Redhawk Times November 2015 by Redhawk Times

d o o w t s e W f O e r u t The Fu REDHAWK TIMES

A & Q

by Katie McCarthy, senior editor

What a difference four years makes! But what’s next for Westwood? by Angel Salley, writer

Inside:

Four years ago, the doors of Westwood opened to students, adding a fifth high school to a diverse district. However, many families zoned for Westwood chose not to start here because they’d heard “bad” things about a school that, until August 2012, had only had construction crews in it. The rezoning even prompted many to refer to it as “Westhood”. Since the school opened, the students, faculty, and staff have worked hard to prove the school is nothing like it was assumed to be. One of the biggest positive movements at the school is its dedication to community service,“Westwood Serves”. Over the past three years, programs like Wishes of Westwood aid those who are less fortunate. Non-perishable food, clothes and other items are donated and collected to help those who need it most. Other Westwood Serves events include HOSA’s Blood Drive, Brett’s Rainbow, Harvest Festival and, most recently, the “One Can Make a Difference” program created by junior Xavier Vereen. The school community makes a great effort to provide its students with unique experiences, programs and top-notch technology. “I think we’ve done a very good job so far of really trying to meet the needs of students, of finding out what students are interested in, and developing clubs and teams that are a response to that,” said Dr. Cheryl Guy, principal. “We’re starting a lacrosse team this year because we have students who have expressed interest and we’ve gotten a coach for it. We also have great clubs here like Anime Club and all of these different programs like Globalize 13.” She added, “I feel like there are so many things that there has to be something that would interest just about everyone here. Mrs. Frick is always open to that - if there’s a club that we don’t have but that people want, you just have to have 10 people and an adult who’s willing to sponsor it and we’ll start that club. We’re starting up Mock Trial this year which we haven’t had before. We’ve got a few new things going on and we’ll continue to add to these as students express interest.”

p3: WHS News

p4: After the Flood

This is also the only school in the district to offer a firefighting program, which trains and certifies future firefighters. “In the next five years, I want Westwood to be the high school that all the parents want their children to go to,” said Guy. As part of the iRED magnet school, teachers create project-based lessons to yield “real-life” work experiences, helping students prepare for life beyond their high school years. “I don’t know if our students are aware, but we had a 100% pass rate in AP Studio Art, Chemistry, and in several other subjects,” said Guy. “I think there are a lot of students who could be in more rigorous classes than what they’re taking, and I want to work on pushing people to step a little higher than where they might feel comfortable.” She added, “Maybe we need to do a better job of publicizing and promoting those programs and making sure that students know they are accessible.” Beyond creating a strong academic core, the school continues to focus on “We Are Family” and building a community known for positive spirit and accomplishments. For example, the varsity football team has come a long way since 2012, and there’s no doubt they have improved drastically, moving from the bottom of their division to one of the top teams in the state. Guy said, “I have said this many numerous times and I will continue to repeat it. In high school you have to find your place, you have to find your niche. You need to find a club, a team, an organization, a program where you belong and where you find like-minded students who are your friends and that you work together with for some common cause. And I think that’s the biggest thing that I see with students who are successful in school and successful after school is that they found their place and I worry about students who just come, sit through class, and go home and don’t feel like they’re really connected and that’s what I want everyone to feel like they’re connected and that’s apart of that family atmosphere.” The future is indeed bright for the Redhawks of Westwood High School.

p7: #Mark5trong

p8: Prep for College

with Dr. Cheryl Guy, WHS’s new principal

When former principal Ralph Schmidt announced he was leaving Westwood last spring, many students and teachers were shocked by the news and worried about who would take his place. So when Dr. Cheryl Guy, our former assistant principal, was announced as his replacement, students and teachers alike were glad to learn that a familiar face would be in charge. But questions still loomed - what changes would Dr. Guy bring as a part of her new role as principal?

Redhawk Times: What are some challenges we face here at Westwood? How do you plan to resolve them? Chery Guy: I think our biggest challenge continues to be misperceptions in the community. We’re going to continue to work on getting good publicity about the school, getting the community to know more about Westwood, who our students are, what they’re all about, and all of the great things that go on here. RT: What makes Westwood unique? CG: There are a lot of things that make this school unique. I’ve been in education for 31 years, and I’ve worked at a lot of different schools. There’s a much stronger sense of family than in any school I’ve ever experienced. I feel like teachers care for each other, teachers care for our students, and students care for each other, and I think that makes this a very special place. And I think we’ve seen it in action this year with how our family has responded to a football player who was injured. We also have some unique programs here - we have Fire and EMS and Studio D, both of which are special programs unlike anything else in the district. Our Convergence Media program, yeah I know there’s another school that has one, but I still think ours is pretty special. And special events like our Ren Faire and Senior Citizens Prom are some things that we do different from what people experience at other schools. RT: Mr. Schmidt really helped create a sense of family and community with the “We Are Westwood”chant. How do you plan to keep this atmosphere going? CG: Well I will admit that my greatest fear when I became Principal was that I would have to go out in front of everyone at the pep rally and yell “We Are” and trust that all of the students would yell back “Westwood”. So I was very relieved when we had the first pep rally and that went very Dr. Cheryl Guy, WHS’s new principal well. And we will continue to carry on that tradition of having that. And I think there are some new things we do here that give a sense of family. The mural in the gym this year with the words to the Alma Mater and when I heard students sing the Alma Mater at the end of the pep rally and sing it together. To me are the moments that will make people feel united as a Westwood family. RT: How do you plan to “leave your mark” at Westwood? CG: Well, I think that if we reach my goal of being the school in Richland 2 that everyone wants their students to go to that I will feel I have really accomplished something amazing. So stay tuned and come back in 2020 and see if we’re there. RT: What are you looking forward to the most this school year? CG: There are a lot of individual moments that I am looking forward to, but the biggest one for me would be giving my daughter (Marilyn Guy) her diploma.

