Northridge High School 2901 Northridge Road Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35406
est. 2003
THE MAY 2020
NORTH RID GE
www.northridgereporter.wordpress.com
REPORTER
The student est.voice 2003of Northridge High School
VOLUME 16 ISSUE 5
SENIOR SPRING SQUASHED
Seniors lose lasts with spring sports, prom, and graduation canceled for COVID
CHARLOTTE FARRAR NEWS EDITOR The seniors of Northridge High School entered the Jag Lobby as on any other Friday. Many talked of spring break while others rushed to turn in assignments before the end of the grading period but few realized that this March day would be their last in the Northridge halls. That night, the voice of Principal Dr. J. Tygar Evans came through phones across Tuscaloosa to announce that schools would be closing until April 6 to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Over the weeks to come, seniors and their families would receive many similar calls announcing extensions to this break and, eventually, the cancellation of the remainder of the 2020 spring semester. “I didn’t know that my last time that I was in school was going to be my last time at school and, being a senior, it’s sad because you want to remember that and make the most of it,” senior Sophia Allen said. On April 6, students ventured online to experience their senior year in an unprecedented way. Despite the efforts of Northridge staff to smooth this transition, seniors encountered new obstacles with online learning. “I really don’t like doing online school...it’s really hard to learn online without being able to ask questions in-person,” senior Jennifer Stroud said. Northridge has instituted a grading policy allowing senior students to accept their grade from the third nine weeks grading period as their final average, though it is not applicable to AP, Dual Enrollment, ACCESS, or half-credit classes, such as economics. In a survey of 46 seniors, 76% of students stated an intention to keep their third nine weeks grade. However, 67% of that same population expected to continue coursework online, overwhelmingly due to school requirements regarding Dual Enrollment and AP classes. “I liked [the grading policy]...but I feel like they should have had some sort of add-on for AP classes,” Stroud said. “I don’t mind continuing to work...it just stresses me out doing things online knowing my grade can be affected by it.” Meanwhile, students are mourning the loss of their senior year and reflecting on their lasts at Northridge. Asked about a favorite memory from senior year, students overwhelmingly turned to football festivities. Flag parades, pep rallies, Friday night lights, and homecoming week were all popular responses as seniors considered which moments they loved most. Still, many seniors are left saddened by the cancellations of spring events. “I was most looking forward to all of the senior rites of passage: senior skip day, a senior trip, and, obviously, graduation and prom,” senior Carson Ledbetter said. Ledbetter notes many common disappointments: When asked which two cancellations were most disappointing, 35 of 46 seniors pointed to graduation and 26 of 46 to prom. For many, though, it was the less universal cancellations that felt most disheartening. Many senior art students have been anticipating and preparing for culminating performances for years past. Band drum major and
“ratherI would graduate,
and I would rather not graduate on Zoom.
”
-EMMA BISSELL
senior Scarlett Maples said she was taking the cancellation of her senior spring band concert the hardest. “It’s a big deal,” she said. “ I’ve been looking forward to this since December of my 6th grade year.” The cancellation of spring semester has also brought the cancellation of the spring musical, “Beauty and the Beast Jr.,” in which seniors Sophia Allen and Sam Allen (no relation) were set to take on the leading roles. “It’s really important to me and something that I was really looking forward to, especially because I was going to do it with my best friend Sam...it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for us,” Sophia Allen said. Other seniors are saddened by the abrupt cancellation of senior sports. Among others, soccer, tennis, and baseball have had their seasons cut short with little chance of being rescheduled. “It was heartbreaking,” senior soccer captain Emma Bissell said. “The team is still going to be great [next year]; they’re not losing too many valuable key pieces that won’t be replaced, but it’s sad because I really wanted to go out strong.” Northridge clubs are also adapting to a new way of being. Senior Jennifer Stroud, Vice President of Girls Learn International, commented on the struggle of remaining active in the midst of these changes. “It’s just going to be really hard not being face-to-face,” Stroud said. “In GLI we like to have little parties and bring