The Blueprint: Volume 17, Issue 3

the

blueprint Hagerty High School

Vol. 17, Issue 3

December 16, 2021

Oviedo, Florida

DECKING THE HALLS The concert choir performs “And the Glory of the Lord” to a full crowd of 425. Chorus’ second concert of the year, the winter concert, took place in the auditorium Dec. 7. photo by Meghan Shepp

winter week Leadership organized winter week dress-up days. The days consisted of Ugly Sweater, Winner Wonderland, Silent Night, Flaunt your Flannel, and Kohn’s Candy Canes.

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alternative medicine Storebought medicine is the usual way to cure sickness, but some students prefer to go a less traditional route and find natural remedies.

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cheer regionals The cheerleading team participated in their first big competition of the season and earned a bid to nationals.

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Chorus holds winter concert CAROLING CHOIR All classes came together to perform “Silent Night“. Later, the seniors received their pins and flowers to honor their time and contributions to the choir. photo by Meghan Shepp

Gabriella Jaye Herrera

Editor-in-Chief Singing “Little Town of Bethlehem,” “Come all ye Faithful” and “Silent Night.” A crowd roaring with laughter at the comedy bits.

Students dressed to the nines in formal wear.

No, these are not carolers on the front porch, but the chorus classes’ winter concert.

On Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. the curtains in the auditorium opened to a cast of singers entertaining a full crowd of 425 – the maximum number the auditorium is allowed to host.

Among the crowd of family and friends included principal Robert Frasca and district official Lindsey Williams.

“It went very smoothly. Every song was

sung beautifully by our choir. You could really tell how much hard work everyone put in and how focused everyone was,” senior Ariah Todriff said.

Chosen by chorus instructor Christopher Hickey, the Christmas-themed songs were meant to be a blend of different genres and to highlight the strengths of the singers, challenging them while bearing their preparation time in mind.

“They learn core concepts of singing in a group, blending and producing tone the correct way,” Hickey said. “They might sing popular songs, but they are in a new arrangement, so it’s difficult.”

For junior Mackenzie Allis, even the more challenging songs were rewarding, as her choir overcame even its most difficult harmonies.

“We were worried about ‘In the Glory of the Lord’ just because there are a lot of different parts coming together. That’s really hard and the harmonies are troublesome,” Allis said. “But it went really well, so we were all happy with it.”

Despite the success, Allis admits she still felt her and her peers had things they could improve before their spring concert now that they had another formal performance under their belt.

“I think I struggled with blending, so I could definitely work on that. There’s a couple of my other friends who were saying they want to work on that,” Allis said.

To close the night, the seniors had their jackets or dress collars pinned on them by the juniors, recognizing their achievements and bringing the chorus classes together.

“We work really hard to provide as many resources as we possibly can for our students,” Maby said. “We are not experts in the college field, but we do have a good amount of knowledge on how to direct you where to go with the things that need to be done.”

There were a lot of big important takeaways that counselors wanted the parents to note, including things such as the tailored help the College Board offers, how to prepare for large tests and exams and what job fields will be the most lucrative in the near future.

“Ideally, by presenting some of these options, students will be able to create their own questions and guide the counselors on what they would like to see in our next round of coffee with counselors,” Isaacs said.

“Coffee with Counselors” allowed counselors to get their message through to many families at once. The WebEx was made easy to access within multiple places, such as eCampus and the Hagerty website, to ensure any family with an internet access can attend.

“Parents could just take a lunch break and pop in. So I do think we’re definitely going to offer more. this is something that we really enjoy doing,” Isaacs said.

A HELPING HAND Counselor Nick Maby watches and listens to “Coffee with Counselors.“ He helped answer any questions that the parents might have had.

Coffee with counselors offers college insight Joshua Krob

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Staff Reporter

hile most people are happy to see last year’s virtual meetings disappear, there are still some times where it makes sense. For counselors Nick Maby, Aaron Isaacs and Michelle Cortes, it’s “Coffee with Counselors.”

“Coffee with Counselors” is a WebEx meeting done twice a quarter where parents are able to ask questions about the college admission process and how they can help their children get into their dream schools.

“This is a way for us to disseminate the information that we give directly to students, to their parents, so they get a clearer understanding of the information that’s available – the resources available to help with the harder-toapply things like FAFSA,” Isaacs said.

The counselors informed parents about a number of topics, including high school credits, dual enrollment, Bright Futures and tests such as the SAT. Though they are generally wellversed in high school topics, some questions are better answered by the school or business in question.

“Pinning represents a transition from juniors to seniors,” Todriff said. “It’s just kind of a really special moment where you’ve kind of grown up with the juniors. It’s like family.”

Todriff not only got to experience the ceremony for herself, but got to watch it eight years earlier, when her sister was also pinned.

“It’s just really sweet and something we’ve been doing forever,” Todriff said. “So it’s something you look forward to as a senior and as a junior, when you get to pin a senior.”

“People expect us to just stand there and sing the entire time,” Todriff said. “I don’t think people really recognize that it’s not always going to be slow or boring.”

Chorus hosts their spring concert Feb. 24, where tickets are expected to be $5 at the door.

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news briefs

WINTER WEEK Leadership organizes dress up days, a dodgeball game and a movie night to boost holiday spirit Janell Lim

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News Editor

he numbers appear in red, bright, blocky letters on the scoreboard. 4:00. Players line up on each side of the gym, their feet on the yellow line, knees bent. Errr! They take off, rushing to the halfcourt line where six balls lie.

On Dec. 6 at 6 p.m., the annual dodgeball game, dubbed the Snowball Fight, took place at the old gym. The winning team, “Pigs in a blanket,” consisted of seniors Dylan Post, Ethan Sweat, Chase Chapman, Blake Brydan, Michael Shaw and Anthony Johnson, with “Bishop Sycamore” as runner-up.

“I think it helps everyone come closer together. Everyone’s just playing a game together even if it gets a little competitive out there,” Bryden said.

The game was the first event of Winter Week, a week organized by student leadership to boost student morale. Traditionally right before Quarter 2 exams, Winter Week is meant to give the students a break from stress.

“I hope it really brings some joy and creativity among students because with exam week and COVID, we haven’t really gotten to do many fun events like this,” senior Adeline Hart said.

Hart, who is chair of the decorations committee, oversaw the preparations student leadership made for this week, including ordering decorations, advertising the dress up days and recruiting people to participate in the

events.

This year, dress up days included Ugly Sweaters on Monday, Winner Wonderland on Tuesday, Silent Night on Wednesday, Flaunt Your Flannel on Thursday and Kohn’s Candy Canes on Friday. Students wore their favorite team jersey or shirt on Tuesday, pajamas on Wednesday and flannel on Thursday. On Friday, students dressed up in all red or all white, with freshmen and juniors wearing white and sophomores and seniors wearing red.

Winter week events this year will feature a Flick on the 50 on Wednesday at 6 p.m., where “The Grinch” was played in the Sam Momary stadium. Tickets were $4 each and included popcorn and beverage. On Friday, Hagerty hosted West Orange in a basketball game. The junior varsity game started at 4:30 p.m., and the varsity game started at 7:30 p.m. Tickets were available on GoFan, with adult tickets at $6 and student tickets at $3.

While there are other spirit weeks such as rivalry and Homecoming week, Jaycie Bryce, a senator in the senior class, believes the winter theme makes it stand out from the rest.

“I’ve never seen another school do this.

Every school has homecoming week, [but] not every school has a winter week,” she said As for changes students would like to see, Lowe said she would be open to the idea of dressing up as a holiday character.

“You could always have a classic Christmas movie day where somebody could dress up as the Grinch or Rudolph,” she said.

Whatever dress up days or events are planned for next year, Winter Week will continue to serve as an event that bonds and connects students.

“It’s just a fun thing for all the students to participate in. It’s [a time] to get together, not argue about anything, with everyone participating,” freshman Patrick Young said.