RT ENTERTAINMENT

What's your Personality? by Abigayle Mabey, senior editor

A student trips and drops their books. You: A. Stop and quickly go to help them B. Try to help organize them, but you have other priorities C. Help if you’re in the mood for it A teacher asks a question in class that you know the answer to. You: A. Let one of the other kids answer; you need a break from answering them all B. Keep your hand raised C. Don’t raise your hand, but still pay attention in class After asking a friend if something is wrong, they refuse to give you an answer. You: A. Respect their decision and make them smile B. Ask a few more times then leave them alone C. Don’t ask what’s wrong, just try to make them smile The bell rings to go to class. You: A. Say bye to your friends and head straight to class B. Walk with your friends toward class until you absolutely have to split off C. Take your time but not late You finally find the shoes you’ve been looking for. You: A. Wait to buy them until you have enough money B. Continue looking for a better deal C. Go ahead and buy them

A friend let you borrow a shirt, and asks for it back. You: A. Respectfully return the shirt back to them and the shoes they forgot to mention B. Give them their shirt back sometime that week C. Eventually forget to bring it back You are asked to present a group project. You: A. Make sure the work is distributed fairly and evenly to everyone in the group B. Help establish a leader of the group and do as they say C. Just do what you gotta do You have the choice to have your own sense of fashion. You prefer: A. Something conservative and modest, but still unique to you B. Being comfortable, it’s more important than looking good C. Wear what you want, when you want When you go shopping... You: A. Are aware of the amount of money you have and should spend B. Buy only what you need, maybe a few things you want C. Spend all of the money you have simply because you can

RESULTS Mostly A’s? You are more than willing to help others, guiding them where they need to go, helping with homework, or simply being there for them. You have many friends, but a small circle of close friends. Responsibility is important to you, and understand that intelligence is a true gift of yours. Mostly B’s? You’re pretty well-rounded. You are important to your peers and find yourself always around the same people. You try to help out others when the opportunity arises, but you do understand your needs and wants. Relaxation is important to you, but you don’t appreciate being called lazy. Mostly C’s? Carefree is your attitude. You are your own individual person and nothing anyone says is going to change that. You’re happy with who you are, and won’t let anything change that. You do what you want, when you want.

Freshmen: A little advice

By Brianna Brooks, guest writer

by Ashli White, senior editor

It’s that time of year again, the premieres of your favorite TV shows are finally here. Most of the shows that you’ve been anticipating for so long are back, while others weren’t as lucky. Some have already been cancelled, with only a show or two under their belts. Some shows that didn’t premiere during the last week of September are back in late fall/winter. Some of these shows include The Blacklist (NBC), The Vampire Diaries (The CW), Jane the Virgin (The CW), South Park (Comedy Central) and American Horror Story: Hotel (FX). New shows that also debut in October and November are The Grinder (Fox), Grandfathered (Fox), Code Black (CBS), Angel from Hell (CBS) and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (The CW), along with many others. The wonderful part about this time of the year is that we get to sit back, relax, and enjoy some of t e l e v i s i o n ’s best shows and actors. The important thing is that we can all balance our tv-watching with other priorities. So if something conflicts with your fave shows DVR, them or wait the next day to check Hulu and the site of the television network. Most networks have websites where the most recent episodes are posted shortly after they are aired. Check out some of the hottest new shows. It’s not too late to get into Scandal (my personal favorite). Happy TV watching!

Freshman year. We expect it to be exactly like the movies, with people running through the halls singing, “We’re All In This Together”, and cheering at over-dramatized basketball games. Well, let’s just say freshman year isn’t anything like that. Andrew Smith, teacher, said, “I expected it to be exactly like a scene from Saved By the Bell but, unfortunately, I was wrong. It was nothing but more work, harder classes and teachers who cared less about you, and you had to watch out for yourself more because no one is there to hold your hand and do it for you!” Smith wasn’t the only one who thought high school would be all dance numbers and bad acting. Teacher Justin Kearse said, “I had no expectations whatsoever for freshmen year. Honestly, I literally thought it was going to be another day at the factory, and I was right!” On the flip side, many of us thought it was going to be hard, or we wouldn’t be able to make friends. We were right. It’s hard. It takes a lot of work, and good friends that last forever are hard to come by. But, after ten months in the same school, you get used to the workload, you learn to make friends, and eventually, you aren’t the new freshman on campus. A little advice for all freshmen: Remember, this isn’t middle school. The teachers won’t hold your hand and walk you through everything step-by-step. The end of the first quarter and, if you didn’t do what you needed to do, you might have failed a class or two. Take a step back, reassess your priorities and get it done. You’re a big kid now, and you’re expected to behave like one. High school is tough but, just like everything else in life, it gets easier with hard work.

