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HOMECOMING WEEK A week of festivities, including the Homecoming Carnival PAGE 2
SEPTEMBER 2015|| VOL. IX ISSUE II
PERRY HIGH SCHOOL || GILBERT, AZ
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CURTAIN CALL photo by Emily Woodward-Shaw
Senior, Noelle Soucek performs alongside Theatre Teacher Jim Fountain. The play, “You Can’t Take It With You” was Fountain’s last performance before he retires at the end of this year.
Fountain performs in last show before retiring By Savannah Ostler the precedent
After being an educator for 40 years, Jim Fountain, Theatre and Film Study teacher, has decided to make his last curtain call. Fountain appeared as the grandpa, Martin Vanderhof, in the most recent and his last play at Perry, “You Can’t Take it With You.” Although Fountain appeared and acted in this play, he does not usually act in his productions, he usually spends most of his time backstage and directing. “Well typically I’m the director… but I am also the
artistic vision,” Fountain explained. “He has a very specific vision when he does a show and he [is] good at conveying that vision to the actors,” commented junior Rachael Sharp, an actress who has worked extensively with Fountain. Although he is the director, he also mentors the actors with their characters to meet his precise vision. “Fountain helps actors gain insight on their characters that you couldn’t see before. Any of his actors will all tell you the same thing: Fountain has changed their lives and improved their acting for the
better,” expounded Sharp. But since Fountain has been in the theatre world for 40 years, “he has a lot of expertise in theatre and he will be hard to replace... But we’ll find somebody, [though] I don’t know if we’ll find somebody with his expertise and experience,”
incidents of projectiles hitting cars along the Interstate 10 highway (I-10) were documented, carrying on through Sept. 10. The prime suspect was detained Sept. 18 while shopping at a Walmart in Glendale. 21 year old Leslie Allen Merritt Jr. is alleged
to own a weapon that is, according to Phoenix PD, “forensically linked” to these acts of terror. The Phoenix police department, in the official press release, stated that Merritt Jr., somewhat emphatically, maintained his innocence, stating repetitively that they had
Principal Dan Serrano stated. Backstage, Saturday night, in theatre’s traditional group circle before going on stage, Fountain made a final speech to his students and fellow cast members. He quoted Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and told
them, “‘Someday after we have mastered the waves, the winds, the tides, and gravity, we will harness for God the energies of love and then, for the second time in the history of the world, mankind will have discovered fire.’” Fountain added, “So I told my cast, my wish for them, my wish for my legacy is for them to go out and discover fire.” Fountain makes it very clear that his calling in life was to be a teacher, and it’s not only been his life that has been changed from his teaching career. Fountain declared, “I carry a piece of every student I have
[ever had] with me…I just love them.” He added, “You’ve just got to love your students... Sometimes you love them in spite of themselves instead of because of themselves. So I think that’s what’s made a difference for me. I do care. Very much.” His students recognize and feed off of his clear and distinct love for them. “He’s...one of the most amazing actors, directors, and people I know,” Sharp continued. “He’s basically the grandpa of the theatre program at Perry, everybody knows and loves Mr. Fountain.”
“arrested the wrong guy”. None of this would normally affect a high school, especially one like Perry, that is situated far from the I-10. But, when the junior varsity football team was scheduled to play at Liberty High School, as they were Sept. 10, the show
must go on somehow, even if that means taking a scenic tour. Athletic director and assistant principal Jennifer Burks, who plays a large administrative role in the football team bus routes, acknowledged that this inconvenience did “change
travel times,” but that is was necessary to keep the athletes, and coaches and bus driver, as safe as possible. JV Head football coach Keahi Cambra said that the bus ride took “about two hours and 45 minutes”
“My wish for my legacy is for them to go out and discover fire.
”
Jim Fountain Theatre and Film Study Teacher
I-10 shootings provides inconvenience to buses By Zach Klein the precedent
A recent terror spree, reminiscent of a similar crime a decade ago, has traumatized both the city of Phoenix and the state as a whole. Beginning on August 29, an alleged total of 11
News 1-3 • Opinions 4-5 • Head Trauma 6-7 • A & E 8-9 • Sports 10-12 Volleyball off to best start Find out what makes up this team’s chemistry. Page 12
Popular club on campus
Kickball Club brings back childhood memories. Page 9
see I-10 SHOOTING pg. 3
www.phsprecedent.com Confined to the sideline
What Perry athletes go through after a concussion. Pages 6-7
2|| news Students wonder if homecoming costs are worth it
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Homecoming week, carnival, a success By Samantha Nabaty the precedent
By Caden Johnson the precedent
With this year’s homecoming ticket cost that was $25 without an activity card, $20 with one, or $30 at the door, some believe that the cost was reasonable, while others say their wallets are now a little too light for comfort. Many know that homecoming can easily add up to a buzz-killing price tag with having to buy a dress and heels or a suit and shiny shoes. While some people also paid for dinner and other activities throughout the day, people had to reach deeper and deeper into their wallets. With all the money generated by the entrance fees, one wonders where all that money went. Eric Magana, a Supervisor of the Student Government (STUGO) meetings, said, “It [went] to cover costs for security, they need police officers, they also use some of that money to put on the prom.” Magana also said he believes that at last year’s homecoming, STUGO nearly broke even with the costs. The money that is spent to buy the tickets is mostly contributed to the homecoming experience. Some girls who were asked to homecoming felt bad that their dates were going to pay for both of their tickets. Junior Jessica Rainey said, “They’re really expensive! Why would I not feel bad?” Some people believed that the homecoming tickets were expensive, but would be worth it. Junior Zach Durbin said, “I think it’s expensive, but I understand that [STUGO] is doing a lot for homecoming so it makes sense that the price is pretty high.” Many hoped that the money and work that STUGO put towards creating homecoming would pay off. Although it did have a high price tag in some people’s budgets, to most, the fun outweighed the price. As Magana said, “Can you put a price on memories that you’re only going to go through once in your life?”
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photo by Kristin Farwell Varsity Football poses at the Homecoming assembly. The Homecoming Assembly was one of the last festivities before the Homecoming game.
The stars did collide at the Homecoming Carnival on Sept. 17. The carnival featured booths from all kinds of clubs including Culinary, Perry Pipes, Early Childhood, Drama Club, and many more. Clubs use this as an opportunity to advertise and to fundraise. Senior Drama Club officer Hannah Brown explains, “It’s a fundraiser so we can go on more trips and send people to nationals.” Drama club also had their annual haunted house they had spent weeks preparing. The club began decorating as
soon as the building cleared after school. They had to cover all sources of light throughout the hallways and decorate accordingly before people began lining up. Brown was excited prior to their big night, “There’s a lot of people participating, it’s really fun.” The students see this as one their most fun and exciting nights where they can go full out. Makeup, costumes, and acting: all were creatively done to make the haunted house the best it can be. Junior Lila Brandt, officer of the drama club, explains how they look forward to this night all year. “It’s a
tradition; we do it every year for the carnival.” The haunted house featured seven rooms in which about 70 students were dispersed, dressed and ready to scare. The house was one of the main attractions of the carnival with a line wrapped along the side of the C building. Junior Cindy Ha went through and really enjoyed it all around, “It was really cool. It was really dark and there were a lot of people screaming.” The night was a chance for different clubs to get more exposure and for the students to learn a little more about what Perry has to offer.
Student feature
Halladay brothers start company; Kindred Goods thrives at Perry By Rylee White and Kendall MacGregor the precedent
Companies and students have gotten their start on campus and Kindred Goods Co. is no different. Junior Beecher Halladay, created his own graphic design company along with his older brother, Truman Halladay. The company sells a variety of t-shirt designs. Kindred’s main logo is a square knot, “the most basic of knots, yet the strongest,” according to Halladay. He claims that the logo has a meaning behind it. “Truman and I believe that together, we can do lots of really cool things. I’m one rope, Truman is the other, kindred itself is the knot.” Despite being established in 1998, Kindred’s first t-shirt hit the presses in October of 2013. Halladay elaborated on the company’s inspiration, “[Truman and I] both
have creative abilities, we both have been complimented on our style. We enjoy and share clothes, [and] thought we could design our own.” The expanding company started out small by taking graphic design classes here at school and printing shirts through a neighbor. Kindred Goods Co. now has four different shirts available and has sold more than 200 of them. Halladay has made sales in Utah, California, Kansas, Tennessee, Idaho, and some in New Zealand. The company’s popularity has been expanding from its genesis of Gilbert, Arizona and has since gained the support of entrepreneurs like himself. He adds, “I’ve had upcoming rappers send Kindred direct messages [on twitter] and they will ask me if they can represent my products.” His mother, Gina Halladay, adds on her son’s
success, “Beech and his older brother Truman had a good vision for their business.” She continued, “He carried on with what he and his brother started and continued after Truman moved to New Zealand for two years on a Mormon Mission.” Students have been spotted wearing Kindred Goods Co. on campus.
