December 2011 Warrior Post

The

Warrior Post Santa’s helpers Sociology gives less fortunate kids a Christmas Ariel Hernandez • Staffer

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ociology teacher Pam Matthews remembers the faces of young broken mothers who know that they can’t afford Christmas for their children this year. And she knows how we can help to fix it. With the help of her classes, Matthews annually participates in donating Christmas gifts to Mission Arlington.

Things like clothes, toys from the child’s wish list, stocking stuffers, toothbrushes and sports items can now hang by the chimney with care.

“Each student signs up for a certain item,” Matthews said.

“Sometimes two kids will sign up for the same item and put their money together. Nobody ever lets me down, which is cool.”

Over 20 years of her service, Matthews realizes how it must feel to be financially unstab l e

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9 December 2011

and unable to provide for one’s family.

“I’d feel depressed and desperate,” Matthews said. “There is a fine line between the haves and the have-nots. Many people have experienced not having a Christmas and some are fortunate enough to have.”

Matthews’ Sociology class isn’t the only class that collects for Mission Arlington.

The basketball teams, along with Scott Davis’ World History class participate also. The trip will be taken Saturday, Dec. 10 to Mission Arlington.

“We have a lot of fun doing it,” Davis said. “It’s a way to bring the kids together and to give back. It gets everyone in the Christmas spirit.”

Because the trip is voluntary, the experience is purely out of the goodness of the students’ hearts. The students will work a station at Mission Arlington without getting paid.

“Some of my students end up working at Mission Arlington after our trip after

seeing the impact it has,” Matthews said.

Matthews said she has no problem in trusting her classes to join in on the holiday cheer. Senior Sarah Bricker said she feels that everyone should experience helping out others.

“We got to hang out with the kids and watch them open their presents,” Bricker said. “They wanted to open their presents as soon as they got them. It’s funny to think that just a simple Barbie car seemed to change a little girl’s whole life.”

Matthews has faith in not only her students, but in the entire generation.

“Teenagers are the most generous people I know because they always ask, ‘What else can I bring?’” Matthews said. “If we didn’t give these families a Christmas, they wouldn’t have one.”

Sociology is the study of development, organization and functioning of the human society. This trip is actually a valuable lesson and experience in this department.

“We do this to be a part of the community,” Matthews said. “The little children are ecstatic when they see my students.

They go crazy. We sing songs, the guys play football, and it’s just a good hands-on experience for everyone. Times are hard, and the students get to meet the people whom they’re giving the presents to.”

Volunteering may not be for everyone.

Some people are just born with the aspiration of giving. However, Matthews said she believes that it should be a goal in life.

“Everyone should volunteer,” Matthews said. “A community that cares will prosper. I want my students to leave the mission feeling compelled to reach out to others.”

Spirit Warrior

photo by Emma Cuppett

of the Martin builds a monument to honor its Fallen Warriors

I

Connor Gillaspia • Editor-in-Chief

n the 30 years of Martin High School, students and faculty members alike have come and gone. For some, it was sooner than we would have hoped.

For years, this school needed a way for those who left this world too soon not to leave our hearts as well.

Martin has built and occasionally added to a garden over roughly a decade in response to this, and, most recently, a monument was built.

Its purpose is to remember these Warriors, a reminder that they have not been forgotten. One feather, above the others that lie flat, stands tall.

Located near the west parking lot, the Fallen Warriors Memorial Garden added a monument. However, the monument did not start the garden.

“We planted a tree around 2001,” principal Marlene Roddy said. “A student had passed away shortly after being at Martin, and his parents wanted a way to remember him. They asked to plant that tree, because this was the last place their son was happiest.”

Since planting the tree, other Martin students have passed away.

“We needed a way to commemorate them all,” Roddy said. “So we have started the brick concept, and we’ve had quite a few donations toward the garden.”

Bricks are being sold and placed in honor of these fallen Warriors.

They are available for any family who lost a loved one since Martin opened in 1982. This Warrior must have passed during their enrollment at Martin or within eight years of their graduation.

Each brick is $30, currently consisting of three lines and 16 characters apiece, and has an open selling period through 2015, the year the garden will be completed.

“The garden is gorgeous,” Roddy said.

“It exemplifies exactly what we wanted. It has the spirit of the Warrior.”

In the weeks before the Homecoming game Friday Oct. 14, the Student Council sold wristbands for one dollar in honor of Martin Alumni Matt Mills and Jeremy Smith.

The proceeds would later go to a college fund for Mills’ children. Without the

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traditional “Homecoming Hallways,” the wristband sales and military approach was a new idea for school spirit.

“A lot of money and effort would be spent into Homecoming in other years,” Roddy said. “All of it would be for one day, and then we would take it down. It lost its meaning, and it was time something good came out of Homecoming. When we lost these two soldiers, the chance to get together as a school and do something for these families just fell into our laps.”

Students, faculty, and members of the community sought out to buy a red, silver or black wristband.

Each student council member had a bag of 25 to 50 wristbands to sell. With donations, about $7,100 was raised.

“The money is being split up and going to Matt’s three children,” Student Council Sponsor Carolyn Powers said. “I was praying that we’d just make it to $5,000, but then the money just kept adding up.

First four, then five, then six, then seven thousand. It was amazing how everyone got involved.”

After all of the money was collected and totaled, a check was ordered and presented the friends and family of Mills at the Homecoming pep rally.

“It must have meant the world to them,” Student Body President senior Austin Taylor said. “For a school he hasn’t been a part of for 17 years to do this for them. We’ve gotten thank you cards from a lot of them.

www.thewarriorpost.com

It was awesome. This made Homecoming so much more selfless than before. I am so proud especially that this school maturely got behind something like this and made such a big impact.”

That day, only minutes before the pep rally, a ceremony was held in honor of the newly added monument as well as Mills, Smith and other fallen Warriors.

“It was the most touching experience,” Taylor said.

The ceremony consisted of Taylor as well as Roddy and Powers speaking. The Chamber Choir performed the National Anthem and senior Christ Kotula played Taps to end the ceremony.

Smith’s father also spoke and was able to place his son’s cornerstone, permanently placing him into the memory of the school.

His name, as well as others in the future, will be seen there every day.

“Every morning, I walk by that garden and say hi to Jeremy,” Powers said. “He was one of my kids in Student Council.

When he and Matt went here, they were both just good old boys. Both families are grateful with everything done.”

This year, Martin stepped up and proved that it could get behind a movement to honor its lost ones and help its extended family.

“Martin has a lot to be proud of,” Roddy said. photo by Emma Cuppett

2 Selective electives

Taylor Gillum • Features Editor

news

For some, elective classes are considered nothing more than “blow off ” classes. For others, they are what contribute to their identity as a high school student. If you are looking for an elective to become your niche, here’s a closer view on some of the widely-taken electives that have the opportunity to become so.

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Photo by Karsen Cinquepalmi

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Photo by Emma Cuppett

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“Not very many. Staffers almost none. Editors devote two hours for work nights and about one for editing.”

“There is a $45 activity fee which covers our t-shirts, banquet, parties and other activities.”

“Many hours are devoted “All students must pay to this class. There are a $60 fee for contests, 1 1/2 hours devoted to shirts and events.” after-school practices two times a week and what the students practice on their own.”

“Leadership is the only class like it on campus,” leadership sponsor Carolyn Powers said. “It focuses on volunteering in school and community.”

“It depends. Our JV level devotes an hour or two a month, varsity five to ten, and our officers generally ten to 15 hours.”

Photography

Choir

Band

Yearbook

Theatre

“All the different personalities have an opportunity to come together to create a final product,” Orchestra director Micheal Stringer said.

“It’s not a typical ‘desk class’. There’s room to be expressive, since we don’t have to teach to a test,” Theater teacher Larry Cure said.

“Definitely. It shows “Students must take leadership, follow Journalism I before through, self motiva- they can be on staff.” tion and self direction.”

“There are many scholarships offered, and not just for majors.”

“Newspaper is really relaxed but we still get a lot of work done,” senior Jacie Lewis said. “It’s my favorite class of the day.”

“Students need to Fine arts credit have played since fifth grade and if they are transferring in, an audition is required.”

“We tune our instruments and play a few scales,” senior Colleen Weber said. “ We practice each song for about 20 minutes.”

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“There is only a fee for our officers, which is the $600 they pay for the leadership camp and conference.”

“Many universities have leadership forums. A&M in particular offers many leadership based scholarships.”

“They must apply for 9th, 11th, and 12th grades and in be elected in 10th.

Officers must also be elected.”

Elective credit

“Well for officers, we have a meeting and discuss upcoming events,” senior Catherine Tran said. “Members mentor and help recycle papers.” 1.

“Sometimes, as much “There is a $30 cosas 22 hours a week tume fee only if you’re are devoted to this in a show,” Cure said. class,” Theater teacher Sharon Miller said.

“If students pursue theater, they can receive recognition through this department,” Miller said.

“No requirements for Theater I and II, but in III and IV students interview and audition,” Cure said. “Tech fills out an application.”

Fine arts credit

“Now we are doing portfolios for college auditions,” senior Taylor Lewis said. “Typically we read plays and act them out.” 4.

“Students devote 20 hours a month outside of school, due to work nights.”

“I help my students by critiquing their college essays and writing letters of recommendation.

I get to know my students well.”

“Marching band generally “The band fee covers “This can absolutely “We get to see the same kids all four years dedicates eight hours a a lot of different things help out with scholof high school and meet week to practices. Also, like when we bring in arships. Colleges are many in middle school,” there are football games instructors, band camp, looking for extraAssistant Director Stu- and Saturday competiuniforms, travel fees. curricular activities. art Shulman said. “We tions. There are four dif- Nothing is wasted.

They will also offer get to see the evolu- ferent bands based off of Varsity band cost $525, music scholarships, tion of the students as ability and dedication, so junior varsity $270, even to people not people and musicians.” you can put forth as and color guard $709.” planning on majoring much effort as you want.” in the subject.”

“There’s a general ac- “We give scholar“Choir allows students “A lot of students to express thempractice on their own, tivity fee of $60. There’s ships to students selves,” choir director so the amount of time an additional fee for that are music show choir and for the majors and scholarKay Owens said. “It devoted outside of teaches teamwork. school varies. Practices spring trip.” ships for people in We study the history usually last an hour for choir. Some students of the songs and the choir and two and a receive full ride Physics of singing.” half for show choir.” scholarships.”

“It’s an opportunity for students to experience a real world situation,” Yearbook adviser Linda Altoonian said.”

Elective credit

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Orchestra

“You can have a bunch of kids doing something different, but it all comes together for a final product,” Newspaper adviser Tricia Regalado said.

