The BluePrint - Volume 9, Issue 2 by Hagerty Journalism

HAGERTY HIGH SCHOOL

3225 LOCKWOOD BLVD. OVIEDO, FL 32765

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Go to Hagertyjourn.com for extra content, including:  Halloween Horror Nights  Girls’ volleyball concludes  PALS gift giving service  UF introduces SAR

volume 9, issue 2

Nov.�14, 2013

Distracted driving outlawed story on page 2 poll on page 12

photo by Jake Burton

stories�to�read�this�issue

 SWIM STATEMENT

Five swimmers have made it to Saturday’s state meet, and one swimmer is eyeing the 2014 World Championships. page 19

 DRAMA SHOWS DARK SIDE  PARKING LOT ETIQUETTE  VIRTUAL SHOWDOWN Thursday, Friday, Saturday shows of ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’ explore suspenseful side of theater when four students get lost and struggle to survive. page 5

The trafﬁc jams in the school parking lot are tiresome for juniors and seniors, but the best times to get in and out of school are revealed. page 8

Does virtual school help or hinder students’ academic performance? Two different views go head to head about online classes. page 15

 RULES OF SOCIAL MEDIA In the world of social media, the different virtual faces of the lurker, the attention seeker, and the complainer are exposed. page 9

news 2 First Oviedo Rising Run 5K attracts families Daniella Parcell

Photo from oviedophotoclub.zenfolio.com

RACE TO THE FINISH. Freshman Madison Campbell and other runners begin their 5K journey through Oviedo. Runners were of all ages, from young children to older athletes.

what’s news?

ORLANDO CITY BECOMES AN MLS TEAM

Dust off the vuvuzelas and pre-order some face paint, because on Oct. 7 the Orlando City Soccer team was awarded a grant from Orange County, allowing the team to build an $84 million soccer stadium. This will not only allow the Orlando City Lions to join the ranks of other United States MSL teams, but, will make the team the only MLS competitor in the southeastern United States.

MARCHING BAND RECEIVES STRAIGHT SUPERIORS

The band received straight superiors at the Musical Performance Assessment on Oct. 26. The band, led by directors Brad Kuperman and Brian Kuperman, also won second in the Oviedo Preview of Champions on Nov. 2 and is looking forward to planning their trip to play in London next year.

BOYS’ SOCCER TEAM PUMPKINS RAISE $15K

The boys’ soccer pumpkin patch raised more than $15,000, one third of which will go to the team to pay for this season’s equipment, including new balls, nets and varsity jerseys. The other two-thirds of the money raised will be divided between going back to the farmers and the YOUTHPALS program.

TV PRODUCTION HOSTS FALL FESTIVAL

TV Production held a Fall Festival on Oct. 26 with food trucks, jewelry sales, food stands and other booths. Activities ranged from pumpkin decorating to corn hole and entertained people of all ages from 9-3:30.

WHAT A ‘GREAT DAY IN THE COUNTRY’

Great Day in the Country was held at Lawton Elementary School, on Nov. 9. The event was hosted by GFWC Oviedo Woman’s Club. There were over 350 booths, ranging from arts and crafts to business to community service, all of which raised funds for scholarships, school grants and local charities.

News Editor

reshman Madison Campbell raced across the ﬁnish line with a record time of 27:43, placing second in her age division and beating her personal 5K time by a minute and a half at the ﬁrst annual Rising Run 5K. “It was all about raising money for the community and helping it restore historical places,” Campbell said. “I would absolutely participate again.” Campbell was one of the 350 participants in the Rising Run 5K, hosted by the Oviedo Preservation Project on Saturday, Oct. 26. The goal was for runners to travel through the past as they viewed the old city while raising money to preserve and restore its historical sites.

“It went through the heart of Oviedo and showed runners what Oviedo is all about,” sophomore Libby Smith said. While athletes such as Campbell could compete and receive a placement, more casual walkers had the chance to listen to a podcast that narrated their journey through the city. Due to its proximity to Halloween, both runners and nonrunners were encouraged to dress up and participate in a costume judging contest throughout the morning. In addition, a kids race was held after, giving younger athletes a chance to participate. According to Smith, who volunteered in the kids run, the popularity of the race made it difﬁcult to manage, especially since trafﬁc lanes were shut down in order for children to pass.

After the race, runners were provided a free homemade breakfast, courtesy of the Oviedo-Winter Springs Optimist Club. Donations of $5 per adult and $4 per child were encouraged but not required, and all proﬁts were given to the HOPE Helps food pantry or used toward local scholarships. “The people that ran it were super generous and cooperative with the city,” Smith said. For those who preferred not to run in the race, other festivities such as a bounce house for younger kids and a twilight tour through the Oviedo Cemetery were held later on that night. With options for people of all ages, athletic levels and interests, the Rising Run 5K proved to be a ﬁrst time success, and will be held again next year on Oct. 25.

Distracted driving outlawed Matilda von Kalm

Editor -in-Chief

s of Oct. 1, Florida became the forty-first state to make texting while driving a crime with the passage of the Florida Senate’s bill SB 52. The crime is a secondary offense, meaning a driver cannot be pulled over only for texting while driving, and is worth $30 in fines. However, not much campaigning has been done on behalf of the new law, as Gov. Rick Scott earlier vetoed a $1 million plan to help promote the ban. “There has been some coverage of the law on the news, but most teenagers don’t watch the news,” School Resource Officer Deputy William McCaffrey said. “I’ve seen information regarding texting and driving on Facebook, which is how I first found out about the law.” The state is implementing a few programs to raise awareness about the new law, however. Florida’s Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the Department of Transportation joined AT&T’s “It Can Wait” campaign and sponsored a “Put It Down Day” on Oct. 1 to

discourage young people from texting while driving and raise awareness of the consequences. However, the law has not had a large effect on all students. “I don’t text often, but when I do text and drive, if it’s important I feel like the texting is validated,” senior Matthew Murray said. “Everyone knows not to text and drive around a cop anyways.” Many Florida schools have also shown clips from a documentary by ﬁlmmaker Werner Herzog called From One Second to the Next, which looks at four lives that have been impacted by texting and driving related accidents. The 35 minute ﬁlm which has been distributed to 400,000 schools to raise awareness can be viewed on YouTube. “[The video] was an eye opener; a car can be a weapon when used wrong,” sophomore Steven Marvin said. “Valuing a text message over someone’s life is really what you are doing when you answer a text behind the wheel.” The new law has exceptions as well; drivers may text only when stopped at red lights or if they are using a talk-to-text device, such as

iPhone’s Siri. “There are apps students can download that won’t let cell phones send or receive texts when the phone detects that the car is moving above a certain speed,” McCaffrey said. “Technology can make driving safer if used correctly.” According to a 2012 survey by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, two-thirds of drivers admit to reading texts or e-mail’s while driving. That same year, 4,500 accidents in Florida were attributed drivers being distracted by their phones, and more than 255 of those accidents were linked directly to texting. Some advocates of the new law feel that a $30 fine does not to go far enough to enforce the ban on texting while driving. “In Texas, texting and driving is a primary offense punishable by a $500 fine,” McCaffrey said. Though it is only a secondary offense now, state legislature is working toward making texting while driving a primary offense, which would increase the fine. “When seatbelt laws first went into effect, the fine was only $60. Now it’s $116,” McCaffrey said.

3 Kaitlin’s Krewe fights for lymphoma cure news Sophie Hill

Staff Reporter

n July 16, the younger sister of senior Karina Yap and sophomore Cameron Yap received life-changing news; she was diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma, a type of cancer attacking the

lymphatic system which regulates the filtering of harmful contaminants in bodily fluids. Friends and family of the seventh grader were shocked. “I mean out of all of us it just had to happen to her, right? The littlest, the smallest, the youngest; she was so innocent,” Cameron Yap said.

Photo by Carol Davies

Jumping For joy. ‘The Posse’, including sophomores Zach Bruenle, Nathaniel Kauffman, Johnny Albano, Elliot Nasby and Cameron Yap, leap for photographs at the Katlin’s Krewe karaoke party. The event not only raised more than $2,000, but, ended with a grand finale including everyone in attendance joining in to sing ‘Dancing Queen.’

Kaitlin Yap began treatment almost immediately, choosing a more aggressive plan of action for chemotherapy treatments, and her brother and sister, although worried throughout the ordeal, kept a positive attitude. “Whenever I saw her I tried to make her laugh or make her smile,” Cameron Yap said. “I would do shenanigans or goofy stuff in her room.” His antics ranged from bringing a board game to pelvic thrusting in front of cameras for Kaitlin and all of the hotel staff to see. “He did a lot of dancing,” Kaitlin Yap said. “It really made my day and made me laugh and it just made everything a little bit better.” And as Kaitlin’s progress improved, her brother’s dancing did not improve. “Yea, the dancing was funny, but it was definitely not the good kind of dancing,” Kaitlin said. Throughout the twerk-induced laughs and positive attitudes the Yap family stuck to with the help of friends like sophomore Johnny Albano of ‘The Posse,” a closeknit group of five friends who were

there for Cameron Yap as he helped his sister battle cancer. Another characteristic arose from the ordeal; Kaitlin’s courage. “She has grown up in so many ways that most 12 year-olds don’t have to,” Karina Yap said. “She’s so mature and strong and we admire her more than she thinks. She’s like our hero.” Kaitlin Yap’s status according to her brother is, “currently bald,” but doctors say the 12 year-old is in remission and if the cancer does not return within the next year, it should not return at all. Kaitlin Yap accredits her victorious fight against cancer to her supporters. “My friends and my family and Cameron all helped me get through it and they kept telling me to never give up and to keep fighting. And I didn’t, I never gave up. I never stopped fighting,” Kaitlin Yap said. And so, as week-long hospital visits and grueling treatments come to an end, Kaitlin’s Krewe will begin planning events for next year’s Light the Light walk to for the Lymphoma and Leukemia society with the help

of people from the community. “Cancer is nonsense, it shouldn’t be happening,” Leigh-Ann Tepper, head of Katilin’s Krewe, said. “A few years back I had a child who was really sick. Everyone wanted to do something but there wasn’t much to do. I had to watch my daughter’s friends feel useless. So when Kaitlin was diagnosed I just wanted a way to make it easier for people to do something for the Yaps.” Kaitlin’s Krewe did just that. Not only did it raise more than $5,500 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through karaoke parties, carwashes and bracelet sales, but the outpour of love, support and kindness helped Kaitlin Yap to successfully charge through four rounds of chemotherapy. But Tepper says Kaitlin’s Krewe could not fight cancer alone. “You can just smile at somebody and help them; after all, people go through bad days, whether they’re fighting cancer, know someone fighting cancer, or once fought it themselves, and just one smile will brighten their day.”