Gettin’ Rowdy Back to Back: Homecoming, Battle of the Wood

Break the cycle of dating violence

SC #1 for deadly violence against women by Maysia Miles, writer

Kiss her! Assistant Admin. Nicole Kirkley “gets” to kiss the Blazer goodbye.

And the winners are... senior Anisah Reed is crowned Homecoming Queen and freshman Merideth Farich is crowned Homecoming Princess.

Mr. Ralph Schmidt returns to help Dr. Cheryl Guy accept the Axe, which stays where it belongs another year.

Fine Arts department collaborates to create, perform stories of the Underground Railroad By Mya Singleton, writer

Lights! Camera! Action! On October 20, the drama department, in conjunction with choir and orchestra, put on a show that they wrote themselves, called “The Secret Room: Freedom Tales of the Underground Railroad”. The cast itself ranged from elementary to high school students. Some faculty members were also involved. The music for the show was written by Peter Dutilly, a guest musician from Florida. A lot of hard work was involved in bringing the performance together, including working around the Columbia flood, which moved the original performances back a week and took away a week’s worth of much-needed prep and practice time. “The hardest part of the show was waiting for set pieces and working with all of the different age groups,” said Dr. Anne Richardson, theater teacher. Sophomore Ashley Epperson was an actress and dancer in the play. “I think the hardest part is going to be putting all of our pieces together so that the show flows together,” said Epperson. The show was written by the students, and they were inspired by Globalize 13. “We raised awareness for Globalize 13 by tying it to the stories of the underground railroad,” said Epperson. Cast members performed “The Secret Room” in the evening of Oct. “I was inspired by the 16 and for the school on Oct. 20. stories of the past and everyone’s motivation to write the play. I thought everyone was inspired as well, and it reflects in the show.” “The main message of the show is to relate what happened back then to us today,” said Richardson. “Of course, we want people to be entertained, but we also want them to recognize and learn from the more uncommon stories from the Underground Railroad and realize that slavery isn’t over. I think the show [was] educational as well as entertaining,” said Epperson. 2015-2016

REDHAWK TIMES STAFF

STAFF: Channing Cross, Ryann Felder, Jazmine Goodson, Amaya Johnson, Katie McCarthy, Abigayle Mabey, Mequel McDaniels, Maysia Miles, Julian Narboni, Michaela Pinapfel, Anisah Reed, Angel Salley, Mya Singleton, Ashli White, Carmen White, Hailey Zalewa PHOTOGRAPHERS: Darshawna Barnes-Mack, Jasmine John, Katie McCarthy, Michaela Pinapfel, Kelly Smeby, Lynn Washington, Ashli White

FACULTY ADVISER: Mary Brebner Editorial Policy The purpose of the Redhawk Times is to inform the students, faculty and community of Westwood High School of events and issues which affect them. The paper also serves as a communication link between the students of WHS and the community at large. Editorials reflect the opinions of the staff and/or individual journalists and do not necessarily represent the views of the faculty or administration. The Redhawk Times welcomes submissions, which may be edited for grammar, inappropriate language and length. Please email submissions to mbrebner@richland2.org. Subscriptions are also available. For more information, please contact Ms. Brebner or a member of the staff. To send a letter to the editor: RedhawkTimesWHS@gmail.com To advertise: mbrebner@richland2.org or 803.691.4049 x36072