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Newspaper

Photo by Chandler Harrell Photo by Emma Bruce Photo by Chandler Harrell Photo by Karsen Cinquepalmi What credit How much money Does it help stuAre there any How much time does your class What is a typical What makes your do students devote does your class dents stand out requirements to count towards? day like in class? class unique? cost? for college? be in your class? outside of school?

“Usually students must “Photography gives kids the opportunity devote two to three to express themselves hours per project.” visually,” Photography I and II teacher Daniel Regalado said.

“There is only a fee if you want to buy a tshirt.Yearbook students are required to sell passbooks, so there’s no need for money.”

“Since we’re eliminating the darkroom, photography will now not cost anything. We provide digital cameras.”

“Students could be awarded scholarships through the Association of Texas Photography Instructors.”

“Students must have teacher recommendations, as well as an interview with me.”

Elective credit

“During classes photographers take pictures and section editors grade,” junior Bria Benjamin said.

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“Students just need Fine arts credit to be committed year round. But they can come back if they leave.”

“We mainly just practice for upcoming events,” senior Keith Peters said.

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“Students audition and are then placed in a certain choir class.”

Fine arts credit

“Seniors and juniors Technology credit get put into Photography first. So if they are sophomores they need to have taken Art I and Journalism.”

“We warm up with singing exercises in Chorale and sometimes in Chamber we do other exercises to get energized and focused,” senior Julia Forsberg said.

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“We’re developing film and I find it really interesting,” junior Melody Asgari said. “I love seeing the result of my photos.”

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Ashley Cunningham • Copy Editor

Photo by Emma Cuppett

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hen senior Jamie Savarese watches a movie, that’s not all she’s doing.

She immerses herself in the film and as it plays, she lives in an alternate reality where the characters are real people and the settings really exist.

Her passion for films is what spurred her desire to start a film club. The club has not been officially established yet, but is in the final stages of being approved.

“To start out, I had to make by-laws

and run them by [Assistant Principal] Kelly Hastings,” Savarese said.

“Then they had to be approved by the superintendent and I had to speak to a committee of teachers who approve clubs to convince them that the film club would be valuable to the school. It should get accepted soon.”

The film club won’t be structured the same way most clubs are, where anyone can join.

“First, we are going to hold a general information meeting for people who want to join,” Savarese said. “However, not every person who tries to join the club will necessarily get in. There will be an application process because we want to make sure all the members are actually interested in making films and are willing to put forth effort and aren’t just joining the club to put it on a resume.”

The sponsor of the club, journalism teacher Linda Altoonian, will make all the decisions about who gets into the club.

“I’m hoping we will end up with a team of 20 to 25 people so we can have a fullsized crew to make movies,” Savarese said.

Unlike other clubs at Martin, attendance at every meeting will be expected.

“We don’t necessarily have to power to make students show up to every single

meeting if film club is only a club,” Savarese said. “We are are checking to see if there are any high school film societies we can join so that it’s possible to require attendance, but we haven’t found any yet.”

Regardless, the tentative club already has a few projects it plans to work on, in addition to many that will be decided later.

“The film club will be happy to assist any other club at school with video advertising,” Savarese said. “I also have already committed to making an inspirational video for Camp CommUNITY.” One of the biggest projects the club will be working on is a documentary for the yearbook.

“The yearbook is going to hold an event for its 30th year anniversary,” Savarese said. “The documentary will be centered around all the old editorial staffs coming together and discussing how all the aspects of making a yearbook have changed since Martin’s first yearbook.”

The major goal of the club will be producing videos worthy of competitions.

“We are going to compete in any competition we can,” Savarese said. “Of course we’ll enter into the AISD Media Fair, but there are film festivals in the Dallas/Fort Worth area we submit our films to as well.”

Since the club will receive no money from the school to help produce films or supply equipment, the club will have to borrow equipment until they have enough money of their own.

“As of right now, the only equipment

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Making the cut Senior takes steps to start film club

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available to the film club is whatever [photography teacher Daniel Regalado] will let us borrow and cameras from yearbook,” Savarese said. “Also, I have an HD video camera, a boom microphone and a green screen that we can use.”

Savarese started working with film in second grade, writing scripts and making short films with her brother. Since then, she has continued honing her craft and said she feels that the film club is important because Martin lacks curriculum the deals with video production.

“Film is one of the biggest branches of education that Martin is lacking in, even though a lot of the other schools in the area seem to have classes on it,” Savarese said. “I am really hoping that if this club is started, the school board will realize that we need a film production class.”

If Martin were to have a film production class, students would learn about all the components of producing videos.

Currently, the photography classes are as close to a course of film production as any that are provided.

“In the photo class, we’ve always wanted to be cover video, digital and film photography, but it never is evenly taught that way” Regalado said. “It’s hard to teach three subjects at once.”

For any students interested in more information about the club or seeing the videos the club will produce, there will be a Facebook page called “Martin Film Production Club,” run by Savarese.

Road to recovery

Student recovers from unexpected illness Lauren Florence • Online Editor-in-Chief

After being hospitalized and missing weeks of school, sophomore Andrea Garner and her doctors believe they finally have her seizures under control.

“The first seizures happened around 8 p.m. while I was watching T.V. Oct. 10,” Garner said. “The next one happened Oct. 12 and then Oct. 17. On the 17th, I had multiple seizures all in one day and all of them were full-blown.”

Not all seizures are experienced exactly the same, but Garner’s, in particular, were on the more harsh end of the spectrum.

“I can hear what people are saying, my

eyes roll back in my head, my arm draws up to my side like I’m mental,” Garner said. “I try really hard to talk, but I can’t. I bite my tongue extremely hard and I spazz out.”

While unsure of the cause of the outbreak at first, her doctor at Cooks Children’s Medical Center was finally able to diagnose the issue and stop the seizures, allowing Garner some time to finally heal.

“It’s from Rasmussen’s encephalitis, a virus that caused the epilepsy partialis continua which left the left side of my brain swollen, causing the seizures,” Garner said. “But for now I’m on three seizure medications and steroids to reduce the swelling.”

Now Garner spends her days at home until she is well enough to return to school.

Despite her absence, Garner’s friends have been very supportive and even sold candy to raise money for the hospital bill.

“By the time I’m hopefully all healed and better, I will have Garner with her boyfriend, sophomore Chris Pendermissed a total of, I think, grast in the hospital. While there, doctors were able ten weeks of school,” to diagnose the problem ans successfully stop the Garner said. seizures. Photo courtesy of Andrea Garner

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Abby Bishop • Staffer

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tudents’ dreams of revival turned into reality on Nov. 9, when months of planning turned into success: Wasted Youth.

“I can’t even put into words what happened here,” sophomore Anni Eger said.

“I am still shaking.”

On a Wednesday night, students almost filled the auditorium to hear seniors Kevin Weaver, Grace Fisher, Trace Thompson and Collin McCaskill share how their lives had done a 180.

“I was broken over sin and I saw a heart that was full of anger and bitterness,” Fisher said. “I didn’t know how God could change a heart like that.”

These students were fraught with anger, heartache, insecurity and destruction. Their lives were a total mess and they were all about the latest trends and our culture.

“I was consumed with pride and alcohol,” Thompson said. “I gave into the trends and felt like I had to prove myself and my social status.”

With these students’ lives totally not for God, they found themselves at the bottom, completely helpless and vulnerable.

As they shared their stories with Martin students, youth groups, parents, and others, everyone sat captivated. Weaver, the

Students share testimonies of their radically changed lives

he thought his dad was dead and refused to see him afterward. In junior high, his mom had to go work in Uruguay for the next few years. Then, in his freshman year, he found out his grandpa who he loved so much had Parkinson’s disease. These event led Weaver to question ‘Why?’ He didn’t know how God could let this happen to him.

“I got angry at God and didn’t want to think about Him,” Weaver said.

Weaver became a trouble maker and began to do drugs to free his mind of reality.

“With my mind full of fears and problems, I turned quickly to smoking weed to ease my pain,” Weaver said.

By sophomore year, he was almost always high had started drinking, too. He found himself at parties most weekends, making friends with upperclassmen.

“I would hide behind this comfortable wall of distractions,” Weaver said.

After his brother started getting in trouble and was in and out of jail, he gave up.

“I began not caring who I was with or where I was or what I was doing,” Weaver said.

A lot of preparation went into Wasted Youth. Weaver, friends and many others made t-shirts, posters and set up equip-

ment, but prayer was the quintessential preparation. With a set mind that Wasted Youth would give their King the ultimate glory, they prayed fervently.

“When we have faith that God will move, and we submit to that, He hears us,” Weaver said.

English teacher and Seekers sponsor, Rynthia Clements was very supportive of Wasted Youth and helped make what happened happen.

Other youth pastors invested a considerable amount of time in this event because so many believed that it could really change people’s lives.

“We called and He answered,” Weaver said.

As things got heavier on Weaver, he went to an event at his church in March 2010. He wasn’t expecting much to happen, just an emotional experience and then he’d be back to his normal self.

However, that night changed his life. He didn’t remember anything specific that the speakers or group leaders said, but he remembered that he felt an undeniable need for God. “I needed him,” Weaver said. “I needed him more than food, water, or air.”

He couldn’t take it anymore and finally sat down and confessed everything that he had done with his life to two college guys. Weaver knew he needed God, and he needed Him badly. He didn’t just repeat a little prayer that one of the leaders said.

“I cried out to God and asked Him to be Lord of my life,” Weaver said. “I realized that in order for me to make Him Lord, I couldn’t be.”

Kevin poured his heart out on that stage. He told them how important it was to meet with God and make him Lord of your life.

“I never knew how lost I was until I was found,” Weaver said.

Weaver’s words had given life to students. When he told everybody to bow their heads and close their eyes, 34 students responded.

Thirty-four of them gave their lives to God that night with the help of Martin student counselors.

“It’s not hard to live for yourself, most everyone’s doing it,” Weaver said. “Praise God because once again, He was proving Himself to be the one who saves and who changes lives.”

at all. For Payden, this brand new tuba the time the wish was approved until the was more than the best thing he could day he got it, Payden’s mother worked to have asked for. keep the surImported from prise a secret, Germany and and planned hand made just everything for him, it was meticulously. like a dream “It was going come true. to take several “The fact months for that these are the tuba to be so expensive made,” Taylor inspired me,” said. “They Payden said. had to get all “I’ve always of the specifhad junker tuics and parts bas. I knew in because with this wish it was being I could get a specially hand brand spankin’ made just for new tuba, and him. When I could be really Payden found great at what I out he was do.” approved, he The approval was so hapcame in the py that he spring, and a was beyond lot of patience words.” had to be exerPayden’s cised while the mom was not tuba was being Photo By Brittany Daniels the only one made.

From who helped

bring all of this together. With the help of senior Becky Poster, Taylor was able to successfully pull all of this off.

