Debate Team Continues its Success in 2018 Page 2
Drew Martin Asks:
Greatest Showman:
What’s your ideal Valentine’s Day?
When Wolverine Goes to the Circus
Page 4
The Echo
Page 2
BGA’s Student Newspaper
March 15, 2018
Issue 3
Conner Mitchell ‘18 Takes Home Wrestling State Come See BGA Championship Upper School’s The Drowsy Chaperone!
By Emma Wylie Senior wrestler, Conner Mitchell did something only four others at BGA have ever accomplished: he won an individual state wrestling title. Conner wrestles in the 152-pound weight class and won the 2018 Division II State Wrestling Championship against Joseph Vogelpohl from Father Ryan High School. In the final match, tied at 5-5 with only a few seconds left, Mitchell escaped Vogelpohl, and earned the final point of the match, crowning him State Champion. The wrestling season this year, in comparison to past seasons, has suffered from more injuries to crucial wrestlers who score big points in matches. There have also been more eighth grade and freshmen wrestlers making contributions to the team than in past years. The program had 4 TSSAA Division II state qualifiers or medalists returning: Tiy Reed (138 lb.) 4th place, Conner Mitchell (152 lb.) 4th place, Dolan Eckhart (170 lb.) state qualifier and Teddy Holloway (182 lb. 4th place).
By Shea Kelly
Photo from Williamson Herald
Conner Mitchell wins BGA’s first Individual State Title in Wrestling since 2013 The team saw the most improvement among the eighth grade wrestlers: Zac Flores (106 lb.), Trace Alexander (113lb.), Xavier Hylton (113 lb.) and Joseph Shaar (120 lb.). “What is most impressive about
Star Wars: The Last Jedi Review By Skyler Fox The release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi had been awaited by millions since the success of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the first of the newest Star Wars series, in 2015. The Last Jedi ended up being the fifth-fastest-grossing film worldwide. According to Plugged In, the film “isn’t perfect, morally, spiritually or aesthetically. But... it’s the best Star Wars film since the original trio.” Screen Rant says that it, “builds upon Star Wars history for a more expansive, highstakes adventure with plenty of fresh – and classic – elements.” In case you do not know the story of The Last Jedi or need to be refreshed, Rey, a young woman who is strong with the force, is trained albeit
apprehensively by Jedi master Luke Skywalker to strengthen her abilities with the force and as a Jedi. At the same time, Kylo Ren and General Hux lead the First Order in an assault against Princess Leia and the Resistance in order to gain power over the galaxy. Although, in my opinion, no Star Wars film will ever top the original trilogy, The Last Jedi did an excellent job at doing all of the things it needed to do as the middle movie in this trilogy. Honestly, I was a little apprehensive at first because I didn’t know how I would be able to like a Star Wars movie without my all-time favorite Star Wars character, Han Solo. However, the film blew me away in its exhilaration and passion. I thought all of the characters were necessary and effective in producing
The Echo Staff Editors: Skyler Fox & Emma Wylie Staff:
Bailey Anderson Alex Pareigis Ridley Randolph Sarah May Drew Martin
the 4 eighth grade wrestlers is that they have all eluded injury throughout the season” says Coach Robert Jemison. Perhaps the greatest accomplishment of this season, however, was Dolan Eckhart, junior, also continued on Page 3
Continued on Page 3
Photo from Lucas Films / Disney
the story except for Rose, a mechanic for the Resistance who helps Finn break into the First Order’s ship. I thought her character was an unnecessary addition to the story and took away from it. I think she especially got on my nerves because of her unrequited infatuation for Finn through-
out the whole film. Besides this, honestly, I loved everything else about the movie. Luke Skywalker was my favorite character in this movie because he morphs from an annoyed old man who refuses to help Rey or the Resistance to the brave Luke Skywalker we know who sacrifices himself to
Boys’ Basketball Wrap-Up By Christine Jewell
Mary Kathryn Walt Phoebe Proctor Christine Jewell Allyson Newkirk
The Theatre Department has been producing The Drowsy Chaperone for this year’s spring musical. In The Drowsy Chaperone, the audience is greeted by The Man in Chair (Ray Goodson), an older Broadway show fanatic, who is listening to a recording of 1928 fictional musical, “The Drowsy Chaperone.” As he listens to the recording, both the audience and Man in Chair are brought into the musical itself. In this comedy, Janet Van de Graaff, the star of the show of Feldzieg’s Follies, played by Madison Knight, decides to end her career for love, and to marry an oil tycoon (Bennett Kesler).
The boys’ basketball team finished with an overall winning record of 15-12, and a league record of 13-5. A highlight was defeating Brentwood Academy, the number one team in the state, and being the only team in the district to defeat CPA during the regular season. Jack Jewell and Garnett Hollis finished their season on the All-Dis-
trict Team. The boys made it to the District Tournament Semifinals with a 79-48 win against Zion Christian Academy. It’s games like this that prompted Coach David Peden to descibe the team’s “resilience and togetherness late in the season.” The team lost in the Semifinals to the Webb Bell Buckle School, who eventually lost by 2 in the State Finals.