Art Society honors city comissioner

On Thursday, Dec. 2, the Art Honors Society decorated school pavements with chalk in commemoration of the city commissioner’s renovations on campus grounds. Junior Mckenzie Adams (pictured left) and other members painted a portrait of the commissioner along with the Hagerty emblem to honor the investment. “I sketched this idea and they went with it,” club sponsor Omar Otero said. “I’m always impressed by the National Arts Honors Society.” Next semester, the club will paint portraits of children around the world as a part of the Memory Project. photo by Macy Drewry

Band performs at Rhapsody concert

In two concerts extending from Friday, Dec. 3 to Saturday, Dec. 4, band members performed in a series of ensembles, including jazz, classical and pop culture renditions of Christmas-themed music in the auditorium. Kaitlyn Dudley, Josh Heath (pictured left) and the band began forming and rehearsing these ensembles up to a month prior, holding rehearsals every day after school the week of the event. The concert was the first in-person performance since March 2020. “Performing was cool because we haven’t done it in so long,” senior Raina Hawkings said. photo by Sarah Hinnant

Eastlick organizes bicycle charity

On Saturday, Dec. 4, Young Republicans and Young Democrats came together to assemble bicycles for a bipartisan charity organized by Young Republicans president Reagan Eastlick, who raised $7,500 to supply the bikes.

The clubs put together 50 bikes, which will be donated to families who are in need during the holidays through the Baby DJ charity organization. “It was an amazing bipartisan opportunity to give back to the community and to spread some joy after another tough year,” Young Democrats president Sebastian Fernandez said. photo by Sarah Hinnant

upcoming events dec 16 dec 18 dec 20 jan 20

WINTER WEEK WONDERLAND (clockwise from left to right) Sophomore Maren Kisner and freshman Alena Kisner with their jerseys on.

Junior Angelique Booles and senior Matt Hurley wear their ugly sweaters.

Juniors Emma Lundquist and KJ Lanz smile for a quick photo. Freshmen Brianna Stanley, Ariana Welch and Camryn Price in their matching pajamas.

Freshmen Amberly Napierata and Sophia Nicola embrace in their festive pajamas. photos by Janell Lim

Spring auditions for Cinderella

Callbacks for the Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella production will take place Dec. 16 from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Rehearsals will begin Jan. 5 and are generally Monday through Thursday from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Robotics prepares for competition

Robotics competition will take place Dec. 18 for both first tech challenge teams at Odyssey Charter School. 25-30 teams around Central Florida will participate in six matches of two minutes and 30 seconds.

Education Rocks holds fundraiser

Education Rocks is selling t-shirts to sponsor children’s education until Dec. 20. Each shirt costs $15 and can be purchased on CustomInk. Participants can order to their home or pick them up from room 6-112.

Iron Man statue displaying

Senior Mark Shenouda made a lifesize Iron Man statue, with various features such as an automatic sliding mask and lights. Art teacher Omar Ottero plans to display the statue on Jan. 20 in the front office.

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opinions

OUR TAKE The BluePrint staff editorial

Coronavirus aftermath brings social consequences

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istening to a biology lecture about the different kinds of germs, you sit quietly in your classroom, feeling more tired than usual. Suddenly, you start to feel an itch in your nose, and realize what’s about to happen: you’re going to sneeze. You desperately try to hold it in, but alas, you cannot. Your whole class stares. That was awkward.

Ever since quarantine ended and schools reopened, the most basic bodily functions – like sneezing and coughing – have become taboo, making social interaction difficult. Amplified by the lack of a mask mandate in Seminole County, students are apprehensive about the health of their peers and how it may impact them, causing worry, and even judgment.

But germ-stress is just one part of the bigger problem. Socially, we would like to believe we’re back to normal, but we’re not. Day-to-day conversations are stressful for many as a result of isolation, and a record number of students have switched to fully virtual schooling.

According to experts from Johns Hopkins University, a disconnect from in-person schooling can lead to delays in social and emotional development, as it is one of the greatest social outlets for adolescents. Of course, the May study expressed that one of the hardest aspects of quarantine was separation from friends and family, but there were other things that were challenging for teens, like negative introspection and an inordinate amount of free time. Isolation has left society with a host of issues, greatly hurting teenagers. Getting back to ‘normal’ after a year-and-a-half of online work and limited interaction has been tough, and social anxiety is at an all-time high.

As the world continues to open up, focusing on mental health is extremely important to get back on track for a good social life. Gaining confidence and calming mental anxieties make talking to others easier, and will prove beneficial in all areas. To relieve social anxiety, simple actions like taking deep breaths and journaling can be incredibly helpful.

Social situations might not be comfortable or easy yet, but avoiding social interaction altogether will only make the awkwardness worse. Like any skill, it won’t be perfect at first.

To ease back into being social, start by having small conversations with people you know, until you feel the confidence to branch out and talk to new people.

It’s also vital that we are considerate with our interactions, as many people hold views that differ from ours. These problems will take time and patience to solve, but prioritizing each other’s mental health and working to make interaction more comfortable will benefit everyone in the long run.

If you find yourself in an awkward situation, don’t panic – just let it go. It happens to everyone, just like coughing and sneezing. As a community, it should be our mission to move past the social setbacks of the pandemic. Accept the awkward and difficult situations, and build off of it. Though it will not be a linear process, ‘normal’ will get easier with time and effort.

Illustration by Alexis Madlang

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blueprint Hagerty High School 3225 Lockwood Blvd.

Oviedo, FL 32765 hagertyjourn@gmail.com Phone: (407) 871-0750 Fax: (407) 871-0817

Raising cancer awareness

Angelica Mendez

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Staff Reporter

whole month of pink socks, pink football games and pink pom-poms all for breast cancer.

Now imagine a month with a different color every week or even every day, showing support for a different set of fighters and survivors.

Breast cancer awareness and pink October are great causes, but we show a lack of recognition for other cancers that are devastating to our community and even our student body: We need to do more to raise awareness for other types of cancers.

The most widely acknowledged type of cancer is by far breast cancer. Schools everywhere will get “pink’d out” and hold events in honor of the fighters and survivors.

Although this is a step in the right direction, there are over 100 forms of cancer, and many of them are just as devastating to our students and their families. Just doing these things for one cancer does not provide the recognition needed for every fighter.

Cancer can range from brain cancer to stomach cancer. Many of these other forms might not be as known, but they are just as important.

According to statistics for 2018 alone, there was an estimated 268,670 cases of breast cancer.

However, there were 18.1 million new cases of cancer – which means breast cancer only took up about 1.5% of that number. Ignoring and not informing others of the 98.5% causes a lack of acknowledgment and support to fighters and survivors. These people go through the same fears and treatments, such as chemotherapy and surgery, and providing hope can be beneficial.

According to the American Cancer Society, pediatric cancer is the second biggest cause of death in children 18 and under. Childhood cancer will kill 1,190, ages 1-15, in 2021 alone.

Although pediatric cancer is not breast cancer or lung cancer, it is things like leukemia, brain tumors and lymphomas. This is why it is especially important to make students aware of this cancer and other cancers that have more of an impact on them.

Of the people unaware of the statistics for other cancers, many might not know that just like Breast Cancer Awareness Month, there are months dedicated to most cancers. However, these months are not widely acknowledged.

Some of these months have multiple recognized cancers, some have one and some do not have any. Along with these, some months recognize groups of people, such as cancer caregivers or all survivors.

Months like July, Bone Cancer Awareness Month, and June, National Cancer Survivor Month, tend not to receive the same recognition as others. According to bone cancer statistics, there will be about 3,610 bone cancer diagnoses and of that number 2,060 deaths.

The BluePrint is a student-produced newspaper in which the student editors make all content decisions.

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Opinions expressed within the newspaper do not represent the staff ’s views as a whole (except for Our Take), the views of Seminole County Public Schools or Hagerty High’s administration and staff.

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No matter what form it comes in, cancer is cancer. It is a disease that can not only affect a person physically, but also mentally. The toll it takes on cancer patients daily can also impact their friends and family. People around cancer patients struggle to watch their loved ones suffer while they can not do anything to help them besides be there for them.

While it may be hard to spend every month holding events and doing different things, it is still possible to recognize and spread awareness.

Helping people learn more and celebrate others fighting such a tough battle does not always have to be in the most extravagant ways like pink’d football games. Smaller attempts of recognition can be just as meaningful to people.

One of these small yet powerful things people can do is to pick a month and hold

Illustration by Areli Smith

a school announcement every day about a different cancer. This can help bring attention to multiple cancers and show support to those fighting against it. Along with that, it will not take much time or money.