“I texted a lot of his friends and people that supported him the night before the surprise, explaining it all to them,” Poster said. “After everything was set up on the day of the that day, I texted Payden saying there was an emergency band leadership meeting and to come to the school.”

Still in full shock, Payden is asked to play something on his new instrument.

With band friends, directors and family surrounding him, he can hardly take a breath. Shaking hands carefully pick up the gold tuba as he prepares to play. Nervously, Payden takes a breath and starts playing.

“When they asked me to play I was like, uh-oh,” Payden said. “I’m unprepared and everyone music-related I know is here, I’m in trouble!”

Like a child that just bought a new video game, Payden could hardly set down his new tuba when he got home.

“I practiced for about an hour and a half as soon as I got home but then I had to go to church,” Payden said. “But then when I got home I practiced for at least another hour and pretty much locked myself away.

Getting this has revived my enjoyment in playing.”

Photo By Lizzie Kirkham last of the four to share his story, began to speak a message that completely changed the lives of some of the students in that auditorium.

Weaver came around to the idea of this event back in the summer when so many students had been praying together for revival in the schools of Arlington.

“We serve a big God, so we have big prayers,” Weaver said.

Completely obedient to God’s word, Weaver began planning with friends such as McCaskill and Hayden Haschke, and the vague idea became bigger and clearer.

“That idea became a specific event that glorified the King,” Weaver said.

Weaver began describing his testimony of devastating things in his life, from his Sunday School prayers to his addiction to drugs, alcohol and parties. When he was younger he thought that just because he repeated this magical prayer his teacher said in Sunday school, he wouldn’t go to Hell.

“I thought it was like a ‘Get out of Hell Free’ card,” Weaver said. “I got baptized shortly after that and went on with life as the norm.”

However, major burdens began to pile up on Weaver. In 2006, his dad got into a car wreck. When he first saw the wreck,

Stunned silence: Payden Taylor surprised by friends, family with new tuba Paige Patterson • News Editor

Speechless.

Clapping and cheering fill the room as sophomore Payden Taylor is surprised by A Wish With Wings foundation.

A student who is known to talk your ears off is found at a loss for words as the foundation representatives walk him over to his new shiny tuba Oct. 16.

“I was so surprised by all of my friends and family that did this,” Payden said. “I knew I would be getting it, I just had no idea when. It was a total surprise walking into the band hall because I thought the horn was still on a ship in the Atlantic so I was utterly shocked when I saw it.”

Last September, Payden was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Hodgkin’s is a cancer that is found mainly in the lymph nodes. The treatments and side effects are stressful, and very tough. The day Payden received his wish was a day to symbolize the end of the long journey Payden had to face and more importantly the end of his cancer.

“Any child that has cancer gets this reward for going through the disease,” Payden’s mother Juanita said. “They made sure that this was what he wanted, and not what we were telling him to wish for.”

Within guidelines, Payden could have wished for anything he desired, any wish

From Italy to America, exchange students share their experience Jennifer Forsberg • Staffer

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Mamma mia!

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Is that a couch in the classroom?

There’s only one course at lunch?

Are those students really leaving during lunch? These are some of the questions the Italians asked themselves during their nine day stay in Arlington as part of an exchange program.

From Oct. 20 to 29, 19 Italian exchange students got the opportunity to come to America and stay with members of Junior World Affairs Council.

“For everyone in Europe going to the United States is like a The Italians all gather in the courtyard on the last day of their stay to eat pizza and talk about their experiences from the dream,” Italian exchange student week. They enjoyed sharing the “American life” for a week. Photo by Brittany Daniels Alexandra Angheluta said. “We have different traditions and a different mindset. Matilda Giovannelli said. “In Italy every- but in Italy the students want to learn TV. The buildings here are bigger and Even the security officers scared me at body does their thing during the day, then multiple languages, and even pick a school more diverse than they are in Udine. The they come together to talk about their day that specializes in teaching them. people are also more friendly to strangers. first.”

They left their friends, their family, and at dinner time. It’s a bonding experience.”

“I like all the activities you do like pho- The Italians said they couldn’t believe that Their school, Educandato Uccelus, used tography and newspaper,” Angheluta said. when you walk into a store an employee their lives in Italy for one week to live like an American teenager. Everything was to be a monastery so they don’t have pep “I like how everyone goes to the football introduces him- or herself and asks if you new for them – the food, the clothes, the rallies, Homecoming, or organized sports games. Sometimes we organize small need any help. teams.

“Everything here is bigger: the cars, the towns and the traditions. games, but only casually.”

Although the school is a lot older, Their lunch in Italy involves a threeMany of the exchange students didn’t buildings everything,” Italian Rachele course meal that is served by waiters, there there aren’t as many traditions. Instead of know what America was going to be like. Francescutto said. “Texas is even better are no security officers in their schools, switching classes, their teachers come to Some were shocked that Texas wasn’t all than I expected. I like how friendly everythem. and they can’t pick their classes. cowboys, saloons and steaks, and some one is. My favorite part was my host famHere we are required to take a language, expected it to be like what they see on ily, I wish they could adopt me.”

“The food here is not as important,”

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Freshman Randal Woods gives insight on going blind

Oscar Araujo • Staffer

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alk three feet still being able to see. Turn around, look up still being able to see. Five seconds later and you can no longer see. Wait another five seconds... ten seconds... ten minutes and the vision is back. For a regular teenager, this would be scary but for freshman Randal Woods, this is as normal as breathing.

February 2010 Woods was told that he is legally blind. Up until that point he believed that the way he saw was perfectly normal.

He didn’t notice anything odd about his vision. It was the doctor who made him realize that the way he saw wasn’t normal. Even with glasses that make his vision 20/20, he sees everything with a blur.

As of right now he sees what anyone would see if they looked through the bottom of a glass bottle, but eventually he will be completely blind.

Never expecting that one word can change his whole life, he had to suck in his pride and accept that he is not what he thought he was.

“I wanted to be a pilot,” Woods said.

“Then they told me I was blind and now I’m not even supposed to drive a car.

They don’t even know when I’m going blind.”

He was given a cane so he wouldn’t trip when he is walking, but that cane brought a lot of complications.

His second semester of his eighth grade year students would make fun of him and make cruel, nasty jokes about his cane. Woods decided to just ignore them and move on with his life.

Ninth grade came and things seemed to settle down with students. For the first six weeks he had to walk with his cane so he could memorize where everything was.

“Junior high was the worst,” Woods said. “They would talk about me and on the outside I would act like I didn’t care. High school is when people realized it’s not cool to make fun of me anymore. They now see me with my cane and help me, or sometimes they simply give me room to walk.”

Students may no longer be the problem, but school work is still a hassle.

Since he can usually only see one letter of a word, English is difficult for Woods.

When he’s forced to read out loud he’s embarrassed for taking a long time to read a simple word. Sometimes he just can’t read.

“In class I don’t see a difference,” Woods’ English teacher, Annette Jones, said.

Photo by Lizzie Kirkham

“That’s because he fits in and the kids are so accepting of him. They always help him out and they are always there for him.”

Strangers will talk without knowing, friends will simply help you out, but a best friend will stick to your side no matter what. Woods’ best friend, Michael Smith, has been like a brother to him throughout the whole situation.

“We’ve always been close,” Smith said. “I used to see him everyday before he knew he was blind, now I see him almost every lunch. He’s really positive and he’s nice to people because what he’s going through is hard, he wants people to be nice to him.”

There are some things in life that just

can’t be avoided, and for Woods, being blind is one of them. So he decided to ignore all those who make comments about his cane and took it to the next level and joined the White Cane Day event. White Cane Day was held Oct. 20 in Austin to celebrate the achievements of everyone who is blind or visually impaired. There are activities for those who can’t see.

Woods is doing everything he can before he is completely blind. The doctor said it could happen anytime and anywhere.

“It would be a lot different not being blind,” Woods said. “I could be in sports.

But I have accepted it. I won’t let it bring me down.”

that were essential to their ancestors for survival. Today’s urban society has lost touch with these skills.

This year, the course will have a unique unit over archery – a course that used to be in every P.E. class and was offered at every high school in Arlington ISD. However, archery was banned after students shot arrows into nearby houses. Martin High School is so far the only high school in Arlington that allows students to use bows and arrows.

“The coolest thing we’ve done is going out and roasting marshmallows on fires,” sophomore Robert Manuel said.

Adventure/Outdoor P.E. also teaches outdoor cooking, where students learn how to cook in different ways for survival or for fun. Students learn how to cook using dutch ovens and fires in the courtyard.

Martin faculty are brought in readily to test the food.

“The classes will also be going over hunting and boating,” Thompson said.

In this unit, students will learn about gun safety, hunting education, boating education, and hunting importance. The

classes will also learn some hunting tips such as how to gut deer and common hunting rules. A benefit of taking this class is students can get their hunters and boaters education after completing Adventure/ Outdoor P.E., taking a state test and paying a fee to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

“I’m looking forward to the upcoming fishing trip,” sophomore Cacy Kubel said.

The classes who have been taught how to use the spin-casting pole, the bait-casting pole, and the spinning pole will be going on a fishing trip nearby Martin, which, so far, is the only trip scheduled. To get ready for this trip, students can be seen on the football fields casting for plastic fish.

Adventure/Outdoor P.E. has grown in popularity. Since starting three years ago with a one-semester class, it has grown into multiple semester classes taught by Thompson, and coaches Sabina Harrington and Ricky Albus. The course is offered to all sophomores and upperclassmen, and includes a $10 fee which will cover equipment and bus costs if applicable.

Class teaches skills to survive in the great outdoors Lathan Henderson • Staffer

T

he most important survival tool to have is your mind. That’s one of the many things students will learn in the Adventure/Outdoor P.E. The class is built to teach students important skills such as knot tying, tent building, compass reading, outdoor cook-

ing, rules to surviving and fire building, all of which pertain to the great outdoors.

“The purpose of this class is to connect with nature and to be exposed to many different elements of the outdoors,” Adventure/Outdoor teacher coach Casey Thompson said.

Adventure/Outdoor P.E. will also teach students the basic outdoor survival skills

Students in the Adventure Outdoor P.E. class learn how to make a fire in the Courtyard. The class also teaches how to properly cook food.

Photo by Lizzie Kirkham

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10 things you didn’t know about McQuitty 7 1

If he had to get a tattoo, McQuitty would get a tattoo of his fraternity symbol or something that represents his love for skiing.

2

McQuittty was an Assistant Principal at Venture High School before he came to Martin.

3

He enjoys cycling and snow skiing, mainly in Colorado. His favorite places to do these activities are Key Stone or Copper Mountain.

4

McQuitty’s favortie color is forest green but he said he’s beginning to like the colors red and black.

