The View Issue 3 Vol. 24 by Park Hill South View

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Park Hill South High School Riverside, MO

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2 1 daysof pages 8-9

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December 17, 2021 Volume 25, Issue 3

The Pfizer vaccine has been approved for 5-11 year olds and many parents have had trouble deciding whether or not to vaccinate their children.

Flipside: Normal vs. Mid-Year Graduates

The benefits to both graduating early and graduating at a normal time from two perspectives of The View Staff.

Making Christmas Magic

Expierence the magic within our hearts with Hallmark. A list of the best Hallmark movies.

Dear Underclassmen

A letter to Freshman and Sophomores about how South used to be and the experiences they are missing.

Signing Day

A recap of all the student athletes who signed earlier this Fall.

05 10 06 12 14 Editors: Katie Claunch Tyler Clippard Kara Hagen Alyssa Kobayashi Hadley Uribe

STAFF

CO NTENTS

To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate

Reporters: Kaitlyn Cain Sam Chase Megan DiBernardo Summer McAlister Sophia Nguyen Brooke Thompson Nev Ada Yildirim

The view is published six times during the regular school year as the student news publication of Park Hill South High School is Riverside, MO. Opinions expressed here are that of the student journalists and do not necessarily reflect te opinions of the Park Hill School District. To access the editorial policies or to submit a letter to the editor, visit our website at phsouthnews.com The View is a member of National Scholastic Press Association and the MIssouri Interscholastic Press Association and is printed by Osage Graphics in Olathe, KS.

finals:

back to

normal

F in a ls a re b a c k to n o rm a l a n d th e s ta ff a n d s tu d e n ts a re fi n a lly g e ttin g a s ig h o f re lie f

by KATIE CLAUNCH

To high school students, finals have always been a big deal. It’s the last test of the class that could potentially make or break your grade. It’s essential in order to earn the GPA that you’re striving for. After winter break last year, students were coming back from spending time with family, celebrating holidays, eating good food... and studying. Last year, finals were moved to after winter break and it had a big impact on the students and staff at South. “When finals were after Christmas, it messed up the flow of things. I think it made me forget more things, but it also gave you more time to study. Overall, I think it hurt people more than it helped people due to the fact that it was hard to contact teachers and people didn’t want to study on a holiday,” said Brady O’Hara, sophomore. Some people’s grades were eventually affected as well. “It affected me a lot! I found myself not remembering a lot of information and getting worse grades than I did in past years. It also affected my Christmas break because I had to spend it studying rather than enjoying Christmas with my family,” said Jessica Eisler, senior. April Barton, science, did not think the break particularly helped students for finals.

She said, “I think a few students took the extra time to study, but most students did not; they took the two weeks off and did not think about biology.” This could probably be expected from high school students. This year, now that finals are back to normal and will be taken before Winter Break, Christmas gets to be relaxed and easy. “I’ll be more motivated and all of the information will be fresh in my brain, and I get to rest once break does roll around,” said Lanie Nevil, junior. O’Hara also said she sees benefits in his studying habits. “This year, I think I will benefit from the normal finals, because I can ask any questions I need while studying plus I will be more motivated to study because I get the relief of Christmas break,” she said. Barton said she is happy about the new changes. “I believe most students will do better on the EOC without having the break before the test,” she said. “Taking the test with the material fresh on the brain will help the student’s scores.” So thank goodness for even an ounce of normalcy! Having finals after break again is benefiting everyone this year.

before

during

after

finals before break

finals after break

finals before break

2020 2020 2020 N EWS p h s o u th n e w s.c o m

HELP WANTED T h is h o lid a y s e a s o n is c a llin g fo r s h o r ta g e s in s u p p lie s a n d u n d e rs ta ffi n g in s to re s by NEV ADA YILDIRIM