food, and we can’t do any kind of fundraising like we had wanted to...we just discuss things without being able to do anything, which our whole goal for the club this year was to do more events,”. The yearbook staff is also scrambling to complete the book and fill in gaps as many events they had reserved pages for are canceled. Even more, the staff is concerned about maintaining the same quality of reporting as in previous years: Without regular congregation of the Northridge community, it is hard to cover a variety of students and to ensure that students have something positive to look back on. “It’s going to be really difficult to continue to get diverse coverage and to have different people from different cliques at school...There’s going to be a lot missing from the yearbook that’s pretty sad,” staffer Jennifer Stroud said. In this moment, seniors are thankful for the support of their teachers and administrators, who are working to be there for seniors as much as possible and are looking into rescheduling important events. “Communication is important,” Williams said. “For seniors, I have just tried to be flexible and understanding. Many are going through a range of different emotions and struggles simply with the way their senior year ended.” Seniors themselves are eager to see events rescheduled into the summer or even later. When surveyed, 89% of seniors said they were in favor of having events rescheduled while 78% of respondents said they would attend a rescheduled event even if it required rearranging prior plans and another 14% said they would consider doing so. Additionally, 83% of those in favor of rescheduling events said they would prioritize graduation. “I think graduation needs to be prioritized,” Bissell said. “I would love it if we could have a makeshift prom, even if it’s not at Northridge, but that’s not our first priority. I would rather graduate, and I would rather not graduate on Zoom.” Many aspects of transitioning into college and life after high school are now uncertain as coronavirus-related delays and cancellations pile up. Those students who are yet unsure where they will be studying next year are now forced to make a life changing decision without resources they might regularly expect. “It’s really unnerving because I have to pick somewhere to be for the next four years without ever being there,” she said. “It’s a really hard decision when you don’t have that
SENIOR POLL: WOULD YOU ATTEND A RESCHEDULED EVENT EVEN IF YOU HAD TO REARRANGE PRIOR PLANS?
Graphic by Charlotte Farrar via Canva experience at some colleges and you do with others.” For some, changes due to coronavirus are also changing the criteria they are using to make a decision. With greater uncertainty surrounding college sports, Emma Bissell has reconsidered her desire to play soccer at the college level. “I decided not to play [college soccer] because I felt like, if the Coronavirus continues and NCAA could be suspended in the fall, I didn’t know if I’d want to be trapped somewhere,” Bissell said. “I’d rather go somewhere that is more open and not just based on soccer.” Coronavirus adaptations have also altered scholarship allocation for college. Sophia Allen, who will be attending Shelton State Community College for nursing in the fall, is grappling with virtual interviews and auditions. “Making a first impression over a facetime call is a lot different,” Allen said. “You can’t have a real conversation with the person that is about to decide all of your future for you. It’s nerve wracking and scary, but it’s the best we can do right now.” Beyond first impressions, the experience of auditioning remotely feels very different from auditioning face-to-face and could even change the outcome. “Million Dollar Band percussion auditions have been moved online, a drastic change from normal,” Maples said. “It’s very hard to assess how skilled someone is over a video.” More than anything, seniors must now say difficult goodbyes in unconventional ways. Seniors overwhelmingly stated that teachers and friends--the NHS community--are what they will miss most next year. “I wish I could say, ‘Hey, thank you for everything! Even though you may not realize you did anything for me just waving in the hallway or saying ‘have a good day’ made my life easier,” Bissell said. After four years of high school, seniors never expected such an abrupt and forceful end to this formative experience. Despite the sadness, though, there is a great deal of gratitude and joy that seniors will hold close long past high school. “Thank you,” Allen said. “It was four years of growing up; you’re a different person when you start school as a freshman than you are as a senior...I’m really grateful for it, for everyone.”
2 OUR THOUGHTS OPINION
THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER MAY 2020
[ Another sad senior story
[
staff members...
