For the Sentimental Friend

To most young people, the age of 18 years is an idea that has loomed large as the most anticipated or most dreaded age to turn. But that’s no surprise – turning 18 comes with a slew of added legal abilities such as being able to vote, serve on a jury, marry, enter into contracts, buy and sell property, control your own medical treatment and being able to move out – which could be good or bad depending on who you are. However, is 18 really all it’s cracked up to be? Most seniors seemed to have the same response: No. “I think I looked at 16 as, like, the big thing. I never really thought about 18,” said Claire Wierman. “I thought I would feel older, I would feel like an adult, but I really don’t.” Other seniors shared this sentiment.“Eighteen is like, ‘Oh you can vote, you’re an adult.’ It seems like a big milestone but it’s really not,” said Zoie Freier.

Even though turning 18 may be a letdown, the ability to vote is a big deal to many. Senior Molly Buffenbarger took AP Comparative Politics this year in order to learn more about the world before she voted.

“Being able to vote is not only a responsibility to ourselves but also to our generation,” said Wierman. “I think our generation is very different than those who are voting currently and I think that we have the power to change it, even though that sounds cheesy.”

Some seniors, including Paul Louis Biondi, have already voted. “We voted at 7:30 on a Sunday morning. It was completely normal, there was nothing out of the ordinary, and it was fun getting the little sticker afterward,” he said. “You’re just like, ‘hey, I participated in an election.’”

Little things, like scheduling one’s own appointments at the doctor, and having to take your ID out at the airport were signs to these seniors that they were getting older. The freedom, especially the legal freedom that comes with being 18, is a much bigger deal. “I told my Mom I wanted to get a tattoo over the summer because I was 18 and then she told me to ‘make sure your dad’s OK with it but I guess I can’t stop you,’” said Buffenbarger.

However, not all of these freedoms were positive. Biondi was put in a unique situation with his dual citizenship in France and the United States. “I still have to register for the draft,” he said. “If I don’t register within a month of my birthday, I can get fined and tried for treason or something. Because of my dual citizenship, if one country goes to war against the other, either country could call me treasonous and I could go to jail.”

Many seniors weren’t sure if they felt any older, but one thing was for certain: they felt more prepared for the future. “I’m definitely prepared educationally, but as for real life experiences, I definitely gained a lot more of that this year,” said Wierman. “From being more aware of what’s going on in the world to getting groceries and picking up stuff for dinner, I feel like I’m becoming more of an adult.”

Freier shared somewhat different feelings. “I feel like I’m prepared for college but not for life experiences... there’s no way I’m prepared to do taxes,” she said. “The college process also has made me prepared to figure out what I want for life.”

To most, 18 hasn’t been the biggest moment of their lives. Instead of staying in the past, seniors choose to look towards the future with optimism, with the age of 18 only another stepping stone towards their goals.

As Biondi put it, “The implications of what it means to be 18 is what’s most exciting. You probably have made it through the hardest part of high school and soon you’ll be going to college, where you can do what you love.” Seniors reflect on the milestone of turning 18 years old Kathryn Hood Visual Editor Class of 2021

Senior Zoie Freier as a baby is a reminder of just how far these 18- year-olds have come. Photo: Zoie Freier

Popeyes: The Best Fast-Food Sandwich

Zachary Howard Sports Editor Class of 2020

On Aug. 12, 2019, the world (or at least the parts with a Popeyes) was introduced to the Popeyes chicken sandwich. However, few people noticed this new menu item. It was not until weeks later, when the Popeyes’ Twitter account attacked Chickfil-A, starting the now famous chicken sandwich war, that hype for the Popeyes sandwich began to grow at an alarming rate. Drive-thru lines wrapping twice around the parking lot, hour-long waits inside the restaurant, exhausted workers, and stores running out of sandwiches by 11 a.m. were all byproducts of this extreme competition. However, disaster struck when Popeyes, unable to meet the unexpected increase in demand, ran out of the sandwich.

Many felt robbed of the sandwich, never having had the chance to indulge in it. But fear not: on Sunday, Nov. 2, Popeyes, confident they could meet demand, reintroduced the sandwich, putting it back into the hands of eager customers. Upon reintroduction, the same lines of hungry people were seen, with many even longer due to the hype around (L-R) Juniors Caroline McCullough and Madison Martin enjoy the Popeyes chicken sandwich, a melting pot of flavor, that is popular with countless Pace students.