ob offers are spotted left and right as it seems like everywhere is hiring. Empty positions have many South students applying for and filling up the wanted jobs this holiday season. Not only are many jobs empty, but shortages can also be seen clearly on the shelves of stores. Shortages all across the country are a common problem, with lots of products in high demand, but backed-up shipments are coming in slowly. With supply chains so behind, shortages can be felt at our local level. And as the holiday season is upon us, employees are needed to work extra hard for their jobs. One popular place of work for South students is Culver’s as they begin to hire at age 14. Sheyenne Russell, sophomore, just started working there at the beginning of October. “I work about two to four times a week, three hours on school days and four hours on the weekends,” Russell said. “Due to me being only 15 I can’t work past 7 p.m.; 16-year-olds are usually sent to do closing at 10:30 p.m. We usually have enough staff around but most of us 14- and 15-year-olds are new, and they can’t do most positions yet.” Staff shortages have left Ymany high school students as the main work force, leading many to feel overworked. “Luckily, management is understanding and lenient,” she said. “I can balance my job with school and extracurricular activities, so I am able to keep it all under control.” Product shortages are not only evident on shelves in stores, but also in restaurants like Culver’s. “We have a lot of shortages, especially in our straws and lids,” Russell said.

N EWS p h s o u th n e w s.c o m

Scan here to see a list of hiring jobs!

Henry Ye, sophomore, works at Hyvee, where he said they are understaffed. Ye said, “I work around nine hours in the school week and six on the weekends. Every position is short on staff besides cashier, but they treat us well by giving us lots of free extras, like donuts.” Ye said he greatly enjoys the work experience he gets, even if it is a lot to balance. “I’ve adjusted to juggling multiple things at once,” he said. “I can finish my homework quickly before I leave for work.” Hyvee also has had a large shortage of coins, especially quarters, and offers employees a 20 percent discount instead of 10 for holiday season workers, according to Henry. Salma Kamal, sophomore, works at Smoothie King. She has had a job for two years. She said,“I typically work 15-20 hours a week, but I don’t mind working. I enjoy interacting with customers and coworkers, and it also gives me great work experience. There has been a shortage of multiple fruits, paper towels and plastic cups.” Many students are able to maintain a successful balance between work and school, even with shortages in supplies and less staff during this holiday season.

WHAT IS THE SUPPLY CHAIN CRISIS?

Due to COVID-19, factories shut down work to stop the spread. The shipping companies cut their schedules due to factories closing. Demand for shipping only grew as Americans continued to purchase goods from their homes, and now companies are trying to catch up to the high demands so that the shelves are not empty this holiday season.

To Vaccinate or T O N To Vaccinate T h e P fi z e r v a c c in e h a s n o w b e e n a p p ro v e d fo r a ll k id s 5 y e a rs a n d o ld e r a n d m a n y p a re n ts h a v e h a d tro u b le d e c id in g w h e th e r o r n o t to v a c c in a te th e ir c h ild re n by BROOKE THOMPSON If you haven’t been living under a rock, it should be no surprise that “vaccine” was the 2021 word of the year, as chosen by Merriam-Webster. Throughout the pandemic, many companies such as Moderna and Pfizer have developed vaccines that are slowly becoming more and more available to different people, most recent of which include children ages five to 11 years old. Because this demographic can’t make medical decisions for themselves, the option falls on their parents whether or not to get their children vaccinated. For Lindsey Diepenbrock, science, and her children, the choice was easy, but for others, it requires long conversations with doctors and their children. “Part of the reason why people don’t want to get it is because it’s new,” said Diepenbrock. “But I wanted to do my part in helping with the eradication of this pandemic.” With so many factors to take into consideration, parents had to have conversations with their children about risks and what the vaccine would mean for them. “Especially with my oldest son (Carson Mattson, junior),

he plays competitive basketball, so he is around all kinds of people… we talked about how that can affect his health and others’ health,” said Jennifer Mattson, social studies. Some children are old enough to help their parents make this decision, and some even know what decision they want to make without their parents’ influence. “[My daughter] was upset last year when the cut-off was 12… When the vaccine became available to her, it was a given that she was going to get it,” Diepenbrock said. However, the parents and teachers at South haven’t come to a consensus. Teachers around the school are struggling to make the decision whether or not to get their children vaccinated. One sentiment that is common in the community: there is a lot of pressure to make the right decision for your kids, and it is scary that both choices may come with consequences, big and small. For Andrew Cantrell, social studies, the decision is clear. “We don’t want to worry about [our loved ones] contacting a potentially deadly virus,” he said. “Get the damn vaccine.”