RT NEWS

Around the ‘Wood

Have you ever been in an uncomfortable situation with your significant other? Have you ever felt that you were treated badly, emotionally and/or physically by your boyfriend or girlfriend? You may be in an abusive relationship or be a victim of dating violence. Dating violence is aggressive or abusive power over a dating partner and comes in four main forms: physical, digital, sexual and verbal/ emotional. The statistics are staggering. According to the National Resource Center for Teen Dating Violence, nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner in a single year. One in three adolescent girls in the US is a victim of physical, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner, a figure that far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence. One in ten high school students has been purposefully hit, slapped or physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend. One quarter of high school girls have been victims of physical or sexual abuse. South Carolina ranks #1 for deadly violence against women, more than twice the national average. According to a study by the Department of Justice, in South Carolina, girls and young women between the ages of 16 and 24 experience the highest rate of intimate-partner violence, almost triple the national average. According to a Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) released by the SC Department of Education in 2014, 10.4% of students surveyed in SC had been physically forced to have sexual intercourse. According to the same report, 10.4% of students surveyed reported being physically assaulted by a boyfriend or girlfriend. Sixteen-year-old Sierra Landry is a tragic example of dating violence. According to the article “Mother of slain S.C. girl fights to combat dating violence” on cbs.com, Landry dated a fellow student who harrassed, beat and eventually killed her. Her stepmother, Jessica Landry, believed that Sierra might still be alive if she’d been able to get an order of protection against her ex. However, at this time, South Carolina does not allow an order of protection if someone is just dating. A Change.org petition started by Landry and her husband asks the SC state legislature to create “Sierra’s Law,” which would allow people under the age of 18 to get an order of protection against an abusive partner; it has has drawn over 294,000 signatures. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Warning Signs: A Girl May Be in A Dangerous Relationship If... Before she met her boyfriend, she had more friends than she does now. Her grades have declined in the past weeks or months. Before she began dating him, she was more outgoing and involved with her family, school activities, and/or place of worship. She frequently cries or is very sad. If he calls or texts her, she must get back to him immediately. He told her that he loved her early in their relationship. He is jealous if she looks at or speaks casually with another boy. He accuses her of behavior she doesn’t actually engage in. He is aggressive in other areas of his life: he puts his fist through walls or closets, bangs his fist to make a point, or throws things when angry. He frequently roughhouses or play-wrestles with her. She makes excuses for his poor behavior or says it’s her fault. He calls and texts her many times an hour, frequently between midnight and 5 a.m. He drinks or uses drugs. He frequently gives her “advice” about her choice of friends, hairstyle, clothes, or makeup. He calls her demeaning names, then laughs and tells her he was only kidding or that she’s too sensitive. She has become secretive since she started dating him. She has recently become very critical of her appearance, talents, or abilities. She frequently has to explain herself to her boyfriend or often says she’s sorry. She has bruises she cannot explain or appears nervous about explaining. Source: AbcNews.com

If you or someone you know is in a dangerous relationship, talk to someone. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE. Now is the time to take charge. Don’t wait to call someone or talk to a teacher or counselor. Not doing anything can result in suicide, depression or emotional trauma. Together, we can stop teen dating violence.

And the rain c The 1,000-year ﬂood

On the morning of October 4th, Columbia area citizens awoke to flash flood warnings and heavy rainfall due to an off-shore hurricane named Joaquin. Houses flooded, bridges destroyed, families separated during the storm -- some caskets were even floating. The coast and Charleston were hit on the 3rd, with many historic areas of the city flooding. All in all, the Carolinas were hit with about 11 trillion gallons of rain. Of South Carolina’s 46 counties, nine including Richland, Sumter and Horry, received at least 20 inches of rain from this storm system, according to The Weather Channel. That adds up to about 1.2 million gallons of water for every person in the state, (Oct. 4-7, via Governor Nikki Haley’s press conferences) according to meterohouseholds had no running water, 26,000 had rologist Ryan Maue • 40,000 no electricity Monday after the main storm ended of WeatherBELL. • State highway patrol officers responded to 4,926 service calls Businesses and • 2,122 of those calls have been responses to vehicle stores shut down, collisions and, even after the • There were 3,000 National Guardsman in the state, and that number increaseed to 5,000 rains stopped and • 600 people and hundreds of pets had been rescued. flooding cleared, a • 824 people were in shelters water warning was • 13 dams had failed, and 62 were being monitored. issued. For more • 74 miles of interstate highway were closed than a week, people had to boil their water before using it. The Weather Channel said the catastrophic floods were caused by “one of the most prolific rainfall events in modern U.S. history.” South Carolina endured its worst rains in 1,000 years, said Governor Nikki Haley in a press conference on Sunday, Oct. 4. She urged residents to stay off the roads as conditions -- roads flooding and rivers at their highest levels in decades -- were “changing by the minute.” In the end, the death toll from the flood totaled 17 people. According to the National Weather Service, one area of downtown Columbia received nearly 17 inches of rain in 17 hours, and it was still raining.

“I think a tragedy coming and help -senio

Photo credit: The Weather Channel

By the numbers

Roads, bridges washed away; dams failed

“Turn around, don’t drown” was the motto of the day as roads washed out.

Highways across the the state were closed due to ﬂooding.

Lake Murray Dam opened the spillways for the first time in 46 years.

People kayaking down the ﬂooded Garner’s Ferry Road.

“Students, I would encourage to take emergency response training. It tells you what to do and what not to do in a ﬂood.” -Steve Wilson, teacher and ﬁrst responder.

At the flood’s peak, as many as 322 roads and 158 bridges were closed statewide, according to the S.C. Emergency Management Division. Eighteen dams failed or breeched, adding to the flooding. Richland 2 schools were closed for a week due to damaged roads and had a late start for two weeks after so busses could transport students safely. Killian Road was one of the major roads that closed due to the flooding, which greatly impacted senior Meleah Riddle. The pond near Riddle’s home flooded, causing the road in front of her neighborhood to get washed away though her home wasn’t damaged. “After the storm, all of the clubs and groups that I’m in are trying to put together care packages or find some way to help with the relief,” said Riddle. Many people came together to help rebuild the state and the damage. An overwhelming amount of volunteers have come to help and thousands of donations collected for families who lost everything. “I think that this flood was a tragedy but I’m glad we’re coming together as a state and helping each other out,” Riddle said.