Another effective way of spreading awareness that comes increasingly more accessible every day is through social media.

Posting a simple thing saying it is an awareness month or showing people fighting cancer and asking people to support them can be easiest to inform people. This method is available any time and anywhere, and almost everyone checks their social media daily, allowing it to get around faster.

Sporting events like football or basketball can even hold games where everyone can wear a ribbon or the color of a cancer they know has affected someone. This way awareness can be spread and recognition is brought to all cancer patients that need it.

Although it may seem hard, the number of ways to spread awareness and raise support for fighters and survivors increases by the day. All it takes is one post or one person speaking out to make something more known and increase awareness for other types of cancers.

Editor-in-Chief Gabriella Jaye Herrera

Sports Editor Karson Cuozzo

Print Editor Alexis Madlang

Opinions Editor Julia Sumpter

Online Editor Skyler Glenn

Social Media Editor Zahra Ateeq

News Editor Janell Lim

Adviser Brit Taylor

Lifestyles Editor Sophia Canabal

Principal Robert Frasca

Staff Reporters Greta Carrasco Reagan Eastlick Nadia Knoblauch Joshua Krob Emily McCluskey Angelica Mendez Ava West

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opinions It’s time to stop complaining and live your life

Reagan Eastlick Staff Reporter, From the Right

F

or over a year the singular cry of the United States has been Covid. For over 12 months the American people have obsessed, planned, and thought about the virus incessantly; no business remains untouched, no personal story unblemished. Every individual, from the city dwellers in L.A. to the coastal clingers of Key Largo have been bombarded with news and stories of the pandemic. The chant begins again with Omicron.

Omicron is the latest variant of Covid. It originated in Southern Africa and has since spread to several continents, slowly creeping across countries and replacing the previous Delta strain. Omicron, as far as health officials know, is still guarded against by the vaccine.

And that is the extent of Omicron information provided in this article. In order to understand the point, you needn’t know anything else. For every strain of the virus, for every instance of this pandemic, the vaccine virtually eliminates risk. If you take nothing else away from reading this, take that. Take the knowledge that vaccination and treatment options have grown (and are growing) dramatically better and more effective.

Understand it. Internalize it.

Covid is not going away. There will always be new cases of the virus. There will always be a new strain, and yes, people will always die from contracting it. Covid is becoming endemic, meaning it is going to become a part of life, just as the flu and the common cold and pneumonia are. Americans live their lives with relatively little fear of the previous ailments; they should learn to live with Covid as well.

This isn’t about the Omicron variant – it’s about peoples’ reaction to any new strain of Covid. The Pfizer vaccine reduces the already low mortality rates of the virus by 97%.

Vaccination disconnects the number of people infected from the number of people who die, making catching Covid relatively unimportant.

Once a person has been given a chance to take the vaccine, any consequence is not the government’s responsibility. People have agency, they have the ability to make decisions for themselves; if that decision is against the vaccine then they have made their choice.

Vaccines should not be mandated, and neither should masks. The American people have been presented with a solution to every strain of Covid. What they chose to do with that solution is their decision, not the government’s.

Americans have a tendency to look at Covid in a way that is completely dissimilar to any other disease or sickness. The roughly 330

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Omicron variant

million people who live in the United States live in one of the cleanest and most technologically advanced countries in the world.

Why does that matter? Covid was the very first disease to sweep across the country while simultaneously being covered by a plethora of news outlets and social media. The huge influx of coverage didn’t make Covid more dangerous, but it created panic to a scale never before seen.

Every day you take risks. You wake up and drive to school on roads where crashes occur regularly. After that you eat food you didn’t prepare, trusting that grocery stores and cooks are clean and orderly. You take trips on planes and shake strangers’ hands, basking in their bacterial glory. And all the while, you never realize it. You weigh the cost of not doing those things with the risk of living your life, and nearly every time, you choose to live normally.

Today, I ask you to add Covid to the list of risks you take every day. And I go a step further: I ask you to move on with your life.

New variants will come and go. Sadly, some people will die. That’s life. And it sucks, it truly does.

But that’s Covid, and the common cold, and the flu, and driving, and climbing a ladder. The important thing is that you don’t let the risk of dying stop you from living.

TICK

Omicron is a real threat, and we need to treat it like one

Laura Shaw Former Politics Editor, From the Left

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t this point in the pandemic, we are not unfamiliar with Coronavirus. We have experienced the effects of it for nearly two years: most of us know someone who had it, or had it ourselves, our lives have been flipped upside down, turned around and then placed lopsided back where they’re supposed to be. The ‘new normal’ has been established.

In other words, we are completely and utterly desensitized to any new variant that occurs, which could cost our lives.

Two days after South Africa reported Omicron, the World Health Organization labeled it a ‘variant of concern,’ the most serious category used for tracking new variants.

There are signs that Omicron is even more transmissible than Delta and can better evade immunity.

Omicron will not make the COVID-19 vaccines completely ineffective, but they will be less effective against this mutation of the

barking mad

Barking Mad is a collection of short submissions about things that tick students off around school. If something at school makes you mad, e-mail us at hagertyjourn@gmail.com and it may be featured here.

virus. This is an even greater reason to get a booster shot for the vaccine and scientists urge those who are still not vaccinated to do so immediately. If you haven’t gotten vaccinated yet, you need to seriously consider why you would risk the growing threat against your health.

According to the Mayo Clinic, only 62.3% of the population of Florida is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, leaving almost 40% of the population completely exposed to new variants, with little research on how to treat.

Additionally, wearing masks in public spaces, even those who are fully vaccinated, is highly recommended. Despite this, mask mandates are still lifted and few private businesses require them in stores. On top of this, theme parks like Disney and Universal have been given the go ahead from Gov. Ron DeSantis to return to normal capacity and have been slowly increasing the percentage of guests allowed into the park.

Soon after Omicron was labeled a ‘variant of concern,’ some countries, including the

United States, barred travel from several southern African countries while others, like Japan, even shut down travel completely again.

Although this seems like an overreaction, cases of Omicron have already been detected in countries like Canada, Britain and Australia.

For now, barring travel from solely southern Africa seems like an appropriate response, as the government needs to closely monitor its progress and be ready to shut down travel again. However, I am afraid that they simply will not do that.

There is very little information on Omicron as of now, but from what we do know, we need to take it seriously. It is obvious and understandable to be tired of this situation, especially for Generation Z, who have had key parts of their childhood taken away. Ignoring and brushing off this variant would be easy, but it would also be incredibly dangerous. While there are no signs that we will be reentering the quarantine phase of 2020, we simply need to do our part to protect ourselves and our community.

Fired Up!

Conversion therapy inaction leaves millions unprotected

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Gabriella Jaye Herrera

orty-five seconds pass. Another LGBTQ+ youth attempts to take their own life.

The LGBTQ+ community has always heard patronizing phrases insisting their identity is “just a phase.” Those who are unlucky enough to be surrounded by particularly hateful family members often go up against an even greater form of judgment: conversion therapy.

As defined by LGBTQ+ advocacy group Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, conversion therapy is “any attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.” Likewise, the goal of conversion “therapists” is to force someone to deny their identity and conform to a very specific idea of what a “correct” gender and sexuality is.

It would make sense for the practice to be outlawed throughout the country as a form of minority suppression.

Yet it is only banned in 21 states.

In the University of California, Los Angeles’s 2018 study, 698,000 adults reported undergoing conversion therapy. Considering conversion patients are 8.4 times more likely to commit suicide, these numbers could not be more devastating.

Generally, the therapy sessions are done in the form of talk therapy, where the therapist will sit with a patient or group of patients and pressure them into finding ways to ignore their identities. Although not as common, it can sometimes use electroconvulsion tactics, including inducing vomit and electric shocks. This is a clear violation of human rights and equality. LGBTQ+ people – including children – are forced to hide their true identities from society.

As of Dec. 8, Canada banned the practice of conversion therapy nationwide.

This protection of equality should be seen as a wakeup call for the inactive Florida legislature. Representative Michael Grieco filed a bill banning the practice for minors last January, but with the majority of Florida’s elected officials being pro “traditional marriage,” it has made little to no progress.