Junior Braden Archinuk has just been one of the many. “I am definitely a fan. It’s good products with very sick t-shirts.” Archinuk continued, “It’s very original.” The future plans for the company are hopeful. Halladay states, “the dream is for it to get big. That’s the plan, but it’s not essential for
our success, but I mean if it gets huge that will be sweet.” In the meantime, Halladay will keep trying to get Kindred Goods Co. name out in public. “We have fall and winter clothes coming out soon, close to the end of the year. There will be hats, beanies, hoodies, and t-shirts. New designs, everything.”
order to fully develop those capabilities.” In the Chandler Unified School District, there is a gifted program for students to test into, Chandler Academically Talented Students, or the CATS program. When students enter the second grade, they are given a test to measure whether the gifted program is the route for them to follow. The CATS program runs third through eighth
grade if the students choose to stay in the program. When CATS students transition into high school , the option to continue on with this program disappears. The students, of course, can take advanced placement or honors classes. These classes still challenge the students, but can be more specific to what they want to pursue in the future. “By high school, [the chandler district] finds that
there are many students who have not been identified as gifted,” Diane Hale, the Assistant Director for Gifted Education, states, “but who are truly motivated to work at an academically advanced level.” This means any student willing to challenge themselves at the level of gifted students are able to, while the gifted students themselves can still be challenged. Assistant Superintendent
of Secondary Education, Dr. Craig Gilbert, shares, “[Advanced placement classes] provide the rigor to prepare these students for college and careers.” Even though the students cannot go into a specified gifted program, they can take courses leaning towards what they plan to do in the future. The gifted students, just like any other students, have
photo by Emma Fernandez Junior, Beecher Halladay, sits among his own designs. Halladay released his first design in October of 2013.
Loss of gifted program not necessarily a bad thing By Emily Narducci the precedent
The National Association for Gifted Students describes a gifted student as, “youth who give evidence of high achievement capability in such areas as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who need services or activities not ordinarily provided by the school in
5
Take
see GIFTED pg. 3
with sophomore Haley Nemmers
I love to bake cookies and cakes in my spare time. I love 80s movies. My favorite movies are Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, ET, The Breakfast Club, and Sixteen Candles. I started swimming when I was eight. I swim for Rio Salado swim club. Pretty much all of my time is dedicated to swim. It’s what I love to do. I strive to do my best in every aspect of swimming. Plans for college [are to] study medicine to become a physician’s assistant and be on the swim team. I want to go somewhere in Colorado or Washington. What I like most about Perry is how many opportunities they have to help you get more prepared for your future career.
september || 2015
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Resilient freshman teaches PHS to never lose Hope By Valerie Burgess the precedent
Dedicated, determined, and caring are just few of the words that can describe freshman Hope Doyle. Most students on the first day of school think about what to wear or who to sit by at lunch. Hope was simply grateful to be alive. An honors student at Payne Junior High, Hope enjoyed soccer and horseback riding. Just a few months before this semester began, however, nobody knew if she would even be able to step foot on a high school campus, let alone stand up again. Last fall, Hope was experiencing an especially high fever. Her father, Mike Doyle, said it was a battle to manage the 103-104 degree fever. “She had an 11-day fever,” he said, “after five days we went to the emergency room.” The day after Thanksgiving, as Mike was laying her down into her bed, she suffered a severe stroke. “She was put into her bed and she was scared in her face,” he said as he tried to keep stability in his voice. He said he felt helpless. When doctors told the family that Hope’s was life was in serious jeopardy, he described a sense of optimism. “[The] doctor told me ‘get your
affairs in order and Hope would probably not survive the day,’” he said. Although the prognosis was seemingly bleak, Hope survived. As a result of the stroke, her right side was completely paralyzed, but continuous hours of physical, speech, and occupational therapy have made communication easier and more effective. However, saying more than one-or-two words at a time is difficult. PHS teacher Shara Billings, who works closely with the Doyle family, said that when most students’ days are ending, Hope’s is just beginning. “Every single night except for Thursday and Friday, she goes to therapy at Phoenix Children’s Hospital,” Billings said.
An unlikely inspiration
As Hope was recovering, she was able to visit the very thing that gave her joy since she was four-years old – her horse, Solye. “She loves to ride her horse,” Billings explained. “She still is able to ride today, but she has to rehabilitate.” Hope says she has always enjoyed the fast-paced sport of barrel racing, and used to compete in the sport. For the past two years, Solye and Hope both have been partners in
an unlikely element of her recovery. Even her hospital room, which was decorated like a barn, reminded her of her true passion for riding. “[Her horse] is her being; it is like air to her,” Mike explained.
A community unites
Mike is a pilot for American Airlines. In the days after the stroke, coworkers and American Airlines came together to $35 thousand to help pay for the family’s mounting medical bills. For a successful recovery, on Aug. 30, the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrated Hope’s achievements. Two days leading up to the event, KTAR 92.3 held a 48-hour telethon that featured Hope and other children’s stories. Over the duration of the event, $1.5 million was raised to help pay for parents in need in the Phoenix Children’s hospital.
A new world
The stroke was caused by bacterial meningitis; her left coronary artery was completely blocked, which is why she has such limited movement in her right side, Billings explained. Hope is fighting challenges that she never would have dreamt of one long year ago. According to her teachers and father, Hope’s strength and resilience is a total inspiration.
photo used with permission by Mike Doyle Freshman Hope Doyle receives an award for her progress at Phoenix Children’s Hospital from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Doyle had a stroke last year on Nov. 28, and has made progress in her recovery.
Baseball camp benefits CUSD kids with cancer By Ernesto Chacon the precedent
Training camps for sports can be a very profitable business that often treads a fine line between taking advantage of young athletes, and guiding them in the right direction. The baseball program, who wanted to host a camp for catchers, decided to take the money from the camp and put it back in the CUSD community. Assistant coaches Damien Tippett and Ray Mota joined forces to start the first annual Catchers Crushing Cancer Clinic. This clinic not only helps athletes from 12-18 yearsold improve their catching skills, but all proceeds will be going to an Anderson Elementary second grader Isabelle Hartung, who has been fighting cancer and is scheduled for her final round of chemotherapy this month. “We wanted to have a catcher’s camp because our catchers needed the work and we wanted to do something for our
GIFTED STUDENTS continued from page 2
a different, more in depth, way of thinking. Hale also states, “some research suggests that gifted students often prefer more depth and application rather than simply more advanced course work.” Finding gifted teachers can be an issue at times. Dr. Gilbert states, “As in other areas of teaching requiring specific endorsements, it can be difficult finding enough [gifted] teachers.” Also, given the fact that state funding for gifted education was I-10 SHOOTING
photo by Elizabeth Jocque Baseball assistant coach Damien Tippett gives Trajen Curtis some pointers at baseball camp last week. Curtis is a second grader in Chandler and is a cancer survivor.
continued from page 1
community,” Tippett said. “This just made sense.” In just a couple of weeks, the clinic was able to raise $630 for seven year-old Isabelle, who, along with Trajen Curtis (another CUSD second grader who has defeated cancer), came out to learn a little about baseball during camp on Sept. 19. “Because of their cancer,
Isabelle had a kidney removed and Trajen lost part of his arm,” Tippett explained, “but you never would have known it if you saw them swinging the bat and running the bases.” Many of the baseball coaches have personal stories with cancer. Mota has beaten cancer not once, but twice. He said that he cheated death twice after being
diagnosed with Lymphoma. “[Cancer] has given me a better appreciation for the game and a better appreciation for life,” he explained. Mota said taking social responsibility and sports is a good mix since “it sets a level [for] a young player to say ‘you know what, there is something bigger than the game.’”
one way, going on to explain that Liberty High is “in North Peoria, almost by Surprise...even last night (Sept. 17, at Chaparral High) we went to Scottsdale it took us about 90 minutes, normally that’s a 45 minute drive”. “It’s an inconvenience but I understand we’re trying to protect the kids,” Cambra acknowledged. JV player Robert “Mitch” Wahlin said that he was
stories of people who were lucky not to be in the towers for miraculous reasons and also of those who were unfortunate enough to be stuck in the towers at the wrong time. Eric Magana, a World History and U.S. History teacher noted that although the terrorist attack was a horrible event, it brought a temporary new level of unity in our country. “I’ve never seen so much patriotism in my lifetime,
people all started to rally around the flag.” English teacher, Cynthia Pino, described the feelings she had towards the terrorist attack. “We didn’t know if our world was ending at that moment; we really didn’t know.” The thousands of deaths that day left many mourning or kneeling to pray, and caused many together to deal with the destruction together.
Like Magana, Pino also noticed that the world was brought together by this experience. “There was this moment of world bonding that we don’t unfortunately see very often.” Megan Driving Hawk, an art and sculpture teacher, had an eighth grade social studies teacher spent his class period talking to the students about the destruction of the World Trade Center on the day of the suicide bombings.
“It just showed us as students how awesome of a person he was all around because he took the time [out of his teaching period]. He knew the right questions to ask us to get us thinking about what was happening.” Driving Hawk’s reference to a teacher that positively affected her understanding of a catastrophe shows how much potential teachers have to impact their students for the better if they are just willing to set aside some
cut a few years prior, it is difficult to give this program the funding it deserves. Dr. Gilbert explains, “We believe in the value the program brings to the students.” “Some students say that the junior high CATS program is the best of both worlds...they get to be a part of the junior high campus like any other student would,” Hale informs. This would make those students transition to high school, with the different advanced programs to enter into, much easier. “tired during the game,” and the bus drive was very “long, we ended up getting home around 10:40”. Other youth and so-called “copycat” criminals were detained and fined for trying to continue the trend of fear along the highways with nonlethal projectiles, such as rocks from slingshots. Bail was posted Sept. 19 at $1 million. With the prime suspect in custody, the ban on school buses on highways was lifted by the district offices Sept. 21.