“I wanted to do my part in helping with the eradication of this pandemic.”

For more information, visit the CDC page on vaccines for children

N EWS p h s o u th n e w s.c o m

flipside

by KATIE CLAUNCH In April 2021, I made the decision to graduate that next December. After thinking about all that the past semester had entailed, I wasn’t ready to endure two more. With COVID, my high school experience wasn’t the same. The sentence that kept running through my mind was, “I’m just ready to be out of here.” And that’s exactly what I told my parents at dinner that night. They were highly receptive to that information and seemed to handle it well. I gained their permission and immediately contacted my counselor. I got the forms turned in, adjusted my schedule, and started planning for the future. Graduating at semester benefits me in many ways. I will start working at the start of the second semester, which will help me earn money to pay for four year college tuition. All throughout high school, I’ve worked as a nanny and it seemed to work out perfectly when my next door neighbor announced her pregnancy and a need for a second semester nanny. We got in contact and now I have the perfect opportunity to make money. I will also be able to start online classes at Metropolitan Community College using the A+ hours that I earned during high school. I just recently enrolled in 12 virtual credit hours through MCC. This will allow me to get some basic credits out of the way before I go to a four-year school in the fall. Although it feels like a blessing, I’ll end up missing out on socializing with school friends. We all can relate to having friends that are exclusively school friends. Unfortunately, there are people that we know we won’t see again after high school and for me, that reality will come sooner than for others. I will also gain an uncomfortable or unwelcome feeling at things like Prom, Graduation, Courtwarming and so on. Plus, the planning has been incredibly stressful. I have been lining up a job, applying early for college, enrolling early at MCC, working on scholarship applications, all while completing regular school work and assignments. Long-term, I’ll graduate from college at least a semester earlier than my peers and will be getting started on a real life career earlier in life. So overall, I’m excited to start my post high-school journey early and to see where it will take me. Sayonara, South!

mid-year graduates

O P IN IO N

p h s o u th n e w s.c o m

normal by ALYSSA KOBAYASHI

When my counselor told me at the end of last school year that I was able to graduate at semester, my immediate reaction was excitement. After the school year we had last year, I was ready to be done. But then I took a step back and thought about my overall high school experience and all the things I was going to miss. When you graduate early, you miss out on the end of winter sports, spring sports, Courtwarming, Prom, spring break and clubs. I was not ready to give all those future memories up. Seeing my friends at school every day that I have known my whole life is something I am really going to miss after high school, so when making this decision I had to take into account all of these factors. There was no pressing reason for me to graduate early. Getting ahead a semester on college classes would be beneficial in the long run, but I can also take dual credit and AP classes during second semester here at South. Taking a few of these courses can help me save money because they are less expensive than paying for them in college. My senioritis is getting pretty bad as I move along in this school year, but the people at South that I get to see every day make it all worth it. I have my moments of not having the motivation to keep up with my classes or get jealous of the people who get to be done already. But it all comes down to wanting to live in the moment and not feeling rushed to get to the next phase of my life. You’re never going to get the moments you are in right now back, so decide to live in the moment.

Coming Soon to a theater near you... A re c a p o f th e m u s t-s e e m o v ie s in th e a te rs th is H o lid a y S e a s o n As the shadow of the COVID pandemic slowly starts to lift, so is the drought of blockbuster movies; Hollywood is coming for the box office in force and it’s shaping up to be a comeback Holiday Movie Season to remember. Here’s your guide to movies to look forward to.

1. Encanto

It’s that time of year again: Disney is back for another holiday feel-good movie, released on Nov. 24. This time it’s set in Encanto, a weird and wonderful town hidden in the mountains of Colombia. Born as the only “ordinary” member of an otherwise extraordinary magical family, Mirabel Madrigal must embark on a journey to protect the magic of Encanto. Basically, your standard Disney family movie fare. If you’re looking for a heartwarming story of selfdiscovery, “Encanto” will be for you.