Instead of moving forward, Florida officials seem to be creeping the other way. Following criticism from online right-leaning publications, the Florida Department of Education pulled its online resources connecting bullied LGBTQ+ students to advocacy groups, leaving students with one less avenue to connect them to the support they need.

“The bathrooms should be more closely monitored. I don’t enjoy going to the bathroom just to see kids vaping. I find it to be way too common of an occurrence here at Hagerty.”

- Razy Hamilton, 10

“Freshman leave a mess at the lunch tables and throw food at people.”

- Emily Hanus, 10

“Stop taking up the bathroom stalls just to vape.”

- Katie Pham, 12

“School needs to have more activities.

Math needs to have more social group projects. The ID’s aren’t working because people take them out to show “I think they should let us dip and then put them back in their bag.” leave lunch to go get our own food.”

- Daniel Guerrero, 10 - Sophia Willis, 12 “I have never had detention but I have heard that the kids are treated like they are delinquents when most of them are just in there because of tardies.”

- Isabella Parron, 12

“The efficiency of the car line is definitely not at its peak. A lot of parents don’t understand how it works and where they should be. An email should be sent out with proper instructions.“ - Kevin Purcell, 10

“The designated time in between classes should be a little bit longer.

Sometimes I have to run to class just to make it on time. After having class for two hours there should be a little longer of a break.”

- Rodney Joyner, 9 “Some of the teachers don’t understand how hard it is to complete homework.”

- Marcela Caorasco, 10 “The lack of diversity in opinions.”

- Jasmine Guevara, 9

“The lunch lines take way too long.

Some kids are getting their lunch about halfway through the designated amount of time. Then they only have about 15 minutes to enjoy their meal. Not to mention, people cutting the lunch line just adds to the amount of time you have to wait.”

- Reagan Sauna, 9 “It is really annoying when both the doors close before the bell in the mornings. They is still time to get inside and make it to class, then they give HERO passes.”

- Lia Fuchs, 12

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COLLEGE ATHLETES

“I thought I was goi to be miserable, but a season came around a started playing, I enjo it more. I started mak lot of friends and bec closer with other girls o team.”

Shannon Glover, 2018 University of North Flo softball

Opportunities born from injuries Ava West

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Staff Reporter

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or 2019 graduate Landon Spangenberg, high school lacrosse came easy. He averaged multiple goals and assists throughout middle and high school. Then came college.

Spangenberg could not play in his freshman year because of an ankle injury.

“I broke my ankle and tore a large ligament as well during a dodge to goal in practice,” Spangenberg said. “I got an ankle reconstruction surgery which in turn took me out for eight months. It was hard to be out of lacrosse but it strengthened me mentally.”

When he got back from the injury his sophomore year, he played in every game and had a few goals and assists spread across the season.

“Getting back from the injury was hard, but my experience as a college athlete has been better than everything I have ever done.

The memories I have made with the team are priceless,” Spangenberg said.

College is a different experience for Spangenberg because in high school everyone

chooses what they want to play and are more independent, but now, everyone has a role and the team has to connect well with each other.

“Players can be moved throughout positions to see what fits the team chemistry best,” Spangenberg said.

Tough practices twice a day and Saturday morning practices can be tough at times, but according to Spangenberg it’s worth it.

“I think the highs outweigh the lows greatly in college athletics,” Spangenberg said. “You will make so many great friends and be a part of one big family. Of course some days you may not feel like getting up for early morning practice, but thinking about how not many people get the opportunity to play in college makes me work harder.”

Spangenberg chose Saint Leo University because of the competitiveness at the college level. While he received multiple D1 offers, he felt they were not the right fit for him.

“I would rather play at a top 25 D2 school and compete for a national championship than go to a low D1 with barely any competition,” Spangenberg said. “Play wherever is the best fit for you. It is all personal preference with a lot of contributing factors.”

“Sports requires you to wake up early to go to weights, then go to class, mandatory lunch, early work before practice, practice, and then mandatory study hall at night. There are a lot of days where it is a sun up to sun down gig.”

Joe Sheridan, 2016 grad UCF to Notre Dame baseball

LIVING THE DREA Alumni college athletes talk about their experiences

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athletes have gone on to play in college.

Between sun up to sun down schedules, injuries, and transfers, these athletes manage to balance a sport and school.

In these stories, athletes share their college experiences, advice for anyone debating on continuing their sport, as well as stats from some athlete’s careers.

“No one’s going to stop [you] from it,” 2019 grad Adam Mastroeuono said.

“There’s still a chance if you want to just go after it.”

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bout 1 in 13 high school athletes go on to play their sport in college.

Not only is playing a college sport a huge step but some compare it to working a full time job. No one is going to hold your hand and tell you what to do.

Independence is key.

“Your parents can’t say ‘sorry you aren’t doing well, let’s go get ice cream and talk to reset.’ You are an adult, you control how you can play,” 2021 grad Ryan Schmitt said.

In the past few years, lots of Hagerty

“Winning the ASUN conference was the best memory of my freshman year. Being able to experience playing in a regional was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had.”

Jackson Grabsky, 2020 grad Jacksonville University baseball

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“Don’t worry if every school doesn’t like you cause you only need one school to like you in the end.”

Ryan Carroll, 2020 grad Embry-riddle Aeronautical University baseball

“Any advice that I could give someone would be, don’t limit your options to just Division 1 and 2. Just because you go JUCO [junior college] doesn’t make you any less of an athlete because at the end of the day you’re getting your schooling paid for.”

Gabrielle Mathre, 2018 grad Santa Fe College to Georgia South Western softball

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“Being sidelined due to injury takes a huge mental toll on you and makes you realize how important playing your sport is to you.”

Joslin Hanbury, 2019 grad Campbell University lacrosse

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COLLEGE ATHLETES

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High school star wrestles with demands of college life Emily McCluskey

“The game is way quicker as the other athletes are bigger, faster and stronger than those from high school.”

Robert Post, 2019 grad Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University baseball

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or Landers University freshman Ethan Lopez, middle school was a solid starting point for his wrestling career before making the shift to wrestle in high school. Lopez’s rise to greatness took time, but he was eventually ranked first in the state for wrestling during the 20202021 school year, however, the wins do not come as easy in college.

“In high school, I was always winning tournaments,” Lopez said. “I was always beating kids that were ranked and then became ranked number one in the state of Florida for junior National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).”

Lopez had many offers from different colleges for wrestling, choosing Landers University in

not he would be able to continue after college.

“The major league for wrestling is basically the Olympics, so you get a degree and you go straight into working a nine-to-five after college,” Lopez said. “That’s the worst part about it. Whatever degree you get from college is what you go on with since the Olympics are selective.”

As a freshman in college, Lopez has grown to love the way the wrestling program pushes him in ways that high school did not. More opportunities to improve presented themselves to Lopez, and now, he has advanced performance.

“You get a lot of motivation from your team in college,” Lopez said. “Wrestling is all about how you perform, where your mental state is, where your physical state is, and your performance, but overall it is your body against another human’s body.”

Setbacks don’t dim the dream Julia Sumpter

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Opinions Editor

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atching UCF volleyball games right down the road motivated Audrey Douglas to follow in those footsteps. Now, she is playing for her dream school: Auburn University.

“When I kind of figured out ‘Oh, this is an option,’ it was instantly like ‘This is what I want to do,’” Douglas said.

Douglas started playing volleyball when she was 8 and continues to play as a sophomore middle blocker and right side. At first, she did not know what Division I even was, but once she found out, she knew that was the decision for her.

Douglas refers to herself as more of an offensive player and offensively minded in general. For almost every game last year, Douglas hit positively, including hitting at a .667 percentage in the last game of the season. Douglas said your stats depend on who your competition is and the way you play.

“It’s just going change the way you play in college just because everybody’s coaching style and playing philosophy are so different,” Douglas said.

From the moment she signed, Douglas has faced difficult obstacles. She dealt with a concussion that took her out of practice and classes for a month. But that was not the most painful part. After she signed her agreement with Auburn, the coach that had been recruiting her since eighth grade was fired.

“I was here for three weeks and we had no coaching staff, no coach, nothing,” Douglas said. “[It was] kind of interesting because I left my friends and family six months early and got here and didn’t really know what was going on.”