Oviedo oviedo@mathnasium.com Photo by Sophie Hill

tulips for tepper. Kaitlin Yap, sporting a shirt with the caption ‘Bald is Beautiful’, presents Leigh-Ann Tepper, head of Kaitlin’s Krewe, with a bouquet of flowers to thank her for the karaoke party and support.

Offer only good at Mathnasium at Oviedo

Exp. Date 12/31/13

Foreign teachers swap ideas Ben Clyatt

Staff Reporter

even years ago, a foundation known as the Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program was launched. Since then, nearly 700 teachers from 29 countries have been given the opportunity to come to America for a six-week program where they observe and assist teachers in the classroom. Hagerty hosted three teachers involved in the TEA Program this year: Amal Kolta from Egypt, Emmanuel Karamira from Rwanda and Pyarilal Nair from India. The purpose of the TEA Program is to show the foreign teachers how classes are taught here in America. Similarly, U.S. teachers learn from the foreign teachers about how classes are taught in their native country. “I thought it was really quite interesting to get an understanding of how science is taught overseas, and how the curriculum is different. They

don’t separate students out based on ability; It’s not like how we do, where we have a standard, an honors, and an AP [level],” chemistry teacher and host of two of the TEA Program teachers Romina Jannotti said. Many of these teachers are lacking technology, which plays a major part in lessons and class activities here. “I find that [the internet] is very helpful to the teacher in class. If I need something, I have to go to the computer room and download it, because [my classroom doesn’t] have internet access,” Kolta said, who teaches 15 to18 year-olds’ biology. For teachers like Kolta, who teaches at Ramses College for Girls in Cairo, Egypt, computers may be in a classroom, only to show PowerPoint presentations for notes. “The other thing that was interesting for me was to see how overseas they still have to teach technology and they don’t have any technology to teach it with,” Jannotti said. “They can’t even make photocopies.”

Technology is not the only thing that prevents some of these schools from progressing. “In Africa, we are having a crisis and we have many students that find it difficult [to come to school] in the crisis, but after coming to America, we are hoping to bring techniques back to see how we can manage our crisis and try to develop sets for [helping] our students,” Karamira said. The teachers in the TEA Program went back to their native countries at the end of October. This was the first year they came to Seminole and Orange county, due to a grant by the College of Education at UCF. The teachers also benefit from the foreign teachers. They got to learn about the cultures of the foreign teachers and compare their teaching style to those who cannot go to school in luxuries. “This was eye-opening, because I felt like we were really lucky here with the amount of supplies we have to teach what we do,” Jannotti said. w

news

things to do this month

Light Up UCF [Nov. 15 - Jan. 5] Check out the winter festivities at the UCF campus open all day and night. Take a turn on the Ferris wheel, stare up in the sky for the light show and learn how to ice skate. The prices vary for whichever attraction chosen. Festival of the Seasons [Nov. 15 - Dec. 29] Experience the spirit of the season at Downtown Disney and celebrate the holiday with live entertainment and plenty of shopping opportunities. All of these things can be witnessed for no cost at all. Turkey Trot [Nov. 28] Jumpstart Thanksgiving by taking part in a charity 5K event. If wearing a costume, arrive at 7 a.m. for the costume judging. If not, come at 8 a.m. for the 5K. Before Nov. 16 the cost is $27, but if after Nov. 17 – Nov. 27 the cost is $20, and the day of the event it is $35. Holidays around the World [Nov. 29 - Dec. 30] Learn about the cultures all around the world at Epcot and see how they celebrate their different holidays. Find out their holiday traditions and customs with just the purchase of a ticket to Epcot. Sanford Art Walk [Nov. 27] Discover local artists by attending a rain-themed art walk. Check out how these artists incorporate water into their art for free.

news

Theater shows off darker side

Ryan O’Connor

Photo by Jake Burton

THE PICNIC BEGINS. Seniors Ciara McGoona and Brittany Hill transform into Australian school girls as they rehearse for the play ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’.

Staff Reporter

sually school plays contain romance where the guy gets the girl, or comedies where a character gets chased across the auditorium. However, this year the theater department is doing something different. Director Anne Stout has decided to produce ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’ which has a darker theme than any other play put on in school history. ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’ has a tone that is described as suspenseful, dark and mysterious. The plot is about an all-girls school where four students get lost in the forest and have to unite to survive. The play will take place from Nov. 14 to Nov. 16. Tickets will be $7 in advance, nine dollars at the door, and eleven dollars for priority. “The rocks are intimidating and lanterns as lights, and the music sets the mood and makes it easier to get

into character,” senior Brittany Hill said. The actors had to get into their character to convey this darker tone. For Hill, to relate to her character Irma Leopold, the rich heiress, involved another side of the character and how she wants to be seen as more than a pretty face. For junior Heidi Winters, the challenge for character is the difference in personalities between her and her character Edith Corton. Edith is portrayed as a bratty and know-it-all who is bossy and wants everything her way. “It is hard since it is not who I am,” Winters said Senior Monica Oquento-Alvarez also had some difficulty getting into her character as Mrs. Appleyard the headmistress, as there is a significant age difference between the two. Alvarez read the script and watched the movie to draw from for her character ,but in the end used personal experience to get into character. “I got ideas from teachers, and

I have seen a lot of scary old mean teachers,” Alvarez said. Another key aspect of the production is the mystery that it proposes to the audience. The play will make the audience work at observing in order to understand. Hill thinks that it will make the audience second guess what is right and wrong. “We are being very brave with a lot of what we are doing,” Hill said. One of the biggest challenges that the production faces is the Australian dialect that differs between characters. Alvarez has a completely different tone from the other characters because hers is older and more formal since she is the headmistresses and the rest of the class students with informal dialects. Another challenge with the dialect is that it must represent the year of the play, 1900. “When I first read the play, it was hard to understand. But when you see it on stage and watch the actors, it comes to life,” senior Kaley Slattery said.

Choir earns Honor title at Disney’s Candlelight Winnie Meyer

Reviews Editor

espite losing a director and undergoing major changes to the program, the light is shining brighter than ever on the choir program. For the first time ever, chorus made the Honor Choir of Disney’s Candlelight program. “We go to Candlelight and we get more dates,” junior Adriana Caamano said. “And we’re seen as the example to all other choirs that come.” Candlelight is a yearly processional hosted by Disney at Epcot where nationwide choirs and groups sing to the biblical Christmas story told by celebrity hosts. “In one of our shows, Whoopi Goldberg is going to be the host,” junior Alexa Johnson said. “She’ll tell the Christmas story and we’ll be singing the songs.” Because they made Honor Choir,

chorus is given four shows to perform rather than the standard two that the choirs that did not make Honor Choir get. To make it into Candlelight, choirs send in videotapes of a performance that consists of a song issued by judges at Disney. The judges deliberate over these tapes until the top 18 choirs are chosen for Honor Choir. “Most choirs just make normal Candlelight, or they don’t make Candlelight at all,” sophomore Leslie Gallagher said. Though Candlelight and Honor Choir are themselves an honor for the students the Candlelight experience itself can be hazardous and tiring. Disney expects choirs to act like its own employees. “You’re a cast member. You need to smile and put your Disney act on,” Caamano said. “Everyone is watching you at all times, you can’t stop smiling.” Disney even sends cast members

to teach choirs how to smile and stay in character for lengthy periods. As far as the performance goes, choirs must stand and hold candles for two hours on an overheated stage. “The stage is 20 degrees hotter than it is in the audience. Last year, we had six people pass out,” Caamano said. Not only do they act like cast members, they perform with them as well. Choirs sing with Disney’s top choir, Voices of Liberty.

In the past, chorus has tried out for Honor Choir, but has not made it until now, with the arrival of a new director. Choir director Tori Rathbun began her job as the director this year after former director Blair Bryant, left the school. Rathbun is a former middle school director with a decade of teaching experience. She is changing the choral curriculum, and her results seem to be successful. “We’re focusing a lot more on the

classical and technical aspects and a lot less on the more popular things,” Rathbun said. “We’re trying to build a foundation first.” Rathbun’s methods have earned chorus its place in Honor Choir, and are helping choir to succeed and prepare for future events. “I think it’s really cool that it’s the first year that we have the new teacher and it’s also the first time that we’ve gotten Honor Choir,” Johnson said. “It says a lot about Ms. Rathbun.”

lifestyles

Sunshine state of mind Twitter craze spreads to sports All smiles. Sophomore spirit day winner Lauren Miller in her comfy duck bathrobe with best friend and twin for the day, sophomore Mackenzie Scroogs, excitedly received their Starbucks gift card.

Pretty Pretty Princess. Senior Kim Keenan, Madision Machesney and Savannah Ashley wave as they are dressed as their favorite Disney princesses: Rapunzel, Snow White and Belle during homecoming week. Waning Wars? Although the intensity of the junior-senior wars decreased dramatically, some houses are still victimized by toilet paper, detour signs and boxes. Say Cheese. While sporting her Hawaiian shirt and shades, junior Ru Mucherera snaps a picture with her mom’s vintage Polaroid camera during Tacky Tourist Day of homecoming week.

Sassy Stripes. Senior Marcos Arroyo, who said his favorite part of performing is being able to make a complete fool of himself, struts on the football field during the halftime powderpuff performance.

Capital Class. The seniors chose FSU as their float theme, since Talahassee houses the most important governmental building in the state

Jessica Jeffers

Opinions Editor

witter is often affiliated with celebrities and sports teams, but recently there is an increase in Hagerty club and sports accounts, creating the question, why Twitter? Through using Twitter, students are able to hear about certain events and event changes faster. Through using this app there is more effective communication, allowing for students to be more up to date on information. Sports accounts have a common goal : to let students know what is going on with Hagerty sports events, some live tweeting directly from the game, using Twitter as this outlet for faster communication. “If I miss a game, I use Twitter because it tells me who won,

otherwise I wouldn’t find out until Monday,” Junior Rachel Hawkins said. There are many Hagerty Sports accounts ranging from Hagerty Football (@HagertyFootball), Lacrosse (@HagertyLax), Boys Soccer (@HHSSoccer_Boys) to Hagerty High Sports (@ HagertySports), Husky Nation Sports (@HagertyHS) and Jay Getty (@ HagertySports). The top school sports Twitter is Hagerty High Sports (@ HagertySports), an anonymous account with bias toward Hagerty tweeting things such as “Ziglar Zoo is too quiet,” at the University game on Nov. 1. The creator of Hagerty Sports through Twitter’s direct message said “I created this account so students have an easier way of getting sports information.”