Photo: Mary Childs Hall

the sandwich that grew during its absence. On the release day, I took a trip up to my local Popeyes. The drivethru line was wrapped twice around the sizable parking lot, even spilling over onto Roswell Rd. and creating a huge traffic hazard.

Aiming to outsmart this line by parking across the street and sneaking into the store, I hoped for a shorter line inside. However, it was to no avail. After waiting for half an hour, and not getting remotely close to ordering, I gave up, with plans to return the next day.

That Monday, Nov. 4, the lines had tapered off considerably, and I was able to walk into the store, wait about 20 minutes in line and another 10 after placing my order to receive the sandwich. At long last, I finally obtained the legendary sandwich. At $3.90 per sandwich, it is a relatively cheap option, but still almost a dollar more expensive than its counterpart, the Chick-fil-A sandwich.

What it lacks in price point, however, it makes up for in taste. The first bite is a mouthwatering combination of quality fried chicken, a great brioche bun, and a mayonnaise and Popeyes sauce. All of the flavors blend together beautifully to create a unique taste.

Originally, I had concerns that the chicken would be undercooked. These concerns turned into fears upon seeing multiple Instagram posts of pink or even red chicken in these sandwiches. However, I was delighted to find that mine was cooked perfectly – juicy and showing no signs of being raw.

As I continued to eat the sandwich, it continued to impress. The pickles were a great addition, really rounding out the overall taste. In my opinion, when presented with an option to choose the Popeyes sandwich or any other fast food sandwich, I would choose Popeyes 10 times out of 10. It is a one of a kind taste, worthy of long lines, high demand, and even full fledged fights.

However, I would advise that you wait until the lines die down before going to grab your own slice of heaven.

A Look Back at the Decade

Aman Hashim Co-Editor in Chief Class of 2020

2010 - Apple releases the first iPad. - Instagram is founded.

2011 - Prince William marries Catherine Middleton, sparking royal wedding fever. - Harry Potter movies come to an end. - Osama bin Laden is killed.

2012 - “Gangnam Style” becomes the most watched video ever. - Barack Obama is reelected.

2013 - “The Harlem Shake” goes viral. - Kids around the world learn “Pitch Perfect’s” “Cup Song.” - #BlackLivesMatter movement begins.

2014 - Malaysia Airlines passenger jet disappears. - ALS Ice Bucket Challenge takes off.

2015 - Black/blue or gold/white dress divided the world. - Apple releases raciallydiverse emojis. - Same-sex marriage is legalized in all 50 states.

2016 - Harambe touches the hearts of many. - “Pokemon Go” goes viral. - Video app Vine shuts down. - Donald Trump is elected President.

2017 - Fidget spinners are a fad. - Once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse is visible throughout the mainland U.S. - #MeToo movement takes off.

2018 - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle. - Yanny vs Laurel confuses many.

2019 - Washington Nationals win their first ever World Series. - “Game of Thrones” airs its final season. - “Avengers: Endgame” becomes the highest grossing movie of all time.

New Technologies Pose Risks for Users Have you noticed your friends filming themselves while dancing and lip-synching at school? Your peers are just a small fraction of the 500 million active TikTok users worldwide. The creators of TikTok describe the app as “the leading destination for short-form mobile video.” These short videos can be up to 60 seconds, and the user can either create their own sound or select audio that is already on the app. The user can then either dance to a song or create small, skit-like videos using sounds, text or other special effects. Recently there has been much in the media with regard to the Chinese company, Bytedance, that owns the app. Many U.S. users have been worried that the Chinese government is involved with the censorship of the app.

However, the company has rejected these claims saying, “Let us be very clear: TikTok does not remove content based on sensitivities related to China. We have never been asked by the Chinese government to remove any content and we would not do so if asked.” Bytedance, according to bbc.com, is worth around 75 billion dollars and owns other social media apps. Although owned by a Chinese-based company, TikTok has no offices in China.