#SCStrong First responders and water teams were on around the clock saving lives and getting everyone to a safe place throughout the flood. EMS/firefighting teacher Steve Wilson was one of the first responders, working out of the Blythewood fire station. Besides performing rescues and responding to the imminent danger posed by collapsing roads and dams, first responders were kept busy blocking off dangerous streets, coordinating food and water deliveries and dealing with outages, said Wilson. Safety factors are very important in natural disaster situations, yet they’re the last thing victims think about when trying to find safety. Wilson has helpful tips on how to be prepared. “There are online classes that the citizens can take. Students, I would encourage you to take emergency response training. It tells you what and what not to do in a flood.” “Turn around don’t drown,” Wilson said. “If they did that, people would be much safer.”

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k that this ﬂood was y but I’m glad we’re g together as a state ping each other out.” or Meleah Riddle.

oto credit: Katie McCarthy

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RT FEATURES

came down...

As always, Westwood Serves

Main roads like Polo Road and Langford washed out, causing traffic snarls and delays.

“[I’m] glad our athletes were able to represent Westwood High School in a positive way with helping our community, which is one of our core values.” -Coach Ashley Powell.

#FloodSCWithLove During this time of devastation, many local organizations, sports teams and other local volunteers have come together to help to South Carolina. One organization helping out is NewSpring Church. On social media, Newspring Church started #FloodSCwithLove, and it trended throughout the state. They believe they can best serve people who have been affected by flooding by giving financially and serving in communities. Across their 11 main campuses, church members donated everything from water, food items, toiletries, baby items to money and sent volunteers to places affected by the flood. In an interview with FOX News, Campus Pastor Shane Duffy said, “We are just trying to connect with as many families as we can.” He added, “We are trying to get people out [into the community] as fast as possible to get families back together.” NewSpring Church is still collecting donations and volunteers. If you are interested, visit www.newspring.cc/floodscwithlove. The laundry company Tide brought their mobile laundry facility, Loads of Hope, to Columbia and other residents across the state. LSU player Leonard Fournette is auctioning off a game jersey to benefit S.C. Pictures of the damages were spread on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. People were encouraged not to go out into the flood to get pictures, but some people didn’t have to leave their house to take pictures of the devastation. Social media wasn’t just about the pictures, though. Grassroots organizations sprung up as people worked together to help out their friends, neighbors and fellow South Carolinians. Official organizations like the United Way and American Red Cross tweeted and posted on Facebook news about shelters, water stations and volunteer opportunities. Just because the waters have receeded doesn’t mean there isn’t still plenty to do. The Red Cross still needs more blood donors to help those affected, especially since over 40 blood drives were cancelled because of the flood. For more ways to help, visit the United Way’s website set up for S.C. flood victims: www.uway.org/news/flood-disaster-relief-fund.

Right when this disaster happened, many people were ready to help those in need. Within hours, volunteers were going out to do community service to help. The Redhawk football team quickly got involved, holding a supply drive at Killian Park on October 8 and 9. The players collected materials such as diapers, packs of water, clothing and food. “In total for the two days, we collected approximately six truck loads and three SUV loads full,” said football coach Ashley Powell. Between 50-60 football players from all three teams helped out, and they learned a lot from that experience. Senior De’Sean Harrington said, “I learned that simple things can change someone’s life.” The Redhawks are always among the first to show support and help citizens in need. “[I’m] glad our athletes were able to represent Westwood High School in a positive way with helping our community which is one of our core values,” said Powell. Within the first week back at school, Westwood filled the Think Tank with different varieties of supplies to the families that lost their homes, donating personal necessities such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant; cooking supplies like crock pots, plates, pots and pans; cleaning supplies; clothes; and even canned goods. Faculty member Denise Pearman has dedicated her time to assisting the flood victims. “I have been packing hygiene items donated by various people and organizations in the community,” said Pearmen. With the help of students here, she already has prepared over 100 hygiene kits that are ready to give out. The kits include everything from soap, deodorant, washcloths, toothbrushes, toothpaste, conditioners and shampoos. They are still in the process of sorting out clothes and shoes that have been donated as well. “Although these items won’t help to ease all the pain, I’m sure they will make a difference,” said Pearman. Pearman and Westwood are still accepting donations of food and clothing. Learning and Technology Coach Laura Coulter has started a blanket project to meet the need for all the displaced families. If interested, she is holding lunch crochet meetings and lessons twice a week in Room 121 from now until Wishes of Westwood and asking people to bring in 7” x 9” crocheted rectangles that will be stitched together to make blankets.

Photo credit: Redhawk Football Club

Along with Athletic Director Jason Powell and Head Coach Rodney Summers, the Redhawk football team collected plenty of much-needed supplies for ﬂood victims.

s historic ﬂood

Photos crowdsourced from Columbia area residents via 93.1 FM.