2. West Side Story

On the topic of holiday movies: Steven Spielberg’s version of the classic “West Side Story” came out Dec. 10, likely filling the void left by the pushback on the release for

the sequel to “Avatar” for Disney’s Christmas money-maker. For those who don’t know, “West Side Story” is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” if you swap out the frilly dresses and Old English for leather jackets and catchy music numbers. “West Side Story” is a musical, which may be unappealing for some moviegoers, but otherwise, it’s a timeless story with irresistible draw. 3. Spider-Man: No Way Home The final installment of the Tom Holland trilogy is coming out on Dec. 17, and judging by the trailer released Nov.16, it’s going to be a wild ride. “No Way Home” looks to be a crossover, even rumored to include past Spider-Men Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield as new villains such as the Lizard, Sandman, and Doc Oc emerge. It’s been marketed as Tom Holland’s SpiderMan’s “greatest challenge yet,” and from what I can tell, it certainly seems that way. Marvel lovers and your average moviegoer alike are bound to enjoy this one. If you’re looking for a superhero blockbuster to enjoy this

by SOPHIA NGUYEN

December, “Spider-Man: No Way Home” should be an obvious choice.

4. Dune

At the time of writing, “Dune” was the only one of these movies actually released, and for this writer at least, it seemed unlikely that any of the aforementioned films would top it. It’s been a long time since a movie felt as immersive and mesmerizing for me. We could chalk that up to the power of Timothée Chalamet, but the true highlight of “Dune” is not just the stellar cast, but the transfixing storyline they help to create. Everything from the soundtrack to the set design to the costumes felt carefully crafted, and the end result is a tour de force of “Game of Thrones”-esque sci-fi politics. “Dune”, the book, is incredibly detailed, and this movie steadfastly stays true to its source material, unlike many other movie adaptations. (Looking at you, “Hunger Games” trilogy.) Though I wouldn’t recommend this film for moviegoers unwilling to sort through fairly complicated worldbuilding and a “slow burn” of action, “Dune” is truly an unforgettable cinematic experience.

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O P IN IO N

12 Things To Do Id e a s fo r h o w to o c c u p y y o u r tim e e a c h d a y o f th e s h o r t b re a k b e t w e e n fi rs t a n d s e c o n d s e m e s te r by HADLEY URIBE

Dec. Snuggle up with a warm blanket and watch these family holiday movies!

Dec.

Make Christmas treats: chocolate covered pretzels, peppermint bark, Oreo balls, Christmas tree brownies.

Dec. Holiday Haul with your friends! Share your favorite presents and memories of the holidays. E N T E R TA IN M E N T 0 8 p h s o u th n e w s.c o m

Dec. (Recipes on web and put QR code to it)

Dec.

Mental Health Monday. Have a mental health day!

Spend time with family!

Disney+: “Home Alone” and “The Santa Clause” series Netflix: “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”

Make a family pyramid, play Monopoly and charades.

Dec. Light your favorite Go ice skating candle, take a at Crown bubble bath, Center or Zona. and watch your favorite movie. Take a break from everyone and have a “me” day.

on 12 Days of Break 29

Dec. Go to Petland North Kansas City on the Boardwalk and play with puppies.

Jan. Make breakfast with your friends.

Jan.

Dec.

Read a book.

“Conversations with Friends” by Sally Rooney, “One Day in December” by Josie Silver, “The Time Traveler's Wife” by Audrey Niffenegger

Jan. Make waffles, eggs, bacon, cinnamon rolls, and have bagels. Share what you hope to see for yourself in 2022.

Make yourself a hot chocolate and watch these feel good Christmas movies.

Dec.

Walk around the Plaza with your friends and make your last memories of 2021. Then make New Year's Resolutions and party your way into 2022.

Netflix: “The Holiday,” “A Christmas Prince,” and “The Princess Switch” Amazon Prime: “The Family Stone”

Have a lazy day! Sleep in and go to brunch at Roxanne’s in your PJs. Prepare for going back to school tomorrow.