Douglas compares playing a college sport to a full time job. In season, there is only an off day every 10 days, so there is not much time for a social life. She admitted that college sports are a lot more demanding than high school or club but said it is the “best thing ever.”

Remembering every day that she has accomplished her childhood goal of playing for Auburn is something Douglas feels lucky to be doing.

“Time management’s hard. Just [try] to make sure you find time for everything and then [try] to keep balanced between being a student athlete and just being an actual human being too,” Douglas said.

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hoto from Audrey Douglas

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Staff Reporter

South Carolina. His first semester this fall exposed many differences between high school and college sports.

“We do a lot of fast, high pace conditioning and drills, and the coaches will be yelling at you to keep the intensity when we start to become tired,” Lopez said.

Lopez is majoring in physical education and sports management while wrestling competitively for the school. In college, there are more obligations for sports than in high school, which proved to be draining for Lopez.

“On Mondays I have class from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and I also have another class around 1:00 p.m. before practice,” Lopez said. “Then I have a practice at 3-5 p.m. and conditioning after.”

Unlike other sports, like baseball and football, there is no pro league for wrestling, but Lopez’s love for the sport was not dictated by whether or

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“The top [highlights] would be breaking the school record of number of wins in a row in the start of a season, going undefeated for the start of the covid season.”

Taylor Waters, 2019 grad Rollins College softball

entertainment

8 “King Richard” (HBO)

“Red (Taylor’s Version)” Taylor Swift

Released Nov. 19, “King Richard,” follows Richard and how he helped coach them into the players they are known as today. The movie starts off in Compton, California with Richard gathering resources necessary, like tennis balls, for his daughters. The rest of the movie, Richard finds Venus professional coaches and continues to give small lessons himself. It closes with Venus losing a tennis match, but is still met by her fans after.

At this point in the movie, the impact of Richard’s plan could be seen by the family and the audience watching the movie as well, which made for a great conclusion.

r e v i e w b o x

Released Nov. 12, “Red (Taylor’s Version)” is a combination of songs she rerecorded from the original and new songs. Since 10 years have passed since “Red,” there is a lot of maturity shown in her 2021 version. Swift features several other artists including Chris Stapleton, Ed Sheeran, Phoebe Bridgers and Gary Lightbody.

However, songs like “We Are Never Getting Back Together” and “Girl At Home” did not live up to the “Red” version. But, Swift finishes “Red (Taylor’s Version)” off strong with a 10 minute version of “All Too Well.”

- Julia Sumpter

- Rachelle English

“Red Notice” (Netflix)

“Lords of Scam” (Netflix)

Released Nov. 5, “Red Notice” follows FBI agent John Hartley (Dwayne Johnson) as he teams up with Nolan Booth (Ryan Reynolds) to catch the world’s most wanted art thief, The Bishop (Gal Gadot). Despite the hype, it was a letdown from the start. With a predictable storyline comes a boring series of events, and that is exactly what happened in “Red Notice.” The movie was just a game of cat and mouse that continued until the end when the plot predictably comes together.

Despite its significant actors, “Red Notice” only succeeded at hitting Netflix’s top charts due to the big names.

The Netflix movie “Lords of Scam” consists of an interesting concept that turned into a low-quality documentary. Released Nov. 3, this film seems like it should be good, but looks are very deceiving. This movie jerks the viewer from one topic to another. The majority of the characters serve little to no purpose and would have benefited from being left out completely. Its voiceover and translation also leaves the audience confused. It did use good professionals and words from the scammers themselves take up a large chunk of the movie, so it had the ability to become good, but sadly missed its mark.

- Angelica Mendez

- Joshua Krob

“Hawkeye” (Disney+)

“A Castle for Christmas” (Netflix)

With the first two episodes released Nov. 24, “Hawkeye” features Hailee Steinfeld (Kate) and Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye). Clint Barton with his family trying to make it in time for Christmas including an action version of popular Christmas music playing during a fight scene. Action scenes seem to be more playful than truly violent.

“Hawkeye” was an easy show to look away and distract oneself from. One of the only parts of the show to admire is that they have characters who actually use sign language which was first seen in this cinematic universe just recently with “Eternals.”

Netflix’s new holiday movie, released Nov. 26, “A Castle for Christmas,” is a ‘classic’ hate at first sight starring Brooke Shields (Sophie Brown) and Cary Elwes (Myles). Conflict escalates very quickly especially after the peak romantic moment which gives a bit of viewer whiplash.

However, as a Christmas heartfelt rom-com, the ending was content as always. This movie’s turning points will make one cry, smile and laugh.

It is the perfect movie to watch while snuggling around the television with family and friends eating homemade Christmas cookies.

- Marlene Bekheit

- Anthony Basta

Encanto: Yet another enchanting Disney movie Alexis Madlang

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Print Editor

agic, music, bright colors and sparkles are the iconic elements that make Disney movies so special. The magic of a hidden valley blessed with a gift of a magic candle is home to the family Madrigal.

“Encanto” tells the story of an Indigenous Zenu family in Colombia and is the first Disney feature-length animated musical set in Latin America.

Released in theaters Nov. 24, Disney’s “Encanto” adds to their list of films to represent other cultures. With fantastic animation, tearjerking moments and a catchy soundtrack, this film lives up to viewers’ expectations. The Madrigals are an extraordinary family who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia in a charmed place called the Encanto. The movie

La Familia Madrigal’s gifts:

JULIETA Healing with the food she cooks

follows the character Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz), the only child in the family not blessed with a unique gift from the magic of the Encanto. She becomes the family’s last hope as she discovers the magic surrounding the valley is in danger.

Directors Byron Howard and Jared Bush took a two-week trip to Colombia to absorb information about the destination and culture.

This trip clearly paid off as the movie reflected the details and focus of Colombia’s diversity of nature, music, people, food and culture.

Similar to its ability to capture Colombian culture, “Encanto” does a great job of handling and telling the story of multiple complex characters. The audience is given the chance to learn about Mirabel’s family’s powers and how it makes them different. Even though Mirabel is the main character, “Encanto” thoroughly tells the story of the rest of her large family, too.

PEPA Control the weather with her emotions

BRUNO Seeing the future

Mirabel may not add to the line of Disney princesses, but she has the capability to become a fan favorite due to her relatability. Mirabel is somewhat of an outcast in her family since she is not gifted with any powers. The disconnection she feels is made very clear from the beginning and is covered in multiple songs she sings.

Although she does not have any magic of her own, she is able to uncover truths about her family and save her home.

In her journey to save the Encanto, Mirabel learns that her sisters, Luisa (Jessica Darrow) and Isabela (Diane Guerrero) are less happy with their gifts than she had originally thought.

Both sisters share that they are having trouble meeting the high expectations and pressure they feel from their Abuela (María Cecilia Botero) and the community they are sworn to help.

The song “Surface Pressure,” sung by Luisa, summarises her feelings of being

LUISA Super strength

ISABELLA Make plants grow and flowers bloom

expected to carry all this weight of expectation on her shoulders, ironic because her gift is super strength. One thing that makes this a modern Disney movie is the treatment of stress and pressure. Meeting expectations, cracking under pressure and the effects of not sharing problems are thoroughly represented throughout “Encanto.”

Characters and plot throughout the film did not feel cheesy or childish like most Disney movies do. However, the classic Disney formula was followed, the plot was unexpected yet familiar, filled with moments of laughter and tears. The music and adventure in “Moana,” and the colorful animation from “Coco” seemed to be apparent in this film. The consistency of these elements make this film a true Disney movie. Even as viewers get older and think they have grown out of kids’ movies, there is a message for everyone in Disney films.

DOLORES Extraordinary hearing

CAMILO Shapeshift into whomever

ANTONIO Talk to animals

lifestyles

Alternative medicine provides comfort Sophia Canabal

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Lifestyles Editor

ith continued innovation, modern medicine resembles a Holy Grail; a network of drugs that provide healing and rejuvenation with few downsides.

However, this is not everyone’s reality. Long lists of side effects and concerningly vague ingredients encourage students to avoid traditional medicine and search for alternatives instead.

For junior Abigail Miller, home remedies offer a safer, trustworthy and straightforward alternative to modern medicine.

“We’ve been trying to cure sickness without all the side effects of normal medicine,” she said.