Another common account is Jay Getty’s (@HagertySports), tweeting a range of sports from football to golf but overall anything related to Hagerty. Getty also displays Beef O’Brady’s Athletes of the Month such as seniors, Kerstin Sosa and Garrett Cox and even pictures with some of the track runners. Whether the accounts or anonymous or reveal the identity of the tweeter, many students enjoy being informed on what is going and the ambiance of a mystery. “I enjoy being a mystery account because it secretly feels like I’m controlling people,” Hagerty Sports said using Twitter’s direct messaging “It’s like I’m a myth, a hidden secret of Hagerty High School.” Whether or not they are different they all want to make students more involved in Hagerty Sports, and bring Ziglar’s Zoo closer.

Finding the positive in diabetes Madeline Kemper

Staff Reporter

ophomore Jonathan Albano was lost, stepping onto the court only to be completely disoriented by the squeaking of shoes, dribbling of the ball and fast paced motion of the game. This was especially frustrating when spending multiple weeks prior to being not able to focus and not understanding why. Albano experienced these symptoms along with others, including weight loss, mood swings and dehydration for weeks before finding out the reason behind them. This sensation followed him throughout the first week of school, so much so that he had to be transferred to the hospital where he learned that he had developed type 1 diabetes. “I think that the hardest part was figuring out that I had it, because I was devastated and knew that this would affect the rest of my life, which made it really hard for me and my family to take in,” Albano said. Type 1 Diabetes is an incurable, genetic disorder, rather than type 2,

which is what his father currently has. Type 2 would just involve him having to eat better and take pills. While waiting in the hospital, Albano explained that he had hoped he would be diagnosed with type 2, but when the doctor talked to him, that was not the case. “My family and I were disappointed and it was a sad moment,” Albano said. Type 1 Diabetes happens when the pancreas, the organ that secretes insulin, is destroyed by auto antibodies, which is why people with type 1 diabetes always need insulin. Albano was lucky to have noticed the symptoms when he did. “If I hadn’t corrected it as early as I did I could have gotten really sick or probably even gone into a coma,” Albano said. Some of Albano’s biggest supporters are his friends, who feel that their relationship has gotten closer since Albano was diagnosed. They all came and visited him in the hospital before he was released. “When I heard Johnathon was in the hospital, it hit me like a wrecking ball,” sophomore Elliot Nasby said.

“I couldn’t believe it. It seemed like it wasn’t really happening.” The beginning of this change proved to be a struggle for Albano. “I went from doing nothing and being carefree to having all of this extra stress to worry about. It just seemed like such a big adjustment,” Albano said. Albano has to deal with complications, such as looking up nutrition facts with the help of smart phone apps when eating at restaurants. He then has to check his blood sugar before each meal and depending on how many carbohydrates, he takes a certain amount of insulin, which he takes through a shot. Albano is confident that after a while, dealing with diabetes will be like second nature to him. He hopes to take something positive out of this, and knows that if he can tackle diabetes, he can tackle anything life throws at him. “With all of the support I have, it is a lot easier than it should be,” Albano said. “I am so lucky to have such supportive friends and family and overall, I think it is a good change in lifestyle.”

lifestyles

Parking lot watch Haley Gaeser Lifestyles Editor

Monday Morning 6:30 am Few cars are present and the ones that are here are not parked too close to each other. The student lot is practically empty for the next 10 minutes.

6:45 am More occasional early risers begin to roll in, but overall, activity is still non-existent. The lot remains dark and quiet while more cars continue their arrival throughout the hour.

Parking lot mayhem in action. To watch a time lapse video of the student parking lot, ﬁrst download the free Aurasma app and follow the ‘hagertyjourn” channel. Point your phone’s camera at the photo above and watch as the parking lot comes to life. Video taken by Tyler Copeland

Monday Afternoon 2:20 pm The bell just rang and the students whose classes are the closest to the school entrance exit the campus and head to their cars. They are not in a big rush, as most students take a few extra minutes to reach the parking lot. They get in their cars and pull out of the lot quickly. There is hardly any trafﬁc on Lockwood, but cops are awaiting for speeding students. 2:22 pm Students start to trickle out the front doors at a faster rate. They are rushing, trying to beat the rush of students to follow. They are able to get in their cars and exit the campus pretty quickly. Students must also be careful of where they walk as other students are pulling out of their spots without paying real attention to their surroundings, and as soon as they get off campus, the trafﬁc is minimal. “You have to run because the parking lot is hard to get out of, and people do not know how to let other people get out. It is just really dumb,” senior Kaley Slattery said.

he student parking lot is a privilege that students cannot wait to be a part of. With the junior/senior requirement to get a parking pass, it takes a few years to earn access and once students get in, the outcome can be hectic. Here is a minute-by-minute look on how the parking lot runs.

7 am Cars are starting to enter the school at a slightly faster pace, but there is not too much traffic. The cars that do arrive at this time choose to park closest to the back of the lot. Although not bad, it is somewhat harder to get into the parking lot at an ideal pace compared to before. “I always park near the back of the lot so that when the bells rings, I can just swing right out and leave,” junior Jesse Owen said. “I never have to wait in line because I get there pretty early [in the morning].” 7:05-7:09 am These are the more popular times to show up for school. Students are entering the lot at a much slower speed than before and the traffic level increases. A run in with a silver Honda and a blue Toyota leads to further traffic jams, but no fender-benders today. The time it takes to get into the lot and find a spot can take up to 10 minutes. The better parking spots have already been taken, including selfdetermined parking spot thefts. “I get a little frustrated when someone takes my spot but if it happens, I will just park in another spot that is in the same row,” junior Jessica Ritchie said. 7:10 -7:14 am At this point, the students who like to get to school ,right as the bell rings, arrive. While one of the last students in the lot, in a dark green Hyundai, who was running late, rushes in and tries to secure a final spot. The traffic level is at its peak and the time to get into the lot will make some students late for first period.

2:25 to 2:27 pm This is time when most students who drive home walk out the front doors. The trafﬁc within the lot starts to build up and the time it takes to get out of the lot will take around 15 minutes, but will feel much longer. Students tend to be a little rude and will take any opportunity they have to get through the line as fast as they can. “After three minutes it gets really backed up and can take 45 minutes to get out,” Slattery said. 2:30 pm These are the students who might have left something in a class or had to speak with a teacher for a couple minutes after class. They rush out the doors in hopes of avoiding the trafﬁc, but realize they are too late. The line is backed up and can take students up to 20 minutes to get out. Students honk at each other and cut other students off. Accidents can happen at any moment if not careful. “Someone hit my car last year. He went to back out and turned his wheel the wrong way,” Slattery said. “None of the students here know how to drive.”

3 pm The rest of the students who are not involved in after school activities, along with many teachers, leave campus. There is no traffic in the student parking lot and the teachers leave campus quickly as well. Although Carillon has just ended school for the day, most parents are already in line and the traffic on Lockwood is nothing compared to what it was only 30 minutes ago. This is the clear time to leave school if students dislike long wait lines. Final Parking report The best way to avoid the traffic of the student parking lot is to get to school before 7 AM and to leave 20 to 30 minutes after the bell rings at the end of the day. Students will be able to bypass the lines and get in and out as smoothly as possible. If students miss these times, they must prepare to wait in a line for some period of time as there is no way around it. Following the speed limit while in the lot will also reduce accidents and if everyone remains civil during this hectic time, the lot will become less of a hassle.

lifestyles

Teacher bonds spice up class

That sounds familiar...

Ellie Bonck

Technological geniuses at ten Matilda von Kalm

Editor

hen I was ten, apple was an afternoon snack. When I wanted to talk to someone outside of my house, I rode over on my bike. My sister is growing up in a different world—by the time she was in first grade she owned an iTouch, and within a month of receiving it had purchased over 60 apps, a few of which allowed her to use her iPod as a phone. My sister and I are only five years apart. According to thosestatistics. com, 59 percent of children ages two to five can entertain themselves with a smartphone application, while only 11 percent know how to tie their shoelaces. Similarly, more than half of children aged six to nine years participate in social networking. These aren’t just statistics. These facts describe a way of life my sister and those her age enjoy that I never knew existed. My sister and her friends hate reading so they download audiobooks to their iPhones. Their adaption to the technological world affects me too. My textbooks are all online now because their age group can adapt to them easily. My sister texts me from her room if she needs something, generally along of the lines of, “HEY R U BUSY IF NOT GET ME WATR PLZ K THANX.” I’m still not sure if I should get annoyed verbally or through text message. I guess it’s not her fault that she’s lost her ability to communicate face to face or that her Instagram followers outnumber mine by 300. I feel bad sometimes that she will never experience reading a good book. Then again, who needs real life when you can stream all four seasons of Hannah Montana to your iPod?

Staff Reporter

hen people think about rivalries, they think Oviedo-Hagerty, or two students ﬁghting for the highest grade in an AP class. Not teachers. However, the rivalry of teachers Christopher Adams and Mark Pooler, spice up the classroom environment. Adams and Pooler met each other before Pooler started to teach. When Pooler’s wife taught, he came in to pick her up, and she was in a science department meeting. Across the room Pooler saw Adams and his beard. “I thought to myself, ‘These two guys look awesome, I want to go introduce myself to them’,” said Pooler. One of Pooler’s goals was to become closer with Adams, and Pooler accomplished exactly that. It just so happens that when the two teachers actually got to talking, they found that they had a lot in common with each other.