As of right now, even if there are no dangers due to alleged interference by the Chinese government, there are still privacy issues that users should be aware of. As soon as you create an account, TikTok has access to your contacts and any other information you have released through apps on your device.

“We automatically collect certain information from you when you use the platform, including your IP address, location-related data, unique device identifiers, browsing history… mobile carrier, time zone setting, and mobile or device information,” says the company on its website.

Despite this, many Pace students are active users of the app and enjoy either making or watching the short videos. One student, junior Matthew Cleveland, has gained recognition on the app, with a couple of his videos receiving between 28 and 68 thousand likes. Cleveland currently has 15.8 thousand followers.

“I got famous from posting a video regarding what I hear about being good at basketball, and people just found it funny,” said Cleveland. “I like TikTok because it just allows you to be free and have a good time. It helps with stress and just makes you laugh.” Cleveland advises students who want to become “famous” on the app to “make funny and relatable videos.”

Other upper school students who find TikTok amusing spend a lot of time on the app per day. “I would say I spend about four hours a day on TikTok,” said senior Dominique Turner. Sophomore Maggie Pope estimated that she spends about an hour a day on the app. “I think the app is entertaining, but it’s really easy to get distracted because I can never tell myself to stop scrolling,” said Pope. Cleveland estimates he spends about three hours a day on TikTok.

Unlike these students, some dislike the app. “I think TikTok is one of the most embarrassing things to have happened to our generation,” said senior Virginia Hobbs. “Not only do you look Megan Hardesty Staff Writer Class of 2022

like an idiot making them, but I am confused what makes people think others want to watch them awkwardly dance in the Commons to a song.” Hobbs is also frustrated with the idea of people becoming famous by doing something that requires such little skill.

Even Cleveland admits that TikTok can be a distraction at Pace. “I think it’s somewhat of a problem because anywhere you go in school you either hear or see people on TikTok,” he said. Senior Virginia Hobbs (center) watches in disgust as (L-R) junior Hanna Vincent, senior Jordan Upchurch and sophomore Margo Kaye film a TikTok. Photo: Megan Hardesty

Sloane Wagreich Staff Writer Class of 2021

This fall, FaceApp blew up the internet. FaceApp is a smartphone app that transforms peoples’ appearances through artificial intelligence. Millions of users across the globe became obsessed with scanning their faces in order to see their older or younger selves.

Although it may seem harmless, there is an unknown and hidden danger to FaceApp. What many don’t realize is that a lot more than just one’s face is exposed when using this app. It can expose information about one’s identity and lead to privacy issues for anyone who has downloaded the app.

The concern started when rumors began circulating that the Russian company that owned FaceApp could be misusing photos and private information, given their vague privacy policy. According to technology firm Impact, all the data from FaceApp goes through the company, and people feared that Russian hackers would be able to access their personal information.

When first getting the app, users must grant access to Siri and all of the photos in their camera roll. Once this happens, people are essentially giving Wireless Lab OOO, the company that created FaceApp, permission to view all of their pictures. As an article in Forbes stat

ed, “even when you are not using it, it is using you.” Although it may seem like the app can only gain access to the photos that one uploads into FaceApp, there is still a major privacy risk. Private information, such as credit card numbers and purchase history, could be exposed simply by scanning one’s face into this app. FaceApp went live in 2017 and since then has gathered over 80 million users. Celebrities, such as The Jonas Brothers and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, began a FaceApp challenge, posting and comparing their changed faces. This drastically increased the number of users, as social influencers encouraged their followers to join in on the fun.

What they failed to realize was that there is much more to the app than just transforming faces. Through accessing these photos, it is easy for the owners of FaceApp to figure out one’s identity. As stated by The Atlantic, most data that runs through apps is passed through the government.

According to Robert Siciliano, a security awareness expert at Safr.Me in a MarketWatch article, “any app gathering data points that could lead to facial recognition should be of concern, especially when it’s being used by government agencies.” FaceApp is just one of the many technological innovations that pose a privacy threat. Social media platforms, such as Instagram and Facebook, have had similar issues. According to USA Today, Facebook was fined roughly $5 billion due to failure to protect users’ data.