Teachers recount devastation of 9/11 terrorist attacks By Caden Johnson the precedent
The attack of Sept. 11, 2001 on the Twin Towers left a mark on many of the people who saw the event. On that day 14 years ago, two planes were taken over by terrorists and crashed into the twin towers. Nearly 3000 lives were taken and more continue to pass from the sickening effects of the attack. There are stories upon
time. The time dedicated by teachers to informing their students about September 11 can help people who cannot remember the event hold that day with respect. The experiences and opinions regarding that Sept. 11 day vary, however, one thing was and continues to be clear: the nation did not let it bring about our downfall.
4 || opinions Staff Editorial
Dress code ambiguity
September || 2015
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#SeniorProbs
By Natalie Eberhard
P
Corrections
We always stive to be as factual and credible as it can be, and we acknowledge mistakes in our previous issue. In the Aug. 2015 issue, we miscredited two photos for Lauren Haught, when credit should have gone to Ashlyn Davis and Maddie Zuschlag. In the sports preview for girls and boys golf, we misspelled Brad Pottle’s name. The girls golf schedule was incorrect. We apologize for any inconveniences that this incorrect information may have caused.
the SmithDiscord
Gun training more effective than gun control LUCAS SMITH
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ith recent shootings along our local highway of I-10 and the Virginia Shooting, the overall debate of gun control has been loaded in the barrel of issues again. America has been faced with this problem before and sadly nothing has been accomplished. From restricting bullets, to the types of guns available, America has put itself in a gun control choke-hold that we cannot solve with the current status quo Politically, the Democratic party urges to restrict guns and the Republican party fires back with the Second Amendment argment. The U.S. should look to its small, chocolate-making and bank kings of the European Union – Switzerland – as a role model. Unlike most countries with their gun control policies, Switzerland does the opposite and not only encourages people to carry firearms, but requires all males over the age of 18 to carry one. In addition, children ages 10-12 and 15-16 have to go through gun safety classes. This is the fundamental ideas of gun training: to give the population proper training in safety and how to use the
photo published with permision from Trent Thornton Economics teacher Trent Thorton (right) teaches his daughter how to shoot a AR-15.
gun so if a situation happens, everyone for the majority knows what to do in this status quo. A process like this would work in the United States, if gun training options were available to students in high school at a small scale. Economics teacher and Constitutionalist Trent Thornton said that “[Guns] are a Godgiven right to keep us as the people of the United States safe. Back when he was a kid, they had “marksmanship clubs where teenagers learned how to properly shoot a rifle” in response for a possible equivalent at Perry. His reasons for gun training goes a little deeper than a club that he in. His biggest
reason is that gun training laws, similar to what Switzerland has, can protect the things he cares for the most: his family and in particularly his two daughters. “My girls shoot all of my guns, besides the 22 gage,” he said. “[It’s my] duty as a father to train [my children] to know how to use a gun so they can defend themselves if the situation happens.” Is this why this nearly crazy idea is actually liked by not only people who know of the idea here but in Switzerland? People are willing to do things this extreme because people want to see change that isn’t happening with the status quo of removing our way of defence. Simply put, train and not constrict guns.
being thrown, but insulting and disrespectful words being chanted about the other team and their players. Sophomore quarterback Brock Purdy believes the spirit shown by the student section has big effect on the team down on the field. “The energy of the student section has a big impact on the energy of the players down on the field,” he said. When there is a negative vibe coming from the student section, it impacts our team and the players in a big way. There is a difference between school spirit and disrespect. There needs to be a way to express pride in your school without being unsportsmanlike. This behavior has had a negative impact on not only the energy of the games, but the image of the student body as
well. Principal Dan Serrano said: “In game two (varsity football) we escorted about 10 kids out for throwing water bottles. Someone got a black eye at the first game from water bottles being thrown.” This kind of behavior is destructive to the atmosphere and reputation of our school and student sections at all sporting events. As for future games, more precautions will be taken in order to improve the environment and energy around the student section. “You’ll see more security guards up in the stands with their eyes on the kids,” Serrano said. The disrespect and contempt shown by our student sections is a disgrace to PHS leaving us with negative impressions in the eyes of all of our opponents and sports fans.
Student section crosses a line into disrespect EMMA KLINE
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tudent sections at sporting events are notorious for being rowdy, to say the least. Obnoxious fans, degrading comments and the occasional act of violence are to be expected at sporting events. The question is: when does this get out of hand? Our student section is becoming uncontrollable with the derogatory comments towards referees, the other team, and even our own security guards. During the Mesquite football game, not only was there a streaker and water bottles
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erry’s everyday dress code is arguably ambiguous, though well enforced. Students are aware that revealing clothes, profane words, or inappropriate graphics on clothing will get them dress coded, but Perry lacks a well-defined dancespecific dress code. It would be near impossible to censure the several thousand teens on a daily basis just at school, so how is the staff supposed to make sure that every student’s clothing is acceptable at a homecoming dance? Better yet, what defines “acceptable?” Students going into a dance unaware and in violation of a dance dress code will unfortunately be denied admission to the dance. This causes issues on the social front: often, puma ladies go out, spend a couple hundred dollars on a dress of their choosing, plus the twenty-five dollar ticket fee, only to get denied entrance to the dance. Talk about infuriating. There are no rules to break if there were no rules to follow. There are no set-in-stone dress code rules for dances. While high school is the time to learn how to grow up into a mature adult, it is still wrong to assume that students will be able to judge the appropriateness their own outfits. Here are some questions to ask yourself when buying clothing for a dance: Could you wear your outfit to school and not worry about a teacher dress coding you? Would you wear it in front of your grandma? Do you have to constantly adjust your clothes in order to be considered “appropriate”? Is everything covered no matter how you move? The label “semi-formal” indicates that the dance should be treated as a formal school event, but shorter dresses and suits instead of tuxedos are allowed. Ladies are not the only ones that need to follow a dress code, the men do also. Arguably, the men’s dress code is more defined than the ladies’, but it is less complex: men who show up in casual wear will be denied entrance. Pretty black and white, right? Unfortunately, the rules for the ladies are more subjective. Their outfit must cater to their specific body type. A dress that is considered appropriate length for a girl of five-foot may not be the appropriate length for a girl of five-foot nine. This causes issues. Where do we draw the line? Who really has the final say? It is near impossible to please everyone, especially with the differing views of adults and teens on what is “appropriate.”
Perry High School 1919 E. Queen Creek Rd. Gilbert, AZ 85297 480-224-2800
480-224-2820 fax
|| Newspaper Adviser || Damien Tippett || Editor-in-Chief || Emma Fernandez || Managing Editor || Dayna Miller
|| News Editor || Sarah Lankford
staff information || Photo Editor || Ellie Wendt
|| Opinions Editor || August Bowers
|| Social Media & Web Editor || Cassie Nielsen
|| A & E Editors || Nathan Tucker & Valerie Burgess
|| Staff Reporters || Michelle Bolden Sarah Campbell Ernesto Chacon Aja Diffin Karson Hentges Caden Johnson Zach Klein
|| Features Editor || Madi Montoya || Sports Editor || Mia Irvin
Emma Kline Kendall MacGregor Abbie Murray Sam Nabaty Emily Narducci Lauren Neilsen Molly Ogden Savannah Ostler Lucas Smith Nikki Soto Kylie Vacala Bree Wade Rylee White Erik Yates
The Precedent is published by the newspaper staff at Perry High School and is published as an open student forum eight times per year. The Precedent welcomes comments and criticism from its readers. Please e-mail all questions, comments, guest articles, or letters to the editor to phsprecedent@gmail.com. Submissions may not be anonymous; however, requests for anonymity may be honored. Letters may also be delivered to room C-119.
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september|| 2015
s u p m OnCa Melissa Roesner freshman
“I think it is fair because if they get more attention than the other one, it makes the other team want to get better.”
Do you think that it is fair if one team gets more praise from the media if they are more talented than others?
Lucas Mattson sophomore
“Yes, if they are a better team and they generate more revenue for the school [it is fair].”
Cole Maurer junior
“Sure. If they are better, then they are going to get more praise for it.”
Emilee Wilhelm senior
“Yes. if they are more talented, they they should get more praise because they worked harder to get there.”
Justice, equality: two concepts heavily debated within student media point | counterpoint:
Student sports should be justly reported Student sports’ reporting needs equality SARAH CAMPBELL the precedent
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he terms ‘justice’ and ‘equality’ seem interchangeable for some people. Even though the two are not the same, many do not seem to know how they differentiate. To some, equality is justice and vice versa, but that’s not the case; especially when it comes to athletics in the media. As sports being one of the most followed subjects in student media, it ultimately led to controversy. Many would argue that when sports are covered it should be completely equal; all teams getting the same amount of attention. Though this is equality, it is not justice. If one team is doing better than the other, they deserve more coverage than one that is not. Teams should earn their spot in the media by doing well and giving students a reason to be interested in them. A team’s popularity should not grant them a spot on the front page of the paper, but rather their performance and relevance. A victory deserves to be more celebrated rather than a loss. Senior varsity soccer player Gina Bracamonte agrees student media should be just rather than equal. “I feel like more people would be interested in knowing how they won […] rather than how they lost,” she
says. If the media was completely equal, it would not do justice to the teams that were more successful. A winning team deserves to be rewarded for their accomplishments, rather than being treated the same as a losing team. With equality, many athletes would not get the recognition they rightfully earned. Instead, the media must be just; as in everyone gets what they deserve. In which teams that perform better get a greater amount of attention than a team that did not. Justice in the media would not completely wipe out reports of less successful teams, but rather limit it. While all teams could still be reported on, the extent of their coverage would be diverse. Principal Dan Serrano believes this is the fitting way to report on athletics, “I think if a team is successful, then they probably would get more media coverage than a team that’s not.” He thinks this concept can be applied to more than just sports, “I think that’s just life in general.” The level, gender or type of sport do not matter; it’s their performance that people care about. All teams would still get attention, but their relevance and achievements would determine their amount of attention. Though it may make some angry, complete equality is unrealistic and inefficient in sports media. The media’s job isn’t to make sure everyone’s happy; it is to report on what deserves to be reported on.