“Adams is pretty perfect,” said Pooler. Their rivalry did not begin as a rivalry, but as a friendship, until they decided to make it one, because the students seemed to like it more. Adams sports the long beard and teaches Physics, and Pooler sports the short beard and teaches Environmental Science. Adams constantly teases Pooler that his subject is “not a real science.” The rivalry continues in their classrooms. Sometimes Adams will come into Pooler’s classroom during a lecture, and start dual teaching with Pooler. “It’s like a bromantic rivalry,” said Pooler. While the bromance is very well known around the school, it does not stop there. Adams and Pooler have dinner at each other’s houses, and go to theme parks with their families. To Adams and Pooler, the rivalry is just fun and games, but to the students, however, the rivalry is much more. “At last year’s powderpuff game, Adams and Pooler danced together

during the senior cheerleader performance, and then Adams kissed Pooler on the forehead, and that was really funny,” said senior Emily Cornelius. Students have also witnessed Adams walking in to one of Poolers’ classes to comment on the lecture, and to teach it with Pooler. Adams will sometimes sporadically walk into Pooler’s class to tell him that he loves him. Adams also adds in slides into Poolers’ Power Points with pictures of cats or himself. During one of Adams’ labs, Pooler walked in and gave Adams a huge surprise attack hug, continued on to check on his plants, then walked out. “I think students like the rivalry because it is funny, and we get something other than a boring teacher,” said Cornelius. Although Adams and Pooler turned their bromance into a rivalry, these friendly foes continue to remain beard brothers and silly science comrads.

photo by Jake Burton

FRIENDLY FIENDS. Teachers Christopher Adams and Mark Pooler engage in their crazy antics in between classes. Adams and Pooler have known each other since they began working at Hagerty, both teaching science classes.

James Davidson ACR FDA MQSA Accredited

Fighting Breast Cancer One Location at a Time! Ofﬁce: 407 349 2007 Fax: 407 349 2006 Cell: 407 701 8250 760 Valley Stream Drive Geneva, FL 32732 jdavidson@ womensmobilmedical.org www.womensmobilemedical.org

lifestyles Lauren Lee

Pitfalls of E social media

Student Connections

very two seconds a student posts a picture of their Starbucks somewhere on social media. The excuses range from ‘the barista spelled her name right’ to ‘Pumpkin Spice Latte!’ Maybe people post more excuses than that but you get the idea. Three years ago, this type of post would seem strange, but today posting pictures of Starbucks, duckfaces and selﬁes is

normal in the world of social media. Whether it is Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Tumblr, social media is used to catch up with friends, post pictures, and spread ideas. However, there are unspoken rules,such as eight pictures of mustaches, or complaining about Miley Cyrus’ video 20 times. If you want friends, followers, likes and retweets, you want to avoid these social media stereotypes.

the lurker the attention seeker n the opposite end of the social media spectrum, these posters want attention. It is okay to like attention, everyone needs it, but there is a point when posting too many things about yourself get annoying. “When someone has a big balloon bouquet, people will take their photo by it, and pretend it’s theirs,” junior Rachel Morgan said. Students should post pictures of themselves with friends, or even cat pictures but posting a selﬁe a minute is enough to annoy anyone. When a student posts multiple pictures of their rather large cat in all different strange positions just for attention and likes, it annoys a lot of other people, especially if it happens daily.

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ic b yB

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ome students like to see what everyone is doing. There’s nothing wrong in that, but there is a line between interested and just plain creepy. “I feel so cool tweeting celebrities all the time and keep up to date on them; they just never tweet me back,” junior Lillian Vansickle said. Being obsessed with someone is not a healthy thing, especially if it is a break up or a crush. “Once when I liked a guy, I turned on notifications to get notified when he tweeted something,” junior Amanda Moberg said. Talking to people every day to the point where they get irritated, is just as annoying on social media. Posting to celebrities must annoy them too. They get a lot of tweets a day, and if they have their notifications on, their battery must go down fast.

the trend monster tudents follow the most popular trends. From Man Crush Mondays, Woman Crush Wednesdays, hashtagging, retweeting and comments such as “date;” they have all made their appearance in social media. Some students overdo these trends, especially when a poster hashtags every word in a sentence. Not all trends are bad, trends such as cat pictures capture the interest of students. This being said some trends can be annoying or just plain strange. “Do not quote a tweet and just put RFT, because you look like a fool,” senior Sean Cosentino said. “On Instagram if you take a picture with a boy or girl just being friends, everyone comments ‘date,’ it is strange but funny,”

sophomore Stephanie Fenning said. This and many other things create student aggravation, and lead people to ignore or unfollow users. Liking posts is a way to show your compassion for something, but do not just like for no reason. “Know that liking a photo will not send food to a child in a third world country,” junior Jacob Shank said. Being careful with posts and not annoying people is a good thing to keep in mind, but have fun. Post videos of cats, photos of friends in Nerf gun ﬁghts, embarrassing photos of family, selﬁes, and pictures of the double rainbow outside, but try not to overdo it. Nobody wants 13 pictures of your toes, no matter how cute they are.

the complainer ubtweeting and other ways of complaining has extended to not only twitter but other media sites. Some students hide behind the Internet and tell people about their issues without telling them outright. Subtweeting is when a person indirectly refers to a person and a situation they encountered, but without saying any names. “Once I subtweeted about freshmen, since they were being so slow. They just crawl everywhere, unlike upper class,” senior Cassandra Murawski said. Students are known for complaining. When someone fights back and forth with another poster about Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber and who is better, other students get extremely annoyed and scoff at their stupidity. They then end up either unfollowing or getting so annoyed that they start another fight complaining about the first two students and their insignificant debate.

DIVIDED WE STAND

47.8%

Lexi Rossow

College readiness Index

Oviedo’s two high schools divide a town but strengthen a community

he city of Oviedo has been divided—a deep trench has been drawn between the east and west sides of Oviedo where the Lions and Huskies battle orange with blue, legacy with prodigy. From the sports contests to the academics, even to the large painting of a ﬁghting lion and husky in the new Firehouse Subs, the crosstown rivalry between Hagerty and Oviedo has become something no one can overlook. Even in middle school, students look toward their future alma mater with love and carry disdain for their friends leaving to go to “the other school.” Though crosstown rivals, both schools are rated A+ schools, have district and state championship teams, and according to Newsweek, nationally acclaimed academics. U.S News ranked Oviedo 26th best school in Florida and awarded them a Gold Medal stature, while Hagerty is unranked. Hagerty’s AP pass rate is 59 percent and Oviedo’s pass rate is 60 percent, both higher than the state average. When a rival game is on the horizon, school spirit increases; to many the football game decides “whose town” Oviedo really is. Hagerty has only beaten Oviedo twice in football since Hagerty was founded nine years ago. “Everyone at Hagerty always claims they have the most ‘school spirit,’” Oviedo High School junior Austin Parker said. “[We have] better sports teams, more school spirit and the family lifestyle.” Crosstown football games always generate large crowds for both schools, and brings together the community, despite a divided game. People can catch up with families from the other school and get a chance to see childhood friends who were separated. “Many of the kids on the opposing football teams grew up playing together,” Oviedo High School senior Charlie Carroll said. “It’s good to see everyone during the game and catch up a little.” But despite the pranks and escalated support at crosstown sports games, the rivalry has been nothing bad for the city of Oviedo’s two schools. “This competition raises the bar of achievement,” Oviedo High School principal Robert Lundquist said. According to Samantha Sorkin, a Hagerty

middle

student that previously attended Oviedo, the rivalry changes from school to school. When Sorkin and her Hagerty friend attended a football game together, Oviedo students were throwing things at her Hagerty friend, so much so that they had to move to over to the Hagerty student section. “I think [the rivalry] is stupid,” Sorkin said. “I think its pointless. We are all from the same city, we all live in the same area, and to get mad over something like that?” Football is not the only sport the rivalry is for—every sport feels the heat. Carroll recalls “much more pressure” to win when playing Hagerty during his golf matches. “Playing Hagerty in golf was always ten times as hard,” Carroll said. Everyone remembers the Oviedo versus Hagerty girls’ soccer regional game last year, when after beating Oviedo three times earlier that season, Hagerty fell in an overtime game. Though it could have been any other team that knocked out the soccer team on their road to states, since it was Oviedo, things become much more heated afterward. “They did a lot of smack talk, and I don’t have a lot of respect for that,” senior Sydney Schilling said. But despite the intensity of play between sports teams during those cross town games, most athletes look forward to them. “It’s more than just playing games, there’s a purpose to everything and you have a bigger goal,” Schilling said. Schilling has friends on her club soccer team that she often jokes with about the rivalry and it does not come between their friendships outside of school seasonal play. “On the soccer ﬁeld its serious but off the soccer ﬁeld it’s just for fun,” Schilling said. Friendships and relationships between the two schools also are affected by the rivalry, but it is not as intense as during sports games. “Most of the time we’re all good sports about it,” Carroll said. “On occasion I would rub it in, depending on how bad the score was.” But past the scoreboard and test scores, Hagerty and Oviedo both are Seminole County’s prime schools, and the rivalry has proven to hinder neither. “The crosstown rivalry has been a healthy one,” Lundquist said.

U.S. News

51.8%

59% AP Participation rate

67%

7 School Rating GreatSchools.org

60% AP Exam Pass Rate

59%

ASchool GRaDes A 2012-2013

445th 1018th

U.S. NEws

UNranked

National Ranking Newsweek

866th

HEALTHY ONE.“ “THE CROSSTOWN RIVALRY HAS BEEN A-OVIEDO PRINCIPAL ROBERT Lundquist information complied from U.S News and GreatSchools.org

layout designed by Ben Sorkin

DIVIDED WE STAND

47.8%

Lexi Rossow

College readiness Index

Oviedo’s two high schools divide a town but strengthen a community

middle

U.S. News

51.8%

59% AP Participation rate

67%

7 School Rating GreatSchools.org

60% AP Exam Pass Rate

59%

ASchool GRaDes A 2012-2013

445th 1018th

U.S. NEws

UNranked

National Ranking Newsweek

866th

HEALTHY ONE.“ “THE CROSSTOWN RIVALRY HAS BEEN A-OVIEDO PRINCIPAL ROBERT Lundquist information complied from U.S News and GreatSchools.org

layout designed by Ben Sorkin

POLL:

Teens react to new driving while texting law

Florida’s no texting and driving law took effect Oct. 1. It is a secondary offense, meaning you must be stopped for another violation in order to be ticketed. The fine for a ticket is $30. Texting is allowed at red lights and in traffic jams. An officer cannot confiscate your phone unless someone was seriously injured or in the collision. The law still allows drivers to use other applications on their phone, such as navigation apps and music. Considering that there is a cell phone related accident every 24 seconds, many critics believe Florida’s no texting and driving law should either be made a primary offense or have a higher ticket fine.