Over the past year, Instagram has made it harder for users to maintain privacy on the platform. The company has upgraded the app, allowing users’ followers to see when they are active on Instagram and notifying users when someone is typing a direct message to them. Not only do social media platforms pose as a threat, but even the new face identification feature on iPhones is dangerous. Scanning one’s face into their phone allows the user to not only unlock it, but they can also use it to buy apps in the App Store and authorize any purchases made through Apple Pay.

According to Forbes, a group of researchers tested how easily they could hack into someone’s Face ID. It took the group of hackers only two minutes to log into peoples’ phones. As Threatpost, a news site that reports information regarding security of professionals around the world, stated, “Liveness detection has become the Achilles’ heel of biometric authentication security.” The hackers only had to use spectacles and tape to hack into an iPhone user’s device.

Other complaints about iPhones and other smartphone devices have surfaced. People claim that the phones are listening in on their conversations through Siri. Individuals have had conversations with other people and the next day will see an advertisement on Instagram or receive a spam email about the same topic they were discussing the day before.

A reporter from Vice, a digital media company, put this to the test. Twice a day for five days he would say specific things around his phone, such as Companies, such as the airport security system Clear, are scanning peoples’ irises for identification purposes. Photo: LibreOffice

“going back to the university.” He reported that advertisements “came literally overnight,” with ads for mid-semester college courses. People across the globe now cover the camera on their laptops because, according to USA Today, it gives the government and the company that manufactures the computer a way to spy on people through these devices.

Beyond hand-held devices, biometrics are expanding their consumer reach to airports and stadiums. The security screening company Clear is now at over 60 airports and other venues, allowing people to speed through security lines using their fingerprints and irises as identification.

Clear, which is certified by the Department of Homeland Security, requires new members to put in their contact information, face id, financial information, and additional personal details. Members pay a $15 monthly fee for the screening service. According to NBC News, as more and more people begin to use Clear, it is only a matter of time before severe privacy issues surface.

Although it may be trendy and entertaining, according to the experts, FaceApp and other apps and services that use biometrics should be used with caution. It is better to avoid the potential harms than to take the chance and risk one’s private information for a funny photo or a shorter security line at the airport.

Varsity Boys Basketball Off To Strong Start

(L-R) Seniors Brianna Thomas, Mary Lawson Bring and Sydney Thomas prepare the field before games and provide hydration for the football players during practices.

Team Managers

Serve as Backbone Of Pace Sports

Photo: Fred Assaf

Mary Childs Hall Co-Editor in Chief Class of 2021

When watching a Pace sport, fans focus on the players on the court or field who take shots, score touchdowns or hit home runs. What goes on behind the scenes of these sports often goes unnoticed. Team managers are the influential forces behind the teams who not only help the athletes keep track of their schedules, but also allow for players to execute in games and matches. The managers have a personal interest in each player’s achievements and take pride in the team’s performance. From football to soccer, Pace sports have student-managers who work alongside their peers with the goal of helping the team win. There are many reasons why students decide to take on the position of team manager. Some students, like senior Mary Lawson Bring, have a passion for watching certain sports and want to be a part of the team in any way they can. Bring was the manager of the varsity football team this year along with fellow seniors Brianna Thomas and Sydney Thomas.

She has worked alongside the team since her sophomore year, fulfilling duties of keeping the players hydrated, making sure the clock is running properly, and setting up the field before practices and games. “I grew up watching football and going to UGA games, and I wanted to get involved in that just because I love football,” said Bring. “I was never doing a fall sport and I thought it would be something cool to be a part of during that season.”

Being a manager is a major commitment. Managers have to go to every practice and game during the regular season. Also, for fall sports, the managers have to work at practices in the summer when the season starts for the players.

“At first having to go to practices towards the end of summer sounded horrible to me, but it honestly made coming to school easier on the first day,” said Bring. “I learned to really appreciate it and realized how important it was for me to be there keeping the guys hydrated during the summer.”

For other sports, such as in the winter or spring, being a manager might mean that one would have to stay in town for Thanksgiving, the winter holidays or spring break.