AGREE.....9 DISAGREE.....0
CAROLINE FERRY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF As my senior year comes to a close, much earlier than anyone expected, our class faces a wide range of feelings. Whether sad about prom, scared to face the real world, or just relieved that high school is over, I don’t think anyone has been emotionally unaffected by these events. Just like anything else our generation has encountered, we’ve all blasted our feelings and opinions about the end of senior year all over social media. Sometimes it seems like a bit much, and I get why other classes may be annoyed with us for constantly complaining or repeatedly throwing it in their face, but I truly believe we should be allowed to be annoying for a couple of weeks, because what we’re missing out on is much more than just prom or graduation. Imagine if after waiting your whole life to drive, on the day before your 16th birth-
day, Alabama changed the minimum age to 18. Or, imagine how you would feel if you went to the orthodontist to get your braces removed, and they said you had to keep them on for another year. Imagine being on your best behavior for months before Santa came just to have his sleigh break down on Christmas Eve. With each second, our anticipation for events like these only gets bigger. The closer we get, the faster our excitement grows until we reach a peak where we can barely contain ourselves. Think about the car ride to the DMV with your mom or trying to fall asleep on Christmas Eve. Seniors were at that peak. After 18 years, with just a couple weeks until the perfect prom some of us dreamed about and just a couple months until we wore our cap and gown, it was all ripped out from underneath us, turning our excitement to disappointment and leaving our anticipation of these events with nowhere to go. It’s like watching an incredible, and incredibly long, movie, except the last scene gets cut
out. We can’t forget about the goodbyes either. Lots of us have been going to school together since kindergarten. We never got the chance to say goodbye to the people we won’t stay in touch with. We didn’t walk through the courtyard or roll out of the parking lot knowing it would be our last time. We didn’t get to say goodbye to teachers and faculty who have guided us through the most difficult part of our lives thus far. Despite what it may sound like, I’m fully aware that this isn’t the end of the world. We’re very lucky to have the resources to continue learning through
[
this last semester and beyond if we so choose. There are much worse things that have come out of this year, and I would say that the Northridge Class of 2020 has been extremely lucky in that these effects are minuscule compared to what many people are facing right now. Life will go on, and years from now we’ll remember the things we did rather than the things we missed. There’s no one to blame (except possibly some man who ate a bat, but I don’t know that that’s entirely valid either). All I’m saying is that right now, this really sucks, so be nice to the seniors in your life.
[
Want to submit YOUR letter to the editor? Stop by room 109, or contact one of our editors or Mrs. Lane!
Art by Sarah Wagenheim
est. 2003
THE
NORTH RID GE
REPORTER
The student voice of Northridge High School
Northridge High School • 2901 Northridge est. 2003 Road • Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 • (205) 759- 3590 ext.3432
Northridge High School • 2901 Northridge Road • Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 • (205) 759-3734 ext. 295
Managing Editor Addison Taylor Feature Editor Caroline Ferry, Addison Taylor Sports Editor Patrick Johnson Staff Writer Deja Williams Powell
News Editor Charlotte Farrar Entertainment Editor Addison Taylor Opinion Editor Aonesti McClain Business Manager Patrick Johnson
Copy Editor Sofia Locascio Beat Editor Samantha Knight Staff Writer Jillian Wyatt Cartoonist Sarah Wagenheim
Opinion disclaimer: The opinions in The Northridge Reporter are those of the students and not of the faculty or administration of Northridge High School or the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education Advertising and subscriptions: Contact The Northridge Reporter at (205) 759- 3590 ext. 3432 or rlane@tusc.k12.al.us to advertise in or subscribe to our paper
Letters to the editor: It is the policy of The Northridge Reporter to publish all non-obscene, non-libelous, signed letters to the editor, regardless of the opinion expressed in them. Submit letters to Rhonda Lane in room 109 or email to rlane@tusc.k12.al.us. The Northridge Reporter reserves the right to edit letters and verify allegations. The newspaper is distributed monthly.