E N T E R TA IN M E N T 0 9 p h s o u th n e w s.c o m

~ Making Christmas Magic ~ E x p e rie n c e th e m a g ic w ith in o u r h e a r ts w ith H a llm a rk

Dear Santa:

PS5 Ugg slippers Iphone 13 Suitcase Airfryer Bluetooth speaker Movie projector Golf clubs Disposable camera Smiley face slippers Flare leggings Hey Dudes Concert tickets Music subscription Portable phone charger Madden 22 Weighted blanket Sweatshirts Shoes

by KAITLYN CAIN It’s a happy place, a place to run to when your anything but happy. The one place in the world you know you can be and feel absolutely content with your life. The beautifully unique combination of cinnamon with gingerbread. The reflection of colorful twinkling lights on a bed of snow, and the warmth from a freshly lit fire. Coming inside with Rudolph noses and rosy red cheeks, there is nothing like feeling comfort in knowing what’s waiting for you inside is endless admiration for classic Christmas romantics. The only downfall being that the experience can only be lived once a year, lasting only a moment but made to exist for an eternity. Call me a hopeless romantic, but there is nothing better than having a cozy night in during, arguably, the most wonderful time of the year. When there is a need to escape, the best place to go is the story written with Hallmark magic. Getting lost in the storyline of a cheesy unrealistic reality, built to create hopes we only know of in movies. To find prince charming and have a perfect kiss under mistletoe. This Christmas will be no exception to the addiction. While you’re lost in winter break, don’t forget about the Hallmark movies patiently waiting to be admired. Luckily, there just so happens to be a surplus of the charming movies. While they can’t be defined as Christmas classics like “The Grinch,” “The Santa Clause,” and “Elf,” they can be defined as a perfect signal that Christmas is coming, or already here. True, they can be said to be all the same, but why can’t that be a part of the Christmas magic? Everyone wants a happy ending, so what’s wrong with a little predictable escape? I do consider myself a Hallmark movie expert, so take my advice and jump on the train to Christmas adventure. Follow in the footsteps of the Polar Express and believe in the Christmas spirit. Of course, I can’t leave you with no way to start your adventure. There is so much to recommend in the world of Hallmark; however, a favorite or two to spark your interest might be the best approach. I mean, seriously people, can you really have Christmas without a Hallmark movie? It’s true, I am forever a hopeless romantic, but if my happy place can become another’s. To that, I say: the more the merrier.

by MEGAN DIBERNARDO E N T E R TA IN M E N T 1 0 p h s o u th n e w s.c o m

M a tc h m a k e r S a n ta

S n o w g lo b e If I O n ly H a d C h ris tm a s

Where to Spend Christmas

k r o Y New

“I am very excited to get back to this normal tradition and have a more normal Christmas.” - Junior, Jonathan Smith, spending Christmas in San Francisco, Calif.

s a m a h Ba

Switzerla nd

London

2020

-semester ended in January -very little travel -isolated holiday -online shopping -hybrid schedule -all online for two weeks after Thanksgiving

Which Hallmark Christmas movie matches your personality? Scan to find out!

Chicago

by MEGAN DIBERNARDO

2021

-masks at school -lots of COVID cases -unemployment -still some restricions

-shortages -more traveling -semester ends before break -more activities open -vaccinations available -nutcracker -all in person

E N T E R TA IN M E N T 1 1 p h s o u th n e w s.c o m

DearUnderclassmen ,

A le tte r to F re s h m a n a n d S o p h o m o re s a b o u t h o w S o u th u s e d to b e a n d th e e x p e rie n c e s th e y a re m is s in g

