November 2021 Warrior Post

THE

WA R R I OR POST The Relationships Issue

issue

Volume 40, Issue 1 November 2021

WP

the warrior post

Martin High School 4501 W Pleasant Ridge Arlington, TX 76016

Editors-in-Chief Jordan Clark and Aysha Mirza

Sports Editors Ally Little and Laynie Stroup

Copy Editors Lilly Griffiths and Claire Loyd

Entertainment Editors Keyla Holmes and Molly Maddock

News Editor Amanda Kohutek Features Editors Ezrie Camp and Trinity Orosco Opinions Editor Mallory Menard

Photo Editor Lorelai Hofer Adviser Tricia Regalado Principal Marlene Roddy

Staffers: Independence Atwood, Olivia Bell, Zizi Belvin, Olivia Branch, Jessica Castillo, Grace Connolly, Katy Dixon, MacKenzie Estes, Allison Greenwood, Sirinity Hubbard, Alyssa Lee, Ashlynn Lee, Chloe MacFoy, Katie Nguyen, Kierra O’Leary, Noelle Pond, Sally Rodriguez, Tiffany Quach, Margaret Saxon, Carys Sherer, Helena Snegon, Asia Wilkey, Ely Williams, Kylie Woods, Shelby Zimmerman

The Warrior Post is the official publication of Martin High School. Opinion columns don’t necessarily represent the opinion of The Warrior Post or of Martin High School.

2 • OPINIONS

Returning to normal

Consistency with policy and pace will help us get back on track

F

{Staff Editorial}

or the past 18 months of our education, students have changed in regards to our study habits, attention span, and overall drive to do our work when it comes to school.

We can acknowledge that last year we might have slacked off on a test or two and called in “sick” a little more than was necessary, but should we be punished for that now?

As we are getting back into the groove of things, students are having to not only relearn how to interact with teachers again, but we are also having to re-teach our brains to retain information and apply it in a classroom setting. There are some things that teachers could do to help us get to where we need to be to perform at our best.

With faster deadlines and higher standards than were placed on us last year, we find ourselves falling behind. Some teachers have chosen to place work both on Canvas as well as assigning work in class. When teachers don’t tell us we have work on Canvas, we are not going to automatically know to look because we assume our work will only be in school.

Another issue with the re-integration is the treatment of absences. We acknowledge that there may have been a few sick day

Cover photo by Aysha Mirza

fibs during virtual school, but things have changed.

Some teachers have chosen to adopt the absence policy of work being due by 3 p.m. whether you are at school or not. We understand that teachers want to keep us on track with the class, but setting an unrealistic due date while we are absent or returning from an absence will not help us do that. If teachers would abide by the original district policy that gives us an equal number of days we missed to make up the assignments, there would be a lot less missing work.

It is understandable for teachers to be worried that we will fall behind in our learning because the reality is that we did, but speeding up the curriculum now isn’t going to make up for that lost time. Some teachers are assigning more work and giving tests faster than they usually do. This may be due to the classes we are choosing to take, but we still need more time to get back into the groove of normal school, whether it be in the form of “brain-breaks” or just a catch up day here and there.

At the end of the day, there are things that both students and teachers could be doing to smooth the jump back into in-person school.

So if we work together and try our best, we as a school will eventually get back to our pre-Covid normal.

Family mourns loss of freshman Tu Tesoro

Jordan Clark • Editor-in-Chief Freshman Tu Mika Tesoro passed away Sept. 13, 2021.

Tesoro was a 14-year-old whose time at Martin was very short-lived but cherished by his friends and family.

His siblings said he was known to be quiet but loving, and had an amazing spirit.

“He was always jolly,” said sophomore Khang Tesoro, Tu’s older brother. “He was always making people laugh.”

Tu’s twin sister, freshman Isis Tesoro, has been his closest companion since birth. Their relationship was stronger than anyone’s.

“Me and him were close but we would argue a lot,” Isis Tesoro said. “It was love when we were arguing, though.”

Everyone has their favorite memories with someone, whether those are fun memories, or more calm and simple ones.

“We would hang out a lot with our friends and play outside and stuff,” Isis Tesoro said.

“For me, it’s when we would play video games together because we would

always help each other and try to progress,” Khang Tesoro said.

Tu was involved in several things at Martin, including AFJROTC. “The Friday before, the cadets wanted to play dodgeball at the end of the period,” AFJROTC Sergeant Gregory Keels said. “He and his twin, Isis, ended up on opposing teams. I can still remember them constantly throwing the balls at each other to get the other one ‘out.’ They were running and laughing. The laughter is still etched in my brain.”

Family members said that Tu’s involvement in Martin's AFJROTC program helped him meet new people and discover so many good things about himself.

He had supportive classmates and leaders to surround him.

“He definitely liked it and was having fun,” Isis Tesoro said.

“Tu had an amazing spirit,” Keels said. “He was quiet but full of vibrance at the same time. His smile was infectious.”

Tu also was a part of Martin’s STEM Academy, so many of his friends had the same interests and took similar classes.

“He wanted to be an astronaut,” Isis said. “He wanted to go to Mars.”

“I miss him,” Keels said. “I hadn't gotten to know him incredibly well, but with his siblings being a part of the program, it was truly a family affair. His spirit remains with us, and we are proud to have served next to him.”

Friends remember Dai’trell Teal’s cheerful spirit

MacKenzie Estes • Reporter On June 23, 2021, sophomore Dai’trell Javione Teal, passed away in Arlington, Texas.

He was loved by so many and was a great friend to others.

Teal was known to be a cheerful, and loving person and was very outgoing and fun-spirited.

His friends said that Teal always made everything a good time and never failed to make everyone around him happy.