Becoming a manager can mean igniting former passions. Senior Kennedy Tate is one of the girls varsity basketball managers alongside freshman Avery Abram. For Tate, being a manager has made her excited to become more involved in her Pace community by working with a sport that she has had experience playing in the past. Having played basketball for eight years of her life but stopping her freshman year, Tate knows the sport and has always loved the positive energy that comes with it. “I really appreciate how our team has already created a bond that is as tight as any family,” said Tate. “We always say that we are ‘like a fist,’ and we truly are.” The time and effort pays off when the managers are able to see their teams grow. “Although managing can take anywhere from 10 to 14 hours per week, I love doing it,” said Tate. “My goal is to get the players amped up, encouraged, hydrated and ready for a long season.”

Other students decide to become a manager just because they have free time and want to do something exciting. The wrestling team has eight managers: seniors Sophie Lettes, Mae Shippen and Francesca Vaneri, and sophomores Allie Campbell, Megan Eghtedari, Sarah Elizabeth Hayden, Maggie Pope and Anna Rosenbloum.

Many of these girls decided to start managing the team to find out more about a sport they were unfamiliar with. “I wanted to take on this role so I could learn about wrestling, as my brother really loves the sport,” said Shippen. “It is also a really interesting sport to watch.”

Another positive that comes from becoming a manager is the opportunity that it can open up in the future. Many Pace graduates who worked alongside teams during high school either studied subjects like sports marketing or sports medicine in college or became a bigger part of their college’s athletic programs.

Alumna Carly Silverstein ‘17, who is in her junior year at the University of Georgia, was a football manager throughout her time in the Upper School at Pace. She now works in the UGA football recruiting department and is majoring in sports management and psychology.

Kalissa Greene Online Editor Class of 2021

Storming in with a record of 8-2 as the team headed off to the Chicago Elite Classic tournament last weekend, Pace Academy’s varsity basketball team makes the spectacular seem routine.

After a satisfactory season last year coming in as runner up region champions with a record of 20-9, varsity basketball has a newfound confidence this season with the addition of junior Matthew Cleveland.

Shooting guard Cleveland is new to Pace this year but has stepped right into a star role on the varsity team, leading in almost all of the offensive plays. According to 247Sports, Cleveland is “one of the best wing prospects in not only the state of Georgia, but the entire country.” He has received over 30 offers from colleges already, including Clemson, Florida State, University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Purdue, Stanford and the University of Virginia. He set big goals for the team as he strives to win region and be in a strong position before playoffs.

This will be junior Cole Middleton’s third year on varsity as a center. He has only been playing basketball for five years. He feels content with the team’s performance, but knows they still have a lot of work to do. “We have been playing well with our new additions but we still have to learn to play together as a family,” he said.

Currently, Cleveland, Middleton and fellow junior Madison Durr have been included on the Atlanta All-Metro High School Boys Watch List, published by the Atlanta Tipoff, indicating the high level of talent this season.

In its Holiday Hoopsgiving Recap, 247Sports mentioned Durr as an “intriguing guard prospect,” calling him a “tough, scrappy guard that finds ways to impact the game.”

Senior Reign Watkins who is currently out with a hip injury is the only player who remains from the Pace varsity basketball team that won back-to-back state championships in 2016 and 2017. “I understand that I am one of the few seniors, and I am ready to help my team with the experience I have,” he said.

With the arrival of head coach Sharman White last year, the team continues to play and compete at a high level. The Dec. 5 region win over Cedar Grove 74-49 marked Coach White’s 400th career win. The Atlanta Journal and Constitution’s Week 4 basketball rankings placed the Pace Knights at the number one spot in GHSA Class AAA.

“[You] can only imagine the great heights this team will reach this season,” said Middleton. The team plays Westminster at home tonight in a region matchup at 7 p.m.

Out for the Season: Sports Injuries Plague Student Athletes

Mary Childs Hall Co-Editor in Chief Class of 2021

Every year, millions of teenagers take part in high school sports. According to U.S. News & World Report, nearly 55.5% of high schoolers participate in sports. Although athletics enable students to stay active, make new friends and learn life lessons, there is also the risk of injury.

Walking around any high school, one is likely to spot students wearing braces or casts or walking on crutches. Whether due to a stress fracture, concussion or torn ACL, students often find themselves hurt, which can lead to loss of playing time in games or even time away from school. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates that high school athletes account for over 2 million injuries and 500,000 doctor visits in the U.S. each year.