Miller and her family rely more on home remedies than traditional medication, including essential oils and common culinary ingredients for their medical benefits. She uses a blend of citronella, lavender and rosemary essential oils to soothe itchy bug bites while utilizing baking soda for sore throats.

“I can trust home remedies because we know there aren’t any undisclosed side effects, and they’re pretty straightforward,” Miller said.

Miller finds these remedies more trustworthy than traditional medication since it is difficult to know exactly how an common, over-the-counter medication was produced.

“The lack of transparency is bad because everyone might not know about the ingredients of a drug,” Miller said, “and there’s no way to know exactly how it will affect them and their body.”

While Miller trusts the simplicity of home

remedies, junior Samantha Fusca finds solace in their convenience.

“Instead of having to receive a prescription, pick up the medication, and pay for the entire process, I can just look in my fridge and make ‘medicine’ for free by using what I already have,” Fusca said.

Although Fusca previously held little trust in natural remedies, she now swears by several that were recommended to her by formal doctors and nurses.

“One of the remedies I use was actually doctor-recommended,” Fusca said. “It’s literally just iced lemon water, and it helps with relieving congestion from a cold or the flu.”

Alternative medicine has much to offer in terms of convenience, but sophomore Brandon Nieten would rather have both home remedies and traditional medicine to fall back on.

“I think people should use [home remedies], but they should also consult a doctor about the disease or bug,” Nieten said.

COVID-19 has only increased distrust regarding modern medicine. Before the Pfitzer, Moderna and Johnson-&-Johnson vaccines were FDA-approved, their side effects warranted hesitation among both students and parents. Instead of getting vaccinated, Miller instead takes vitamin D and C supplements to keep her immune system healthy. and ward off the virus.

While traditional medication is developed under supervised conditions and undergoes meticulous scrutiny before it is ever introduced to the public, home remedies are more often born from old wive’s tales or unmonitored health blogs that spread misinformation and might not be entirely accurate. For example,

a common misconception is that Echinacea, a flower rumored to shorten the length of a cold, actually does nothing to relieve symptoms.

In reality, it hardly has any effect. Neither does “sweating out a cold” which, according to Healthline, only serves to dehydrate the body and prolong any symptoms. However, sophomore Brandon Nieten’s most trusted remedy for the common cold does not require extensive research. Instead, it has years of tradition to attest to its effectiveness. Nieten’s family uses cooked rice to mend fevers and colds. This simple remedy was passed down from his Taiwanese grandmother, and him and his family now use it frequently.

“It generally feels like we know this secret that a lot of people just don’t know,” Nieten said.

Unlike Nieten, Miller finds contemperary remedies online, and because they are not as familiar or as time-tested as a family tradition, research has been a top priority for her.

“I think that research becomes way more important when you’re depending on medicine that isn’t regulated as much as traditional medication,” Miller said. “With simple remedies like honey or tea, it isn’t necessary, but if you’re using a strange plant or something you don’t know that much about, extensive research could save you a lot of trouble.”

Whether home remedies are objectively reliable or not, they continue to serve to comfort those who use them by providing an alternate choice when it comes to medication.

“If it’s something serious, I would obviously use prescribed medicine, but it’s nice to be able to rely on a light remedy when you’re not feeling your best,” said Fusca.

9

Alternate

Solutions art by Dylan Wisner

Sore Throat

Gargling salt water is the best way to soothe a throat, but honey is the next best thing. It has been proven to be more effective than most cough suppresants.

Stuffy Nose

Decongestant medication does not have to be the go-to. Taking a warm shower or using a heated wet cloth, makes it easier to breathe, while saline solutions and humidifiers dissolve nasal blockages.

Fatigue

Although caffeinated drinks seem like immediate solutions, caffeine quickly dehydrates the body, which produces a cold. Therefore, simply drinking water and getting rest will help ease any symptoms.

Hot Wheels are the hottest commodities Joshua Krob

J

Staff Reporter

ulian Reyes-Rogachevsky owns Ferraris, Ford GTs, Porsches and Nissans, all without a license and for about $1 per car.

Sophomore Julian Reyes-Rogachevsky is a diecast vehicle collector, collecting everything from Tonka to Matchbox, but focusing on Hot Wheels.

Reyes-Rogachevsky has amassed over 500 diecast vehicles, storing the majority in large bins and the rest in a showcase and on his bookcase. He focused mostly on real vehicle models from the early 1980s to the present day, specifically GT Le Mans and Gran Turismo Diesel racing vehicles.

“I collect all the cars that actually exist in real life. Very rarely do I collect a [fantasy] car that is specially made [designed] by Mattel, because I like to collect and look at the ins and outs of vehicles I see on the road,” ReyesRogachevsky said.

Reyes-Rogachevsky has been buying diecast vehicles for over nine years, following on the coattails of his fathers’ collection of micromachines. He started his collection in Fairfax, Virginia, buying at grocery stores such as Target and Harris Teeter. While after his move to Florida he may have spent less work collecting through grocery stores, he continues to look for them whenever convenient.

“I used to [look] quite a lot, and I still do, but I don’t actively go look out for them. Now. If we go to the grocery store, I always go to the Hot Wheels section to see if there’s anything interesting,” Reyes-Rogachevsky said Some impressive vehicles he has gathered

include two prototypes, multiple treasure hunts, super treasure hunts such as his golden Dodge Viper and other rare, special vehicles, including Ferraris that have been discontinued since 2014. “[My rarest car is] a golden super treasure hunt Dodge Viper 2013 I believe, it was one I bought at a Nascar race” Reyes-Rogachevsky said.

His collection is made up of collectible vehicles that have increased more than tenfold from their original price. Prototypes themselves can go for anywhere from $50 to $500 depending on the vehicle’s brand, year and other factors.

“I have a fair few rare cars. So [my collection is] probably [worth] a couple thousand considering a few of them,” ReyesRogachevsky said.

He has gone through multiple phases of collecting, from focusing specifically on British aircraft to Porsches, then to his current phase; focusing on Ford GT vehicles.

Reyes-Rogachevsky loves to admire his many cars by leaving many in their blister or loose in his showcase.

“I really like the detail and how beautiful they are,” Reyes-Rogachevsky said.

Upon moving to Florida, he looked more into antique Hot Wheels dealers to find older staples to his collection, the way he was able to find many of his rarest cars.

“Down at Daytona they hold that race I’d love to go every year if possible,” ReyesRogachevsky said.,”A lot of sellers have all sorts of rare and old Hot Wheels cars and Mattel cars that they have there at the stands. So always make sure to check in there to see if they have anything interesting.”

HOT COMMODITIES Julian Reyes-Rogachevsky holds his latest Hot Wheels collectibles standing in front of his diecast vehicle showcase. Reyes-Rogachevsky has been collecting for over nine years.

10

GOING MOBILE

As computer games of the past go mobile, students rediscover and fi nd time to play their favorite childhood games

Nadia Knoblauch, Zahra Ateeq Staff Reporters When we were kids, many of us spent hours building cities, raising families and serving frozen treats on our parent’s desktops.

Web-games like Minecraft, Sims and Papa’s Freezeria were a popular past-time in our early years, and with the chance to now play these games on our phones, many of us have reconnected with these games. Read below to see these games and more making their mobile comebacks.

my singing monsters

minecraft

papa's freezeria

Jorge Tirado, 10

sabrina gil, 10

Minecraft was released as a single or multiplayer game in 2011 on the web, and later released in 2011 for iOS and Android. The objective of the game is to explore and create, while also making sure you have the resources to survive.

Tirado started playing this game when he was 11 on his cousin’s Xbox, but now enjoys the new updates and changes which are available on his phone. “It’s so exciting to see what they add to the game,” Tirado said, “I still enjoy the game as much as I did before.”

Released online in 2011 then mobily in 2014, Papa’s Freezeria was a webgame that allowed players to run their own ice cream shop, serving customers and earning points for service quality. Gil enjoys the aspect of running a business and “all the toppings and the craze of when a lot of customers come in.” Gil began playing this game on a laptop in sixth grade, and now plays on her phone whenever she gets the chance during classes.