Homecoming dress up

Have u txt’d while driving? Never: 65% Occasionally: 28% All the time: 7%

Has the new law changed u? No: 11% Yes: 67% I don’t text and drive: 22%

c by

hi grap

Ben

student connection Twitter Feed Told this girl I like her tourist outﬁt and she yelled at me saying she isn’t even dressed up #ohawkward” sophomore Ashley Cotto @AshleyCotto “Don’t know if it’s Tacky Tourist Day or dress like Drew Sullivan day” junior Rhiana Raymundo @rhiana_xo

Homecoming powderpuff “I like how they didn’t rig it this year. And to know we lost with a ﬁght. And for the senior to know they won with a ﬁght” junior Bryce Gilliard @bryce_gilliard “Great halftime routine by the senior boys. Best part of the whole thing #A+” senior Gunnar Lambert @Glamby_16

orkin

Homecoming dance

SOMETHING OF INTEREST Sharpie Mug

“This feels weird #lasthomecoming” senior Grant Penaroque @iGrantAnthony

Prep Time: 5 to 10 minutes Approximate Cost: $10 Score some brownie points with a tough teacher? Freshman Kayla Sims has found a quick, easy and relatively cheap solution called the Sharpie Mug.

“I can’t believe this is my last homecoming #timeﬂies” senior Alex Mastrobuono @AlexMastrobuono “Can’t wait to see every girl looking like a princess tonight” sophomore Ashlyn Sackman @ash_sackman

Homecoming parade

1 2

You will need a plain mug, Sharpies, and your kitchen oven preheated to 350 degrees. Personalize the mug, using Sharpies to draw or write whatever you want.

Place your decorated mug in the oven and bake for 30 minutes.

the mug cool and put 4 Leta bow on it to complete this heartfelt gift.

“It can be used in different ways, and you can add your personality to it. It doesn’t have to be boring.” - Kayla Sims, 9

“Exclusive news: Mr. Momary is going to be in the parade!” senior Ciara McGoona @CiaraMcGoona “So excited that I get to spend the day with my best friends” sophomore Hannah Grifﬁn @_hannahgrifﬁn

student connection “Altered book” Mckenna Calabro, 12 “I based it off of the steam punk style. I wanted it to be like a window into the mechanics of a story book.”

Art Corner “Self portrait” Kelly Hana, 12 “I didn’t have too much inspiration for it because it was just a class project, but it happened to turn out good enough to be selected for the museum.”

“Kiwi” Andrea Alfonsi, 12 “It was my boyfriend’s idea and my mom suggested the pants. It’s cute!”

“Flag” Ani Gomez, 12 “I feel honored that I got elected out of a bunch of people.”

Check it out Grand Theft Auto 5

Grand Theft Auto 5 is an action video game created by Rockstar North. It was released on Sept. 17 for XBOX 360 and PlayStation 3. The game allows for the player to cause mayhem, allowing them to openly roam the city and drive vehicles they pick up along the way. Eddie Faberlle, 11 “It’s the best thing to do except play baseball.”

A look at what’s hot in apps, videos and technology

One Tree Hill

Minion Rush

Plants Vs. Zombies II

Super Fun Night

One Tree Hill is a television drama which has been released on Netﬂix. It takes place in the made up town of Tree Hill and focuses on the lives of the two main characters, Nathan Scott and Lucas Scott, and their romantic lives.

Super Fun Night is a comedy show created by Rebel Wilson featured on Wednesday nights on ABC at 9:30 p.m. Not only did Rebel Wilson create the show, but she is also the main character, and the show focuses on her life during Friday nights.

Brooke Bond, 12 “What I like most about the show is Nathan and Haley; so much of the show happens in real life.”

Matthew Murray, 12 “It is really funny. It is about a girl who eats away her feelings and that is everyone now a days.”

Minion Rush is a game based off of the movie Despicable Me in which the player is a minion collecting bananas and trying to impress the supervillain by completing challenges. There is even a Halloween version in which minions can run through a graveyard dressed as Dracula. The game is available on iPhone and Android. Jules Hilbert, 11 “The game is derived from Temple Run, but it is so much more fun because it’s thrilling and the characters are Minions.”

Plants vs. Zombies II is a game in which plants are fed to ﬁght zombies off of the lawns. The game has two modes such as adventure mode and extra mode. Collecting stars will give the gamer the ability to go to new worlds. The object of the game is to not let the zombies reach the plants or the game is over. This game is available on iPhone and Android. Jesse Burton, 9 “The game is addicting. You use plants to ﬁght off zombies in your lawn.”

Queen of the Hill

Why we twerk Sophie Hill

Staff reporter I have found the answer to the most important question in the universe: why we grind and twerk. No, it is not the modern trend of girls becoming skimpier and guys becoming…gropier? In fact, as a female myself, I can say us girls are majestic creatures, and we deserve respect as long as our dresses cover our backsides (once the under butt comes out, feel free to blame us for your testosterone-fueled Instagram comments). And no, it is not the male species becoming ‘swaggier’ as the six-year-old boy I babysat last week explained. The answer lies in our parents. My father had less than 100 kids in his graduating class. My mother had less than 40. Attending a school dance was like partying with your math class. Someone could barely kiss their crush, let alone grind on them for two hours, without being seen and judged by practically everyone in their grade. So what does this have to do with Miley Cyrus’ career-wrecking twerking? It is because of our huge classes that we have developed newer dances; dances that are not so embarrassing when your are surrounded by people who you have never met, and probably won’t get to know in the four short years you attend high school. Do not believe me? Try grinding on someone in a 12-person party. So why does this matter? Well, as we twerk away our worries, grind off our stress and dance ourselves to paradise, if only for the few short hours of relief we have from our stressful, busy lives, we can now rest easy tonight knowing our crazy antics are not our own fault, but a fault destined burden a generation at some point. So let’s rejoice in our odd habits, take the spotlight, and wobble our way to happiness. And if you choose to twerk to a dozen-person party, do not blame me when it gets awkward.

opinions

the

blueprint

Hagerty High School 3225 Lockwood Blvd. Oviedo, FL 32765 Telephone: (407) 871-0750 Fax: (407) 871-0817

The Blue Print is a student-produced newspaper in which the student editors make all content decisions. The newspaper belongs to the Columbia Scholastic Editor-in-Chief Press Association, the National Scholastic Press Association and the Florida Matilda Von Kolm Scholastic Press Association. Managing Editor Opinions expressed within the newspaper do not represent the staff’s views as Lexi Rossow a whole (except for the Our take), the views of Seminole County Public Schools, or Hagerty High School’s administration and staff. Business Manager For more information about advertising in the paper, please contact the staff at Madeline Kemper hagertyjourn@gmail.com. We reserve the right to reject any advertisement.

Staff Reporters Back Page Editor Ellie Bonck Adeline Davis Sarah Gibson Sports Editor Jeannie Williams Spencer Thompson Kallie Delis Reviews Editor Katie Curley Winnie Meyers Photo Editor Madison Garr Opinions Editor Jake Burton Ryan O’Connor Jessica Jeffers Student Connection Nathaniel Kauffman News Editor Ben Clyatt Lauren Lee Daniella Parcell Graphics Editor Sophie Hill Taylor Ferraro Ben Sorkin Lifestyles Editor Principal Adviser Haley Gaeser Mary Williams Brit Taylor

Our�take: Rivalry encourages excellence

here are no enemies in the city of Oviedo, just an old fashioned rivalry. Whether it is shown in the stands of the football field or by the publicized AP score reports, the competition between the hometown high schools of Oviedo and Hagerty is as fierce as both schools’ mascots. However, this competition does not necessarily involve fights in the parking lot or cross town warfare. Instead, the competition between the high schools has promoted each school to excel in all aspects. Anything capable of doing this should be viewed as a positive assest.

The best example of this is the annual football game between the two high schools for the Mayor’s Cup. The money raised by the massive student body attendance from both schools beneﬁts the sports program for whichever school hosts that year. Last year, Hagerty pulled in between $22,000 and $27,000 by hosting. This is also a chance for friends who were split up between high schools after middle school to reunite, though light trash talking is inevitable. Advanced placement teachers at both schools attend workshops together and encourage their students to get higher scores than

the equivalent class at the other. The competition is cutthroat- the AP exam passing rate is 59 percent for Hagerty and 60 percent for Oviedo, encouraging students to achieve high scores on their tests. True, the competition between both schools can get intense. The Hagerty girls’ soccer team lost in overtime to Oviedo at regionals last year after a three goal lead for the entire game. This was also after Hagerty had won against Oviedo in both the season and district games. But, after the initial period of bitterness, the girls were back playing on the same off season club teams and

helping each other out on the ﬁeld. In the same setting, during the girls’ volleyball senior night game against Oviedo, the cheering insults ﬂew back and forth between students in the stands from both schools. Though Oviedo won, the girls on both teams shook hands under the net to say congratulations on a great season to their friends on the opposing side. The town of Oviedo is not huge, and when there is a competition between Oviedo and Hagerty, the whole town knows and is ready for action. What better way is there to improve a school than with a little

Anonymous Ask.fm has serious consequences

Adeline Davis Back Page Editor he typical bully used to be characterized as a hulking kid who pushed people around on playgrounds and stole lunch money. However, with the dawn of social media, bullies can no longer be pegged by their glares or threatening ﬁsts. Up until the creation of Ask. fm, bullies attacked their victims face to face but had to be careful of Facebook usernames revealing their identities. Ask.fm quickly became a bully’s paradise when it added the anonymous button to the mix. Ask.fm was created on June 16, 2010. The site’s anonymous feature and lack of privacy settings quickly appealed to teens, resulting in 21 million views by November 2012. According to Nobullying.com, Ilya and Mark Terebin, the creators of Ask. fm, based the site off of American question and answer websites. Users

are able to ask anything they want to anyone, without the other person knowing who it is. Many questions start out as harmless, however things get ugly when they start getting too personal or verbally abusive. “People ask a lot of sexual questions like how far you’ve gone or what color underwear you’re wearing,” freshman Riley White said. On Ask.fm, the line between appropriate and inappropriate disappears. Questions become primarily based off of hormones, allowing pages to be ﬁlled with sexual harassment. Buzzfeed.com states that in the past two years there have been nine different suicides all related to Ask. fm harassment. On Oct. 27, 2012 13 year-old Erin Gallagher was found dead after being teased about her weight and appearance. Only two months after her death, her 15 year-old sister, Shannon Gallagher,

committed suicide because she could not bear living without Erin. In Pasco County, Florida on Dec. 11, 2012, 16 year-old Jessica Laney hung herself. One of the last comments posted on her Ask.fm page read “you have pretty eyes but you’re fat.” Due to the anonymous option on the site, the police have not been able to successfully track down the cyber bullies. After the death of 12 year-old Hannah Smith, her dad started protesting for the site to put in a “report button,” enabling users to report any cyber bullying they witnessed or received. The site needs to be shutdown. Giving users an anonymous name to hide behind allows vulgar comments to surface, comments that would never be said face to face. Ask. fm takes cyber bullying to an even crueler level. Ilya and Mark Terebin continue to insist that the site itself is not the

problem, they believe “education and moral values” play a big role in the way teenagers treat each other. Despite the site’s obvious downside, many users like the unrestricted social interaction it provides. Before Ask.fm, if a guy wanted to know if a girl liked him he would have to either ask her through texting or face to face. Thanks to Ask.fm, guys can simply type in their question and wait for an answer, without the awkwardness of actually talking to the girl. According to The Atlantic Wire, Ask.fm has become one of the fastest growing social media sites in the world. Protests are still being made for the site to be shutdown. A few weeks ago, a new update was added to the Ask.fm app, taking the anonymous button off. Hopefully, this new app will be put permanetly into effect, putting an end to Ask.fm’s deadly mark.

barks

& bites

Jessica Jeffers



Opinions Editor

A BARK to the leadership students for a successful homecoming dance. Students enjoyed themselves with the “Sunshine State of Mind” theme. The decorations were well thought out, with leadership working hard to show the theme throughout the dance.