KARSON HENTGES the precedent
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ne of the central elements in the ever-controversial world of athletics is the power struggle between justice and equality. From unrecognized, agitated teams to star-studded players who are on top of the world as a result of excessive and often unfair spotlight, this discrepancy that the media and athletic directors hold against certain sports and teams must not go unnoticed. Every team must be treated and written about in popular media equally. On July 4, 1776, a document was adopted by the Continental Congress: The Declaration of Independence. One of the single most important written articles in modern history, the purpose of The Declaration of Independence was to instill in the governing force of another nation that people must be free. “We hold these truths to be self-evident,” the document states. “That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” As the important document mandates, everyone in this country should be treated as equal. Whether you hail from the green grass of a football field and are having the best season in history, or if you are struggling to shine on the dirt of a baseball field, all men must be credited the same. Like the colonies of a new country who strived to claim their independence in 1776, high school sports
YatesHates
programs and professional teams alike deserve to be given the same liberation. “Both men’s and women’s teams regardless of the sport, should be equally recognized,” junior Daniel Estrada commented. “It’s only fair that both genders receive credit. They both put in the hard work it takes to succeed as an athlete.” But, where one conflict is resolved, another remains, and this issue of unfair athletic recognition also exists in the media, ranging from high school news articles to covers of intensely popular magazines. If you were given a student athlete, one who has worked so hard to get where they are, would it be fair to give them a significantly smaller story just because another sport is popular? Sports are about hard work; they’re about achieving the ultimate level of determination in order to receive a personal and public sense of recognition. When that is taken away, where does all the hard work go? Principal Dan Serrano commented on this topic, saying that “every sport wants to see a story about their sport. It’s important.” He continued, “we have a lot of good teams. Our badminton team is good, our cross country team is good.” The universe that exists within the realm of athletics is ever-changing. With one controversy solved, another may surface to the cover pages of media outlets, the minds of athletes across the nation, and the interests of sports fans globally. From gender inequality to unfair recognition in the spotlight of the media, the injustices of discrimination in athletics must not go unnoticed.
Those who continuously take America for granted ERIK YATES
the precedent
W
e all know that America is the land of the free and home of the brave, but some Americans feel that their country is quickly deteriorating and is now on par with a military state. It is laughable whenever someone tries to say that America a horrible place, whether it is due to racism, police brutality, or gun violence. Compared to the likes of Somalia or North Korea, America is a paradise. At least kids here, unlike Sierra Leone, are not given an assault rifle and told to kill for “conflict
diamonds,” the currency used by insurgent forces. Furthermore, Africa is one of the most poverty stricken continents in the world. According to The Borgen Project, “Seventyfive percent of the world’s poorest countries are located in Africa.” A specific country of interest comes to mind and that country is the glorious Democratic People's Republic of North Korea, as many of its citizens might believe it to be. One area of concern is Internet, seemingly a teenager’s most important aspect in life. The informational website, Liberty in North Korea specifically states that “there is no access to the Internet (except for a few hand-picked and monitored officials).” America has a lot of liberties that other countries do not. In America, you do not even have to be married to have one kid
while in China, people are only allowed to have one child. Americans have the right to speak out against government action without punishment. We have the right to own guns while the United Kingdom which actively tries to ban knives. While it may be someone’s first amendment right to say they resent America due to its problems, it is also my first amendment right to label that individual as completely absurd. Maybe America is not as bad as people say. Regard. The rights guaranteed by this country are what let people express themselves, even if what they say is nonsensical. Photo by Dayna Miller
The American flag is the symbol of freedom. Some people disrespect the flag out of disrespect for their own country.
6 || concussions
the precedent || phsprecedent.com
september || 2015
Concussions and head injuries are some of the biggest issues on sports fields, is there any more information we may be missing other than how they affect us?
photo used with permission from Aaron G. Filler
A CT scan of the head showing a healthy and undamaged brain.
By Aja Diffin and Sarah Campbell
“[Girls’] heads are smaller and necks aren’t as strong, so when they hit, they tend to be more prone to concussions.”
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oncussions are serious and common traumatic brain injuries that people experience every day. ¶ Junior volleyball player Tristan Carver is no stranger to the serious brain injury; he has suffered three concussions throughout his life. ¶“I was really dizzy and I came back to school and I went to my first hour class and I just broke down in tears because I was so nauseous and dizzy and I had a headache.” ¶ The effects of his concussion put him in bed and in the dark to avoid the pain from stimulants like light and sound. Carver tells the story of his first concussion, and in his opinion his worst, in the fourth grade while playing football. “I blacked out,” Carver said, ”hit my head right into the ground and then I just started crying and not even because of pain, just because it was weird.” Pain, nausea, emotional instability and more: all symptoms Carver has endured during a concussion. Defining a concussion: According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), a concussion is defined as “a complex pathophysiological process affecting the brain, induced by biomechanical forces.” Concussions can be related to bruises of the brain due to blunt force trauma to the head or neck. Prevacus Inc., a research facility that specializes in concussions, describes the most common symptoms of a concussion to be dizziness, nausea, blurred vision, and unconsciousness. A concussion can result in more long lasting symptoms such as memory loss, headaches, and inability to focus for long periods of time. Because of this, many student athletes have had to miss large quantities of school in order for them to heal correctly. Once a person has received a concussion, they are more prone to receiving a second due to their initial one. This factor seems to have the greatest effect on students as many have had to quit playing contact sports because their personal safety was at risk.
Factors affecting susceptibility: Data from The American Journal of Sports Medicine displays that more than half of sports related concussions come from football players. After football, girls’ soccer is a close second with lacrosse and boys soccer following. This rings true here on campus, with the football team experiencing the highest concussion count of four last season, followed by girls’ soccer with three concussions last season. “Last year, in the whole football program [out of ] 290 kids, we only had about 8 or 9 [concussions],” head football coach Preston Jones says. Sports are not the only contribution to individuals’ susceptibility to concussions. Recent studies seem to have mixed results as to whether or not either gender is more prone to suffering from concussions. Regardless, female teams experience the largest amount of concussions nationally through contact sports such as soccer and basketball. There are many theories as to why our female teams have a greater amount of concussions than our male teams, including neck strength, head size, estrogen’s protective effect in males, and even a stronger male tendency to conceal their symptoms to get back into the game. “[Girls’] heads are smaller and necks aren’t as strong, so when they hit, they tend to be more prone to concussions than the
”
Joelyn Boone Weight Trainer
* *Information based on Perry athletes; due to more males than females at PHS, percentages will differ from national numbers.
graphic made by Sam Nabaty with Pictochart
boys,” says weights trainer Joelyn Boone. “Male athletes are more reluctant to report concussions for fear of being removed from competition,” according to Prevacus, “which may result in the well-documented underestimation of the incidence of concussion among boys.” According to NCAA, females concussion rates are higher, not only because they are more likely to report it, but because of factors such as neck strength and length. Treatment and prevention: Up until recently, concussion knowledge was limited and the sports world was lacking in any forms of prevention or treatment. As the effects of concussions came to light, athletes were demanding safer equipment and better precautionary measures to reduce
the amount of concussions. Prevacus states that concussions have doubled in the last decade, but many believe that is because there wasn’t enough technology to diagnose them until recently. “I just think we all played through it,” Boone says. “We didn’t know any better; now we know better.” Students at Perry have to go through the ImPACT test when they want to start playing a sport. This test consists of simple questions, and each athlete must pass it before the season begins. In the event of a potential concussion, trainers will give the test again on the sidelines to check the cognitive abilities of the student. If they pass, they play; if they don’t pass and it is declared a concussion by the trainer. Once diagnosed with a
concussions || 7
the precedent || phsprecedent.com
photo published with permission from James Heilman
A CT of the head years after a traumatic brain injury showing an empty space marked by the arrow where the damage occurred.
Personal Story
Concussions 101: Dealing with sports’ biggest rival
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september || 2015
concussion, players have to ease their way back into playing and can only progress as long as they remain symptom free. The athlete begins with light to moderate exercises and then transitions into non-contact exercise. Finally, if they are still symptom free, the player can being regular practice again. “You go to the baseline testing with a trainer;” principal Dan Serrano says, “if the trainer thinks you have a concussion, then you have to pass that protocol before you’re allowed to participate.” Given that there aren’t any foolproof ways of preventing concussions, all coaches can do is train their players to make smart decisions. Jones explains how he coaches players to specifically avoid concussions, “limit the amount of contact, off season and in season.” “Coaches have to go through a training as well,” Serrano says, “even off-campus volunteer coaches; if you’re going to be out there [coaching,] you go through some training and concussions are part of it.” Physical education teacher Lerina Johnson explains the best way to prevent concussions is to be informed. “Educating kids, educating parents, educating staff and coaches, I think is huge on prevention and on signs of concussions,” she says. Spreading general awareness among athletes and coaches is the most proactive way to prevent concussions. As concussions are seen in a new, more scientific light, new treatments and methods of prevention are helping to lessen the damage dealt by this serious form of trauma.