5

McQuitty’s favorite part of the high school experience is the chance to enteract with the students.

6

His favorite movie to watch is Oh Brother Where Art Thou.

7

McQuitty’s favorite thing about Martin High School is the group of kids that he personally gets to work with.

features

This year, we lost a few teachers, assistant principals and office assistants. But we also gained a new face to walk the Martin halls – our new A.P. Greg McQuitty. Here are a couple of facts that would give the student body a better understanding of our new assistant principal. • by Sara Mancha • Staffer

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One of the craziest Christmas gifts that McQuitty has ever recieved was a brand new puppy.

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When he was little he wanted to be a sports announcer and he would interview his friends after their YMCA games. He also worked at a radio station when he was in college.

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McQuitty said he got in trouble for minor things in high school, but never anything major.

photo by Emma Cuppett

My life is Martin

The website, My Life is Average, is an open blog that lets people post anonymously about the weird things that happen in their lives. But some of those stories actually look average compared to the things that happen on a day-to-day basis here at Martin.

These are the first-hand accounts of their lives at Martin.

Abby Bishop & Erin Hibbs • Staffers •Today, I walked into the bathroom to find a girl throwing up deuces in front of the mirror while taking pictures of herself.

MLIM •Every day I see kids in electric wheelchairs literally racing through the hallways. MLIM •Today, I saw a kid with handcuffs hanging off of his britches. MLIM

grunting. MLIM •Today, Tuesday, aka not a spirit day, when I walked through the hallways I saw two guys dressed up like a panda and a cat...tail and all. MLIM •Today, I realized our school is more fratty than most colleges. MLIM

•Today, one of the security guards fist bumped me. MLIM

•Today, I walked into the bathroom stall and saw a sign that let me know if I was pregnant that I will always have a counselor to talk to. I’m a dude. MLIM

•Today, the varsity football coach came into the pep rally on a motorcycle with his kid riding on the back. MLIM

•Today, I found out that my criminal justice teacher is a very accomplished accordion player. MLIM

•Today, I was reading about the most haunted places in Texas, and our catwalk in the auditorium was listed. MLIM

•Today, I saw a life-sized Pac Man game going through the parking lot. MLIM

•Today, my substitute told us about how she put her dead cat in the freezer. MLIM •Today, a freshman came up to me and asked me where the third floor was. MLIM •Today, I got lost in the hallways. I’m a senior. MLIM •Today, two girls walked out of the bathroom communicating with each other by

•Today, there was a storm trooper wandering around school. He asked me where his Ewok was. MLIM •Today, I walked through the photography room and saw a life-sized Edward Cullen cutout peering at me through the closet door. MLIM • Today, my class was taught by cell phone light after the power went out in half of the school. MLIM

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The juice

features

8

is worth

the squeeze

Some seniors spend their high school careers trying to make grades to provide scholarship opportunities Faith Lewis & Maddy Smith • Staffers

While some seniors enjoy spending time with their friends, others choose to dedicate most of their time to schoolwork instead with the hope that all their efforts will lead them down a path to future success.

Some are motivated by hopes and dreams, some are motivated by their parents and some are driven by the goals they hope to achieve.

“I am self-motivated to do well in school,” senior Kelcie Gaultney said. “I have an inner drive that pushes me.”

Senior year is a year full of life-changing decisions like what dress you want to wear to prom, who is throwing the best graduation party and most importantly, where to go to college.

“I hope to attend Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland to pursue a career in neuroscience, but I have received a full ride to UTA, $10,000 from the Richard Greene scholarship program, and $1,500 from the Cinderella charity ball,” Gaultney said. “I have applied for about 10 more scholarships that I am waiting to hear back from.”

Along with the stress of deciding on the perfect school, many seniors deal with stress from parents trying to help make the

perfect decision.

“My parents have always expected me to stay true to myself as an individual, meaning to always do my best,” she said. “It’s great to see them proud but I do what I do for my own benefit and personal growth.

A lot of my time is dedicated to school, yet I also make time for many other things.”

Senior year isn’t all about hard decisions and life-altering choices; many seniors enjoy extra curricular activities, such as sports and clubs.

“I am president of German Club and National Technical Honor Society, senior representative of Geo Club, treasurer of Psychology Club, and an active member in HOPE, National Honor Society and Key Club,” Gaultney said. “I intern at various key locations around Arlington such as Mission Arlington and for the city of Arlington. I have a project dealing with Africa that I want to start, and I also help with the greeting committee at my church.”

After four long years, all the hard work and stress has finally paid off.

The decisions made now are mapping each and everyone of us a path to success.

When all is said and done, senior year will always be one to remember.

Foreign forays

Students on mission trips realize they aren’t in Texas anymore Calvin Lemley • News Editor One step from the dry, cool and quiet atmosphere of the airport baggage claim into the wall of noise, heat and moisture of a city hundreds of miles from home and the adventure of being in a foreign country begins.

Although the airport “I had that feeling we’re not in Kansas anymay not always be a more,” senior Andrew Czap said about travparticularly nice place, eling to Turkey the summer before his senior and the city you are vis- year. Photo Courtesy of Andrew Czap iting can have a variety of smells and varied weather, there is always one thing that times, it may be a lot more personal.

“We went to this preschool and there you notice first. For senior Andrew Czap it was the smell. For senior Courtney Bal- were about 60 three-year-olds there,” Balke, it was how similar the city looked to ke said. “They wanted to sing and dance for us so we sat there for about an hour of an American one.

“Antalya, Turkey smells like a lot of song and dance routines from preschoolB.O. and you get used to it after a while, ers.”

“We had all gone out on a boat trip but at first it’s really strong,” Czap said.

Many students have stories from their on the Mediterranean and when we were trips around the world, most of them coming back into the harbor a couple have gone with a church group on a of the Turkish students wanted to sing a mission trip. Some don’t even leave the song from church,” Czap said. “I had my country, but others go to places ranging guitar with me so I started playing and we from Mexico to Turkey, or Moldova to sang our way into the harbor.”

Alongside the memorable personal moEthiopia.

“A lot of people from my church went ments there are ones that strike people as a on a medical mission to Moldova,” Balke little more strange. The different customs said. “The adults helped with clinics and and economic statuses of other countries the youth that went helped take care of may give way to experiences bordering on Moldovan children while their parents the bizarre.

“We had brought a lot of sports balls were at the clinics.”

In many of these countries, medi- with us for the kids to play with,” Balke cal help is something that is not readily said. “A guy drove past one time and startavailable to people. But people go for all ed offering outrageous sums of money for types of reasons. Not only do groups go an American football.”

But after all of the fun and crazy moon medical missions, but they go to build churches, build relationships, or even just ments the inevitable has to happen. No matter how much time spent wherever hang out.

“Our whole trip was relationship you go, it always runs out and home based,” Czap said. “We just hang out beckons. It brings different reactions from with the students over there. It’s probably people.

Tears, ambivalence, hugs, hurried last the most memorable time of my life.”

Everyone has their memorable mo- preparations, and a rush through security ments from time spent outside the coun- to catch a flight can all be things consumtry. Sometimes it can be just the adven- ing your last minutes in a place you’re not ture of getting lost in a foreign city or sure you’ll ever visit again.

“I hate leaving,” Balke said. seeing the famous landmarks. But other

You and your family are invited to celebrate Christmas with us.

Christmas Eve Service December 24

December 25

Children’s Service 5:30

Christmas Day 10:00 am

Candle light Services 7:00,

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What you may have

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missed

◄Junior Karli Kirk prepares to launch her trebuchet for AP Physics extra credit Nov. 7. More than 50 catapults and trebuchets launched softballs in the air between 6 and 75 feet. Kirk’s flew 15 feet. “We learned a lot about design and engineering,” Kirk said. “We even had an engineer help us. It was definitely worth it.” Photo by Rachel Hodnett ▼Martin graduates Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, and Kirstie Maldonado competed in, and won, NBC’s The Sign-Off with new members Avi Kaplan and Kevin Olusola. The group held a concert at Martin Dec. 8 with profits going to their charity of choice, The Trevor Project, the Martin choir program, and the junior class. “It was a great opportuinity to hear them sing, especially for the price,” Choir director Kay Owens said. “Soon, they’re going to be hard to reach.” ▲ASL National Honor Society members signed the National Anthem at the varsity football Oct. 28 against Weatherford. After four practices, they were ready to preform.

“It makes me proud to be in ASL club,” senior Brittany Lawson said. “I respect the language.”

Photo by Chandler Harrell

Final Exam Schedule

Monday Dec. 19 (A day) Tuesday Dec. 20 (B day) 1st/5th: 7:35-8:30 2nd/6th: 8:36-9:31 3rd/7th: 9:37-10:32 4th/8th: 10:40-11:35

9

▲English teachers Rynthia Clements and Jennifer Rothwell were among many teachers taking part in playing sports at lunch on Fridays. The teachers have been playing to relieve stress. “Mrs. Dunn and Mrs. Clements encouraged us because this year has been really difficult,” English teacher Diane Hamilton said. “This is a way we can laugh and lift our spirits.” Photo courtesy of Valory Johnson

ToySto

news

10

Some toys come and go, but others stay in you Taryn Jacobson & Samone Franklin • Staffers

Easy B Bubb-a-loons

Lightsabers

An intense session of a lightsaber fight was never one to be taken as a joke.

My Little Pony

Mr. Potato Head

Putting his eyes in his ears and his nose in his mouth was always more entertaining than assembling him the right way.

Hey, who didn’t want to pretend horses were all the colors of the rainbows with sparkly manes and random pictures on their bodies?

Trolls

It was a blast playing with these identical crazy-haired baby trolls.

Blowing a balloon a day keeps the doctor away.

Cand

Lite Brites

This was hop dow situation Kandy a

This must have been what Rhianna was talking about in “All of the Lights.” This dazzling assortment of colorful lights lit up many of our childhoods.

wildwhimsi

y k ac

W Students share the weirdest gifts they’ve given or received

cal

and

e t i wh

Susie Gibson • Staffer Money is tight, the holidays are rapidly approaching, and you’re unsure of what to do about covering all of your friends in the gift department. Fortunately, throwing a white elephant gift exchange is an easy and extremely inexpensive fix.

The idea behind a white elephant gift exchange is to get together with friends and swap weird, cheap gifts found around your house or purchased under a price limit, which is generally $5 to $10 (thrift stores are the best places to find good white elephant gifts.) Everyone puts their gifts in a pile, gathers in a circle, and each person picks a gift, one at a time. If someone else who hasn’t had their turn yet likes a gift that has already been opened, they can steal it and the person who was stolen from has to choose another gift. They can’t, however, steal it back immediately after it was stolen from them. Once a gift has been around to three people, it cannot be stolen anymore. When everyone has had their turn and all the gifts have been opened, the game is over.