Rhonda Lane, Advisor Caroline Ferry, Editor-in-chief
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ENTERTAINMENT
THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER MAY 2020
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‘Tiger King’ review
When the allegation that a woman fed her multi-millionaire husband to tigers is merely a subplot, you know you’re in for a wild ride. ADDISON TAYLOR GENERAL MANAGER
candidate, Joe is most well known for owning a zoo in Oklahoma, where he showcases his collection of big cats. The Netflix’s newest docu-series, “Tiger show also introduces more big cat fanatics King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness”, who, like Joe, are just as far-fetched. is the perfect addition to the absurdity There’s Doc Antle, a renowned animal of 2020. The show focuses on the almost trainer in the entertainment industry, mythical Joe Exotic, a short-tempered, working with stars like Britney Spears and polyamorous, mulleted redneck whose owner of the suspiciously cult-like Myrtle personality seems almost too bizarre to Beach Safari in South Carolina. At his zoo, be true. Among his other endeavors as a Antle employs a myriad of young women country music star and as a presidential whom he calls his “girlfriends,” with some of the women even accusing Antle of both sexual and emotional manipulation in order to receive special treatment at the park. At times, the zoo seems more like a veneration towards Antle rather than a workplace, as he is often referred to as Bhagavan, an epithet for “god.” And then, there CAT FIGHT Carol Baskin, Joe’s archnemesis and founder is Carole Baskin, of Big Cat Rescue, kneels beside a caged lion at her animal Joe’s archnemesis, sancturary. Photo by Tribune News Service
CAT PEOPLE Joe Exotic poses with one of his tigers. At one point, he owned as many as 200 big cats. Photo by Tribune News Service
and owner of the Big Cat Rescue facility in Tampa, Florida. The seemingly sweet, flower crown-sporting hippie is, in reality, just as much of a nutcase as the rest of the big cat weirdos. As a self-proclaimed animal activist, she has lobbied to shut down operations like Joe’s, while simultaneously profiting off of big cats at her own facility, where she overworks volunteers and keeps animals in conditions just as deplorable as Joe. Oh, and she is also alleged to have murdered her husband and disposed of his body by feeding him to her tigers. My only real problem with the series is that one of its interviewees, Saff Saffery,
a trans man, is repeatedly misgendered throughout the show, which, after having his hand bitten off by a tiger at Joe’s park, he definitely deserves better. Overall, it honestly felt like one big fever dream with all of the larger than life personalities and bizarre situations. I watched the entire series in one weekend, and every episode left me even more baffled than the last. “Tiger King” is definitely worth a watch, and I recommend that you give it a try, no matter how insane it seems at times. It’s one of the most unique docu-series that Netflix has ever released.
‘100 Humans’ review
Can life’s questions really be Within the group there are a large answered? variety of race, gender, and age to be able SOFIA LOCASCIO COPY EDITOR On March 13, Netflix released a new reality show trying to answer questions on human behavior. It has a total of eight episodes that are 30 to 40 minutes long; each episode focuses on a general topic such as, how to be happy or what makes us attractive. There are 100 individuals who volunteered to be a part of interactive experiments exploring social influence on genders, how negative and positive elements affect us, and all the other aspects of being human.
to relate to any and all viewers. While the idea of learning more about human behavior is appealing, the show itself felt very staged. The hosts and most volunteers were actors, writers, and or comedians. Although there is nothing wrong with that, the fact that it was not known made the show seem fake. But the overall problem is the experiments are not interesting enough to be drawn into the show. The experiments become so repetitively tedious the episodes begin to drag. Personally, this show was not for me, but you might find humor in the snarky commentary and joy from the outcomes of the experiments.
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THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER MAY 2020
FEATURE
GOOD NEWS at E S I R P UR
S R O I N SE
urprise s a o t p u e k seniors wo e g id r h t r Class of o e N h , t 7 f 1 o l t i r r o p p A p On ards in su y ir e tments as h t in o o t p p d a e r is e d v f li e o sign d d a series e c a f effects of s a e h h t p y u b o r d g le e i 2020. Th were dera s r a u these g f ja o s s a y a s k d e e e h w t ightened r their final b s n ig s d r ion of the a t y a i e c e r Th p . p 9 a 1 ir D COVI posted the s such a m w o t h I “ w . t f a o h y c n p students, ma ook, Instagram, and Sna ning, and r o m t b a e h c t a F d r gesture on n in my ya ig s hridge e t h r t o e N e s e h o t t f e o is still a part ll a nice surpr a e of the r a e n e o w t id a a h s t ” , e m t’s going on a h t it reminded g in h t y r with eve family, even ldrop. a W n y s r a C , seniors
Photos by Kate Merritt, Carsyn Waldrop, and Sydney Crowe (Left to right)
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THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER MAY 2020
FEATURE
t NORTHRIDGE Right from Michelle Crouse Below left from Tribune News Service
CAROLINE FERRY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Below right from Scuttle Shuttle Facebook
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All graphics from Adobe Stock
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NEWS
The staff of the Northridge Reporter share their coronavirus experiences.