All of these injuries raise a serious question: what toll do sports actually take on young people’s bodies? In high school, many students start training strenuously to perfect their techniques. Although practicing for multiple hours every day helps Sophomore Paul Ramseur takes safety measures by stretching in the weight room before practice.

Photo: Gabriel Kadoori

athletes to become stronger, it can also have serious effects on their health.

At a school like Pace where 80% of high school students play at least one sport, the seasons are long and tiring. By the end of each season, or sometimes even before they are over, the players are worn down and many times walking away with stress fractures.

With many kids beginning to specialize in only one sport, the risks for overuse injuries increase. Dr. Neeru Jayanthi, the Director of Sports Medicine Research and Education at Emory Healthcare in the Atlanta area, followed 1,200 young athletes in Chicago for three years.

According to espn.com, Dr. Jayanthi found that the athletes who specialized in a single sport were at a much greater risk for injuries, mostly those of bones and ligaments. “Young athletes who were injured tended to have more intense specialized training in one sport,” said Dr. Jayanthi. “We should be cautious about intense specialization in one sport before and during adolescence.” However, these athletes are not the only ones at risk, as anyone can suffer from random, freak injuries or just general overstress due to activity. Junior Lily Koch suffered a torn ACL during last year’s lacrosse season. “Tearing my ACL was very, very painful and the recovery process was long and tedious,” said Koch. “I was unable to play sports for a year.”

Senior Hayden Sample also suffered from a serious knee injury in her gymnastics season, which required surgery. “It was isolating because you don’t feel close to your teammates when you can’t condition with them,” said Sample. “I am not able to execute at the same level of difficulty that I used to be able to. However, attitude and self advocacy are everything.”

Although athletes can suffer from injuries, they also learn to become stronger after dealing with these struggles. “During my resting time, I have gotten a lot stronger, and I am excited to get back into things and see what I can do,” said Koch.

Nineteen students from the Class of 2019 went on to play sports in college. Being a college-level athlete is demanding, even before the students enter the playing arena at their new universities. Students who want to pursue athletics in college have to work day and night in high school to get on the radar of recruiters. However, there is danger in this, as many athletes begin to overwork their bodies and find themselves fatigued early on. “Kids are broken by the time they get to college,” said Dr. Jayanthi in the ESPN piece. In playing a sport, there are precautionary measures that athletes can take in order to maximize their performance in a safe way. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) offers many suggestions to prevent injury for athletes.

However, the point the academy stresses the most is how students must take breaks. AAP claims that a healthy exercise schedule includes taking at least one day off per week and one month off per year to allow

(Continued on page 12)

Ben Tolliday Aspires to Become ‘Ironman’

Francesca Vaneri News Editor Class of 2020

Most high schoolers spend their time bouncing between school, home and team practices. But senior Ben Tolliday has chosen to pursue a very different and incredibly rigorous path – IRONMAN training.

IRONMAN triathlons are a series of long-distance triathlon races that take place all over the world. They involve a 2.4 mile swim followed by a 112 mile bike ride and, finally, a full marathon. These races are widely regarded as being some of the most physically grueling and difficult single-day athletic events in the world. The average IRONMAN finishing time is 12 hours and 35 minutes.

As a result of the extreme physical demands of this race, very few people complete IRONMAN triathlons. For most people, the thought of completing a race like this sounds impossible. But Tolliday hopes to become one of about 75,000 people each year who complete these feats of strength and endurance.

Tolliday first discovered the IRONMAN race by chance about a year ago. “I quit baseball and needed to find something to do because I couldn’t sit around all the time,” said Tolliday. “I stumbled upon a YouTube video of someone doing an IRONMAN and suddenly became interested. So, I did some research about what exactly it consisted of and decided I was going to give it a try. I found a coach and started training right away.”

Tolliday started training in September 2018 and ran his first half IRONMAN in July 2019. Since then, he completed another half IRONMAN in September, which qualified him for the IRONMAN World Championship in New Zealand in July 2020. He has also run multiple shorter distance triathlons.