You wander around the halls looking left, then right, cluelessly trying to figure out what is going on. You are trying to figure out who you will be in high school in an environment that makes it impossible. I wish you students could experience South before COVID. It was full of laughter, friends, spirit and excitement. All I see now is empty and silent hallways with students that don’t look like they belong. Within the first week of my freshman year three years ago, I learned everything. I knew what was the “freshman” hallway and not to go to any of the other hallways during passing time. I knew that If I didn’t cheer in the Rage Cage that some scary senior would run up to the top and yell at every single one of us to leave. I was able to find the places I belonged to, as well as the people that I belonged with. I hope you can do that as well, but I see how difficult it is. You didn’t get the luxury of sitting at lunch with as many people as you could fit around a circular table. There were no limits on the number of kids at one table my freshman year. Lunch was loud and something my peers and I looked forward to every day. We always sat at the lower level of the cafeteria because the upperclassmen always sat at the top section. Not only did we go to the cafeteria during lunch, but we also had incentives. When you kept your grades up, you were able to travel to the commons during tutorial and hang out with your friends. You got to meet new people and connect with others. It broadened who you saw every day from just your Tutorial class to every other student that achieved the incentive that month. (And incentive sure wasn’t based on just you being in a club at South.) We also as freshman and sophomores were given six minutes of passing time. I know it doesn’t seem like much more than what we have now, but I can promise you it makes a difference. We as students were never yelled at by staff to go straight to class like we are right now. I was able to chat with friends and get to know my grade better in our designated hallway every passing time. No one went straight to class. And absolutely no one sat in the senior hallway as underclassmen. I know all of you underclassmen also think the Rage Cage is so crazy and extremely loud, but it isn’t what it used to be. I remember talking to my friends all the way at the tip-top of the Rage Cage. A huge muscular senior that I had never seen tapped me on the shoulder and screamed at me to cheer or leave. Let me tell you, after that, the freshman cheered the whole game without stopping. We were so loud and everyone knew every word to every chant. We respected the upperclassmen and looked up to them. We wanted to be them and couldn’t wait for the day we got the incentives they did. We dreamed of the day we could sit in the chairs of the senior hallway instead of on the bench under the main staircase. We wanted to be able to leave two minutes early from school with our incentive. We wished for the day we all could sit at the top of the cafeteria during lunch with 10-plus people. We sure never thought that by our senior year that everything we had ever wanted would be taken straight from us because of COVID and administration. I am so sorry you may never experience South like I did my freshman and sophomore years. You, as students, deserve so much better; you deserve change. Fortunately for you, you don’t know how it used to be and probably never will. It makes it much easier for you to live through it. I hope South can bring back the fun, laughter, spirit and excitement it used to have... for your sake.

Sincerely,

KARA HAGEN

F E AT U R E S p h s o u th n e w s.c o m

We’ve Got Spirit...

No We Don’t! It’s no secret that, thanks to the pandemic, the last two years have not been fun and have been hard on everyone, especially at school. However, one thing that South was always known for was having the best spirit and the loudest student sections at games. Sadly, over the most recent years, school spirit is at an all time low and there are many reasons why. One very obvious reason is due to COVID we couldn’t have any assemblies or go to any sports games last year. “School spirit is definitely at an all-time low from what I have experienced during my four years. After COVID and the recent events in the news, we have yet to recover. The seniors are the only class that really know how much fun South used to be and we have been working hard to return it to the level of energy it was before COVID,” said Rage Cage leader Jacob Stietz, senior. Another reason spirit seems to be so low is that restrictions limit the number and type of assemblies like South used to have. “There used to be an all-around excitement around school events but the administration has become only focused on the learning aspect of school and how to maximize the amount of time spent learning instead of trying to make it fun,” said Maxwell Guerrero, senior. He said the “high school experience” has gone out the window. “Compared to my first two years, the school spirit here is terrible. But it’s also hard to have spirit when the administration shuts everything down. Hard to have school spirit when the administration clearly has none,” he said.

S o u th s p irit h a s d e c lin e d in re c e n t y e a rs

In general, it’s sad to think about how much fun South used to be. Everyone would always be so excited for an event like the district football championship. If the football team had been doing as well as it did this year two years ago, the spirit and general excitement in the halls would have been off the charts. “My favorite assembly was the first day of school, sophomore year assembly: glow. It was such a good start to the school year and set the tone for lots of spirit and fun,” said Shea Worley, senior. South used to hold many assemblies that made people proud and excited to go to South. The assemblies included a first day of school assembly, Homecoming Assembly, Veterans Day assembly, sports assemblies, Courtwarming Assembly, and an end of year assembly. “Spirit assemblies were so fun. I only did like four or five, but there were games and everyone got so hype. I miss those,” said George Ranes, junior. The assemblies typically ended with a certain grade winning the spirit stick which always was a tight competition where everyone tried extremely hard to win. Although school spirit may be at a low, everyone can do their part to try and fix that. Even though we aren’t allowed to have the assemblies like we used to, everyone can help by just participating in spirit weeks and showing up to sports games. We should do all we can to transition out of the pandemic and return the school spirit we used to be at.