OVID-19 DIARIES Graphics by Adobe
CAROLINE FERRY the challenges out of fear that I’ll eventually hit rock botEDITOR IN CHIEF tom. It’s an exhausting journey unlike anything any of us
The past month has felt like a mountain. A mountain with avalanches. And boulders. And possibly lava. I’m climbing up the slope, just trying to get a glimpse at the bright side, but when I look up, another disaster is headed straight for me. Tuscaloosa has its first reported case of COVID-19. My senior year has been cancelled. The death toll continues to rise. A possible three more months in quarantine. The Wifi stopped working. The economy doesn’t stand a chance. I keep climbing, but eventually the resistance is too much. I must resign myself to the fact that I’m not reaching the peak anytime soon. But even so, I have to keep pushing through the even so, I have to keep pushing through
have ever faced. So I stay home, scrolling through a combination of inspirational quotes, senior goodbyes, and devastating news updates on Instagram and studying for AP exams that seem utterly insignificant in the face of this pandemic. I bake cookies, watch “Gilmore Girls,” go on long walks, and play rounds and rounds of Bananagrams, which should be a simple, stress-free life. However, all of the spaces in between are filled with uncertainty, fear, and doubt. Will I get the virus? What if this comes back next year? Will I get to start college in the fall? When can they develop a vaccine? Will I get a graduation ceremony? Is anyone else this anxious? Will life ever go back to normal? But there’s no point in asking these questions when no one else really knows the answers. Those are the lows, but there have been plenty of highs. For one, I don’t remember the last spring I was able to spend this much time outside, enjoying the perfect weather. I’ve also gotten the chance to work on hobbies I don’t normally have the time to pick up. Most importantly, though, is the fact that I’m healthy and safe at home with every resource I need. I have books, food, shelter, soap, Wifi, my phone, and friends who are willing and able to Facetime me when I’m bored. So yes, this month has been a mountain, but eventually we WILL see the other side. ly aware that the world chugged on outside of my
CHARLOTTE FARRAR window. I found strange comfort in the knowledge that, just as the world went on without me, it would NEWS EDITOR For the second half of my freshmen year, I was desperately, inexplicably sick. I spent drawnout days in bed, mindlessly consuming “The Office” for the fifth time. It was a purgatorial existence, a life that was barely life-like. I facetimed friends and baked things when my energy was high, slept for too many hours and scrolled aimlessly through social media when it was not. Now, as I once again spend days wandering pointlessly through my house, I am sunk into an eerily familiar way of life. Only this time, I am not in it alone. This time, we are all in this together. In some ways, this is worse. Four years ago, I was able to distract myself from my fate. Living a life in suspension, I was painful-
go on with me one day, too. Now, when I search for some assurance of what is left, I find nothing. Each of us feels a potent pressure of uncertainty as we look to friends and leaders for answers and come up empty. This is hard; it is scary and anxiety-inducing and unnerving. As we go through this together, there is little to do but wait. Simultaneously, the Wild Cats-esque unity of our situation carries unanticipated bright sides. As someone who once did this alone, I am grateful to have friends I can reliably talk to, loved ones who are just as eager as I am to while away the hours. We are now handed inherent empathy for one another, an acute understanding of one another’s experiences that is truly unprecedented and, even more, precious. As each of us sits fearfully at home and wonders what comes next, we have a singular, oncein-a-lifetime opportunity to support each other. It is shocking to be brought back to that freshmen life that locked me indoors and away from the world, that left my body fatigued and my mind jumbled. In some ways, after being so sick not too long ago, it is great to have so much to lose for a bit. In all of this, I am realizing how far I’ve come. I am certain that in a few years our world will find how far it’s come, too, since a mysterious illness changed its reality, and we will all derive some meaning from what now appears a monstrous mess. cases, trying to turn it into a partisan issue. This came with grave consequences. And even though distancing ourselves can be hard at times, especially when most of us are so used to seeing our friends every day at school, there are ways that we can cope with this change. For example, my friends and I have started using a Google Chrome extension called Netflix Party. This allows us to stream movies and shows on Netflix in sync. It’s not the same as being with my friends in person, but it’s a way for us to feel together during a time when it’s critical to stay apart. My friends and I have also started compiling a list of things we’d like to do when quarantine is over. We call it our “PostRona Bucket List,” and it’s basically just a long list of things we want to be able to do together when this is all over, hopefully soon. It includes things like concerts, picnics, and movie nights. This has really helped us to stay positive, and it’s giving us something to look forward to.