The training to prepare for such intense events takes up a large part of Tolliday’s life, with an average week consisting of around 15 hours of training. “I will usually do two workouts a day,” said Tolliday. “Sometimes it will be a swim in the morning and a bike after school, or a bike and a run after school, etc. The hardest part by far is waking up at 5:45 some days to go and swim in a freezing pool for an hour and a half before going to school.”

Naturally, the physical rigor of the training is grueling, and it requires incredible motivation. “With triathlon and especially IRONMAN, I feel like you are either fully committed or you aren’t,” said Tolliday. “Some people train to simply complete a race like this and are satisfied to cross the finish line, but I know that wouldn’t satisfy me. I need to feel that I have done my best, and I want to race the races instead of just making it to the finish.”

Athletes are frequently reminded that it is just as important to be mentally strong as it is to be physically strong. “My training has made me more mentally strong because… when you are doing very tough workouts it is very easy to simply stop and quit, but it takes mental strength to keep going and to shake off all the negative thoughts,” said Tolliday.

It can be particularly difficult to maintain one’s focus and motivation during a race, which lasts for hours on end with no break. Tolliday handles the monotony in a couple of different ways. “I often start singing or just speaking to myself because it gets pretty lonely when you are out there by yourself. I just try to keep my mind off of any negative thoughts and just think about how much fun I am having.”

Despite having started his training just over a year ago, Tolliday has already risen through the rankings. In his latest half IRONMAN in Augusta, Tolliday placed first in his age group out of 70 people, and was 20th overall out of 2651 athletes, including professional athletes, and third overall not including Senior Ben Tolliday begins a grueling 112-mile bike ride, the second of three stages in an IRONMAN.

the pros. He is also in the top 1% of all athletes in his age group for the 70.3 mile distance in 2019.

Tolliday has already accomplished a lot, but he has his eyes focused on his next goal, the 2020 World Championships in New Zealand, as well as his ultimate goal – the full distance IRONMAN World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.

Whatever awaits in the coming year, Tolliday is certain that he will continue running triathlons for the long term. “Triathlons are something that you can do for the rest of your life,” he said. “In one of my previous races there have been people in their 80s racing. I don’t know if my body will be able to last that long, but as of right now, I plan to keep doing triathlons and IRONMAN distance races until my body says no more.”

Sam Webb Staff Writer Class of 2021

As winter sports get underway, the Pace varsity swimming and diving squad is back in action and has already competed in multiple meets. Coming off a successful 2018-19 season with three individual state championships (Charlie Kaye ‘19 with two and junior Lizzy Kaye with one), many state qualifiers and a solid 25th place finish out of 107 teams, the group is optimistic about this season.

So far, the team has clashed in meets with Landmark Christian, Atlanta International School (AIS), Lovett and Loganville, all of which have been in the Pace natatorium. The girls won all three meets and the boys have won two, only losing to Lovett. Many swimmers throughout all grades have been performing to their potential, and the team achieved 52 personal bests at their Dec. 5 meet versus Pope High School.

Coming into their first high school season, freshman boys Carter Freudenstein and Barrett Hight have contributed to the success of relays, as well as competing impeccably as individuals. Freudenstein has already earned a few first place finishes along with a couple second places as well. His main events are the freestyle events such as the 50 and 100 meters, for which he has state qualifying times, but he also stands out in the individual medley. Hight also swims the individual medley and in the second meet got a state qualifying time for the 100 meter back. For the girls, freshmen Iowa Vance and Marisa Sapre have accumulated a fair amount of points as well.

The team has 10 returning seniors who are using their veteran skills and leadership to flourish as a cohesive unit. “The team looks promising,” said senior captain Jason Rosenbloum. “With new incoming freshmen and seniors such as Dillon Carrol, I think we have a great team. As a team, I hope we break a few relay records for the school.” Exemplifying teamwork, the seniors still have individual goals for their last year of high school swimming. Senior girls Erin Hood and Meghan McMillin have had a strong start to the season.

Hood has already reached five state qualifying times and broken a record set by Grace Ferry ‘16 (now a swimmer at the University of Pennsylvania) in the 100 fly. McMillin has also finished first in many heats this season, specifically the 50 and 100 frees. Photo: Ashford Little Senior Erin Hood swims a breaststroke race against Paideia and Walker. The Knights have started the season strong..