Community rallies support for injured football player By Katie McCarthy, senior editor

It was the first home game of the year, and the Redhawks were up 42-7 as the 4th quarter drew to a close. The crowd was pumped, but then, within a matter of seconds, the crowd grew silent. Mark Mickens, a junior defensive back for our team, collided with a Clover player and was severely injured. He was transported by ambulance to a local hospital and was later diagnosed with a spinal cord injury. He has since been moved to Charlotte for rehab. But while Mickens’s recovery is remarkable within itself, it is the overwhelming outpour of support from the Midlands community that has Within hours of Mickens being injured, Keenan High School announced that it would be raising money to donate to Mark’s family. Keenan presented a banner signed by its students and a check for $500 at the game the following week. Blythewood High School created the #onewood, forgetting the tense rivalry that exists between our two schools and instead focusing on helping out a friend in need. Clover High School has also raised money for Mickens, and the Westwood Football Booster Club has sold #PrayForMark t-shirts, donating all proceeds to the Mark Mickens Family Fund. Overall, more than 25 schools from across the southeast have shared their well wishes for Mark and nearly $8,000 has been raised as of October 15.

#PrayForMark Player Spotlight:

The Mickens family continues to post updates about Mark’s recovery on Twitter, and they are grateful for the support they have received. Said Mickens’s mother, Dot Mickens, “To know that this community has come together in such a way to be there for MJ is phenomenal to us. When we heard our son was hurt, it was devastating but having every aspect of our needs regarding him taken care of before we could even think to ask has made it that much easier to concentrate on helping him get better. We never thought we would be in this place but all the love that has been shown to our son; all of the people reaching out to us and asking how he’s doing; all of the well wishes and prayers from complete strangers has all been unimaginably surreal. We are immeasurably grateful, especially for the prayers.”

#Mark5trong

Delaney Woodham, Volleyball

By Hailey Zalewa, writer

Junior Delaney Woodham is a starter and a right-side hitter on the varsity volleyball team. She’s played volleyball since eighth grade and plans to continue playing through high school. She doesn’t want to stop after high school, either. She hopes to play at her dream college, the University of South Carolina. Coach Watson and Coach Kuhlman have both played very large parts in building Woodham up and helping her advance to the next level. Woodham said, “My favorite thing about volleyball is probably having the ability to win a game point. When you score any point, it makes you feel powerful and like you can really do anything. The team aspect is great, especially when you play with girls you’ve played with for two or so years. It’s like a whole new group of best friends!” Volleyball needs endurance and muscle. Woodham said, “During conditioning, we work in the weight-room and bench press, squat, do ab work and sometimes box jumps. We have to run the mile in under 8 minutes before we can start. During the season, we run suicides, 17’s [from basketball line to basketball line 17 times], and stairs for a variety of reasons. We do plenty of running, and stairs if we miss serves. It’s an understatement that we are well conditioned. All in all, the whole sport basically conditions you.” Woodham’s path to starter began with the basics. “It’s been a long journey. In 9th and 10th grade, I played JV so that helped to build basic skills like passing and what not. Freshman year, I played just back row (passing) and then sophomore year, I started playing front row (and hitting) so it’s a real adjustment.,” said Woodham. “Coach Lauren Watson helped to start develop my blocking and hitting last year, and this year, Coach Ciji Kuhlmann has helped to make sure we are really conditioned and know more in-depth skills. So basically, devotion has lead to my success. We practice until Junior Delaney Woodham gears up for a “new seven every day and hard work point” as she gets focused to kill it on the court. makes good work!” Staying focused on the court is the key to success. Woodham said, “I use the term ‘It’s a new point’ when I mess up. Every point is fresh, and you can forget the problems you had last point to focus on the new one.” For athletes wishing to play the sport, Woodham said, “Don’t complain. You will have to run and you will have to hustle but it’s all that much easier when you just get it over with.”

At the game against Keenan, the team escorted Mickens’s jersey onto the field while the student body and community got decked out and Redhawky with Mickens in mind. Keenan presented a banner and a donation to the Mickens family.

#OneWood

Offensive line contributes strength, blocking with few missteps to winning varsity team By Carmen White, writer

Varsity football’s offensive line has been a big part of the team’s success (8-1 as of October 26) due in large part to strong leadership and persistence since the start of the season. With five returning players, this gave the offensive line an advantage by having experience on the team. Wide receiver Montre Miller, sophomore, said, “The offensive line has gotten stronger, bigger and blocking techniques have gotten better.” Offensive Coordinator Richard Bonneville said, “We have to make sure they aren’t complacent or satisfied with the success of last year.” They are also working on minimal mistakes during plays and making sure everyone is on their A-game. Summers also touched on the receivers. “They are faster this year. But they need to work on good running routes and catching the ball.” This season, the team has implemented new drills, conditioning and plays. “We are throwing a lot more screens and running more of an outside running game,” said Summers. Bonneville added they are running plays over and over again. The hope is that, if the offensive line continues to show persistence with the new things implemented this season, they will come out better than last year.