ADDISON TAYLOR MANAGING EDITOR While we are living through some of the most confusing times of our lives, I feel that we can all find solace in the fact that this is truly affecting the entire world, and if we must be confused, at least we are confused together. For my friends and me, this has meant just trying to accept that a pandemic is actually happening, and understanding that it’s affecting everyone because, in the beginning, I feel that a lot of people weren’t taking it seriously, or were in some
THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER MAY 2020
THE NEW NORMAL The introduction of online learning is just one of the many ways that the Corona Virus is creating a new normal for students all across the globe, and Northridge is no exception. ADDISON TAYLOR MANAGING EDITOR
On April 6, Northridge students officially resumed classes and began the remainder of their school year online. “The interesting question for me now is, ‘What is normal’?” said principal Tygar Evans. “It has certainly changed for all of us.” This unprecedented shift in the usual learning routine is no small change for anyone. Still, teachers and administrators hope that it will bring back a much-needed sense of “normalcy” for both students and themselves. “While this is far from normal, we have to create something familiar to give one another purpose because we’re used to having a job to do, no matter the position,” science teacher Alayna McCormack said. “This is the hardest thing I think I’ll have to do in my career, and I think my students would say the same. But we find a way to move forward.” Teachers also hope that getting back into an educational routine will help to regain some of what was lost. “People thrive on routine, and I think that this is the best we can do under the circumstances to get that back,” AP English Language and Composition teacher Clancy Bryant said. And as was expected with the switch to online learning, the biggest challenge is simply trying to adapt to the change. “It’s a work in progress,” said McCormack. “It has been frustrating for many reasons, but I think teachers are first and foremost concerned about their students. Learning how to have a relationship with students while physically distant is the most difficult thing.” But in spite of everything, the situation allows for teachers and students to experiment with new ways of learning. “Distance learning has benefits from every perspective,” said McCormack. “For teachers, we get to play with a new medium of learning, and when we master it, tons of options will open in our careers and for our students.” And from a student perspective, there are benefits too. “I like that the online learning offers the ability to work at your own pace,” said sophomore Sophia Szulczewski. Other students feel the same. “Sometimes the workload is a little overwhelming,” said junior Allie Gatlin. “But all of my teachers have been really helpful, and I think we’re learning how to adapt to this change together.” Overall, if the switch is successful, e-learning might become a very real possibility for students and a great preview for what the standard of learning could evolve into in the future. “There are totally new ways of learning that we may never have considered had we finished the semester in a traditional classroom setting,” said Bryant. “My hope is that we can all learn some things here that we can carry with us into the school even after things return to normal.”
SPORTS
THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER MAY 2020
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Spring sports come to an early end due to the coronavirus
PRECORONA The softball team takes a group picture before playing in their first tournament of the 2020 season. PATRICK JOHNSON SPORTS EDITOR As a result of the coronavirus, the spring season for all sports has been canceled. While most student athletes still have next year, the majority of seniors will not get to have a final season. “When I found out my tennis season was going to be canceled, I was devastated,” said Ana Caroline Sullivan, senior tennis player. “I knew this season my team had a high chance of doing amazing things not only throughout the rest of the season, but also during the state tournament.” The tennis team was not the only athletic team upset about the cancellation because they knew they had high potential. “This year, I along with many others, had high hopes for this season,” said Emma Bissell, senior soccer player. “We
thought we could make a run for state because our team has so much potential.” Although most players can agree that they are upset about the cancellations, they also feel that it is the safest way to go about facing the coronavirus. “I think most of us expected the cancellation to happen, and I feel that it is the safest thing to do,” said Haven Brooks, senior softball player. “I still wish there could be another alternative to just canceling the season. It is hard to not get a proper goodbye for the sport I have been playing since I was in the fourth grade.” While this would be the last chance to play for most senior spring athletes, a small group of athletes will continue playing their sport in college. “Next year I will be golfing at Samford in Birmingham,” said Matthew Madden, senior golf player. “I am fortunate to have
SPECIAL THANKS TO Dr. April Lane WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT OF THE NORTHRIDGE
REPORTER
the opportunity to play after high school, but not all seniors have that chance. We knew that this was our best team yet and that if we were going to win state it would be this year. It hurts to go out this way knowing that we cannot do anything about it.” Many of the senior athletes are upset to miss out on all of the advantages that come with being a senior on the team. “I am going to miss the senior experience the most,” said Parker Nodine, senior baseball player. “I am upset about missing out on being the top dog, the leader, and being a part of the group that everyone looks to for help or advice.” Many of these sports have shaped the players’ high school experience and left them with memories that will last a lifetime. “Baseball enhanced my high school experience by allowing me to meet tons of new people,” said Nodine. “Having a good group of friends always on the team has helped make the experience even better. Some of my favorite memories at Northridge were all the post game
Photo by Jennifer Jenkins
handshakes and cheers after a victory. Nothing beats the feeling of winning for our school.” Athletes who will not be graduating this year are not just upset about the cancellation of the season. “After playing soccer with many of the people in the class of 2020, they have grown into some of my best friends,” said Eileen Charles, sophomore soccer player. “Many of the best memories I have with them are on the field during games. I really thought I was going to get to play with the seniors one last time and maybe even win state with them.” While most senior student athletes will not play for a team again, many are excited to continue playing for fun. “Although this is my last chance to play for the school I love so much, tennis will always be something that I do during my free time,” Sullivan said. “The coronavirus can temporarily prevent me from playing, but I will always have a will to play. When this is all over, I cannot wait to go out to the tennis court with my friends.”
