Echo 16 17 2

The Echo

2016-17

Issue 2

THE ECHO Sports Wrap-Ups: BGA Girls Soccer State Runner-Ups

by Bailey Anderson

Page 1: Sports Wrap-Ups Page 4: Christmas Movie Polls Page 6: Where Are They Now? Featuring Mike Keith Page 7: Interview with Cafeteria Worker, Ms. Mary Page 8: Interview with New Teacher, Mr. McHugh Page 10: Artist Guild Night Page 11: Random Question: What Do You Want for Christmas?

The girls soccer team, coached by Jan Morrissey, had an amazing season this fall, ending with a record of 21-2-1, the titles of undefeated District and Region Champions, and a title of State Runner-up.

During the semi-final game, the girls were down by a goal to St. George. In the final 6 seconds, senior Taylor Knight scored, allowing the team to eventually win in overtime. The girls scored 114 goals this season, allowing only 16 goals scored throughout the season, and they sustained a 20 game winning streak. Senior Chloe Tremblay scored 30 goals, giving her a total of 77 goals for her high school career.

She was recently added to the 200 point club (77 goals plus all assists) and finished with a total of 213 points. Senior Wrenne French was named NSCAA All-South. She was also named All District with Taylor Knight, Landers Scott, and Chloe Tremblay. Wrenne French, Chloe Tremblay, McClain Daniel, and Taylor Knight were also named All Region.

The Echo Staff Editors-In-Chief: Skyler Fox and Emma Wylie Staff Members: Sarah Fly, Taylor Knight, Bailey Anderson, Alex Pareigis, Ridley Randolph, Olivia Criswell

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The Echo

2016-17

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Cross Country The boys and girls cross country team, coached by Kim Murray, ended strong during the Regional Championship this fall. Grady Roddy and Ian McCullough medaled and all 7 boys varsity runners finished in the top 50. All of the girls got personal bests and Katelyn Helberg and Katie Baier both finished in the top 20. The boys team qualified for State.

Golf The boys and girls golf team, coached by Brent McLay, went to State this year. In the tournament, Will Rieck tied for 11th.

Volleyball The girls volleyball team, coached by Charlie Carlisle, ended with a District Championship and a record of 13-19. During the season, senior Claire Scott was named a part of the All District Team and the All Regional Tournament Team, along with the title of District Tournament MVP. She was also named a part of the All District Tournament Team, along with Kyah Keller-Smith, and Avery Tidwell.

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The Echo

2016-17

Issue 2

Football The boy’s football team, coached by the Williamson Herald’s Coach of the Year Roc Batten, finished the season with a title of District Champions and a record of 8-4. They lost to University School of Nashville (USJ) in the quarterfinals of the State tournament. Senior Jake Holloway was named Special Teams MVP this season. Drew Martin, Oliver Reese, Kel Hawkins, Julian Craig, Bo Jewell, Eli Mayberry, and Conner Mitchell were all named a part of the 2016 All District Team. Jaylen Frierson and Brock Baldwin received honorable mentions, and Michael Stuart, Robbie Kirkpatrick, and Teddy Holloway were named Academic All District.

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The Echo

2016-17

Issue 2

The North Poll

1st Place: ELF

“Buddy the Elf what’s your favorite color?” If you know this quote, then you know what I’m about to talk about. If you don’t, then you haven’t seen the greatest Christmas movie of all time. Almost every scene in this movie will have you laugh-crying.

Since Buddy the Elf has never been in a city before, he doesn’t know how to do simple things like ride an escalator, cross the street, or eat spaghetti without putting pop tarts, candy, and syrup all over it. There is nothing funnier than a grown man in an elf costume singing at the top of his lungs in an office in the Empire State Building. One of the best parts of this movie is Buddy’s constant positive attitude. His father is on the naughty list (gasp), yet Buddy finds a way to continue to have the Christmas spirit even though he is shot down time after time. His boss tries to take the fun out of Macy’s department store by saying there is no singing in the North Pole after Buddy gives us his classic “I’m singing, I'm in a store, AND I'M SINGING” song. The most heartwarming thing about this movie is how Buddy is able to bring together a family. Not to mention the Christmas cheer he brings to New York, which gives Santa’s sled the power to fly again. Buddy’s attitude and cheerfulness is what I think we should take from this movie and apply this holiday season. So, make sure you follow the 3rd elf rule: “the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”