Sam Nabaty
contributed to this story
Suddenly torn from sports, a major life change to factor in for the future By Sadie Schmitz
I
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njuries are a part of sports, and concussions are common. No athlete wants to suffer an injury, and most athletes want to get back to action as quickly as they can. For me, a concussion I suffered this year not only took me away from the sport I’ve loved my whole life, but it has changed my life entirely. At the beginning of 2015, I was cheering five days every week as a freshman on the varsity cheer team. It was on January 8th when everything came to a rapid halt. I was at cheer practice in third period and we were practicing the stunt called a “Pancake” where the flyer - in this case, me - tucks their head into their knees, then lands on their back folded in half. It was a stunt we had executed hundreds of times in the past, but this time, something went wrong. Everything is quite fuzzy to me now. I know I hit my head but I do not recall if it was the ground or a body part. I do not know how it happened. The top of my forehead is what I hit, like a hammer to the head. It was not until fifth period
Symptoms of a Concussion •brief loss of consciousness after the injury •memory problems •confusion •double vision or blurred vision •headache •sensitivity to light or noise •balance problems •slowed reaction to stimuli information from www.healthline.com
that I was unable to ignore the pounding in my head. Everything had a fuzzy outline; I knew I was staring at a white page and black ink but was unable to distinguish actual words. Every time I stood up, the world spun under my feet. As soon as I got home, I expressed my worries to my mom but we decided to reassess the situation the next day. We went to urgent care the next morning. After countless tests, he deemed that I was concussed and told me to sleep over the weekend and that I should be healthy within a week. A week went by and as I was lying in bed, I gradually felt the right side of my body go numb, resulting in a trip to the Emergency Room.
After spending a night in the ER, with MRIs, drawing blood, and establishing my diagnosis, the doctors concluded I had “PostConcussion Syndrome.” This meant my concussion would be for an extended amount of time, but what “extended” truly meant was a mystery. Soon to come was months of vestibular (balance), massage, aromatouch, vision, occupational therapy and occipital nerve blocks. The side effects of PostConcussion Syndrome were so severe, I couldn’t make it through a full school day; I ended up dropping out of Perry and completing school online to return this year. Currently the neurologist expects me to have a two-year full recovery. I can no longer participate in the sport I love, and my college cheer plan has now diminished. I have been attending school full time and though my cheer career has ended, I should be fully healed in the long run. I plan on educating more people on how serious concussions can be and one day I am sure I will be able to coach the sport I love.
photo published with permission by Sadie Schmitz
Cheerleader Sadie Schmitz watches a varsity football game last year. Because of a concussion sustained during a cheer stunt and subsequent complications, she is not able to cheer this year.
Head injuries on field an unnecessary risk most athletes take BREE WADE
the precedent
High school athletes compete with such intensity that they are often willing to sacrifice their own well-being for the team. Such loyalty to the team is admirable, commendable, and to many medical professionals, stupid. With concussion cases increasing every day in this accident-prone society, it brings rise to the question of how far these athletes are willing to go despite the obvious risks.
Erin Gustafson, a former soccer player who’s concussions have prevented her from continuing contact sports, commented,“I know of a few of my old teammates who’ve had the same amount of concussions as I have, but they’re still playing, and I decided that I have more to my life than just playing a contact sport like soccer, so I knew it was for the better to quit.” To answer the question regarding why athletes push their own limits- it is due to the massive amounts of pressure placed onto said athlete to compete.This pressure is based on the idea that if the person who has the
concussion is instructed to sit out the mandatory recovery week, then their team will not perform as well: costing them the “W”. Transcending high school, athletes find themselves not wanting to be the scapegoat in terms of the team’s loss, especially due to a “small injury like a concussion”. Former Cardinals strength coach John Lott describes the effects of concussions on the team, “When a player suffers a concussion, that can no longer play that game...so, for example, if a quarterback has a concussion... and cannot play the rest of the game or possibly the next game,
that can affect the outcome of your offense, therefore the outcome of a game. So in some regards that position that was a positive for you or an advantage for you now, makes the table even.” Here is what many people do not realize: concussions actually propose serious problems and can be detrimental to a person’s life. It is more than just a headache that lasts a couple of weeks, and it could potentially have long term effects. Dan Serrano stated, “The concussion protocol is very recent, probably within the last 10 years...it really came from the NFL with some players that
were dying with concussion symptoms.” Coach Joelyn Boone added, “[In the past] I’m sure I had a concussion, but we played through it. We didn’t know better. Now we know better.” Athletes need to be aware that their health and, in extreme cases, their lives can be at risk due to a “bump on the head.” With that risk in mind, it must be decided just how much the championship game is worth. No matter what happens, an athlete’s future is worth more than a any game.
Lucas Smith
contributed to this story
8 || arts and entertainment
september|| 2015
the precedent || phsprecedent.com
Stepping in Time Pumas spend summer traveling the nation with prestigious drum corps By Molly Ogden the precedent
photo by Cliff’s View/SmugMug The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps performs their “Mary Poppins”-inspired show at Lucas Oil Satidum during the 2015 DCI Championships. The corps placed 15th out of 25 in DCI’s top division.
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usic is essential to the aura of school pride at every football game and pep assembly. That pride is the product of hours of practice from none other than the school marching band. For many students, marching band is an opportunity to make friends, get involved, and sharpen their musical abilities. For junior Evan LaBate marching band took a whole new meaning as he participated in The Academy drum corps over the summer. The Academy is a prestigious Arizona based marching band organization focused on promoting musicianship. According to The Academy website, the organization believes in “building great people through great performances.” LaBate commented that drum corps “is basically marching band to the extreme.” Perry band director Brandon Kiesgan commented that “[Drum
Sports reporter stands out in his field By Kylie Vacala the precedent
Joran Palacio, Perry sports broadcaster, has worked hard to achieve his dreams of becoming a sports broadcaster. His passion for sports and commentating came together to make him a play-by-play expert. Palacio first discovered his interest for sport broadcasting shortly before entering high school. “ I saw this commercial during a Diamondbacks game,” Palacio stated, “[the commercial] said ‘hey come out and audition to be part of the game’, and I said why not. I actually won the contest when I was a freshman. I did an inning of play-by-plays for them.” Not only did the Diamondbacks recognize Palacio’s abilities during the
and Bugle Corp] is an experience that is not for the faint of heart. They wake up from the gym floor, eat, rehearse, eat, rehearse, eat, rehearse, shower, sleep, repeat for 12 hours a day for 3 months straight. The high quality product is truly reflective of the amount of time that goes into show preparation.” LaBate’s acceptance into The Academy is especially impressive because he was accepted as a sophomore among a majority of upperclassmen, and he was accepted after recently switching from the saxophone to the French horn. “Freshman year, I started out playing saxophone for a year, and then we lost two of our strongest horn players [after graduation]. I was like ‘I’ll just switch and help out the horn line. It wasn’t that hard…. actually it was really hard.” LaBate continued that “it was the best summer of my life. Throughout the entire season, you just have the
mentality of, ‘I’ve just got to push through.There is only three weeks left.’ And halfway through that, you are just like ‘I want to go home.’ But at the end, when I was in Lucas Oil Stadium after the final horns down, it’s like ‘wow, I’m never going to do this again until next year.’” LaBate was not alone marching with The Academy. Senior Cari Earnhardt recently completed her fourth year marching with in a drum corps. Earnhardt commented, “during the summer, they push you really hard. I thought it was going to be fun all the time, and it is fun and it is really rewarding, but they push you past your limits. [This experience] not only made me a better musician, but a better person.” Any opportunity for a musician to grow to a great opportunity. True devotion to music, such as with LaBate and Earnhardt, is what pays off in the end.
photo courtesy of Evan LaBate Senior Cari Earnhardt and junior Evan LaBate pose in front of an Academy tour bus with alumnus Matt Warren. All three marched in the drum corps’ 2015 show “A Step in Time.”
Dine and Devour
Hot Mess Buns offers unique pastries on-the-go By Mia Irvin the precedent
photo by Ellie Wednt Joran Palacio looks over John Wren Stadium as the Pumas play their homecoming football game against Chaparral.
2013 Kid Caster competition, but so did student media teacher, Brian Bernier. “For years we never had anybody who wanted to do play-by-play stuff,” Bernier commented. “He came as a freshman and he already done the Diamondback kid caster. He was all about it.” Students may not recognize what Palacio does by hearing “play-by-plays” but when attending sport events, his work is showcased. “My job specifically, I do all the research before the game” Palacio stated, “then once the game gets going, I know who everybody is and I’m interviewing coaches from both sides.” Kyle Davidson, a sophomore in student media,
collaborates with Palacio to create play-by-plays. Davidson comments on his partnership with Palacio. “ We work together to make [the broadcasting] run smoothly.” Compared to other student broadcasters, Palacio’s talent and dedication sets him apart from everyone else. “You can tell when he is doing broadcasts he is enthusiastic about what’s going on,” Bernier said about Palacio’s broadcasting abilities. Palacio’s experience throughout the years has expanded his natural talent for broadcasting, providing him with a promising future in what he loves to do, broadcasting.