BITE to the school water for  A always being discolored and

murky in upstairs building 2. When ﬁlling water bottles the water would be a cloudy and milky white, discouraging students to drink from the fountains. Students have resorted to spending money on water bottles at lunch and from the vending machine, or purchasing ﬁltration water bottles.

 A BARK to the school for

updating the picture of the husky every week. It livens up the website, and brings smiles to students’ faces, instead of a boring husky photo. According to students the husky puppies photos are the best.

 A BITE to the lockers in upstairs

building 3 for being disgusting. Many of them have excessive amount of dirt and grime, even some without doors. Lockers should be improved or replaced over the summer instead of scaring off students.

BARK to the math department  A for ﬁnding a knowledgeable

replacement teacher for Algebra II teacher, Jason McComb, speedily. Mr. McComb moved back to California at the end of the ﬁrst quarter. Classes went only two weeks without a teacher, with multiple math teachers and interns keeping students on track instead of behind.

opinions Are online classes beneficial? “They supply students with credits and help in getting ahead.” Kallie Delis

• Drivers Education no longer • Students must get classes fulfills the virtual school approved by a guidance requirement as of the 2013counselor before classes may 2014 school year. start.

• Talk to a guidance counselor for courses that are approved for the virtual school requirement.

YES YES NO NO

Staff Reporter unior year, Charles Hill struggled with the oppressive weight of daily assignments from Florida Virtual School courses. He dreaded the work that loomed over him, dominating his

life. A large number of students embarking on this virtual voyage are in the same boat. With all the extra effort involved, it may be a wonder that students take virtual classes at all, yet not all faces of virtual school are as evil as they appear. All too often, students abuse the leniency of online courses. The schedules for courses like Personal Fitness are flexible and grant students leeway in their schoolwork, making slacking more appealing. While we want an easy way out and delaying work is an enticing option, those who enroll in online classes are able to reap certain benefits, like gaining credits or surpassing fellow peers. Though students may not mean to slack, work gets neglected more often than not. Think about it; regular classes assign homework every day. Virtual curriculums are nearly equivalent, if not less, when it comes to the number of assignments. Online courses give you the advantage of going back and reading through the lesson again when work is given, whereas in school students only have brief notes to review with. It is tough enough to remember all of the tasks that must be completed by the next day, and with the block schedule you would have to remember whatever was learned the previous day to conclude the exercises. Virtual school guides students through, step-by-step. In order to accomplish the goals that have been set, students need to focus on what they originally want from online classes. Are they participating in these courses to broaden your horizons or simply to get a requirement out of the way? Either way, commitment is key to staying on task. If used as intended, these classes can be a great tool. This program is meant to be taken over summer break. Taking virtual classes along with other courses in-school can be hectic. Let’s face it; these virtual classes are not a typical classroom environment, but they supply you with credits and help in getting ahead. As an added bonus, for most courses it is not mandatory to pass an end of course exam to achieve the credit. U.S. History and Personal Fitness do involve an end exam, but classes like Algebra II and World History do not have exams that determine whether or not you receive the credit. So, the burden of FLVS is a heavy one, but these systems of education serve a purpose. If utilized in the correct way, this program helps students progress. Exploit the advantages to the virtual school program and value whatever head starts it has to

“There is no real benefit in the knowledge of the student.”

Katie Curley

“The monthly calls to the teacher are intimidating, and when the computer glitches it’s annoying.” Catie Mason, 11

“It can be difficult at times when you have to teach yourself the material like in math.” Annie Raby, 11

“In the beginning you have no idea what you’re doing, so it’s like really confusing.” Jessica Brown, 10

“I like how you can learn at your own pace and take your time on assignments.” Mira Saad, 10

“We get caught up in life and focus on the actual in-school work and activities, so we forget about going home to do more school work.” Tucker Pare, 12

Staff Reporter alancing seven classes is not easy. Why then would someone take more classes than necessary? Taking one virtual school class is a requirement, but whether students benefit is uncertain. It starts with teaching yourself the material. No teacher lectures poses a problem for students. Reading instructions in a Word file is not as good as a lecture. There are teachers for a reason, and if they cannot teach, what is the point? Plus, in virtual school the student is in a secluded environment where there is no student interaction. You know what they say: two minds are better than one. There is rarely one-on-one time to ask questions and elaborate on lessons, other than email and monthly calls. There is a lag from 30 minutes to a couple of hours before the teacher responds. A student can do a whole assignment completely wrong, absorb incorrect material, or study the wrong module. Because the teacher was not thorough enough in their instructions or took too long to respond to the student’s questions. Many teenagers are impatient and waiting can result in submitting half-effort work. There are more important things in life to do according to students. Virtual school is like the red-headed step child; always getting pushed off to the side and ignored. Life is easy to get swept up in. Taking the normal seven high school classes, along with participating in extracurriculars and keeping a social life, is difficult. Not having a class to go to everyday to remind them lets online work slip students’ minds. If something as simple as getting one assignment done per week can be forgotten, it must be even easier to forget everything virtual school has ever taught. Procrastination flourishes online, and with it comes information going in one ear and out the other. For most teens, the pull of the Internet is unbearable and even a good student working online can get caught up in it. A simple hour for an assignment can turn into wasting half the day. The Internet also provides a haven for cheaters. The virtual environment lets students do whatever they please, including Googling answers and having others do their work for them. For example, most students taking Personal Fitness online consider it a joke. When the computer tells them to run a mile, students just type an estimate of what their time might be if they actually got off their butts. Cheating is just a mouse click away, so there is no real benefit in the knowledge of the student since they use the Internet instead of their brain. All of these problems together provide a bigger con than pro for virtual school classes. Of course, students still need to take their required one online class, but the results are questionable, except for one: Virtual school is a big waste of time.

opinions

Lack, delay of Skyward grades creates confusion Madison Garr

Staff Reporter

magine reading stats of a baseball game three weeks after it happened. There is no longer relevance and importance. This is the same as teachers imputing student grades. Grades have to be entered promptly or meaning is lost. To keep up with grades students have Skyward, an online grade book accessible by students, teachers and parents. Teachers play the biggest part in Skyward. They are responsible for imputing grades and updating them weekly. However, an issue occurs when teachers are not efﬁcient with inputting grades. Without many grades being updated, it is hard for students to view grades, leaving them with a letter grade that could affect their GPA. This becomes aggravating and stressful on the students who are trying to view updated grades. For those wishing to go to college, admission is based off grades and GPA. Students depend on Skyward to ensure they are on the right path. Poorly updated grades also create an issue with parents, because they get concerned when their children have bad grades with few assignments in the gradebook. Worried about

their GPA because students are not allowed to walk at graduation with a 1.9 or below, not putting in grades causes parents to have to email and check up on teachers much more and gets students in trouble with their parents. Skyward allows for teachers to insert spots for assignments without putting in the grade each student received. This worries parents because it appears that the students are missing or have not yet turned in assignments, which is often not the case.

For some teachers, updating Skyward every day is a difﬁcult task, seeing they have lives and other priorities such as their families. However, a teacher’s responsibility is to enter grades promptly. Some assignments do require more time to grade, but every assignment should be input within a couple weeks to ensure the students grade is correctly reﬂecting how they are doing in the class. Just as the students have a deadline for turning in assignments, so should teachers. When multiple weeks of work are put into Graphic by Ben Sorkin

People that remind the teacher there is homework due when no one has done it annoys me. I even give them the death stare so they’ll regret it the next time they say it. – Lauren Wachter, 10 Learning goals are pointless. No one even looks at it because no one wants to be a zero and no one wants to be a four, since they would have to explain it to the class. The learning goals are put into terms that are way over people’s heads so they don’t understand them and end up hating them. – Daisy Dixon, 10

Graphic by Ben Sorkin

Barking Mad is a collection of short submissions about things that tick students off around school. If something at school ticks you off, go to hagertyjourn.com and submit your entry to Ask the Editor, and it may be featured here.

Lockers in upper house are really ugly and dirty, unlike the lower class lockers which are relatively clean. In my locker I even found a cockroach. Some of the lockers don’t work and it’s very annoying. – Jacob Townsend,11 There are two doors to every hallway, people do not use two doors. It annoys me so much, there are two doors for a reason. I yell at the people who only walk through one door. -Miranda Mutton, 11

the gradebook at once, this can easily drop a student’s grade fast without warning, and this is not fair. Not putting in grades until the end of the quarter also leaves much more room for teacher mistakes. Sometimes teachers are unaware of an error when entering grades and students are able to catch it through Skyward ,but with last minute inputting double checking is not done. Just as it is unacceptable for an athlete to turn in an assignment a week later because of volleyball games, it is not right for teachers to input an assignment weeks after it is turned in. Also, when teachers put in a bunch of work at the end of the quarter as a result of not entering them previously throughout the quarter it doesn’t allow the student time to pull it up, leaving them with an undesirable grade. Teachers who input grades right after the collection of an assignment or immediately following the grading process help the student understand where they are academically in the class and help them make adjustments to help them succeed. Updating Skyward should be a priority in the responsibility of being a teacher to ensure a student’s current grade is reﬂective of their actual assignments in the class.