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The Echo

2016-17

Issue 2

A Christmas Story What’s more classic than this 1983 Christmas hit? A Christmas Story is a holiday movie that just cannot be skipped. I mean, TBS airs it for a full 24 hours every year on Christmas. You’ve probably seen it so many times, it would surprise me if you haven’t shot your eye out! That’s the appeal of this classic, though. No matter how many times you watch it, it never gets old! Whether it’s the Christmas dinner celebrated at Chop Suey Palace & Co., Ralphie’s Dad’s classic one liners, the iconic leg lamp, or Ralphie’s unwillingness to settle for any gift other than a Red Ryder 200-shot Range Model Air Rifle (not even a pink bunny suit). It’s the hysterical relatability that makes this movie so lovable. The Parkers provide a timeless, not to mention hilarious, representation for the stereotypical American family. Who can’t relate to a stubborn dad with colorful language who is completely enamored with his leg lamp? (It’s a major award!) Of course, A Christmas Story wouldn’t be A Christmas Story without Ralphie. He’s adorably persistent with the chubbiest cheeks in the world. How can you not love the kid? And he’s the star! This movie has it all, and it has my vote for best Christmas classic.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas Everybody recognizes his menacing, green smile, his hatred for the Christmas spirit, and his heart that was three sizes too small. How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a beloved story and song that has been a holiday staple in many families for many years.

Who can’t fall in love with Max, the sweet puppy that is just constantly getting dragged along the way, or with tiny little Cindy Lou Who with her huge innocent eyes and bright optimism? This film proves that change is possible in even the most hopeless of people, if only you have some goodwill and cheer. When you want to watch a holiday movie that brings a smile to your face, How the Grinch Stole Christmas is the clear choice, comedy and classic Christmas all mixed up into one.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is an inspiring (and adorable) story about a misfit reindeer who goes on a journey in order to find his purpose in life and the friends he encounters along the way. Who doesn’t love Hermey, the elf who aspires to be a dentist, Yukon Cornelius, an arctic prospector hoping to become rich, and the one and only Abominable Snowman, the huge, white-haired yeti who ends up turning away from his evil ways in the end? If you really think about it, the story of Rudolph and his friends actually possesses a much needed, very simple lesson: being different is okay. Although Rudolph, Hermey, Yukon, the Abominable Snowman, and others are all seen as outcasts because of certain unusual features they have such as their appearance or their personality, they are eventually accepted into the society because the more “normal” characters realize that, sometimes, good things come out of the differences in appearance or personality. Rudolph is able to lead Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve when it is too foggy for the reindeer to see to guide the sleigh because of his red, glowing nose, and he ends up saving Christmas. I’m looking forward to watching Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer over Christmas Break like I do every single year because, honestly, why wouldn’t you want to watch it every year? This movie is a perfect way to snuggle up with your blanket and hot chocolate and get into the Christmas cheer.

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The Echo

2016-17

Issue 2

Where Are They Now? Featuring Mike Keith

by Skyler Fox Being a college prepatory school, BGA is known for preparing students for college and for their professional lives. However, sometimes we do not realize how much BGA actually prepares us for the future. BGA impacts us academically and socially for the rest of our lives, but we are not able to take this into consideration until when we look back on our high school years. In order to discover the impact BGA has on us, the Echo staff has decided to start interviewing different BGA alumni to ask the questions of what BGA has done for them in their career and how BGA has impacted them overall. First, I interviewed Mike Keith, a BGA alumni who currently has a child attending BGA and is known for his radio broadcasts of the Tennessee Titans.

Q: Briefly describe where you are and what you’re doing: A: I'm in my 19th year with the Tennessee Titans as the team's Director of Broadcasting. I handle radio play-by-play for all 20 Titans games each season (including the four preseason games). I host Titans-themed radio shows in-season and in the off-season and a television program that airs region-wide known as Titans All Access.

Q: How has BGA helped you to get to where you are?

