela Baker • photo by Erin Rivers

28/ dfr.sports.spring 2014

D

espite a season of infections and suspensions, the wrestling team ended its long road to the state championship with another victory for Dutch Fork.

“It’s honestly an honor to make it to state,” senior wrestler Josh Davis said. “So many great wrestlers have been through that building so being in the same facility felt amazing.”

Making it to state was an accomplishment for the team, but was an objective from the beginning.

“It was a great feeling, after all the work I put in,” senior wrestler Kelly Kircher said. “I thought of it as validation that it was all worth it.”

For Kelly, all the work he put in truly did pay off.

“At the beginning of the season, [varsity wrestling] coach [Doug] Rivers had us write down our goals. Mine were to go undefeated at home, place in every tourna-

ment, and qualify for state,” Kelly said. “I accomplished all of those goals, so I’m pretty proud of my senior season.”

Placing in the state championship is accomplished through each wrestler’s work, not the team as a whole.

For his efforts, Josh came in third.

“I was proud to have upset the current number two [wrestler] in the state who had beat me twice in the past two weeks,” Josh said. “Finally beating him was a big accomplishment.

“I don’t really think there is anything I could’ve done better,” he said. “I’m ultimately happy with the outcome.”

Preparation for the tournament was crucial for the team’s desired outcome.

“I trained rigorously, ate healthy, kept my body in shape by doing lots of cardio, and cut out spending time with my friends to help stay focused,” Josh said.

With goals set, some were

met and some were not; however, the outcome of the state championship is still one of which the team is proud.

“My goal was to become top three in the state, but I ended up coming in fifth,” Kelly said. “Looking back, I could have won my last match if I had been more aware of the time left in the mat. I am happy about how I fought through some tough matches, though.”

With high pressure and the ending of the season, state championships can be nerve wracking.

“I just thought of it as another tournament but with better competition,” Kelly said. “I did feel pressure, though, knowing any match could be my last.”

In total, five wrestlers from Dutch Fork placed in the state championship.

“I’m really proud of the five wrestlers who worked hard to get to state,” spectator Natalie White said. “It shows

how driven Dutch Fork sports are as a whole with football, basketball and wrestling all making it to state championships.

Our school is filled with hard working students,” Natalie said, “and I’m honored to go to school with them.”

The bonds formed during the season have a lasting impact on the players and their performance.

“I’m definitely going to miss my teammates the most,” K e l l y said. “Pretty much all of us have been together for six years, so we’re a pretty close group.”

Memories of games and fun times with friends will be cherished for years to come.

“All of the state games have made my senior year one to remember,” Natalie said.

“They’re all exciting and bring out school spirit in everyone.

My best memories from senior year are definitely going to the state games and tournaments.” dfr.sports.spring 2014/ 29

Girls’ basketball team secures threepeat

story by Michaela Baker, Madison Metts and Mendy Harris • photo by Michaela Baker 30/ dfr.sports.spring 2014

B

eads of sweat began to form on the players’ foreheads as the warm ups came to a close and the coaches paced back in forth anticipating the start of the game.

A familiar chant rang through the Colonial Life Arena as the pep club declared “This is our house; This is our house; This is our house.”

The girls’ varsity basketball team had made it to the state championship for the third year in a row and were playing against Greenwood.

With a steady start, the girls were up 37-17 at the end of the first half. The lead was enjoyable, but not promising.

“We had to work on our offense to make sure that we understood our personnel and not to put anybody in a heated situation,” girls’ varsity head coach Faye Norris said. “You know, you cover up their flaws while they cover up yours: that’s the thing. We had to deal with our

strengths.”

Soon the game resembled a tennis match as possession of the ball changed quickly from team to team.

“I know they got off to a good lead,” USC center freshman and former Lady Silver Fox Alaina Coates said. “But then towards the end it got a little hectic. But they were just able to do what they needed to do and play as a team to win.”

After a nail-biting final two minutes of play, the Lady Silver Foxes secured their third consecutive state championship with a final score of 62-55.

Players say that victory took enormous amounts of dedication and focus throughout the season.

“At first it was pretty intense [with] a lot of running and going over plays and defenses that we needed to work on,” senior point guard Sydney Shull said.

“Then as it got closer, [we had] pretty laid back kind of practices because we knew what we had

to do and it was mostly just walk throughs.”

Preparation for the championship consisted not only of physical conditioning but mental conditioning as well.

“They had so much opposition and so many people comparing them to the 2013 team,” Norris said. “That was in the back of their minds, and so I used that several times this year. Their young minds dealing with it was always tough but they put it to silence.”

A change in the players and the loss of six seniors (including Alaina) had an effect on the predicted outcome of the season.

“I am pretty proud of them,” Alaina said. “I know they had a lot of people saying they are not going to do well without me and you know with the way the season started I did not know if they were going to be anything. But I was really proud that they won and overcame all the neighsayers and all the negativity and got this

three-peat.”

Losing players from last year while adding new players forced the girls to overcome new dynamics within the team.

“I feel like what we overcame the most is that we lost six seniors last year,” junior Morgan Williams said. “We brought a lot of people up from JV and we rebuilt and restart.”

In the end, pushing obstacles and doubts out of the way, made the dream of a threepeat a reality.

“My thing was that the girls did it,” Norris said. “They were determined to get better.

They just had so many obstacles and so many distractions that got in their way during the season.

“When they peaked at the end of the season and when the buzzer sounded,” she said, “they went all the way through and finished it.” dfr.sports.spring 2014/ 31