Other childhood games on her phone: Piano Tiles, Subway Surfers, Temple Run

Other childhood games on his phone: Geometry Dash, Beat the Boss

cailin kilkenny, 10 My Singing Monsters, released in 2012, allows players to complete challenges in order to collect monsters, which each sing a different tune. First downloaded when she was in third grade, Kilkenny enjoyed playing the game because she “liked singing the little songs and collecting the new characters.” Kilkenny used to play the game on a shared iPad but is now able to play on her iPhone, giving her more time to play during the day. “I was just searching through the games on the app store and saw it was available, so I downloaded it again,” said Kilkenny.

Other childhood games on her phone: Happy Wheels, Adventure Capitalist, My Virtual Family, and Hair Salon

the sims

Roblox

bryce padilla, 10

julia register, 10

With the first version of the game released for computers in 2000, The Sims is a real-life simulator where players complete daily activities for their characters and grow their own family.

“I love controlling people’s lives, it’s a fun game and you lose track of time,” said Padilla, who started playing in fifth grade. Padilla recently downloaded the game after previously playing it on his laptop. “When I was a kid I was just mindlessly doing stuff,” Padilla said.

“Now I feel like there’s a purpose.”

Released in 2006, Roblox was an online multiplayer game only accessible on computers, but was mobily released in 2012. “When I was younger, I liked meeting new friends and having fun, I even had a Roblox boyfriend,” said Register, who began playing on her laptop in third grade. Register began playing the game again on her iPad and phone during quarantine and summer because “I find it really funny playing with my friends, if you go up and kill them it’s funny seeing their reactions.”

Other childhood games on his phone: Magic Piano

Other childhood games on her phone: Minecraft

lifestyles POPPIN’ OFF

Joshua Bassett’s “SOUR” Response Skyler Glenn

After listening to singer Olivia Rodrigo bash ex-boyfriend Joshua Bassett on Sour for the hundredth time, you ask yourself, “What is he feeling right now?”

For anyone who was wondering, Bassett has provided a blunt answer.

In May of 2021, Rodrigo released her debut album Sour, detailing the end of her relationship with Bassett. Fans brutally attacked Bassett for months, but finally, on Dec. 3, Bassett released his response to the album: an emotional, critical EP, titled “Crisis / Secret / Set Me Free.”

The conflicting stories that both artists tell makes one thing clear: the internet is about to blow up. Fans love heartwrenching breakup songs because they’re relatable, and because everyone wishes they could trash their ex like Rodrigo and Bassett do. When two A-list celebrities accuse each other of cheating, all you can do is sit back and enjoy the show. While you may feel bad for the Bassetts and Jake Gyllenhaals of the world, it’s undoubtedly entertaining.

However, some fans take the drama too far. The death threats Bassett received after Sour’s release are awful, to say the least. In Crisis, Bassett describes the confusion he felt after receiving multiple death threats: “My mama called cause she heard I got death threats / Oh, what the hell am I supposed to do with that?” In any situation, death threats are not okay. He broke her heart. He doesn’t deserve to have his life threatened because of it. Being a fan of Rodrigo doesn’t mean you need to be a hater of Bassett.

Whether you think he’s innocent or not, Bassett had every right to release his EP and tell his side of the story. The drama is fun to watch, but in the future, fans should keep their angry, overdramatic Tweets out of celebrity breakups.

Hyperbolizing the severity of a breakup will not help – just ask Jake.

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11

sports

Hawkins powers past expectations Greta Carrasco

I

Staff Reporter

n his final deadlift, senior Devon Hawkins raised 265 pounds, held the bar for a second, and dropped it. Silence surrounded the arena as the final decision of the referees was reached. All three referees signaled the lift was good, and a few feet away, Hawkins’ dad started dancing.

With a total of seven lifts over three categories, Hawkins maxed 155 pounds in his bench press, 170 pounds for his squats and 265 pounds for his deadlift. The 690-pound total earned him first place in the state, a gold medal and a bid to qualify for the Special Olympics representing the United States.

“I danced. It was embarrassing for him, but I danced,” Hawkins’ father John said.

Devon was adopted with his younger brother at age seven

by Emily and John Sr. Hawkins. He already had a diagnosis of X syndrome, the leading cause of autism in boys. Doctors told them that Devon would not be able to play any sports since he did not have the muscle needed. Proving them wrong, Hawkins became an active child, participating in as many sports as he was able to.

Hawkins spends most of his time at school in AnGell Hicks’ ESE class. Where Cheryl Orlando is currently substituting. She describes Hawkins as helpful, kind, funny and sweet. Like his weightlifting, Hawkins has been excelling in his class through perseverance and hard work. For a while, he was struggling with addition and needed extra help to solve the problems, but he is now able to complete worksheets on his own.

“The only thing these kids want is to fit in and feel normal, they persevere and work hard to exceed the expectations of everyone around them,” Orlando said.

Hawkins signed up with the Special Olympics organization at age eight when he started training and competing in track.

During his first county competition, Devon’s mom was hospitalized, and due to the stress, he struggled to focus on the race. Despite the distractions, he still placed first in almost every event he competed in.

Hawkins has earned various medals for swimming, and gold medals for cycling, softball and now weightlifting. In his 10 years of competition, Hawkins has found that his true passion

is powerlifting.

“It’s amazing watching him work so hard. We always remind him that he is in control of what he can or can’t do. If he wants it badly enough and works for it, he can do anything,” Emily said.

Hawkins took interest in weightlifting his freshman year of high school after joining the boys weightlifting team. He got a lot of help from assistant coach Curvan Williams during the spring.

During his first season of weightlifting, Hawkins was at a basketball game when one of his opponents grabbed his arm and dislocated his shoulder. It took him about a year to recover and even now struggles with pain from the injury. Even after this event, Hawkins finished the game and told the coach about his shoulder only after the game had ended.

“I was surprised because Devon didn’t say anything until the game was over,” Emily said. “He said his arm was sore so when we went to get a good look, it was very obvious that his shoulder was dislocated as his arm was hanging.”

He has seen major improvement throughout his powerlifting career. Once barely able to lift the bar, Hawkins has figured out his strength and pacing to lift more weight progressively. As his coach, his father has seen immense improvement.

“Working with Devon is fun because he doesn’t realize he can do something and then when he does it, all he can do is smile and be proud of himself,” John said.

In order for Hawkins to qualify for the state competition, he had to start in county games, competing against Seminole County athletes and winning first place overall. Afterwards, he had to compete in an area game which was held at his home gym at D3 in Lake Mary. He placed second in order to move to states, competing against lifters from six other counties.

Once he qualified, Hawkins went against athletes from all over the state. Competitions were held in Disney ESPN, where he won first place and qualified to play with the USA and represent team Florida for the June 2022 Special Olympics in Orlando.

“I was excited, I put in a lot of effort,” Hawkins said.

Devon and his parents are waiting for the list of athletes who will be competing for the USA team this summer, a wait which could take weeks, or even months.

“We are just extremely proud of him. He’s worked so hard to overcome all his obstacles and he’s excelling which is incredible to see,” John said.

Cheer gets nationals bid

Zahra Ateeq

I

Staff Reporter

n Tampa on Dec. 4, the varsity competition cheer team participated in regionals, their first big competition of the season. Led by coach Terri King, the varsity team ended with a score of 78 and with an invitation to nationals.

A score of 65 was needed to qualify, which the team surpassed by 13 points. The team has to compete at a second regionals to make it to states. “[For nationals] we make our skills a little bit more difficult,” King said. “A little bit of tumbling, our cheer stays the same, but it’s just about making our sense of difficulty harder.”

The varsity team consists of 16 different cheerleaders, with two bases, a backspot and a flyer in each formation. Three captains were designated to help coach the team through the competitions: seniors Abby O’Donnell, Ella Laureano and Emma Johnson. As one of their first big competitions, O’Donnell said that event was a team learning experience.

“We learned a lot from Saturday,” O’Donnell said. “A part of my job as captain is to keep the team focused and motivated on competition day and the rest of the season.

Excitement was definitely there, but we just have to use it correctly.”

Placements were not available for varsity, as they were not aiming for a rank and went out of sequential order when performing since the main goal for them was just to get a “bid to nationals.”

It was not their best performance, as Johnson and Laureano described it, but they reached the goal of a nationals bid.