The food truck trend is beginning to invade parking lots and streets everywhere. But if all the food tastes like Hot Mess Buns, I won’t have a problem with it at all. The Hot Mess Bun truck is one of the newest trucks to take to the streets of the Chandler-Gilbert area. Run by Jennifer Macpherson and a small staff, the truck has been churning out buns since Friday Aug. 2015. Macpherson has always had an entrepreneurial mind. “I realized that I wanted to put my business sense into something where I thought I could have fun.” Macpherson stated. The truck’s main focus is cinnamon buns with enough fixings to satisfy any pallet. The menu begins with a warm, gooey, doughy cinnamon bun. Even if the bun was all you got, it would still be worth it. Next, a dollop of cream cheese frosting is added. But Hot Mess Buns does not stop there. From there, the consumer has the choice of adding a drizzle of
photo by Mia Irvin The variety of rolls offered at Hot Mess Buns include the Cap’n Crunch crumble and a classic cream chesse-frosted roll.
their choice. From Nutella, to caramel, to chocolate and, for the really daring, a Cap’n Crunch crumble that is sprinkled over the bun for the full effect . My personal favorite is the Trainwreck, which is the cinnamon bun, plus the frosting, plus the drizzle, plus the Captain Crunch. The frosting is definitely sweet, but it does not overpower the
roll. Each element shines on its own, but when compiled together, the drizzle, the roll, the frosting, and the cereal unite to become a collection of superior tastes that only Hot Mess Buns can provide. If you are interested in following the truck and it’s whereabouts, they are on Twitter and Instagram as @HotMessBuns and Facebook as Hot Mess Buns.
september || 2015
the precedent || phsprecedent.com
arts and entertainment || 9
Four Square Club revive nostalgic game By Valerie Burgess the precedent
With the stress of high school looming over students, a need for relief in the midst of essays and mounds of homework is necessary for one’s success. Many may resort to sports or music for their escape, but a new club on campus changes the game. Four square club is a new way to allow students to revive their childhood memories while transitioning to adult life while sporting stylish florescent pink shirts. Connor Maxwell had the unique opportunity to create a club inclusive for all on the basis of fun in the spirit of a spontaneous decision: “my friends and I enjoyed playing four square, enough that sometimes we would play until two to three in the morning. We decided that the activity was too much fun to keep it to ourselves, and we wanted to share it.” The club was initially pitched by a group of government teacher Angela Gardner’s students. The purpose of the club was an opportunity to have students engage with other students to reminisce the childhood of students. “Some of my fifth period students Connor Maxwell, Nick Madix, Zach Colbern, Jacob Weiss asked me if I wanted to sponsor the
By Lauren Neilsen and Nikki Soto the precedent
No rest for Theatre students
photo by Valerie Burgess
Senior Connor Maxwell plays a round of Four Square. Four Square club hosts games every Tuesday after school.
club,” Gardner continues. “Write up a constitution, get ten signatures, and they wrote up a constitution saying they were growing up and they wanted to reconnect their childhood, before they did that.” Now there are more than 45 members who play every Tuesday between the C building and
the library. Students who stay after school also have a unique opportunity to collaborate together to play a game some have not played for more than five years. Julia Gregory explains her excitement for the club “it gives a nice break from normal high school activities and from homework and
doing work always. Also, [it is] really good time to get engaged with other people and new people.” As for the future of the club, Gardner hopes the inclusion of students as well as teachers to go head to head to answer the timeless question of whether students or teachers are superior at four square.
Mother of four Corinna Bennett praised “we really liked the Taste of Perry. We’d go again next year.” Although the overall feedback was positive, critique was not unheard of. The event offered many vendors, however each restaurant only offered, on average, one to two items. These items were often meat-based, which is great for all the carnivores out there, but vegetarians were primarily limited to drinks and desserts. Senior Savannah Haslam suggested “it would be cool to have maybe a specific vegetarian or vegan section.” Including vegan or vegetarian vendors, or simply more vegetarian-friendly options from the current restaurants would appeal to a wider range of consumers. One easy fix to this issue would be to add a single salad or veggie-based restaurant to the list of vendors.
“More vegetarian options would be nice because it opens up our options a lot more” Haslam confirmed. Another suggested change to the management is to have the event cater to the students’ needs. “They have a nice variety, but maybe taking student requests...would be a nice twist” Hooks offered. The event itself was bustling on the inside, and it almost seemed like time stopped, when in fact it did the exact opposite. With the homecoming carnival running in joint with Taste, it seemed as though the event had only just began when the cafeteria doors were closing for the night. “We were sad it closed so early” Bennett criticized. A single murmured complaint was creating fear in the students who wished to have a taste, a fear that certain vendors already ran out.
This drives customers away from the event before it is officially over, which only leads to lost profits. Few vendors were empty-handed when 6:30 approached, yet word of shortage began circulating at least an hour before that time. Taste could sell tickets a week before the carnival, and determine how much food each vendor should supply based on those numbers, or simply send out a survey. Taste, although in need of tweaking, was definitely worth the entrance fee. The music kept the scene lively, the vendors were popular restaurants, and the amount of food each customer could receive was essentially endless. Taste could flourish if the quantities vendors brought increased, the event ran longer, and the variety in options increased.
Eighth Taste of Perry has room to grow By Dayna Miller the precedent
At the homecoming carnival on Thursday Sept. 17 several restaurants gathered in the cafeteria from 4:30 to 7 p.m. These restaurants offered samples to students, faculty, and family for the modest price of five dollars. This event not only served samples and plates of food from various sellers, but also had a live DJ and non-food items available for perusing. Taste of Perry has been an asset of PHS since its opening, and it has not lost its value. Students and families alike found this event to be worthwhile. Senior Justin Hooks commented “they do it every year, and it’s a nice way for the school to earn money.” Many parents found the event to be family-friendly.
A&E Corner
Love reaches new rhythms as duo debuts Noelle Soucek and Jack Baker combine talents for new band, The Moiety Blend By Karson Hentges the precedent
Photo provided by Jack Baker
Junior Jack Baker and senior Noelle Soucek share a love of music which they channel by performing cover songs together as The Moiety Blend.
Picture this synopsis for next summer’s biggest romantic flick: two people in love find each other against all odds not only to make memories to share, but also to craft music to spread to those with a passion for art. To Perry senior Noelle Soucek and junior Jack Baker, this fantasy is all too real. With a mix of Baker’s rhythmic beats and Soucek’s smooth and capturing voice, Arizona’s new acoustic sensation “The Moiety Blend” has been created. Elaborating on how the band was formed, Soucek stated, “I’ve always enjoyed music and this has been something I’ve always wanted to do, and I’ve finally found someone who I can share my music with, so this is really fun for the both of us.” Having released two cover songs right out of the gate including Walk The Moon’s “Shut Up and Dance” and Maroon 5’s “Sunday Morning,” The Moiety Blend has already played an opening show at SoZo Coffeehouse and have received offers to play full shows at local events. “Currently we’re working just
on covers, but we’re actually aiming towards releasing our own music in the near future as well,” added Baker. He continued, “people have definitely reached out to us in terms of being featured in our songs, so there’s a lot of possibilities and opportunities to cover every area of music.” Local Perry junior Caleb Wilson commented that, “The Moiety Blend is what a band should be: two people having fun while also making art for others to enjoy. I’m really excited to see what they do next.” The Moiety Blend is currently working on their new cover and music video of Colbie Caillat’s “Try”, which includes a special message to those who need or want to feel more confident. However, through all the attention Soucek and Baker have been receiving as a result of their new unique and catchy sound, they want to remind all of their viewers that, “The Moiety Blend isn’t about us, it’s about the music. We do it all for our fans.” Check them out on their Youtube channel, Moiety Blend, and on Twitter, @TheMoietyBlend.
Perry theatre never fails to create quality productions, but often times what goes on behind the curtains can be just as exciting as the organized chaos on stage. With “You Can’t Take It With You” coming to a close, the theatre department is already working on their next musical: “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” “We do a lot all at once, but we work well in a fast-paced environment,” explains junior Brandon Hayes. Hayes is to be starring in the Winter musical. The musical is a comedy that centers around six intellectual students with very different personalities, all aspiring to be the champion of the spelling bee. Preparations for the upcoming musical have recently begun, and is set to showcase Nov. 5, 6, and 7th. The actors have been working hard to perfect their roles, but the technical crew has been working equally hard, creating all the special effects that bring the show to life. “Being in tech is challenging, but so rewarding,” comments junior Sarah Martino, “The people are what make it so great.” With the tech crew and the actors putting in long hours, the show is sure to be well-prepared and polished. Although theatre department packs a busy schedule, the shows they produce are always sure to leave the audience happy.
Books: “All the Bright Places” a warm-hearted reality check for readers
Jennifer Niven’s book “All the Bright Places” has pulled me back and forth across the spectrum of emotions; from heartache to happiness, joy to sorrow. The heartwarming (and yet, heartbreaking) novel focused on two high school seniors and their search for life and death. One’s name is Violet Markey: Bartlett High’s semi-popular girl who can never escape the grief of her sister’s death. The other is Theodore Finch, a boy who everybody knows, but no one understands. The two coincidentally meet on the top of their school’s bell tower, each separately contemplating suicide. Both seem to save each other from jumping. From there, the pair become unlikely partners on a class project and grow closer than either of them ever thought they would. Being Niven’s first young adult work, “All The Bright Places” exceeded my expectations. Her novel combined instances of snarky humor with real troubles teenagers are burdened with worldwide, including mental illnesses that millions of people suffer from everyday. This contrast only emphasized the story’s key principles of love, depression, and pain. Overall, Jennifer Niven’s novel “All the Bright Places” provides a tender story about two broken teenage outcasts that find each other- and also find hope.