Girls Tennis finishes season with experience, improvement By Amaya Johnson, writer

The tennis team brought the heat to the court. From practices to competitions, the team worked on being the best they can be. Junior Emma Howe said, “This is my first year playing. It’s been exciting so far. There were a lot less girls on the tennis team last year.” Minor adjustments to the team are nothing compared to the effort they put into the season. Varsity girls took a loss against Dutch Fork with a score of 0-6, but came back in full force beating Lugoff-Elgin with a score of 4-2. “I’m definitely giving my all even though sometimes it’s hard to when you’re playing teams like Dutch Fork,”

said Howe. “You have to learn from the loss and get better next time.” Senior Anna Bramlette, varsity team captain, shed some light about the team’s goals for this season. “Right now, our main goal is to get experience as a team together. A few of the returning players are seniors, including myself, and a few others who just joined this year are seniors, so we are really working on getting our younger players experience so that they can take on tough teams next year.” Throughout the season, Bramlette encouraged her teammates to improve and do what they could while continuing to bring the heat to the court.

Girls & Boys Cross Country

Steve Spurrier informed his team Oct. 12 that he was retiring, according to a source. Co-offensive coordinator Shawn Elliott was named the interim head coach. Spurrier, who is 70, has 228-89-2 career record at Duke, Florida and South Carolina. He is the Gamecocks’ all-time winningest coach. Said USC board of trustee, “I’m shocked and I have a lot of sadness, too. I think Coach Spurrier has done so much for us and showed us we can win.” The Gamecocks are 2-4 (0-4 SEC) to start 2015. Spurrier has never had a losing season as USC’s coach, and the team has been bowl-eligible in all Sophomore Jazmine Bland has run a strong season for cross 10 of his seasons. country, leading her team at the Spurrier was introduced as USC’s 32nd head Bob Jenkins Coaches Classic coach on Nov. 23, 2004. He is 86-49 overall as USC’s held at Sandhills Research Park head coach. He surpassed Rex Enright’s school re- in September and earning the title of Beef O’ Brady’s Athlete of cord for wins when he recorded No. 65 at Clemson the Week along with junior Ryan Stout. in the 2012 Photo credit: Lifetouch season finale. In his first season at Varsity South CaroVolleyball lina, Spurrier led the Gamecocks to a 7-5 record and a second-place finish in the SEC Eastern Division. He was honored as the SEC Coach of the Year by the Associated Press after leading the Gamecocks to a school-record five straight SEC wins. His 2010 USC team posted several milestones en route to a 9-5 season, the biggest of which was the school’s first SEC Eastern Division title and first appearance in the SEC Championship. The Gamecocks defeated No. 1 Alabama along the way. Spurrier that season was named SEC Coach of the STATS: Year for the seventh time. Overall 7-15-1 The Gamecocks went on to finish 11-2 in three- Region 3-7 straight seasons in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Top Five Players In 2014, Spurrier led the Gamecocks to a (via MaxPreps) school-record fourth-consecutive bowl victory with 1. Quierra West, senior 2. Delaney Woodham, junior a win over Miami in the Duck Commander Inde- 3. Jasmine Brown, sophomore 4. Madison Oxendine, senior pendence Bowl. ___ (c)2015 The State (Columbia, S.C.); by Josh Kendall Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

5. Jaida Carter, junior

Player Spotlight:

Anna Bramlette, Tennis By Julian Narboni, writer

Senior Anna Bramlette, captain of the Lady Redhawk Tennis Team, started playing with her family before high school and decided to try out for the team as a freshman. During her first season, she worked on basic tennis skills and progressed to a slightly higher level of playing. She played singles during her freshman year and ranked fifth, doubles her soph- Coach Ramona Gonzalez gives some last-minute omore year as rank six, singles advice to Bramlette before a match. Photo credit: Julian Narboni during her junior year as rank five and singles her senior year as rank As a team captain, sometimes two. Outside of the team, Bramlette Bramlette has a team talk with the practices with friends, usually on the girls and then they do a closing to tie weekends. She said, “Practicing out- everything up and encourage one anside of school, especially with people other. Bramlette does not plan on doing who are of a higher level, is important tennis after high school because the if you want to step up your game and college she is going to doesn’t have improve your skills.” Last year, Bramlette also played sports. She added that she will still on the Redhawks team in the Winter play recreationally while in college League, which allows high schools to but added that it will be more implay other teams outside of school to portant for her to focus on her school work while in college. keep their skills sharp.