“I got a reindeer that poops chocolate.”

•senior Ashley Akin “Someone gave me a really cheap roll of Barbie underwear.”

•sophomore Jessica Baez “I got a bed pan one year at church.”

•senior Amanda Taylor

“One year when I was in elementary school my aunt and uncle gave me a very real looking monkey and it made really weird noises! It was super creepy. The next year I gave it away at a white elephant gift exchange.”

•sophomore Susannah Metzger

Regular ove some of us b purple and pastries and

“I gave someone a dead octopus, and I got a puzzle of a giraffe kissing a squirrel.”

•junior Lara Kunkel “When I was 12 I got a set of Rugrats bras with pink ruffles on them.”

•freshman Sierra Hendry

“My mom gave me a scarf that had a plush puppy dog head on both ends. She said if I didn’t want it, she did.”

•senior Courtney Dean “I got these sticky toy rats. They were gross and had the texture of Laffy Taffy’s.”

•senior Kyra Hampton

ur heart forever

features

ory

11

4

Bake Oven

Blo pens

Polly Pockets

ens were just too generic for back in the day, so this cutesy pink oven spiced up little d such.

A picture was just way more fun to color when it was being airbrushed out of a pen.

A mini girl with tons of mini outfits, a mini mansion and multiple mini cars. Polly had a good life.

Furbies

Power Ranger Action Figures

Furrrrrrrrbies. This furry little monster who blinked and cooed for you on command.

dyland

“It’s morphin’ time!” Enough said.

Moon shoes

s the only game where you could wn a candy trail, avoiding sticky ns, in hopes of reaching King at the Candy Castle.

As a child, did you ever want to take a trip to the moon? You probably strapped these purple and green babies on and bounced your way there.

Sock em Bop em Robots

In this game you could be the red or the blue guy and fight out your frusturations in the ring.

Holidayhorrors

Keep the reciept for gifts like these

Sara Syed • Opinions Editor e all have that challenged gifter in our lives who seems to make the worst decisions come Christmas time. Whether they are giving you a W value pack of off-brand Goldfish, a clearly used bottle of Jergen’s foot cream or an expired can of peaches, their gifts never fail to fill you with a mixture of shock and disappointment. As the holidays roll around we asked some Warriors about the worst gifts they’ve ever gotten.

“My brother gave me a can of Spam last Christmas because he didn’t know what else to get me. I wasn’t mad, I just laughed at him.”

• senior Megan Wigianto “One Christmas I got a stocking stuffed with fruit and tooth brushes. I was upset because I can get all that stuff at a grocery store.”

• sophomore Katie Coker

“My grandma gave me 12 pennies and two pencils last Christmas. I was kind of confused, but I just said thank you, even though I thought I would get something better.”

• sophomore Saima Chaudhry

“My grandmother gave me a box of underwear one Christmas.

She gave all the children in our family underwear, but it was awkward because we all unwrapped underwear at the same time.”

• senior Courtney Dean “One Christmas my cousin bought me a dead fish in a box. I was disappointed because I still expected it to be alive.”

• junior Vincent Tran

“When I was eight my grandma gave me and all my brothers matching pajamas then she wanted us to take pictures in them together. I felt like my grandma had turned her back on my likes and interests. I felt like my grandma hated me.”

• junior Zak Blinn

12

Behind the scenes

features

An exclusive look at theater department’s tech crew 1.

4.

6.

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7.

5.

10.

2.

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1. The collection of shoes in the prop room by the Little Theater.

2. The Little Theater.

3. Senior and stage manager David Dawson.

4. Tech crew members check lights.

5. Assistant Director senior Taylor Lewis does an actor’s makeup.

6. The crew of “The Curious Savage.”

Emma Bruce • Staffer

A

ctors without techies are naked people in the dark trying to emote,” senior David Dawson said, reciting one of his favorite quotes.

“Techies without actors are people with marketable skills.”

When we see a theater production, we are only viewing the surface of hard work.

Behind every show is a tech crew, assuring that everything that needs to get done is done.

Fondly referred to as “techies,” the members of tech crew are responsible for props, quick changes, building sets, designing costumes, controlling lights and audio and remaining unseen during the show.

Dawson was the stage manager for theater’s October production of “The Curious Savage.”

“This is the eighth show I’ve worked,” Dawson said. “It’s gone pretty good so far.”

Most of the preparation for these pro-

ductions take place throughout the week of the opening night of the show. The week referred to as “Hell Week.”

“We probably spend a total of 15 hours up here after school during Hell Week,” Dawson said. “And about eight hours on the weekend.”

It’s the opening night of the show and as the other techies are placing props and testing sound, Dawson, sophomore Matt Hogue and senior Taylor Lewis put on and test their head sets.

“We use these to tell David when the actors are coming on stage,” Lewis, assistant director of “The Curious Savage” said.

“Just so he knows when to cue the lights or the sound.”

Backstage, Lewis works on one of the actress’ make up.

“I love acting, but I’m going to major in theater education,” Lewis said. “I loved working on this show and seeing things through a directors point of view.”

During the sound check, a buzz was dis-

11.

7. Dawson taking care of props.

8. Wigs in the prop room.

9. Tech crew checking sound before a show.

10. Dawson exploring the prop room.

11. The set of “The Curious Savage.”

Photos by Emma Cuppett covered coming from the speakers.

“We’ll just have to restart the system,” Dawson said. “Last year on the opening night of Black Box the light board died 10 minutes before the show started. I managed to fix that.”

As the show begins, Lewis and Hogue, the assistant manager, station themselves backstage on stage right and left. They sit near the entrance to the Little Theater, holding a flashlight and following along in the script.

It is their job to cue the actors’ entrances, ensure that props are properly placed and ready to go, and keep everything under control.

“The first act is going really well,” Lewis said. “The doorknob on stage left hasn’t fallen off yet. I have a screwdriver in case it does.”

At the end of the first act both actors and techies rush to the theater room to get ready for the second act.

“The first act was really good,” Dawson

said. “It’s a great crowd, but a good first act can be ruined by a second and third that suck.”

As the actors take their place for the first scene of the second act, the costume crew gets ready for the quick changes the cast will need.

“The most important quick change is between the first and second scenes of the second act,” Lewis said. “They only have about 30 seconds to get on a completely different outfit.”

Senior Julie Anne Johnson, a member of the costume crew, stands in the pitch black hallway holding in one hand a dress and in the other, a flashlight.

“I’m a little nervous about this next quick change,” Johnson said. “I’ve never done it in the dark before.”

This quick change took 24 seconds.

Johnson’s record is eight seconds.

“I’m 100 percent torn between acting and tech crew,” Dawson said. “But I love working on tech crew. It’s a challenge.”

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Rescue me Victoria Powers • Features Editor

W

hen you grow up what do you want to be?

From second grade to twelfth, we’ve been asked this question.

Every year it seems to be a different answer, but for senior Nolan Wade, it has always been the same: a firefighter.

Wade is a part of the Dallas Fire Rescue Explorers, which is a program designed for young men and women between the ages of 14 to 21 who are interested in firefighting and paramedicine.

“Growing up, I always thought about being a firefighter,” Wade said. “In this program they’ve taught us how to search a burning building, CPR and advanced first aid.”

They’re taken through training in firefighting and emergency medical services.

After all the basic training, they’re allowed to go on runs with the real firefighters.

“Every time I go, I get so inspired by the men there,” Wade said. “I think it’s really cool because I’m only 17 and I’m doing things that older men are doing.”

Being a firefighter takes up a lot of time and energy. A full-time firefighter can work up to 50 hours a week and they can be on call for 24 hours straight helping

protect the public and the property.

Fighting fires can become dangerous and complex, so to prevent any injury the squad has to have teamwork.

“It’s really organized,” Wade said.

“When I’m there in the moment there are people’s lives at stake, so there’s no time to be scared going into it.”

There are three layers to all structural firefighting gear. The outer layer is water resistant and protects them from any sort of puncture. Next is the thermal layer, which is the layer that protects the fighter from the heat given off from the fire. The last layer is used to keep any moisture out and away from their body, the moisture barrier.

Along with the suit, if you add the mask and the breathing equipment, it weights close to 60 pounds.

The race of a lifetime

Math teacher Carol Olson takes on first triathlon

W

Kristen McNaughton • Staffer

hat would push a person to run, bike and swim for many miles?

Most people would say, “Absolutely nothing,” but not math teacher Carol Olson.

This year, Olson took on her first triathlon on Oct. 2, with her husband, Eric Olson.

The idea of participating in the race started when some of Olson’s friends decided to compete in one a few years ago.

“I just wasn’t ready for it at that time,” Olson said.

In the recent year, she has claimed that she is facing her mid-life crisis, which is her motivation to try the Half Iron Man triathlon.

This particular triathlon consists of three parts: a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride, followed by a 13.1 mile run.

“The triathlon is my goal before I’m 50,” Olson said.

Olson began training almost immediately after she signed up. She goes bike riding three days a week, averaging about six to seven hours a week. Olson said she likes bike riding the most out of each activity.

She runs about two to three hours a week, which she also likes, though it’s the hardest for her. Swimming averages out to about two hours a week at Lifetime Fitness.

“I train about an average of 10 hours a week,” Olson said.

In a marathon, Olson starts out with swimming, then goes on to bike riding, and lastly finishes it up with running.

Since swimming is first, Olson is already dressed and ready for that part.

Once the swimming is over the contestants runs up to the transition area to put on shoes and biking gear and then they’re off.

“My favorite part would have to be biking, because it is the most fun,” Olson said.

During the race, Olson’s hardest moment occurred while swimming. There were so many people and so little room to move that she had a panic attack and had to go to one of the boats there to help the people like her who need quick breaks.

She had to stop a few minutes and catch her breath, but she was determined to finish it and kept moving forward.

“I wasn’t happy or disappointed.” Olson said, “I just wanted to finish it.”

Olson finished the course in sixth place with an overall time of six hours and 52 minutes. Her goal was originally seven and a half hours.

“I was very, very pleased with how well I did,” Olson said.

Olson explains that doing a triathlon is like teaching, because you’re always striving to do the best you can do and never giving up. Olson has plans on doing another triathlon in the future.

“I wasn’t happy or disappointed.

I just wanted to finish it.”

“After helping someone it really just hits me,” Wade said. “I love getting that adrenaline rush knowing that I can help someone.”

Although they put out fires, firefighters are usually responding to other emergencies. They are the first emergency personnel at the scene of a traffic accident or medical emergency and other vital situations to treat injuries.

“In this program I’ve gotten to help so

features

Senior Nolan Wade joins a program for aspiring firefighters

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many people,” Wade said. “I think helping people is the coolest thing, and I’m learning things that will help me all through life.”