10 || sports
Our Take
T
his past July, Arizona nearly lost the Phoenix Coyotes all together. Hockey in the desert was never an easy sell ever since the team Ellie first arrived Wendt Arizona. the precedent in The team has struggled with ownerships and a failure to make it to state finals. The team was bought by Anthony LeBlanc with the condition that they would be compensated by the city of Glendale back in 2013. Recently, Glendale elected a new mayor who cancelled the deal with the Coyotes. After an ugly legal dispute and the team threatening to leave the state, the city came to an agreement to house the Coyotes for another two years. Now the Coyotes might have to move back to Phoenix. Not only would they be moving back to their old home in downtown Phoenix but the team was also offered a possible partnership with the Phoenix Suns basketball team. Through their partnership the two teams would also possibly receive a new arena. Many people believe moving back to the city of Phoenix would benefit of the Coyotes.
Upcoming Events Badminton
9/1 V. 3:30pm
Golf (Girls)
9/28 @ Seville V. Basha, Casteel
Golf (Boys)
A Band of Brothers Football’s six sets of brothers contributes to team’s “family atmosphere” By Zach Klein the precedent
Photo by Ashlyn Davis Senior linebacker Case Hatch celebrates a 39-35 victory over Liberty. That game clenched a 4-0 record in their first four games of the season.
9/22 V. Knights Dive Invite Football 9/25 V. Highland 7:00pm Girls’ Volleyball 9/30 V. Campo Cross Country 9/26 Conley Invite @ Rolling Hills
Sports Brief
Basha-Perry hockey team has a current record of 1-0. They played on September 12 at Centennial in which they won 7-5. The team is placed in Division II this year because of the BashaPerry combination, making them ineligible to play in Division I. Junior goalie Zachary Klein has high hopes for the season, “We got a lot of good players from the club teams,” Klein looks forward to working hard, alongside head coach and father Steve Klein. Coach Klein has been head coach of the team for the past two years. “Expectations this season are high, we have eight returning players from last year’s team that lost in the semifinals.” Coach Klein is pushing the players hard for the ultimate goal of division two champions. But coach is not all work and no play, “I want the team to have fun, work hard and push themselves.”
Varsity football is often considered “one big family”, and when this group is a literal “brotherhood,” success on the field is imminent. Those were terms senior Jackson O’Hare and his twin brother Samuel used to describe this group of varsity Pumas. The O’Hare’s have been playing tackle football together since the age of nine. As Sam put it, “it’s always cool, because we always see each other during the game, we always are encouraging each other to perform better.” Brother Jack agreed, “it’s especially more fun now that we are both on offense”, referring to his days as a linebacker, Sam having stayed at his current position on the offensive line. “We have a lot of trust with each other, everyone to our left and right is going to do their job, we don’t have to worry.” There is a total of six sets of brothers on this season’s varsity football squad, (Cutter and Case Hatch, Nate and D’Shayne James, Sam and Jack O’Hare, Bryce and Austin Fallas, Vincent and Robert Corral, and Tate and Bryce Speaker). Head Coach Preston Jones didn’t realize that there were this many family ties on his team. “I think, if anything, it helps [our team] bring that family atmosphere” to his squad this year. Brothers Case and Cutter Hatch have brought the flair and finesse to mesh with the hard work of the O’Hare’s. Case is a consistent presence on
the state tackles leader board., He is the proverbial “rock that makes the defense go,” as Coach Jones proudly stated. Case likes playing with his younger brother, and enjoys the bond that having family on the team forms, boldly stating “it’s great, me being on defense and to make a stop, and [Cutter] on offense to make a play”. Cutter thinks “it’s awesome, we have those little family competitions in practice, I get to congratulate him and he gets to congratulate me”. Case continued his march up the state tackles leader board, and is optimistic, looking forward to his senior night against Val Vista rival Basha. “I’ve never beaten them, I just want to take them down.” Jack O’Hare is also looking forward to his senior night, “it’s home, it’s the last game of the season, it’s senior night, it’s just super exciting”. Their season continues tomorrow at Highland High, a game where everyone involved is surely optimistic for a successful outing and to improve on a stellar 4-1 record.
photo by Emma Fernandez
The football team huddles up during the homecoming game against Chaparral. The team lost the game 27-17 leaving the pumas with a 4-1 record.
Puma golf success in regular season continues
9/29 @ V. Mountain Pointe, Highland,
Swim
september || 2015
the precedent || phsprecedent.com
By Mia Irvin the precedent
The boys golf team is continuing to keep improving their game. Junior Mike Finnegan is excited to be back on the course with his teammates. “Right now we’re doing pretty solid, we started off the first tournament and ended up winning.” Finnegan says. “We came back by ten strokes and ended up winning.” Senior Brady Hatten is looking to improve his game not only as an individual but as a whole team as well. “I would like to win state as an individual,” Hatten states. “I just [have to] keep practicing hard,
keep focused, and just be patient,” he elaborates. The team is looking to maintain their team chemistry in the hopes that it will transfer onto the course. “Team chemistry definitely helps,” Hatten says. “It definitely brings the team together, and we could probably fight through it,” Hatten explains. “[The chemistry] is better than last season, that’s for sure.” Finnegan places the same importance on the team dynamic. “We get [along] really well,” Finnegan says. “You know you’re a good team when we can make fun of each other and still take it.” Finnegan joked.
Head Coach John Lowery is looking forward to see where the team ends up this season.” We have every opportunity to be right there on the final day to have a shot.” Lowery says. “I think we have every shot to be one of the teams that could compete to win.” Girls Golf With a few successful matches under their belts, girls golf is moving forward and prepared for an improved season. Last year, the girls team was fairly young compared to other schools. However with returning athletes, the team is looking forward to the remainder of their season.
Sophomore Dakota Kreil especially enjoys the team camaraderie that comes with golfing for Perry. “I think we just support each other 110 percent and we just really push each other,” Kreil stated. The team recently came in second to Hamilton in two different meets and is looking to get ahead before the season is over. Head Coach Brian Bernier is excited to see where the team finishes this season. “We can kind of see where we’re at compared to other teams because you never know where you’re at until you’re actually out there,” Bernier
A little deflation should not cause this much pressure EMMA FERNANDEZ the precedent
I
t is illegal to wear a mustache to church in Alabama if it is likely to provoke laughter. It is illegal to walk your cow down Main Street after 1 p.m. on Sunday in Little Rock, AR. In Salem, WV, it is illegal to eat candy less than half an hour before church. And deflating footballs before using them in a National Football League (NFL) game is cheating. All of these may seem ridiculous, but laws and rules
are not created out of politicians’ imaginations. Someone, somewhere, at sometime had to have done something to provoke these wry rules and regulations. And I find that humorous. We can only imagine the mustache a person was wearing that brought on so much laughter in an Alabama church that the state made it illegal. Or the guy who was always bringing his cow down Main Street at 1:05 p.m. in Little Rock. Or what wicked things those kids did in church that one Sunday in Salem that made eating candy right before church illegal. Or what NFL team deflated the
“We are all here, right now, living through Deflategate. What a time to be alive! -Emma Fernandez
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footballs in an NFL game. As none of us were there, we can only imagine. Except for the deflated footballs of course. We are all here, right now, living through Deflategate. What a time to be alive! Won’t this be a great story to tell the grand kids in 50 years? “I lived through Deflategate.” Of course not. And that’s my point. Deflategate has been one joke after another. The media and fans alike have sensationalized the jabs
at Tom Brady and Patriots and the deflated balls jokes. And who cares? Tom Brady has obviously proved he can play football with regularly inflated balls in his last two games. Just like cow guy probably walked his cow down Main Street at 12:55 p.m. Overall, the media and fans have made the NFL, Tom Brady, and the Patriots a laughing stock. Deflategate is one big joke. But hey, at least now we know not to deflate footballs in the NFL, right? Except that is about as ridiculous as telling citizens of Oklahoma they cannot let their donkeys sleep in bathtubs after 7pm.
september || 2015
sports || 11
the precedent || phsprecedent.com
XC girl combines studious attitude and desire to win By Karson Hentges the precedent
Determination, persistence, dedication, and passion; the hunger for success and the desire to excel are held simply in the hands of these four strings of letters held together. As a cross country runner and exemplary student alike, one must not only show, but live and breathe the ideals held in these words. For junior Emma Howard, who is one of the team’s most passionate runners, these acts of success come easy. With their sophomore athletes winning first place at their Chandler Invitational out of fortyeight teams competing and 8 medals having been awarded, the spirits and ambitions of the girls team could not be higher, especially for team captain Howard. Howard states that being one of the girl’s team captains is, “a lot of fun. We have a very strong girls team this year. It’s great being able
to run with such strong teammates.” Leading the pack this year is PHS history teacher and athlete Jeff Gurecki. As the new girls head coach, Gurecki commented that, “I am very proud of the girl’s cross country team this year. I want a city championship and a top 5 placing at state within the next 2 years.” Clara Wallengren, a junior who is also a runner on the girl’s team this year complimented Howard, saying, “I’ve known Emma since freshman year, and not only is she a great friend, but she’s a really good leader for our girl’s team.” If it wasn’t obvious enough, being a cross country runner is very hard and demanding work. But, despite a preseason injury and the intense, painstaking effort put in to be the best she can be, Howard still manages to excel as not only an athlete, but also a student.