Along with the swimmers, the team’s few divers have also had a strong start. So far, sophomore Kate Grabowski has two second place finishes and a first place finish under her belt. Pace diving legend Lizzy Kaye is coming off a season where she broke the school’s 6 and 11 dive records and won a state title. She has also qualified for the state meet once again.

“Personally, I hope to have another successful season,” said Kaye. “I’ve got a couple new dives I’m trying out this year.” Kaye went to the USA Junior National Championships as well, and placed eighth in the 3-meter synchronized diving final along with a semifinal finish in both the platform and springboard dives.

“The social aspect of swimming is one of the best parts of the sport,” said Rosenbloum. “During practice, people who would not usually talk get to know one another, which makes the team into one big group rather than multiple small cliques.” The team usually goes to dinner after meets as well. “We always try to go out and eat as a team to celebrate,” said Kaye.

Out for the Season: Sports Injuries

Sophomore Jude Black secures the pin against his foe from Hampton High School.

Photo: Rodney Schiffer

Wrestling Pins Competition

Jamie Kornheiser Managing Editor Class of 2021

Beginning the season after one of varsity wrestling’s most productive offseasons to date, there is a lot of excitement about the future possibilities. “This year’s group has been more motivated in the offseason than just about any team I have had since I’ve been at Pace,” said head coach Gus Whyte. “They are really a group of self-starters who have been driven to get better.” Despite not fulfilling all the weight class requirements, the wrestlers are optimistic as to what the season has to offer.

This year’s team is dominated by 10 sophomores. Sophomore Sam Howe is looking ahead to the end of the season when he hopes that his hard work will pay off. “I am looking forward to the state tournament in February because I think I can do something there – pretty good for Pace standards.” “We are all just looking forward to the postseason,” agreed sophomore Thomas Wells.

Due to the length of the football season, a lot of the upper weight classes could not be filled for the first matches of the season, likely contributing to their three losses to open the season. However, Coach Whyte is determined to focus on how the team can improve. “Right now the team aspect is having a good team cohesion,” he said. “We want to have a team that people want to be on, that people have a good time on and that everyone gets better on.”

Wrestling is different than many sports in that it is a “combination of an individual sport within a team sport,” said Coach Whyte. ”There are individual goals about how you want to perform, and then there is the team aspect of can we be competitive as a team and can we win dual matches as a team.”

“You can’t bank on somebody else. If you lose it’s your fault, and if you win it’s all you,” said Howe on the individual aspect. “You can’t blame it on anyone else.”

One of the things Coach Whyte is most excited for is the mutual commitment from all the wrestlers. “We are a smaller team, but the guys that are out there are really working hard,” he said. “I don’t think we are going to be a team where we have one dominant guy. Everyone is making the same strides.”

The team added a new community coach this year named Devin Billings, who was a wrestler in high school and played football in college. “Mr. Stevens and I have coached for the past several years, but now we have another guy to not only wrestle with our guys, but to show technique and to bring his own set of expertise,” said Coach Whyte. As of press time on Dec. 9, the team is 5-8. The team will compete at the Westminster Duals at Westminster on Dec. 14 beginning at 9 a.m.

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the body to recover.

The academy also recommends wearing the right protective gear, strengthening each muscle in the body through conditioning – staying away from singling out specific body parts – and avoiding heat-related illnesses by drinking fluids before, during and after practices and games.

In a 2019 August press conference, former quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts Andrew Luck announced that after years of pain and injury, he had decided to stop playing football altogether. “This is not an easy decision,” said the 30-yearold. “Honestly, it’s the hardest decision of my life. But it is the right decision for me. For the last four years or so, I’ve been in this cycle of injury, pain, rehab, injury, pain, rehab, and it’s been unceasing, unrelenting, both inseason and offseason, and I felt stuck in it. The only way I see out is to no longer play football.” Not all athletes have to go to this extreme of quitting their sport entirely, but students should remain aware of how they are feeling and to what extent they are pushing themselves. In an article from TeensHealth, Dr. Mary L. Gavin, a children’s health specialist at DuPont Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware, claims that no matter the degree of injury, “if you think you’ve been injured, pull yourself out the game or stop doing your activity or workout. Let a coach or parent know what happened in case you need to see a doctor.”