Since the program ranges in age, a few other Martin students are involved as well.

Seniors Sonny Huang and Drew Weinberg also volunteer their time to the program.

If you’re interested in the program or have any questions, you can visit their website at dallasfirerescueexplorers.com.

Le Salon Call us today to schedule an appointment!

We’ll take care of your hair!

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Arlington, Tx 76017 (817) 561-4505

James Martin High School 4501 W. Pleasant Ridge Dr. Arlington, TX 76016

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14

The

Warrior Post Connor Gillaspia Editor-in-chief Lauren Florence Online Editor-in-Chief Ashley Cunningham Lauren Peel Copy Editors Calvin Lemley Paige Patterson News Editors Sara Syed Rowan Sharp Opinions Editors Lauren Aguirre Entertainment Editor Taylor Gillum Victoria Powers Features Editors Kendra Brown Sports Editor Laurel Gregory Staff Artist Emma Cuppett Photo Editor Jacie Lewis Designer

Don’t mess with

Martin S

nack wrappers, spilled drinks, unidentifiable stepped-on food mush. Students laugh hysterically as they playfully toss their trash at one another leaving behind irresponsible messes. This is the view of Martin’s hallways every day during lunch. Students passing through the halls carelessly step over the mounds of trash, ignoring the real problem. Where is the respect for the janitors, for the students, for the school?

We are high school students and there is no excuse for the mess we are leaving. The janitors at Martin have to clean up after 4,000 people and they shouldn’t have to clean up unnecessary messes. It’s simply not polite or respectful to expect hard working adults to deal with litter that could be easily avoided.

The janitors work hours after students go home to keep the school looking clean and respectable. When we carelessly leave behind wrappers from our lunch or crumpled up paper, it is easy to forget about who has to take care of our mess.

There is also the simple fact that by acting so irresponsibly we are making ourselves look bad. We are Martin, and when we trash the school we are implying something about ourselves. As teenagers we constantly want to be treated like gods and goddesses, but let’s get real. How can

The Warrior Post is the official monthly publication of Martin High School. As a public forum, we will publish letters to the editor as space allows. Letters must be signed, but names may be withheld. Opinion columns don’t represent the opinion of The Warrior Post or of Martin High School. The Warrior Post will not accept advertisments for produsts or services not legally available to students. The Warrior Post is a member of ILPC and Quill and Scroll and a recipient of both the Silver and Bronze Star Awards.

we expect to be treated with respect if we leave messes like little children?

Unfortunately, it seems the only way to motivate high schoolers to behave is to threaten punishment. If a student leaves trash behind they should be held accountable. D-hall is served in a quiet classroom as students dose off. While this does take away from their precious lunchtime, the message doesn’t seem to sink in. Instead, similar to the way students in the theater program patrol the Little Theater lobby for trash, put the students in D-hall out in the halls picking up after themselves and their fellow classmates.

There has to be a way to encourage students to not trash the hallways and because many positive approaches seem to have failed, it may be time to take a stricter approach.

No one at Martin is young enough to be treating the school this way and it needs to stop. Be considerate of who has to clean up after you when you carelessly leave trash in the halls.

We all come to the same building five days a week, seven hours a day, for 177 days a year and it is in many ways our home. All Martin needs is a little bit of effort and respect to keep and improve its standard of excellence.

staff editoral

Find out what it means to me

We all think we know what it means, but let’s be honest, we don’t

Tricia Regalado Adviser

Aide Alvarado, Oscar Araujo, Abigail Bishop, Emma Bruce, Natalie Buongiorno, Katelyn Burley, Meghan Cabra, Brenda Chavez-Mayo, Karsen Cinquepalmi, Morganne Clay, Kim Clower, Maddy Cope, Brittany Daniels, Danielle Daulton, Cristiani Fernandez, Katy Fitzgerald, Tyler Forde, Jennifer Forsberg, Samone Franklin, Susie Gibson, Jamie Gisburne, Larissa Gonzales, Chandler Harrell, Lathan Henderson, Ariel Hernandez, Erin Hibbs, Lily Hill, Rachel Hodnett, Trevor Ingram, Nupohn Inthanousay, Taryn Jacobson, Ashleigh Jones, Elizabeth Kirkham, Nida Laheji, Kaylyn Lefan, Faith Lewis, Amber Lim, Sara Mancha, Madeline Maxwell, Kristen McNaughton, Sarah Meo, Jordan Pasayan, Madison Smith, Rachel Storm, Madison Terry, Tyler Vanskiver, Emily Zerr

Students stretch the dress code limits

Disrespect toward the school needs to stop

Jordan Pasayan Video Editor

Marlene Roddy Principal Staffers:

Dress code disputes

Victoria Powers • Features Editor Respect is probably the simplest gesture towards a person. It’s the first thing you learn when you enter grade school, whether your parents taught you or not. Treat others the way you want to be treated; it’s the golden rule.

We’ve been taught our whole lives the rules of respect, but why do we never enforce them? You might try to blame your parents, your teachers, maybe even your friends, but the only one person who’s fault it really is, is you.

Now, our generation isn’t the kindest.

Blaming your parents is no longer an excuse. This isn’t second grade. We’re high school students. We’re always complaining about how adults don’t treat us with respect. If you expect to get respect, be prepared to give it back.

Underclassmen, I understand these are your first years of high school, but it’s time to grow up and stop acting like junior high students. There is a very large number of students here and I know it can be scary, but one day you’ll take your place as upperclassmen.

Upperclassmen, these are our last years of high school. Don’t waste them being rude and ungrateful.

Don’t be that one junior or senior that everyone hated because they were too ar-

rogant for their own good.

We need to not only respect each other, but also our teachers, parents and custodians.

Our teachers put up with us all day, our parents put up with us the rest of the time, and the custodians put with our mess. Is it really that hard to say thank you, yes ma’am, no ma’am, no thank you?

Next time your teacher is talking, listen to them. I know what happened last weekend was really interesting, but it can wait five minutes. I know that it may seem unfair to actually have homework or a project, but this is will all pay off when it’s time to graduate and go to college. Give them the respect you would want.

When your parents ask you to do the dishes or finish your homework, just do it. Arguing gets you nowhere. If anything, it gets you in more trouble than you were in before. They take care of us and provide everything we need. One day we’ll have to take care of them.

Our custodians are here overnight, all day and on the weekends.

They also pick up after about 4,000 high school kids. When you leave your trash on the floor or think it’s fun to throw an apple against the wall, think about how you’d feel if you had to clean it up. The simple act of thinking before you do something is all you need.

Respect is the simplest form of kindness you can give someone, but don’t forget about yourself. If someone treats you poorly, know that you’re above it.

Don’t settle for someone who curses at you or hurts you in any way. Respect is a factor in every type of relationship.

Whether it’s your boyfriend or girlfriend, your mom or dad, or your teacher, use it.

Think before you act and follow the golden rule.

Sara Syed • Opinions Editor Dress code has been an ongoing tugof-war between the district and our students. The students argue that the district is cramping their style, while the district argues that students’ skimpy attire is embarrassing to the school. After years of dress code disputes, it is obvious that a compromise has to be reached. It may be time for students to accept that some clothes are simply inappropriate to flaunt through school hallways.

It is understandable that students would be resistant to take fashion advice from our district administrators, but there is something ridiculous about showing up at school, 7:30 in the morning, dressed like you are going to a club. At the end of the day, the shocking truth is that Martin is in fact, not a club. You can’t walk down the halls of Martin with out seeing a girl wearing something a little too tight, too short or too low. This is a school, and it makes no sense to wear clothes that make the people trying to give you an education so uncomfortable that they feel the need to send you home and make you change.

There is, however, a debate about the students’ definition and the school’s definition of the word “appropriate.” You may not feel what Martin deems “a dress code violation” is inappropriate. After all, our clothes are simply another expression of our individuality. Though this is true, the school can’t be expected to overlook the girl in the hallway who looks half naked because she feels looking half naked is part of her individuality. The dress code is not meant to stifle individuality.

In the end, Martin has to make the decisions that will maintain a respectable reputation.

At some time or another, many of us have seen or even been a student who has to make the dress code walk of shame. A teacher motions them over, demands the student stretch their hands down by their side as the student awkwardly attempts to defend their outfit. This scene is oddly common in Martin, but why? The dress code is not a secret. The district has never hidden what they find inappropriate, yet students continue to wear clothes that will get them sent to the office. If you know you will get in trouble when a teacher sees the outfit you are wearing, why wear it to school? As it turns out, schools are filled with teachers.

At the end of the day the question remains, is wearing a revealing outfit worth the trouble? Is it not easier to simply save your skimpy outfits for days you aren’t spending surrounded by teachers?

Whether we like it or not, the dress code are rules we have to follow. There is no point in hiding from teachers who you know will send you to the office or using school dress up days as an excuse to wear whatever you want. If the clothes you are wearing are not appropriate for school, it is not worth the fight.

A decision has to be reached and it is clear that students need to make the compromise.

Fast food feud 15 Working at a fast food place has its moments

More emphasis should be placed on academics, and less on athletics

Lauren Aguirre • Entertainment Editor

T

oday’s culture puts much more emphasis on sports than academics. The “average Joe” is more likely to know who won the Super Bowl (the Green Bay Packers) before the National Spelling Bee (Sukanya Roy, with the word “cymotrichous”).

In high school, the football team goes to playoffs and the whole student body celebrates, but the Science UIL team goes to state and no one blinks an eye. Why can’t it be the other way around?

The estimated budget of the 2012 Olympics is 9.3 billion British pounds (or around $15 billion), the average Yankee player makes about $6.5 million per year and Jerry Jones used taxpayers’ money to scrounge up $1.15 billion for the Cowboys Stadium.

Meanwhile, the federal government only allots $7.5 billion to the Department of Education out of a $3.7 trillion budget. This is unacceptable.

Just like any other industry, the sports industry thrives from consumer demand.

Citizens of Tarrant County voted to have an extra sales tax placed on them to help pay for the Cowboys Stadium. The “against” votes were beaten out three to one; a massive majority won out.

Were the majority of voters die-hard Cowboys fans? There’s no way to tell. But considering that Jerry Jones already had a huge bank account when he commissioned this project, they most likely were.

They were willing to pay money from their own pockets, rather than just telling Jones to pay for it himself.

Why not create an extra sales tax to help fund AISD? Now you think I’m insane.

Taxpayers would rather spend their money on a huge stadium than supporting the public education system.

Education should be the first on our priority list.

My theory is there’s not much profit in schools. And that doesn’t mean businesses should plaster ads all over campuses. It’s the greed of big businessmen that contributes to the emphasis in sports.

A football game sells thousands of seats, concessions and team apparel. Easy money, right?