A: Two things about my BGA experience stand out to me as skills that I use each day. Number one, the ability to budget my time and focus on what is important. One must be able to make decisions about what tasks are most important and how much time to spend on them. At BGA, you learn this skill very early in your academic career if you wish to survive. Number two, the ability to work in any setting. BGA teaches its student how to handle pressure, how to think on your feet and how to adapt. Because of this training at BGA, I always feel that I can handle whatever comes my way.

Q: What do you miss most about BGA? A: The BGA community. I enjoyed my friends, my teammates, my coaches and my teachers, even the administration. Every day that I went to school at BGA, it felt like home to me. I have never experienced that anywhere else in my life, which makes me look back on my BGA days even more fondly. There is nowhere else quite like BGA.

I do speaking engagements and do work with our ticket office, community relations department, marketing department and digital media department.

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The Echo Q: What is the biggest difference between BGA when you were here and BGA now?

A: Great question. At the end of this year, Michelle and I will have been BGA parents for 17 years. In my time as a parent, I have noticed more similarities than differences. The BGA community is still rock solid. The teachers continue to be the backbone of the school. All of the teams at the school (athletic, academic and artistic) remain outstanding. BGA's key over 127 years has been its ability to adapt while staying the same in terms what the school's heart and soul is all about. So the buildings are much newer. The technology is much better. Those are the changes that I notice most. But for the most part, BGA remains BGA, which is a great thing.

2016-17

Issue 2

Interview with Cafeteria Staff: Ms. Mary!

by Taylor Knight

Q: What is your favorite thing to cook?

A: Reese's peanut butter pie!

Q: What is the most difficult task you have been given?

A: It would probably be the Salisbury steak (made from scratch.)

Q: How long have you worked at BGA? A: 9 and a half years Q: Where did you learn to cook?

A: I learned when I was little. Growing up, I stayed at my grandmother's. She lived in the country, and we made everything from scratch. We never had anything pre-made. My grandmother taught me how to cook. (As Ms. Mary calls it, “Country cookin!�)

Q: What is your favorite memory at BGA? A: I don't have any memories because I love all the students and faculty, and I just love to make everybody happy.

Q: What is your favorite food?

A: You wouldn't believe this but a real peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

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The Echo

2016-17

Issue 2

Interview with New Teacher, Mr. McHugh

by Emma Wylie Q: What do you teach here at BGA? A: I teach college preparatory biology and physics.

Q: What is your favorite part of BGA so far?

A: The school culture and the enthusiasm of the students. I appreciate that a lot.

Q: Do you enjoy traveling? If so, where is your favorite place to travel?

A: I do enjoy traveling. My family goes to Disney World a lot. My mom is in love with it so we go there every year. My sister actually works there at Tomorrowland. We’re going down for Christmas this year; it’s kind of like a home away from home. I also really like to go to the beach, and I really want to go to Australia. It has some really incredible wildlife. Steve Irwin was my childhood hero.

Q: What are you most excited about for this year?

A: I am most excited for the tug -- I’m a Greer. I’m also really excited to watch my students start from being one person at the beginning of the year and become another person at the end of the year. As a teacher, it’s really cool to see them grow both academically and emotionally. I’m excited to see the progress of my kids.

Q: What was your high school experience like?

A: I was that awful kid who just didn’t study for anything and still made A’s. I also was a fantastic football bench-warmer. I was voted Best to Take Home to Mom and Dad which was cute. If I had to pick one word to describe myself in high school, it would just be goofy. Not much has changed.

Q: What do you like to do outside of school?

A: I am large enthusiast of fantasy literature, so things like Harry Potter. I was really into Pokémon Go for a while, but it has kind of faded out now. I’m a really big fan of documentaries, and I also may take some fun and interesting courses over the summer. I may learn how to start computer coding which would be awesome. I also really want to learn how to speak German. I may or may not start working on getting my doctorate this summer.

Other than that, my house is in desperate need of little facelift. I may get a puppy, too. I don’t know, we’ll see. Those are my big plans right now. All the things are happening in Mr. McHugh’s world!

Q: What was your college experience like?