Holding all A’s so far this year, Howard strives to push herself to accomplish a balanced life of success on and off the track. “Cross country is about how physically and mentally strong you can be,” Howard added, “so when I improve one of my times by pushing myself out of my comfort zone, it’s an exhilarating feeling.” Emphasizing the inspiring passion held in this year’s girls team, Coach Gurecki proudly commented that, “One of the girls said today, ‘Everyday last year seems like an easy day compared to last year. We have a great young team this year, and if they continue to work hard, great things will come.” You can support the girl’s cross country team at their next meet which takes place on Sept. 23 at Red Mountain. The team is hoping to not only have a successful state meet, but set a few records along the way.
photo provided by Emma Howard Junior Emma Howard poses with some teammates after a successful meet. The teams’s next meet is the Conley invite which will be held at Rolling Hills on Sept. 9 from 7:30-9.
Pom and cheer train for quickly approaching state With only one competition to qualify for state, cheer is using football and basketball games to prepare themselves By Michelle Bolden the precedent
The 2015-2016 varsity cheer team is ready to stunt, tumble, and cheer their way into the new season. With a few new faces there are eight seniors, a handful of juniors, two sophomores, and two freshmen. Senior and co-captain Tatum Dawe believes the new members have positively contributed stating “They’ve brought a lot of
talent to the team.” The ladies have their first competition on Nov. 7 and this one is very significant “because if they qualify then they get to go to Nationals in Disneyland in March,” Head Cheer Coach Desiree Stinnett explains. Following that, on Dec. 7 is their Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) competition.
“That’s kind of what you work for,” Stinnett says. “You only get to go to that one competition to see if you qualify for state.” Because competition season does not start until November, the team spends Friday nights preparing by cheering on the football team. Their performances during basketball season are also very crucial to
the success of their routines. “During the games, we actually do the stunts that... are in our competition routine,” senior cheer captain Megan Matthews explains. Performing their competition sequences helps the ladies perfect their dances and gain confidence in them. “It helps us improve because it gives us more repetition and more
seems overwhelming to some, for Yanish it couldn’t be more opposite. “...I’ve been doing it for 14 years, since I was two. I’ve grown up with it my entire life.” Her hard work shows in her results; when she competed at Nationals, she placed third in the nation. Yanish considers beam her best event, when in 2012, she was titled the Western National Beam Champion. Her highest beam score throughout her career was a 9.65. Yanish feels her inspiration to compete in her sport comes from her family: “My mom has always seen that
I can be successful in it...my sister grew up doing it with me, and I take my sister as a really big role model.” Yanish added with a reminiscent smile, “...I just wanted to be like her.” Her sister is not her only role model. Yanish mentioned her other supporter here at Perry; biology teacher Jerald Irion. Irion reflected on Yanish as a student athlete: “...I know how difficult it can be...you gotta put your time in, on the school side as well, so if she can keep that attitude and keep her dedication that she has to gymnastics in the classroom... she should
be real successful.” Even though Yanish has the talent to compete as Olympian, her aspirations have lead her to pursue gymnastics at a college level. Yanish has fully committed to Oregon State University and plans to start in the fall of 2017. Principal Dan Serrano affirmed how difficult it is as well: “I’ve been a principal in education for 30 years and only one kid I know...have been in the professionals...it’s hard to make it to the pros…” Both Irion’s and Serrano’s words highlight how far Yanish has truly come, and the bright future she has ahead of her.
“You only get to go to that one competition to see if you qualify for state.” -Head Cheer Coach Desiree Stinnett
practice.” Dawe says. Along with that, they use every opportunity they can to perfect their routines, taking advantage of select weekday and weekends as well as their 3rd hour period. Stinnett estimates that the girls
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put in around 12 hours of practice a week in the time leading up to competitions and assembly performances. The team is also very diligent in showing their school spirit. “For the really big games, especially, the girls
like to go decorate the football locker room and make treats for the football players,” Stinnett explains. They also like to get together and make sins and hang them up around the school for the upcoming games. “We always wear our spirit gear on Fridays and we try to just promote a lot of school spirit on campus,” Stinnett says.
Gymnast who has been competing for sixteen years receives full ride scholarship to OSU By Lauren Nielson and Kylie Vacala the precedent
On a typical day, junior Kaitlyn Yanish wakes up at 5:15 a.m. for her zero hour class, staying at school until 11:40 a.m. to finish her 4th hour class. Yanish then goes to a five hour long gymnastics practice for her club, Arizona Dynamics Gymnastics. After practice, she then goes back to her house to rewind after the long day, complete her homework from her day classes, and also complete work from an online class she is enrolled in on the side. While this schedule
photo provided by Kaitlyn Yanish Junior Kaitlyn Yanish poses on the bar which is her strongest event. Yanish plans to attend Oregon State University in the fall.
12 || sports
september || 2015
the precedent || phsprecedent.com
Team work is making their dream work Johnson Pumas off to best start ever, and chemistry is a big reason why Badminton
confident in Pumas’ talent, skill, expertise
By Emma Kline the precedent
Coming off of a stellar 2014 season, the Pumas have picked up where they left off. As of press time, PHS was 21-3 (6-1 power point matches), and they are not only winning matches, they are pummeling their opponents. In fact, of their 24 matches to date, 18 have been shut-out victories. With that on-court success, the team has become closer and more connected which is vital for improving their dynamic on and off the court. Head coach Fredd Mann credits the camaraderie to his players’ own drive to succeed. “We’ve got a good, hard working team out there that’s trying to get better,” he explained. The girls remain extremely confident in their progress so far this season giving them hope for future games. Sophomore outside hitter Ellie McDonald expressed her excitement for the early season success, saying “so far the season has been going amazing.” The improving team dynamic has not only made an impact on the team’s confidence, but also their power as a whole. This isn’t to say that past squads were not close – they were – but each person interviewed said there was something different about the dynamic of the 2015 club. “We are working better together on the court as the season goes on and we’ve started to gel,” McDonald said. “Every day we become closer and closer as a team,” senior outside hitter Taylor Knoll stated. “It all starts off the court, the relationships that are built among us make us stronger overall.” As the Pumas enter the toughest stretch of their schedule this week (as section play begins), Perry players are littered among section leaders in kills, aces and blocks, according to MaxPreps. Team unity might be the secret weapon that could propel this team to new heights. “In female sports, the unity of the girls is typically something that is super-important in terms of winning,” Mann said. As for goals of improvement this season, the team hopes to continue to progress by eradicating small mistakes and obtaining their close personal bonds. Knoll added, “I hope we stay close as a team throughout the season and continue to play hard and correct the little mistakes we make out on the court.” McDonald hopes to try out different skills than usual out on
By Rylee White the precedent
photo by Brianna Dickson
Senior outside hitter Taylor Knoll (left) spikes a ball during the Pumas’ win over Sandra Day O’Connor on Sept. 16. Knoll ended the day with eight kills and the Pumas won the match 3-0.
the court and perfect the ones she has already learned, noting that she is looking forward to trying new things on the court as the team moves into the home stretch of the season. The Pumas can make these improvements by leaving their comfort zone and taking a few risks. It is difficult to get results without taking a few chances along the way. The immense amount of talent presented by each of the players does not hurt either. “We’ve got some talent out there,” Mann said. “We have clearly improved a ton.”
Power rankings released
On Sept. 22, the AIA released its initial power rankings. Perry. With a 6-1 record, opened at No.
photo by Brianna Dickson
The volleyball team celebrates after scoring a point on Sept. 16.
Badminton has been victorious with an undefeated record so far this season. Recently being able to celebrate with their coach’s 100th career win, the team has even more reason to be confident about beating the upcoming competition. “We have the team, we have the talent, we have the skill, we have the knowledge, we have the expertise, we just have to execute [it] when we’re on the court,” head coach Lerina Johnson said. With only seven more matches to go, Johnson feels confident that they will pull through to state in the end despite the competition they must face in order to get there. “We have Pinnacle, Sunnyslope, and Prescott that will be our three hardest.” She goes on to say, “the other four we will win easily, so the rest of the season should go pretty well. There’s a very good chance we will go undefeated for the season.” With the positive performance, it seems as though Johnson has pushed the team to their prime, giving them more time to experiment with new skills. One such skill includes the slice shot. “We’ve always been a hard hitting team and this time we have thrown in a slice shot,” Johnson stated. “I think we are going to keep practicing that and that is what’s going to put us above some of the other girls.” Junior Katie Cross mentions what the team is doing to prepare for state. “It’s an analysis of our game and an analysis of other people’s game and how they play versus us,” she said. Other than enhancing those skills, the team seems to be sticking with the same routine they always have been. “We practice the same,” junior Dominique Garcia states. “We challenge each other but mostly do the same stuff.” The only big difference Cross declares is “I would consider us to have always been dedicated but now were just driven. “We’re driven much more now that we have a definite goal to go for,” Cross said. “I think we’re falling into a routine which is definitely very important.”
Get to know your Perry athletes Favorite TV show: CSI Miami Athlete you look up to: Usain Bolt Favorite song: Locked Away//Adam Levine feat. R. City Favorite Food: Watermelon Favrotie Sports team: Phoenix Suns Favorite activity: Running
PAIGE ELLSWORTH
SAMUEL CROSS
Cross Country
Football
Favorite Food: Tacos Favorite Singer: Bon Jovi Dream Job: Anywhere in the Stock Market Celebrity Crush: Shakira Favorite Movie: Get Smart Favorite Drink: Mountain Dew