With the massive sales comes milliondollar salaries for coaches, managers and players. This has caused a “trickle-down effect,” but not in the classic sense.

According to Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s article, “As high school football popularity soars, so do coaches’ salaries,” the average salary for Arlington’s six, head football coaches is $96,693, while teachers in the North Texas region (for grades 7-12) make an average of $51,452 a year. That’s almost half as much.

Sure, it can be said that coaches are paid more because of outside of school commitment.

After all, the head football coaches of each high school in the district also work as Head Athletics director, but teachers can work just as much unpaid overtime grading papers, projects, essays, etc., not counting after school and lunch tutoring sessions and extra training. Plus, with the schedule change this year, teachers took on an extra class with no raise whatsoever.

Of course, many coaches also teach.

Students would rather be a part of a school with a winning sports team than a school that is academically superior. After TCU’s football team went to the Rose Bowl, the school has received 17,000 new applications. The deadline isn’t until Feb 15. The idea is successful athletics brings about better school morale and academics.

We have special pep rallies and even send-offs for athletic teams. All the while the TEA rating (based on TAKS scores) of Martin dropped from Recognized to Acceptable last year.

Did we lower our academic standard because we felt that we had already succeeded in sports?

Succeeding in academics would take the whole school’s effort together. So why aren’t we devoting our efforts to be rated Exemplary?

The “No Pass, No Play” policy supports academics first, requiring athletes and UIL participants to make at least a 70 in all their classes to be able to compete. The standards should be higher.

Players should be required to make at least a “B,” especially if they’re taking all regulars classes.

Unless you’re having trouble grasping the material, there’s no way to fail or even make a “C” in regulars classes if you just do the work assigned. And if you are having trouble with the material, then you should ask questions and attend tutoring sessions.

This year, the state of Texas is doing away with the TAKS test and changing to the STAAR test, another end-of-course exam. You take one test for each core class you have (English, History, Math, Science) so the test will line up with your schedule.

If you’re taking Biology, you’ll take a specific Biology test written for your grade level. As such, it’s much more rigorous than the TAKS test.

Even the freshman English STAAR test has three essay questions with a multiple choice section.

To adjust, teachers will have to implement a tougher curriculum even in regulars classes. This is a step in the right direction.

Hemingway T-shirts don’t characterize a childhood. Sports jerseys do. This enthusiasm in sports starts as children.

Academics should move up from its close second to athletics to a landslide first.

It’s far more likely that you’ll get a job in finance than make it to the major leagues.

Students should prepare accordingly. After all, it’s called a student-athlete. Not an athlete-student.

Succeeding in academics would take the whole school’s effort together. So why aren’t we devoting our efforts to be rated Exemplary?

Cristiani Fernandez • Staffer Walking into a fast food restaurant, you might run into a chaotic rush of customers ordering their food or waiting in line as the employees go crazy behind the counter. It would seem that the easy thing to do is to go inside, get your food and get out. As an experienced employee of Carl’s Jr, there are some things you could never imagine what we have to deal with.

As customers enter the restaurant, they might notice the chaos we can go through at times. We will serve you, and try our best to do it in a timely manner.

There is no reason to bring an attitude along. We do our best to make sure everyone is happy. Rudeness won’t help you.

Usually when we work drive thru, one person takes the orders, serves the drinks, bags the food and attends to the customer.

So of course, during the rush we have to multitask. Saying rude comments to the person working while you wait is unnecessary. Especially saying, “You must be a natural blonde, since it seems you can’t do more than one thing at a time.” While you chill in your car, we’re doing the best we can. If you had the opportunity to try to deal with the drama I deal with for just an hour, you’ll see that it’s harder than it looks. You can’t please everyone.

Also, make sure to know that we only hand out your order. We don’t call your number unless it’s a to-go order. You don’t know how awkward it is to try to work and get orders out of the way when a

opinions

Student first, athlete second

customer standing there, arms crossed, waiting impatiently.

When ordering, make sure you are 100 percent sure about your order.

People have gotten the habit of “forgetting” they wanted the higher-priced side dish after they pay. They realize there is no certain way on the computer system to be able to pay the difference. Orders are on the screen and that’s what we follow, we can’t remember you wanted chili cheese fries instead of your small size fries when there’s another 13 orders to complete as well.

If we do mess up your order, feel free to come up and tell us. We’ll make one fresh and correct for you. But please don’t take advantage of us by pulling out a hair and putting it on your food. Especially when it’s long and blonde, and there are no blonde hair employees that work here. I wouldn’t have to say this if it hadn’t happened.

Please try to be nice to us. Maybe you asked for a strawberry shake and we handed a vanilla one to you. That does not give you the right to throw the shake at our faces. Also if it’s crowded and your order took more than five minutes, try not to come behind the counter and yell at the employee who took your order.

There have been moments when people think it is appropriate to treat me like I am an idiot because I work fast food. That is not the case. I’m a writer for the newspaper, I’m in a Marketing Co-Op program and also taking dual credit classes while still juggling this job.

We make sure to make your experience a good one, so just work with us. Entertaining and kind families, kind older people who try to give you tips at the drive thru, even the people who tell you how their day is going or tell their life stories are the ones that make this job worthwhile.

Home(work) for the holidays Winter break postponed until Dec. 21

Nataile Buongiorno • Staffer The air is fresh and there is a vibe of excitement. Then the bell rings and students run out of class, excited for winter break and all it has in store for them.

Some are trying to catch flights for a holiday vacation, some are on their way to friend’s houses and some are just on their way home for a cup of hot chocolate. This year, though, things are going to be a bit different. Students are going to be released a few days later for winter break.

Along with other school calender changes, winter break this year is going to begin on Wednesday, Dec. 21. This is a pretty big change considering winter break usually begins a few days earlier.

Now I don’t know about you, but the first thing I do when I hear that bell ring is run home, put up my stocking, and bake cookies for Santa Claus. The change of dates will make it more difficult for students and their families to participate in activities before the holidays.

Semester exams this year will be before

winter break for a change. No more need to spend your break dreading the upcoming exams. Instead, you will be able to sit around and relax.

After a long break from school it is very easy to forget the material which you had previously been learning. With the exams before the break though, the material will be fresh in student’s minds.

Thursday, Jan. 5 will mark the start of the new semester and a clean start.

There are also downsides to exams being before winter break though. The week before the break that is usually being spent relaxing and with holiday activities will now be spent studying.

Students may slack off on their exams because they are excited for the break. The buzz of excitement in the air will be consumed by the grumbles of students speaking of exams.

We could argue the pros and cons of the changed winter break dates, but I can’t think of a single person who would think that this change is bad: the last day of school being in May. The last day of classes, which is usually sometime in June, will now be May 31. This gives students the entire month of June off and adds on an extra week to summer break which makes summer feel so much more complete.

Just like any change, the change to the school calendar may be difficult to get used to. Overall, though, the change is definitely something that could help students, parents and our district.

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Cheap thrills Laurel Gregory • Staff Artist

In all the rubble that is found in community thrift stores and resale shops, searching through the broken dolls and Polaroid cameras finding that perfectly crafted pair of $3 jeans is worth all of the digging and sweat. I can’t remember the last time I payed a normal price for a shirt or CD. Thrifting offers a way to recycle the past and keep your pockets full. It may take some effort on the thrifter’s part, but a true thrifter will always emerge with something unique and hopefully cheap.

Clothing Texas Thrift: Texas Thrift probably got its name because it is literally the size of Texas. You can find almost anything in this store, from video cameras from the 90s to creepy Furby dolls and embarrassingly puffy wedding dresses. All sections of this store offer plenty to sift through and prices are always reasonable and cheap. I’ve left this store before with my bag bulging at the sides for under $15.

There is up to three rows for each item of clothing, so prepare to spend at least a week in here if you plan on finding the best of the best. Shoes wise, it can be difficult to locate a pair that cling to your feet perfectly, but this can be expected of most thrift and resale shops.

Overall, I’ve found that Texas Thrift is best for shirts which are usually around $2 to $5, and if you need a crazy Halloween costume, this is the place to go. rating: 

Arlington Resale: Although Arlington Resale may not be as enormous as other resale shops, do not underestimate the quality of clothing here.

They only choose to place the nicer items for sale on the racks, so almost every item is unique and thoughtfully considered before it is thrown out to all of the thrifters of Arlington. The staff is always nice and helpful and clothes are organized neatly and according to color in the shirt section, which is helpful if you’re looking for that perfect blouse in a nice shade of mustard yellow.

The prices in Arlington Resale are slightly higher than most thrift stores, but they are always having some sort of 50 percent off sale, which makes up for the higher prices. rating:  Plato’s Closet: I don’t know what it is, but Plato’s seems to get pickier with every passing year I try to sell them my old clothing. Most of the clothing they carry is more current styles of clothing, so this is not the place to venture to if you are planning on finding any true vintage items. Because the clothing is more current, Plato’s prices are much closer to normal department store prices, but simple shirts and pants can be around $5 to $15. Plato’s is a good place to go if you’re planning on purchasing jeans or shoes because they carry a fairly decent amount of both, with reasonable prices.

Plato’s can feel very cramped and claustrophobic on busy days, but the small scale of the store keeps you from spending the entire day searching through the stuffy rows of clothing.

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rating:

Thrifting helps to save and recycle 

Buffalo Exchange: Although it is a little out of the way, Buffalo Exchange is a great place to find unique, true vintage items. Like Plato’s, you can also sell your used clothes here and get cash right on the spot. Along with vintage items, you can also find used designer label clothing and current trendy pieces. Their prices tend to be higher than a regular resale shop, but it’s worth it knowing that no one else will have the same 60s floral print dress or vintage cowboy boots that you do.

The store itself is smaller with round racks in the center full of vintage concert T’s and frilly skirts. It’s easy to look through the store, but because of the amount of clothing, make sure and set aside a couple of hours if you plan on looking through everything. rating: 

Music and Movies Entertainmart: It can be a bit overwhelming when you step through the double glass doors into an enormous open space full of racks of DVDs, CDs and an entire room devoted to video games and game consoles. At the center of the room, cases full of cell phones and iPods to purchase create the great wall of registers. Most CDs range from seven to nine dollars, with new releases at normal prices, but there is always the occasional three or four dollar CD.

The variety of CDs Entertainmart carries is greater than most places, but it can be difficult to find what you are looking for because there is no form of organization other than alphabetical. I appreciate genres when I enter this store. However, the movie and game section makes up for this with its reasonable pricing and the fact that they will purchase your discarded Britney Spears CDs and old school games.