Volleyball team has high expectations for their fall season PATRICK JOHNSON SPORTS EDITOR Despite the coronavirus outbreak, the volleyball team is confident their next season will be as successful as the past season. “The program is motivated, dedicated, and excited to exceed the limits and get further than the elite eight this year,” said Ryan Gravlee, varsity volleyball coach. “The 6A is a very competitive division, especially with Jasper coming up from 5A and Mountain Brook coming down from 7A. It will most definitely be a competitive division, but with hard work we will accomplish great things.” The coronavirus has caused many of the preseason practices to be canceled, but the team will not let the virus affect their performance. “Unfortunately, the coronavirus has had a major impact on spring training and workouts,” said Gravlee. “We were really looking to use this time to get the girls conditioned and ready to start the season right off the bat. Once the school and community goes back to normal routine we will continue to practice harder so we will be unaffected by lost time.” The coaches are not the only ones who have high aspirations for their perfor-
mance next season. “Our team has continued growing past what we were last season,” said Lydia Paulette, junior volleyball player. “Our team for the upcoming season has a lot of talent and I think that if we work together, we can go even further than last year.” The players feel that the coronavirus will not hold them down from being successful in the upcoming season. “We do not know if we will be able to practice this summer, which could affect our performance during our August matches,” said Paulette. “We are confident we can overcome this though and still have a season just as successful as last year.” The coaches and the players have picked up new techniques that will improve their performance. “Throughout the season the coaches have picked up on our weaknesses and strengths,” said Paulette. “This has allowed our practices to focus on the things we are good at rather than what we have already done successfully. Having coaches that will help us improve on our problems will overall result in a better season.”
PATRICK JOHNSON
SOFIA LOCASCIO
“So instead of sitting around
“I feel drawn to the forests and lakes now more than ever. When I step outside I feel a rush of freedom and gratitude for the trees, sun, wildflowers, and lifeforms that inhabit my backyard.” DEJA WILLIAMS-POWELL
and letting boredom get to me, I’ve tried new things that I normally wouldn’t have time to do.” AONESTI MCCLAIN
SAMANTHA KNIGHT
“I’m staying at home just counting down the days untiltill we can go back out again and enjoy the simple things.”
“ For a while, it seemed like my problems would swallow me whole, but this pause in our everyday life was something I didn’t know I needed.”
ed like my problems would swallow me whole, but this pause in our everyday life was something I didn’t know I needed.” SOFIA LOCASCIO
“For awhile, it seem-
“During this time, I have been forced to face the person in the mirror. My brain has felt like there is no choice but to reflect on who I am and the things I do.” JILLIAN WYATT
DEJA WILLIAMS-POWELL
“I have all this time to reminisce with no ability to celebrate the past and move on to greater things. It feels like we are being punished by this virus. I’m feeling stuck in an almost mournful headspace. Not being able to see the ones I love is only making it harder for me to be happy.”
“I was naive to believe this virus “I miss seeing my friends. I miss that so rapidly spread through learning in a physical classroom. I many Asian and have horrible anxiety, yet I European miss the feeling of “[Coronavirus] has given me a reason to countries being in rooms full push myself out of my comfort zone and would not of people.” gain another perspective of the world.” affect JILLIAN AONESTI MCCLAIN “While I am sad that I am missing out on these high school rites WYATT me.” PATRICK of passage, I cannot help but feel selfish for being upset about it... JOHNSON In the big picture, my problems are as first-world as it gets.”
C o r o n a v i r u s C o n c e p t i o n s COVID experiences from the staff of the Northridge Reporter
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