by TYLER CLIPPARD

F E AT U R E S p h s o u th n e w s.c o m

South Signees

All of South’s student athletes who signed this fall

Alec Enyeart Swimming at University of Texas Alec is most excited for training with all the guys at Texas because they are all really fast, push his limits, and make him better.

Keegan Good Soccer at University of Missouri Keegan is most excited for getting to opportunity play with a bunch of talented girls and push herself to be better.

Alex Dvorak Volleyball at William Jewell Alex is most excited to get to know the girls on the team better and start playing with them.

Noah Reuscher Soccer at Benedictine College Noah is most excited for getting to prove himself at the next level and making relationships with people who are much older than me.

Abby Ervin Golf at University of Mobile Abby is most excited for being able to continue to play for another four years.

SPO RTS

p h s o u th n e w s.c o m

Sydney Dial Tennis at Truman State Sydney is most excited to get to see all the girls again. Sydney got the opportunity to practice with the team, so she says it will be super nice to see them again.

by ALYSSA KOBAYASHI pictures by HADLEY URIBE

Mudia Reuben Football at Stanford University Mudia is most excited for learning new things and developing more as a player.

Jolie McMinn Softball at Lindenwood University Jolie is most excited for meeting new people, building new relationships, and getting to continue her softball career.

Annabelle Winter Softball at University of North Dakota Annabelle is excited for the new atmosphere she will be in. Everyone there has the same goal and the coaches truly believe in them because they hand selected them.

A NEW SYSTEM

by SAM CHASE

WILL

NATHAN

A n e w ra n k in g s y s te m h a s c o m e fo r c o lle g e fo o tb a ll, b rin g in g lo ts o f c o n tro v e rs y o n w h ic h s y s te m is rig h t

H ilz in g e r (le ft) a n d A n d re w s (rig h t) p re d ic t th e fi n a l 4 te a m s, le ft te a m s p la y th e n rig h t te a m s p la y e a c h o th e r

With all the excitement of college football in November, winning games gets serious. It’s important to be able to win these games and move up in the rankings. Teams are trying to push their way into the top four to make it into the playoffs. But this season the College Football Committee added a new dynamic in the ranking system: instead of it just being AP Top 25, they added the College Football Playoff Rankings (CFPR). Having two ranking systems has brought lots of controversy. Will Andrews, senior, had thoughts about the college football playoff ranking. He said, “I think it’s better than the AP system because the AP system is journalists voting while the College Football Playoff Rankings is a committee.” But Nathan Hilzinger, senior, disagreed. He said, “The College Football Playoff Rankings are extremely flawed and biased to certain programs and teams that have certain histories”. This shows that there are obviously different views on the new ranking system between fans. When the initial playoff rankings came out CFPR Link to all the college football bowl games with dates, teams, and times

had Alabama ranked second even though they had a loss on the season with teams like Cincinnati, who was undefeated but ranked sixth. Andrews said, “Alabama is a better team than Cincinnati so they deserve to be ranked higher.” In contrast, Hilzinger said, “It especially shows the flaws and bias for teams as Cincinnati has played great and Alabama has a loss and played close games with bad teams.” Other than that controversial ranking, the AP and CFPR are usually very similar and only have some teams one or two places off of each other. Both Hilzinger and Andrews both agreed that both rankings should come out earlier than the beginning of November. They think both should be released at Week 1 to give teams a look at where they are seated in two different polls, and it would help a team know where they could be in the playoffs. Yet, having the two ranking systems has shown that not one ranking system is right and the other is wrong.

Link to the final College Football Rankings

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