I hate paying for parking passes. At my last school they were free and didn’t have any more spaces than here. For students who have cars we should be able to go off campus for lunch, I hate that we can’t. – Cody Carr, 12 I really don’t like block schedules. I really like having every class every day because two hours is too long to have one class, and with seven periods a day I get more breaks. – Alyana Calveili, 10 Bathrooms in upper house are gross. They usually don’t have many lights and aren’t the nicest looking. They don’t even have mirrors. – Ethan Shannon, 11 It really annoys me when people think that they are better than they really are. It’s rude. – Jessica Vasquez, 9 I hate all the crap people talk at school. It is really childish and unnecessary. – Austin Eric, 10

reviews HORRIBLE

What’s on your

iPod?

GOOD

Culpepper’s tradition lives for sports, not dining Lexi Rossow

Annie Raby, 11 “Sweater Weather” by The Neighbourhood “I love the lyrics and it is such a great song for fall weather.” “Collar Full” by Panic! At the Disco “Harlem” by New Politics “Gorilla” by Bruno Mars Nate Buckhalter, 11 “Starships” by Nicki Minaj

“Starships relaxes me. Whenever I put it on, I feel like I’m checked out of this world.” “Check This” TI “Written in the Stars” Tinie Tempah “May Come Back” by Player Lucy Chen, 11 “The Show Goes On” by Lupe Fiasco

“The Show Goes On’s lyrics sound really supportive of a cause.” “Royals” by Lorde “Chasing the Sun” by The Wanted “Counting Stars”

OUTSTANDING

Tradition Lives Here. Culpepper’s was founded by former UCF quarterback Daunte Culpepper.

Managing Editor

ot too far from the origin of its owner’s fame, resides former UCF quarterback Daunte Culpepper’s restaurant, Culpepper’s. Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback and UCF graduate, he returned from the NFL, back to his college town to start his own tradition, which is the slogan used for Culpepper’s: Tradition Lives Here. Though the idea and backstory behind Culpepper’s origin seems pleasant, the dining experience is not as much. On the Culpepper’s website, the restaurant advertises a diverse, welcoming environment where sports bar attire and nice dining apparel can coexist in one place, the reality does not measure up.

After standing in a cluttered waiting area, the hostess finally seated my party at a wobbly table near a broken TV. Ordering went fairly quickly, considering the menu of one piece of printer paper with the average bar food listed, but receiving the food was another impatient wait of 40 minutes. Once received, the orders were wrong and the meat was under cooked on my House cheeseburger. Burger prices were reasonable; between $10 and $14, and the homemade potato chips were quite delicious-though I had ordered fries, not chips with my burger. The BBQ Bacon hamburger was flavorful and tasty, and the coleslaw refreshing and crisp. Obviously the kitchen knew what they were doing, much more than the management. I can agree, the place did have an

excellent sports bar, placed right in the middle of the restaurant and the volume of the facility matched the inside of the Brighthouse stadium. Unfortunately, the food matched the taste of a Brighthouse Stadium concession stand, and the TVs were definitely surround-sound. The place made a great sports bar, but not so much as a restaurant for a nice dinner. Culpepper’s may have promised a diverse environment for both nice dinners and sports entertainment, but in this case, that goal has not been achieved. If you are looking for a place to go for Monday Night Football, Culpepper’s is the perfect sports bar, but if you’re expecting to have a nice sit-down dinner with a family or a date, you had better keep looking.

Culpepper’s

Fired up for creativity It’s Waterford date night Daniella Parcell

News Editor

rom basic mugs to enormous jars, All Fired Up is a clay farm for creativity. Located at 229 West Fairbanks Ave in Winter Park, this cute and colorful pottery house is certain to please all customers with its cheerful atmosphere and chance for artistic variety. All Fired Up provides pre made pottery for customers to paint themselves, with prices ranging from $10 – $150 based on size. For example, an average-sized mug costs $12. While it is difficult to find options on the cheaper end, the experience makes up for high prices. Any person, no matter his or her painting experience, can enter the shop to a friendly and helpful staff. Despite ones lack of abilities, the workers make All Fired Up a worthwhile experience. Employees walk customers through the painting process, and then leave them to explore the stencils, stamps and abundant colors and shades on their own. Even those who have never touched pottery in their lives can learn to express their creativity through paint and clay.

While All Fired Up also caters the more experienced painters, it is definitely suitable for artists of any level. Some tables hold young children slapping whatever paint they can onto a piggy bank, while others contain talented artists creating meticulous designs on large bowls or pots. Painters can take as long as they need to finish and some stay for over three hours to complete their project. Customers are only required to do the easy part, with employees doing the dangerous part of glazing and firing the painted pottery. Due to the shops popularity, pieces usually take a week to glaze and fire, and customers have to come back to pick them up. Although this is slightly inconvenient, pieces come back neat and polished, and painters are given something exciting to look forward to in the meantime. All Fired Up, although somewhat distant in location, provides an artistic and unique pottery experience for people of every age and artistic level, and proves to be more than just an average paint-your-own pottery house.

All Fired Up

Taylor Ferarro

Staff Reporter n the small town of Oviedo, there are not a lot of original and romantic date opportunities, so teenagers are forced to drive a little farther in order to create the perfect atmosphere.

Congo River Golf Any athlete is a fan of one of the most highly debated competitions, boys vs. girls, so miniature golf is always a first choice. Skills can be put to the test at the Congo River Golf for $11 per person. It is open from 10 a.m. - 11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 10 - midnight on Friday and Saturday. The intricate African environment surrounds the players on the course and allows the spirit of competition to take over at 531 W State Road 436, Altamonte Springs. Mini golf is a way to break the ice and have the loser buy the winner ice-cream.

Firkin and Kegler Another great way to have some friendly competition is bowling.

Firkin and Kegler has an enormous bowling alley with plenty of activities to join in on at 12850 Waterford Lakes Pkwy, Orlando, FL. Bowling here only costs $2.50 per game, Monday through Friday and $3.50, Saturday and Sunday. They also allow paying $16 per hour, Monday through Friday and $18 per hour, Saturday through Sunday. They are open from 10 a.m. – 2 a.m. Monday through Sunday. When you are done competing against your opponent, you can capture the moment in one of their photo booths, take your chance with some of their arcade games, or munch on a few snacks.

Regal Waterford The classic spot for a first date is a movie theatre and Waterford Lakes has its very own at 541 N Alafaya Trail, Orlando. Granted, it is not the ideal place for a night of romance, but movies are always an excellent first date choice. There is not the pressure to talk to each other for the entire night and you can share a few laughs or tears. It is a simple way to get to know each other and see if you want to take that next step.

sports shorts

sports

Girls’ golf makes historic run Girls’ golf: Rise to power

CROSS COUNTRY DUO PARTICIPATES AT STATES

While the cross country team placed seventh at regionals, senior Kirsten Sosa and senior Brenna Johnson advanced to states on Nov. 9, placing 34th place and 18th place respectively, with a personal record by Johnson. “I’m really proud of the both of us for making it together,” Sosa said. “But I want to give most of the credit to coach Getty because we wouldn’t have been able to do anything without him.” Senior Mathew Garguilo will be moving on to the all-seniors meet with Johnson and Sosa to completely close out the season in the next two weeks.

2010 In Benedict’s first year as coach, the girls’ golf team won districts. They played a difficult course and went to regionals, finishing with a team score of 425, last in the field.

SOFTBALL SEASON ENDS TO LAKE BRANTLEY

The varsity girls’ slow pitch softball team had a successful season, going undefeated for the regular season until a loss to Lake Brantley in the semifinals of the district tournament. The final score was 3-0, which knocked the team out of the tournament and ended their season. “It was the first time that we really struggled,” pitcher Alexandra Miller said.

VARSITY FOOTBALL RAMS INTO ANOTHER LOSS

On Friday, Nov. 8, the varsity football team played Lake Mary at home and lost 28-14 after leading for the ﬁrst 12 minutes, 7-0. The game began with the senior football players, cheerleaders, color guard and band, accompanied by their parents, walking across the ﬁeld to commemorate the end of a long season of games and game-time performances with a rose courtesy of the PTSA.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL SEASON ENDS

The varsity girls’ volleyball team ended their season at the quarterﬁnals of the districts tournament. The loss was against Deland High School on Oct. 22 with a score of 3-0. The ﬁrst two games were close, 25-21 and 25-22, but in the third game Deland pulled away and took the win 15-25.

The HIGHLIGHT box Girls Soccer at Oviedo, 10/31 Game Summary

On Thursday, Oct. 31 the varsity girls soccer team was seeking revenge against the Oviedo Lions, who ended their season last year with a 2-1 loss in the regional finals. The girls were unsuccessful as Oviedo’s Erin Mikalsen was the first to score, 18 minutes into the game, and only 20 minutes later, Maddie Tucker scored again for the Lions. Oviedo went into the half leading 2-0. Only one minute into the second half, Kim Keenan put the Huskies on the board with a header. Oviedo responded quickly, however, leading 3-1 with 26 minutes to go. Ru Mucherera scored only nine minutes later, decreasing the deficit to 3-2, and Hagerty scored again with four minutes left in the game, tying the game at 3-3, but a minute later, Oviedo scored again, making the final score 4-3.

Tweets @alexmastrobuono: “Tonight was a great game on both parts. Love my husky family.” @ru_mucherera5: “Not happy with our performance tonight, but we have to work so much harder if we actually want this.” @kimkeenan: “so proud of my team regardless of the result and s/o to everyone who came out to support!” @kaylynrichmond: “Hey it was a great game. We played so well ladies.”

2011 photo by Tyler Copeland

SENIOR STRENGTH. Senior Cori Duren putts the ball against Seminole at Twin Rivers. Duren lead the team at states, ﬁnishing in a tie for 30th.