Off season conditioning key to athletes’ health, success

By Channing Cross, writer

RT SPORTS

Steve Spurrier retires as Gamecock head coach

Our teams dominate the field when it’s game time. However, in order to get through the whole game without passing out and to avoid injury, they have to stay in shape both on and off season. Dedicated athletes have tips and techniques that work for them when it comes to staying in shape and their eating habits, since they have to think about how to stay in shape and learn ways to do it. Sophomore Matthew Oxendine keeps his body where it needs to be in order to play varsity baseball. “I run a lot with the team around the school and workout in the weight room. We also do some core exercises.” It may sound easy but in reality it can be a challenge, but hard work pays off on the diamond. To stay in shape during the off season, varsity baseball player Ethan Barton, sophomore, said, “I lift weights and run every day. That’s about it because, in baseball, most of what you have to do is run, so we have to be good at that.” Another big part of staying in shape during off season is eating the right foods. Oxendine said that he likes to eat red grapes and foods containing protein. He also tries to stay away from carbonated beverages. Even though athletes must eat healthy to make sure their bodies are strong enough to play a sport, they’re only human. Some days, they need a cheat day. “Sometimes, I eat burgers or fried bologna sandwiches. Haha!” said Oxendine. When Barton has cheat days, he chooses to eat burgers, but, while in training, mainly just sticks to fruit. JV football player Trini Feggett, sophomore, also has a plan to stay in shape on and off season. “I lift Athletes spend a lot of time in the weight room both on and off season, building and strengthening their muscles and keeping fit weights and do a lot of and toned. cardio.” Feggett’s diet consists of fruits, veggies and foods containing protein. What motivates Feggett to stay in shape is getting on the same level as the rest of the WHS football players. “This year has probably been my hardest year since there is a different level of dedication and a stronger work ethic. It motivates me to be a better player,” said Feggett. All of these athletes have the same thing in common: they’re dedicated to their sport and are inspired to do better. Inspiration can come from multiple sources including veteran players, religious reasons, or maybe they just want to be the very best they can be. Staying in shape and taking care of their bodies is not only one of the main requirements to be on the team, but also necessary for overall health.

Tips to Capitalize on Off-Season Training Return to the basics of strength and conditioning Work on building total body strength, rather than just sports-focused training. Using those different muscle groups helps the whole body recover and return to its healthiest state.

Get treatment and care for any lingering injuries “Play through the pain” may work during the season (but not really -- be sure to get thoes injuries looked after!) but off-season is the time to do some serious rehab to get healthy.

Step away from your primary sport for a couple of weeks This isn’t just a muscle thing, it’s a mental thing, especially after giving it your all during the season. Taking a break from your primary sport helps recovery in both mind and body.

Prepare for the active season It’s almost go-time! Time to start those sports specific movements to prime your muscles and mentally prepare for the season ahead. Tips from IUHealth.org and Careworkshealth.com

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“So where is Waldo, really?” That’s not the kind of question most high school seniors expect to find on their college admission applications. But it is one of the essay options that applicants to the University of Chicago face this year in their quest for a coveted freshman berth. It is the kind of mind-stretching, offbeat or downright freaky essay question that is becoming more common these days as colleges and universities seek to pierce the fog of students’ traditional self-aggrandizing essays detailing their accomplishments and hardships. From Caltech in the West to Wake Forest University in the East, more schools are serving up unusual essay prompts to gain better insights into young people’s minds and personalities. Colleges also hope for more authenticity in a process skewed by parental intrusion, paid coaching and plagiarism. “It’s a way to see students who can think differently and go beyond their academic, intellectual and extracurricular comfort zones,” said Garrett Brinker, an admissions official at University of Chicago. Those essays also “break up the monotony of the application process,” for students and colleges. The Common Application, the online site used by 488 colleges, offers such generic prompts as: “Discuss some issue of personal, local, national or international concern and its importance to you.” The site makes it easier for would-be students to apply, even if some are half-hearted about enrolling. But an increasing number of schools prefer to hear only from serious applicants “aware of the values of the institution,” said Katy Murphy, president-elect of the National Association for College Admission Counseling. So more colleges are adding online supplements that require head-scratching writing assignments. Examples include Tufts’ “Celebrate your nerdy side”; Wake Forest’s “Think of things that fascinated you when you were 10 years old - what has endured?”; Caltech’s “Please describe an unusual way in which you have fun”; and Brandeis’ “A package arrives at your door. After seeing the contents you know it’s going to be the best day of your life. What’s inside and how do you spend your day?” For some students, the questions may lighten an otherwise burdensome task. But others are intimidated, said Murphy, who is college counseling director at Bellarmine College Preparatory, a high school in San Jose, Calif. “The colleges talk about the creativity of play and the philosophy of Plato. What the students are trying to figure out is: ‘What do the colleges want me to say?’ “ Judy Rothman, author of “The Neurotic Parent’s Guide to College Admissions,” said schools like curveball essay questions because “they are sick and tired of reading the same thing over and over again” and because the topics encourage teen authorship without adult coaching. High school seniors have mixed reactions, she said, “For a kid who is natural writer, it is relief and a great break from the tedious process of the applications. For the kids who just want to get through all their applications, it’s a nightmare because you can’t recycle material.” For idiosyncrasies, other students described being so rushed that they brush their teeth in the shower, wearing certain underwear as a good luck charm for exams and falling in love too fast, according to Occidental’s Dean of Admission Sally Stone Richmond. Inviting such revelations helps ease applicants’ fears that they must appear perfect and is “an opportunity to seek candor in ways that won’t be intimidating to the student,” she said.

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