A: College was kind of a culture shock from high school because I grew up in an environment that was a lot like BGA with a strong sense of community, but ultimately, you find people who you like to spend time with and you find your groove. It was a lot of fun and a big learning experience. I went to college in St. Petersburg, Florida. It was a little school called Eckerd College.

Q: What did you do before you came to BGA? A: I was a physical science and environmental science teacher at Springfield High School in Robertson County.

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The Echo

2016-17

Issue 1

Q: What do you binge-watch on Netflix?

A: I just recently finished binge-watching How I Met Your Mother for the fourth time. I was into Breaking Bad for a minute, and I just started watching The Office again. I also watch a lot of ocean documentaries.

Q: What inspired you to pursue teaching as a career?

A: When I was a little kid, I wanted to be a vet. I then thought that maybe I wanted to do marine science, and then I went to Eckerd, and it wasn’t quite what I expected. I tended to like my biology classes more than marine science, so I got my degree in biology and pre-vet. I started applying to vet school and decided eventually that I wanted do something more people-based, and here we are.

Q: What is the most interesting thing that has happened to you while teaching?

A: My first year of teaching, I had this activity where the kids had to make atoms out of coat hangers, using things like pipe cleaners, beads, etc., but there were a couple of kids who weren’t so focused. I made the mistake of getting this big tub of beads, and the kids liked throwing the beads at each other across the room. The principal came to talk to me one day to tell me that one of the kids had taken a handful of beads and stuck them into his pocket, and he threw them at this kid who made him mad earlier and got beads everywhere in the hallway, so that was fun (laughs). I also think the most fun thing about being a teacher is that students are people too, so you don’t just teach them academically. You are trying to meet the needs of every kid at every level.

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The Echo

2016-17

Issue 2

Artist Guild Night

by Ridley Randolph Every year there are several choir concerts, band performances, art shows, and theatrical performances, but all of these aspects come together for one amazing night annually: Artist Guild Night. This year, there were a collection of musical performances as well as a visual art exhibit created by Gloie Alexander. Senior Parker Greenwood tackled two performances that evening, the first time with his original piano composition, “Nautica”, followed by singing “Top 5 Desert Island Breakups” from the musical High Fidelity. Another senior, Ally Dunavant, sang a moving Italian aria, “O Del Mio Dolce Ardor”, and even though the words were not in English, her emotion portrayed each line beautifully.

Senior Webb Bankemper sang and danced to “I Can Do That” from the musical A Chorus Line which was both a big expression of talent and a nice moment of comedic relief among several more serious subject matters. Senior Allie Warren sang “One and Only” by Adele, Greg Wells, and Dan Wilson accompanied by senior Jack Willkomm on the piano, exhibiting both of their skills very well. Junior Madison Knight sang “All I Could Do Was Cry” by Billy Davis, Berry Gordy, and Gwen Gordy, a song very fitting what with exams soon approaching. Chloe Li and Alexia Zhang provided some refreshing variety to the show by performing a classical Chinese song on the guzheng, a Chinese zither, or a stringed instrument that is plucked similarly to a harp.

Not only does the Artist Guild put on an outstanding performance for the community every year, but it also provides a place for extremely talented students to come together and get a chance to share their talent with both each other and the rest of the school. Artist Guild is full of the most elite of the elite, and this year’s Artist Guild night clearly showcased this and the exceptional abilities of each of the members in the society.

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The Echo

2016-17

Issue 2

“What do you want for Christmas?”

Featuring Drew Martin Bo Jewell (Sr): A trampoline.

Katie Murphy (Jr): World Peace.

Kel Hawkins (Jr): Some kicks for the Kicks of the Day posts I have.

Charlie Jewell (Soph): I’m going to be honest with you. I want a nice, happy holiday and some good Christmas spirit. And maybe a wireless speaker and some new headphones.

Meggie McCaleb (Fr): Some clothes.

Mrs. Crowe: Oh my gosh, I haven’t even thought about that! Good question. My daughter is coming home.

She’s twenty-nine and lives in Virginia, so I’ll be happy just having her home.

Pictured: Katie Murphy

Pictured: Mrs. Crowe

Pictured: Bo Jewell (Featuring Mr. Griffin)

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