Spencer Thompson Sports Editor

“I

t was one of those rushes of adrenaline that spreads throughout your body. That’s what it felt like when I knew we were going to states,” team captain senior Jaime Benedict said. For the ﬁrst time in school history, the girls’ golf team made a trip to states. Following a 12-1 season, and the program’s best post-season run, the girls ﬁnished second at regionals, with their only loss of the season to Lake Mary, the defending state champions, with a score of 349-364. The team has had successful seasons for the past four years, but all the girls agree that this year has something different about it. “What makes this team special is the close knit bond of the team members and the ability to see the positive implications of any result,” head coach Tod Benedict said. The team is perhaps so cohesive from the trials that they’ve gone through together. When the team traveled to the district championships at Ventura Country Club, they were traveling without their coach. Tod Benedict had been hospitalized before the tournament. The team focused on the shot a team total of

346, the best girls’ team score in school history. “It was hard, and it was really depressing,” Jaime Benedict said. “My dad’s been my coach my whole life, so I dedicated my first drive to him. As a team, we pushed through.” Overcoming the struggles of the season came through the help and leadership of seniors and teams captains, such as Cori Duren, and Jaime Benedict, but could not have been accomplished without the younger members on the team. Sophomore and individual district champion Erikah Neger, led the team in individual scoring with a nine hole average of 38.7. Junior Megan Fernander has also attributed to the team’s success, with a nine hole average of 44.3. The team played in the state tournament at Mission Inn on Nov. 5. They finished 16th in the state with a score of 412 on the first day and a 26 shot improvement score of 386 on the second day. However, the girls were without one key component: Neger could not participate due to the flu. Regardless, the team viewed the season as a success. “I told my team I’m proud that we just got to this point and no matter what, we made history,” Duren said.

In the 2011 season, the team won districts for the second time in a row. The team made a huge improvement at regionals, shooting a team total of 388 and ﬁnished third, one spot away from states. 2012 In the 2012 season, the team won districts for the third consecutive year and went to regionals where the team ﬁnished third once again, but with a team total and school record 344. 2013

In October, the team finished second in a new district that included state champ Lake Mary, and went to regionals and finished second, advancing to the state tournament for the first time in history.

sports Boom! goes the dynamite Freshman phenom tops off swim team Nathaniel Kauffman Staff Reporter ith young swimmers filling up the boys and girls teams this year you may think the swim team is looking to the future for success. If so, you would be dead wrong. On this year’s swim team there are 13 freshmen and 17 sophomores. Of all these young athletes one of the most notable is freshman Ashley Boddiford. Imagine being a freshman on a high school swim team and being one of the best on your team. Now imagine competing in two national championships and being the youngest one from your area to travel. If you can visualize that, then you have a pretty good look at the phenom that is Boddiford. This past summer, 14-yearold Boddiford got the chance to travel to Irvine, Calif. to compete in the Speedo Junior National Championships. She traveled as the only girl and the youngest swimmer. Many of her competitors now swim for colleges around the country. Swimmers qualify for national competitions with one thing only: times. Boddiford’s best event is the 200 backstroke, and her time is 2:18.98. She placed 62nd out of 156 swimmers at national. In the 4A District 4 championship, Boddiford took first in the 200 IM and the 100 backstroke. When she proceeded to regionals she placed fifth in the 200 IM and second in the 100 back, she will now go on to states. Boddiford’s competition with older swimmers and experience on the national stage at SJNC have made her a very qualified swimmer. Even though she is a freshman the swim team is in good hands (or feet) with Boddiford helping them on their journey

Swimming excels with underclass talent Sarah Gibson

Staff Reporter

ed by underclassmen, the girls swim team placed seventh and the boys team placed thirteenth at regionals, advancing four girls and one boy to the state finals. Sophomore Kelsey Hahn swam her 200 freestyle in 1:54:79, placing fourth, and her 500 freestyle in 5:08:53, placing eleventh. Freshman Ashley Boddiford swam her 100 backstroke in 59:32, placing second, and her 200 individual medley in 2:09:47, placing fifth. Senior Gabrielle Spangenberg and sophomore Hanako Worrell will also be moving on to compete at state finals As the only boy advancing to states, freshman John Fulginiti swam his 200 individual medley in 1:59:38, placing eighth, and his 100 breaststroke in 1:03:05, placing eleventh. Boddiford, Hahn and Spangenberg all placed first for their events and advanced to regionals. Worrell along with senior Madison Gilbert also advanced to compete at regionals.

Though swimmers are placing at meets, the loss of the diving team brings disadvantages to the team as a whole. The team is still eligible for FHSAA district, region and state meets, however, the team scores less points in meets, therefore having less chance to finish highly as a team. “It’s a big disadvantage. Diving teams give you a lot of points, about 20 points, and individual events only give you eight points at most. Having diving teams can give you a large point advantage,” Guasp said. Despite the loss of the diving team, with a team of 12 boys and 38 girls, many athletes on this year’s swim team have been making themselves known to competitors. Hahn and Boddiford both competed at junior nationals in California this past summer and have carried their skills over for high school season. Hahn competed at states last year, placing fourth for her relay. “I hope to be at the World Championship trials in 2014,” Boddiford said, “They have a set of times, and as you qualify for certain times, you move on.” Boddiford began swimming at age eight for the Blue Dolphins swim

photo by Jake Burton

just keep swimming. Junior Johan Guasp dives in at Riverside Pool during swimming practice. Guasp was one of the swimmers who competed at regionals on Nov. 8-9.

team as off-season practice. She continued her swim career because she found it very competitive racing against people with a greater skill level, and wanted to keep herself challenged. As swimmers prepare for the state finals, they have big expectations.

“I would like to make podium at states this year, make my Speedo Junior National cut, and someday make an Olympic trial cut,” Hahn said. The FHSAA state finals will be held Nov. 16 at Sailfish Splashpark Aquatic Athletics Center in Stuart from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Kerstin Sosa leads runners in postseason Jeannie Williams

Staff Reporter

his cross country season has been one of highs and lows, as well as something of a wonder due to its key team member, senior Kerstin Sosa, who brings skill and character to the team. Sosa’s best time for the 5K is 18:58, a time that has caught people’s attention. She has improved 16 seconds this season alone. This year she averages 6:10 per mile and has won two races this season. Her impressive time has led to more than just championship meets. Sosa ranks in the top five on the school records list for the girl’s 5K. She also ranks fifth for the City of Oviedo’s Top 20 All-Time High School Records. Sosa finished strong this season, placing second at the regional

championships on Nov. 2, and 34th at the state championships on Nov. 9. “She is a quiet, hardworking kid who never brags about herself, which is what we like to see in our athletes,” cross country coach Jay Getty said. Sosa’s modesty was shown after winning last year’s Florida State University pre-state meet, when instead of boasting about herself, she spent time congratulating other team members. No one from the team knew she had won until her coach announced it to them. “It’s not about you, it’s about what you’ve done,” Getty said. Building up others is something that Sosa believes in. At the SAC Championship meet she stayed late to congratulate members of the junior varsity team as they crossed the finish line. Sosa’s relationship with her teammates inspires them to do their best and try their hardest.

“She never complains and she works so hard to become such a great athlete. I look up to her because she works so hard and it’s really inspiring,” freshman runner Madison Barrett said. When dual enrollment interferes with practices, most runners would take it as a day off, but not Sosa. She gets everything her coaches ask of her done and does not hold herself higher than any other member of the team. In practice, she looks to other team members for motivation. She joined a school team for the benefits it offered, but she did not expect to find such a community. “We really push each other. I hope that I can teach the other girls something about running,” Sosa said. Sosa has her mother to thank for her cross country career. Being a runner herself, she is always encouraging her daughter to get her

times down. Sosa’s love for running has grown in her three years on the cross country team. “It’s kind of like a stress reliever for me. If you give it a chance and you try really hard, then you’ll find it’s a really good sport. It builds character and endurance. Anybody can go out and try it,” Sosa said. The team lost most of their seniors last year, so the current team has a lot of first-timers. Sosa admits it was scary starting out the year with so few returning runners, but it soon became obvious that they had a good group of girls. The majority of new runners have dropped 30 to 40 seconds or as much as a minute on their 5K times. As part of her final year participating in high school sports, colleges are starting to notice. “It’s really exciting and I feel more confident as a runner. but I’m still looking,” Sosa said.

back

Girls’ soccer rebuilds foundation Nathaniel Kauffman

Staff Reporter

hey had beaten Oviedo three times before, but at that moment, nothing mattered; win and move on or lose and go home. This was a simple concept, but impossible to swallow in defeat. Last year’s top-ranked team walked off the soccer field in shock as their state title hopes were destroyed by a 2-1 loss to Oviedo. “It was pretty crushing - it is one of those tough things we don’t like to talk about any more because it’s like a moment in our past that we weren’t proud of,” team captain and senior midfielder Sydney Schilling said. “Losing really opens your eyes as an athlete. It is important to lose every once in a while.” This year they have pledged to be different, and it has been shown by the ten goals written in the locker room by the players. They say things like “win states” and “to dance.” Dancing does not exactly sound like a serious thing or a way to improve, but it helps to lighten the mood and make the game more fun. “It’s a Hagerty soccer thing. We have a

dance party in the locker room, and our team dance is the “wop”,’ so it’s been a Hagerty tradition that we wop before every single home game,” Schilling said. These goals were made when the team got together and made them in order to take the team to the next level. A focus of the goals was to start to take notice of the little things instead of just the big picture (a state championship). This year, players have already said practice is more serious and the attitude is focused. This year will definitely be a challenge for the team. One of the biggest being filling in the holes left by last year’s seniors. Five starting seniors graduated, including Darbi Filliben, who plays for Mississippi State University, and Sam Collins, who plays for Rollins College. This left the team needing to fill five spots in the starting line up. One way they have worked to fill those holes is with superstar junior forward Ru Mucherera, a commit to the University of North Carolina. “I know a lot of people think since we lost all of our good seniors from last year that were not going to have a shot, but I honestly think that we can become better than being considered the

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underdog,” Mucherera said. “We need to work harder than we usually do and go that extra mile.” The team’s record is 2-1-1, with the only loss to rival Oviedo, 3-4. Their wins include a 9-1 victory over Seminole and an 8-3 win over Winter Springs. The major contributors include Schilling, who leads the team with five goals, and senior forward Sierra Farrell, who has three. One setback to the season is an injury to one of the team’s starting seniors, forward Alex Mastrobuono. She injured her foot in the game against Oviedo and will not be back for three months. “It’s hard to watch all the games and practices,” Mastrobuono said. “But knowing that I’ll be able to come back before districts or regionals it’s all worth it in the end.” The team has high hopes despite the odds, but in order to achieve those they will need a couple things, one of which is teamwork. “I think there is hope. If we work together as a team we can get what we want,” junior midfielder Savannah Courtney said. “In the end we will work our hardest and hopefully come out with a good outcome.”

photo by Jake Burton

KICKING IT OLD SCHOOL. Striker Sydney Schilling kicks a back pass to avoid getting the ball taken away by Lake Howell. Schilling leads the team with five goals in the season.