There are several crates full of forgotten records, but you can see why people would want to dispose of them since there isn’t much to choose from. The poster selection is superb, with classic movie posters and music posters, but it doesn’t compare with the gigantic posters on the wall which unfortunately they will not sell to you. rating:  Movie Trading Company: This store is the mini, better organized baby sister to Entertainmart. CDs are organized according to genre (hallelujah) and although the store itself is smaller, it seems to have a better variety of music that is not difficult to locate. All CDs and DVDs are in racks at eye level, so there’s no bending and twisting to find what you’re looking for. They may not have the extensive amount of used iPhones and iPods to choose from, but they account for this through their music and movie selection. CDs are three to $15 depending on if they are new or used and the same goes for DVDs. Records can cost up to $25 if they are new, but I’ve found some of my best vinyl gems here for only $5. rating: 

Bell of the ball

Leading 17 the pack

sports

Senior Audra Bell is a standout on this year’s stellar tennis team

Junior Cameron Villarreal leads the Martin cross country team to regionals

Junior Cameron Villarreal gets some miles in on the Martin track. Villarreal also competes in with a club team based in Dallas. Photo

by Brittany Daniels

Tyler Forde • Staffer

S Senior Audra Bell puts her back into a killer swing. Bell has gotten offers to play tennis in college. Photo by Brittany Daniels

S

Lily Hill • Staffer

enior Audra Bell has been playing tennis since the young age of three.

“I was about the same height as the four year olds at the country club,” Bell said “So the coaches let me play with them.”

Bell’s dad got her started with four or five sports also at the age of three, but decided she was best at tennis, so she stuck with it and still plays today.

Bell says her tennis idol is Wilfred Tsonga because he fights as hard as he can and surprises people when he wins because he is know as the “underdog.”

“My biggest competitor is my step sister Neda,” Bell said. “She was top 200 in the world before.”

Bell said she is an extremely independent person, which is one of the reasons why

Tee-off

she loves tennis so much.

Bell plays for the Lady Warrior tennis team, practices from 2 to 4:30 p.m. and goes straight to her club practice at Hilton DFW Lakes Tennis Club where she stays until 8 p.m.

She is also there three days a week. In the summer she is there from 9 a.m. to noon and then back on the courts from 1 to 3:30.

Bell says she plans to play in college, but isn’t sure of where she wants to play yet.

“I’ve gotten a lot of Division III offers,” she said “But I prefer playing in Division I.” Bell has gotten Division I offers from Morgan State, Southern University, and Howard University.

She has been awarded 79 trophies since she began playing and continues to enlarge her collection.

printing down the last one hundred yards, stomach wrenching, spectators screaming as junior Cameron Villarreal crosses the finish line.

Villarreal leads the Martin Warriors with a second-place finish at the district meet. Finishing with a time of 15:54 for a 5K, Villarreal secured a spot for himself at the regional meet Nov. 5 in Lubbock.

Finishing in the 48th spot with a time of 16:29, Villarreal said he was disappointed with his performance.

“I know I could have done better, but I have a chance for redemption at Nike South Regionals,” Villarreal said.

Running since only seventh grade, Villarreal’s intention was just to get in shape for basketball, but after one year he finally started to realize that he had major talent. Following his father (assistant principal Juan Villarreal’s) footsteps, who ran at the high school and college level, he is finally starting to pass his father’s times in every race except the 400 meter.

“After every race I would compare my times to my dad’s and try to beat them,” Villarreal said.

There are several things that keep Villarreal going. He is on the verge of breaking several school records, there are many scholarship opportunities, and his girlfriend junior Olivia Olguin is in cross

country to watch him.

“I like that she is there and cheers for me, and I run faster sometimes when I feel like showing off,” Villarreal said.

Villarreal is member of the Metroplex Striders, a running club that Terry Jessup started to train and produce many good runners. Villarreal does a lot of running between the Striders, who meet every Tuesday, and the Martin cross country practices that are every morning. He averages 60 to 70 miles a week, occasionally reaching 80.

“Cameron has tremendous work ethics and a natural ability to run fast,” coach Tim Mays said.

When runners are racing through the course there are also things racing through their minds. The first thing on Villarreal’s mind is always the person in front of him.

“The first thing on my mind is catching the person in front of me, but if that doesn’t work I tend to think about school or recent conversations I have had,” Villarreal said Villarreal has high expectations for himself. His personal best time was 15:32 on Sept. 9 at Fossil Ridge. With that, he has set himself a goal to finish top 10 in the state. Knowing that he has the potential, he takes advantage of every opportunity.

“I know that if I go the extra mile it will pay off in the long run,” Villarreal said.

Golf team gets into the swing of a new season Katy Burley • Staffer

Golf for the 2011 school year is going to be one of the best years yet.

Why, you ask?

They have senior Lizzie Anderson and junior Jamie Gisburne in the top five.

Boys golf coach Max Spencer and new girls coach David Amis said they are very excited about the new 2011-2012 season.

Spencer and Amis have plans for winning big. They have changed some things just to start the season right.

“We are going to start doing some strength and conditioning in the winter,” Amis said. “We are even going to start lifting weights.”

Amis has new expectations for this year, as does Spencer. They have already made good accomplishments.

“The girls golfer, senior Lizzie Anderson scored an 84 in our last tournament, and JV finished second and third,” Amis said.

They lost a great player in 2011 graduate Camry Tardy, but have a new girl next in line for the best player. Anderson has really stepped up on her game, just like the coaches have hoped.

“I feel like Lizzie has taken Camry’s place,” Amis said. “She is dedicated which is great for our team.”

The Martin golf guys are ready to give it their all for the coming season. They have time to get a good grip on the new season.

“Regionals are what I can’t wait to start,” senior Garret Spicer said. “This year we have a solid team. We are going to win.”

The golf team has high expectations for this year. From wins to losses, they are ready to start the season right.

“We are going to play the best as possible and enjoy every minute of it,” Spicer said.

Most people don’t understand the real game of golf. Many people think it’s an easy sport, but that’s not really true.

“Golf isn’t as easy as people think,” Spicer

said. “It takes a lot of practice, and skill.”

When they prepare there really isn’t much to it.

Practicing and preparting for golf is like the same for any other sport: hard work pays off.

“All we do is practice and we practice a lot,” Spicer said. “We have to calm our nerves and clear our head from all the school work and other things we have on our minds before we tee off.”

The girls golf team captain said she is excited about a new year.

“I am looking to a great year with the team,” Anderson said. “I am team captain, so I am working to lead the team at our tournaments.”

Anderson has been playing golf for about four years, and she said she enjoys every minute. She has high expectations for herself.

“I recently shot my personal best in a tournament, an 84. I hope to shoot in the

70s at least once before this year is over,’’ Anderson said.

Some girls have won awards in the past seasons, but this season is just getting started so there will be more awards to come.

“My sophomore year I won the Outstanding Underclassmen Award and my junior year I received the Outstanding Upperclassman Award,” Anderson said.

Golf takes not only practice, but hard work.

The team plays during school and outside of school. so they can get even better.

“I play every Sunday afternoon with my dad and try to go to the driving range a couple times a week,” Anderson said.

With his encouraging words, Amis, has found a special place in all the girls hearts.

“Coach Amis is amazing,” Anderson said. “All of the girls have grown very fond of him and he works really hard at helping and encouraging all of us.”

“Regionals are what I can’t wait to start. This year we have a solid team. We’re going to win.”

Passion, commitment, loyalty

sports

18

Warrior football advances to Quarter Finals in historic playoff run Kendra Brown • Sports Editor & Madeline Maxwell • Staffer

Photo by Andrew Czap

Photo by Andrew Czap

F

Photo by Emma Cuppett

ootball. It’s a thrilling event that brings our student body together as we all stand and cheer for our boys to succeed. Voices go hoarse, our hearts pump and our hands sweat with each minute counted as we watch, anticipating each play. We all want the same thing: a victory.

This year the Warriors gave the fans a wild thrill ride, playing in cold and rain and taking Martin all the way to the quarter final playoffs – the farthest the team has gotten in school history.

“I get really into the games,” sophomore Morgan Watson said. “It’s hard not to.”

Barely able to watch the game, cheerleaders try hard to be louder than the crazed fans. The cheerleaders shouts, still are overpowered by the yelling of the fans.

“It’s hard to do both but when the crowd cheers for big plays, we usually stop to watch,” senior Alex Grossman said.

Emotions ran high as the varsity football players took their district win to a hopeful state championship, a run that was ended in a rainy game against Southlake Carroll.

“I felt like we could go as far in playoffs as we wanted to,” senior Eric Amoako said. “It was just about taking it one game at a time and playing each game hard and smart.”

Getting ready for the long season takes a toll on the players.

“I feel physically tired,” senior Eric Amoako said. “By the time we started playoffs, we’d already had a ten game season. But just knowing that it’s one and done gets you through the game because no one, especially seniors, wants to play their last game.”

With passion, commitment and loyalty, players rely on each other to do their part and give everything they have.

Football is a sport that is played together.

It is not nor can be an individual sport.

Many football teams succeed because they

Photo by Andrew Czap

Photo by Karsen Cinquepalmi

come together and play as one.

“I feel like this year’s team is as close as ever,” Amoako said. “We don’t have guys that think they’re bigger than the team or who only play for themselves.”

“Our lines get better every week that we play,” senior Sammy Hernandez said.

“We’ve got a team unity and chemistry that can’t be matched.”

In one of the season’s highlights, the Warriors took on one of the strongest teams in the state, Euless Trinity Nov. 26.

There were many doubts, even from the local newspapers.

“It wasn’t about proving them wrong, we went in with our confidence high and we knew their plays before they did them,” senior captain Cameron Williams said. “We were reacting to what we’ve seen before.”

Tension built up when the final half came around because it is said that Trinity is a “second half team.” Overcoming expectations with a roaring defense and a quick offense, the Warriors defeated the Trinity Trojans 19-7 in a windy game. The loss to Southlake Carroll, while heartbreaking, did not dampen the spirits of the team.

“We feel accomplished,” senior captain Devonte Fields said. “We did it for our brothers who have been through here and those coming up.”

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Warrior pride

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History was made when football made it to State Quarter Finals for the first time ever

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1. Martin players watch the game against Midland High School at Cowboys Stadium Nov. 11. The game ended in Martin’s victory with a score of 37 to 7. Photo by Chandler Harrell 2. Players celebrate a historic win against former state champion Trinity High School by hoisting the Quarter Final trophy into the air.

Martin beat Trinity 19 to 7, after which fans and players celebrated on the field. Photo

by Karsen Cinquepalmi 3. Junior Eric Hughes scores a touchdown during the game at the Cowboys Stadium.

Photo by Karsen Cinquepalmi 4. The band plays to cheer on the team at the Martin vs. Southlake Carroll game. Martin’s football season came to an end with a score of 14 to 31.

Photo by Karsen Cinquepalmi