“It was our first big competition,” Johnson said. “We don’t usually hit perfect until closer to the end of the season.”

As a whole the varsity squad understood that they had room for improvement as they get better throughout the year.

“It may not have been our very best performance but we don’t want to peak yet, since it’s only the beginning of the season,” captain Ella Laureano said.

TOP OF HIS GAME Senior Devon Hawkins flexes on the podium after placing first in the Special Olympics state weightlifting competition. photo by Emily Hawkins

sports shorts

Varsity soccer blanks Lake Howell The girls varsity soccer team won against Lake Howell on Dec. 9, a 2-0 shutout. Sophomore Skye Barns goal and junior Molly McGrath scored one goal each while sophomore Megan O’Donnell received player of the game.

Though they got the win, the team felt they could have done even better. “The score did not reflect the game,” O’Donnell said. “We had so many chances and we had the majority of the possession.” The team’s next game is Dec. 18 against Bartram Trail.

JV basketball falls to Olympia

The boys JV basketball team fell to Olympia 50-47 on Dec. 8 in a close game that came down to a last-minute threepointer by Olympia. The team started off slow in the first half and turned it around in the second half to make a run for the win but fell short. Kolby Turner scored eight points and had three blocks. “The best part about the game was in the second half when we really started playing as a team and started to make a comeback,” Turner said. Their next game is on Dec. 15 against Lake Mary, hosted at Hagerty with tickets on sale at gofan.com.

Varsity soccer beats Brantley, 3-2

TAKING POSITIONS The varsity team stunts in a Nov. 20 competition at Lake Mary High School. photo by Mia Campese

The boys varsity soccer team won a close game against Lake Brantley on Dec. 8, with a final score of 3-2 thanks to a last-minute goal by forward Hayden Lesniewski assisted by midfielder Brayden Seymour. Goalie Erwin Eberhardt also had three saves in the win. This was also the first win of the season and according to players, a turnaround point for the rest of the season. “There was a lot of pressure on our team but we did not give up and gave it our best as the results show,” Eberhardt said. The game is against Lyman on Dec. 15. Tickets can be found on gofan.com.

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Varsity basketball off to fast start Reagan Eastlick

T

Staff Reporter

here is nothing more intense than the final moments of a basketball game. Sweat (and sometimes blood) is flowing freely.

The crowd is chanting. Praying. Screaming. The tension is palpable, the mindsets are fixed, and nothing matters more than walking away from the court with a win. Varsity basketball knows that feeling well, beginning the season 4-2 with a solid team of returning players and a pocketful of close victories.

Head coach Josh Kohn attributes much of the team’s success to their mentality and chemistry on the court.

“Practices have been intense- the team really gets along. They are all basketball junkies, these 10 guys love hoops. That’s not always the case, but all of these guys genuinely love to play. That makes it more fun for me, too.”

One of those guys is senior small forward Walker Mitchell.

“Eight of our varsity players are returning.

We have a lot of chemistry built up and we work together really well,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell scored 14 points in a close game against Evans High School on Dec. 7. His leadership, as well as general teamwork, has played an important role this season.

Team cohesion is important in a fast paced game like basketball. For Mitchell, improving the team centers around everyone hustling for

loose balls and rebounds.

“The more possessions we have, the better shot we have of beating the other guys,” he remarked.

Junior Andrew Broome agrees, but wants to add extra focus on moving the ball.

“I want to find open men on the court; it’s not all about scoring, but about providing for the teammates,” Broome said.

Teamwork is vital to the basketball team’s success. Even with the wild success of senior shooting guard Jah Nze, who in a Friday night game against Lake Howell scored his 2,000th point and took the number one scoring position for Hagerty, it takes a team to win a game.

Nze has been important in that aspect as well. Although he has scored over 30 points in each of his first four games, including a 44 point game against Evans on Dec. 7, he adds more to the team than just scoring power.

“He really became a team player this year, starting in March,” Kohn said. “This was another level of work. You are seeing the fruits of his labor on the court. I can feel the guys feeding off that.”

Although the team is only six games into a long schedule, they are optimistic for a successful post-season.

“We are good enough to make the state playoffs,” Kohn said.

Before state playoffs, the team first has to pass through the district and regional championships. Doing so is notoriously

athlete of the issue Who

Hannah Kohn

Team

Varsity Basketball

Date

Dec. 7

What

Scored 19 three-pointers

Where

Competition Gym

On Dec. 7, junior Hannah Kohn set a national record for having 19 3-pointers in a high school girls game. Kohn felt proud to break the record while playing for Hagerty.

“It felt good to break the record with my team because of how unselfish everyone is, and the environment was supportive,” Kohn said.

Sports Center recognized the basketball star, Tweeting congratulations on her accomplishment.

Kohn also gained over 11,000 followers on her social media platforms this past week. Her coaches, teammates and father, boys coach Josh Kohn, are all excited and proud.

The girls varsity basketball team went on to beat Lyman High School 87-23.

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT Senior Jah Nze, the school’s all-time leading scorer, powers in for a layup. Boys varsity basketball lost to West Orange by three on Dec. 10. photo by Sarah Hinnant

difficult, but the team appears to be confident.

“Looking at the team I would say that we can take the district championship. I expect good things from us at the regional tournament as well,” Broome commented. “We have a chip on our shoulder when it comes to Oviedo, but I know we can beat them.”

“I think we are going to win districts. We’ve

already beat Oviedo in the preseason. They’re just bad,” Mitchell commented.

Boys basketball won the first four games of their season, but have recently lost to Olympia and West Orange, leaving their record at a still solid 4-2. The boys next play Lake Nona on Monday the 13th, and are eager for another win.

Tickets can be purchased at Gofan.co.

Wrestling opens at Clash of Titans

Karson Cuozzo

W

Sports Editor

restling season kicked off last weekend with the Clash of Titans tournament at University High School in Orange City. The boys JV team took first place, the girls varsity team took fourth and the boys varsity team took third.

The Clash of Titans is a two-day tournament – JV boys and girls wrestle on Friday and boys varsity wrestles on Saturday.

Weigh-ins started at 9 a.m. and wrestling began at 11 a.m. on both days.

Sophomore Logan Acey took first place in the 126-weight class. He won all his matches by pin and made a big improvement since last year’s tournament.

“I wrestled this kid last year and lost, but this year I pinned him. It felt like a redemption match,” Acey said. “I am extremely proud; I have made a lot of improvements since last year.”

Sophomore Hunter Tate took first place in the 195-pound weight class. Tate faced the number five ranked wrestler in his finals match, and he won.

“I was kind of feeling down going into the tournament, and then I started wrestling like I was supposed to, which led me to wrestle the monster wrestler in the tournament, but I pinned him in the first round,” Tate said.

The boys’ JV team started out their day with a lot of wins.

The girls on the other hand had a slower start to their day: Three out of the five girls lost their first match and dropped into the consolation bracket of the double-elimination tournament. Senior Megan Kaplan, however, won her first match and advanced to the winner’s bracket.

“I was excited to compete in the tournament, I felt confident going into my watch, and the rest of the day especially after winning my first match,” Kaplan said.

It was a very long day for both teams, there were tons of match delays, lots of miscommunication and some wrestlers had three-hour breaks before their next matches. The boys wrestled first, and then they would move into the girls matches at the beginning of the day. There were so many JV boys at the tournament that the girls had to wait over an hour until they even wrestled in their first round.

“The biggest challenge of the day was definitely being in the

gym for 14 hours. I didn’t get to wrestle my first match until around 1 p.m., and the whole girls team wrestled two rounds already,” junior Megan Dathe said.

Despite the long day, the teams performed very well compared to last year, when the JV team took second, varsity took third and the girls did not even place.

“Our JV team wrestled very well and won the tournament for the third time in four years. Our girls were short handed but still competed well, finishing 14th in a very tough tournament.

Varsity finished third behind two of the top teams in the state,” head coach Scotty Diaz said.

“The thing about wrestling is you only get what you earn.

Nothing is given to you. Good or bad, you get what you earn.

Our wrestlers competed well this weekend and earned their wins as well as their losses.”

A STRONG START Senior Megan Kaplan finishes second in the 125 weight class at the Clash of Titans tournament on Dec. 4 photo by Jada Llamido