“My favorite moments with him had to be when me and him used to hang out after school with another one of our friends and we would fight over her snacks,” junior Danivon Irwins said. “There really was never a dull moment with him.”

Teal’s classmates said that he made everyone feel welcome and knew how to make people happy.

Friends said that he always turned things into a good time and created an upbeat and exciting atmosphere.

“I’ve known him since the seventh grade and he was always upbeat and playful,” Irwins said. “When nobody

noticed me, he did. He used to sit next to me on the bus all the time and he would make my day when I was upset. He meant a lot to me and it wasn’t until he died that I realized how much he impacted my life.”

Friends said that Teal made it his job to make sure everyone was enjoying themselves.

They said that he had such a powerful impact on people, that even people he wasn’t very close to had great things to say about him.

“Dai’trell was really outgoing, honestly he made anyone he met laugh as hard as they could and he really cared about the people he was around,” junior Kohl Breland said. “I mainly saw him around the school but we were always glad to see each other and I stayed checking up on him when I did see him.”

People were always so happy to see Teal and loved to hang out and have a great time with him. He was always very positive with other people he was around.

Since Teal was such a fun friend, many people made great memories with him and had great stories about him.

“My favorite memory with him was when we went out to this party and he was the youngest one there,” Teal’s friend, Quintin Norton said.

“He had me live the whole party stepping on my new Air Forces I just bought. He kept a smile on everybody’s face. Everybody loved him.”

NEWS • 3

What’s up with...?

Answers to the most mind-boggling questions at Martin Mallory Menard • Opinions Editor Imagine you’re sitting in class, trying not to fall asleep during a boring lecture, and suddenly a random thought crosses your mind. You walk around the school, and ponder these ideas.

We’ve all seen and heard strange things here in the MHS community, so isn’t it about time we get some answers to these burning questions?

What’s up wtih the flamingos?

Suppose you’re like senior Lilly Griffiths, who suddenly woke up one Saturday morning to her yard covered in pink plastic flamingos. Flocking, is what they call it.

Flocking is a fun fundraising tactic for Bahama Bash, the after-prom party for the senior class. At $25 a flock, anyone can purchase a senior their own flock of flamingos to live in their yards.

“Flocking helps pay for all the after-prom needs such as prizes, decorations, and the venue rental,” Bahama Bash volunteer senior Ally Little said. “There are five groups of the same flamingos that get moved from house to house.”

What’s up wtih Coach Wager’s bald head?

Everyone knows him, the man, the myth, the legend: head football coach Bob Wager. When you think of Coach Wager, what comes first to mind? Is it football?

Maybe, you might think of his bald head.

Wager willingly shaves his natural hair to stay bald.

“In high school, I was a competitive swimmer so I was given the choice to either swim with a cap or

4 • NEWS

shave my head,” he said. “I chose to shave it, and later during my freshman year of college football, I shaved it again for helmet comfort and the heat. Since then, it’s been the best idea I’ve come up with.”

Wager did grow out his hair for a period of time. In a bet against a former football player Serrell Brown, Wager grew out his hair.

Even so, Wager’s feelings about his hair are strong.

“My mindset when I do have hair is, ‘How fast can I get this hair off me?’ Honestly when I do have hair, I feel anxious with its presence,” he said. “But once it’s been removed, I am immediately content.”

What’s up wtih the new murals?

All around Martin, paintings and murals can be found decorating the hall left and right. English teacher Stacy Campbell is adding some new pieces to this wondrous artwork.

“I was thinking about how much our student body is changing, and has changed over the years,” Campbell said. “I want to embrace that diversity by making all students feel represented in their school environment.”

Using a modern black and white style, Campbell is depicting iconic portraits on 4x5 foot canvases. The completed paintings are go-

Campbell with her artwork

Photo by Lorelai Hofer

Wager’s bald head

Photo by Shelby Zimmerman ing to be placed above water fountains around Martin, making them visible to all students.

Campbell has finished her first painting of poet Amanda Gorman, and hopes to soon complete one of education activist Malala Yousafzai. By the end of the year, Campbell plans to complete five portraits around the school.

“I thought my artwork could inspire students to be like these influential people,” Campbell said. “I want to depict motivational people who have good core qualities.”

What’s up wtih all the “Thank yous”?

“Thank you!” is shouted by just about every member of the Theatre department

100x a day. Thank you?

Thank you for what exactly?

“Theatre thank yous are an acknowledgement of instruction or direction given by a director or crew head,” theatre director Jordan Chambers said. “They’re a way to confirm that something has been heard or understood so that there’s not any miscommunications.

It’s also a way to respect one another in positions of authority.”

Begun by the original Martin Theatre directors Lary Cure and Sharon Miller, “thanks yous” have been a sacred Theatre tradition for decades now. Nowadays, you can hear the phrase from most Theatre members not just in rehearsal, but in other classes too.

Students describe the new and changing relationships with teachers Keyla Holmes • Entertainment Editor From bedrooms and computer screens, to classrooms and worksheets, Martin has made a comeback from its ghost townlike feel. Students fill the hallways, talking with friends they haven’t seen since the pandemic.

As students are adapting to the many differences in comparison to their school experience last year, one major difference has been students’ relationships they have with teachers.

“Being back at school has given me more of an opportunity to connect with the teachers,” senior Ashley Bronfield said. “Since I get to see them in-person, I can actually ask a question face to face. Something about it makes it easier to connect with a teacher.”

Not only does this alleviate the desire to simply talk to staff in person, students also said it affects the way in which they learn and retain information.

“I definitely think it’s important to have a relationship with your teachers,” senior Ryan Lovett said.

“I think the better the relationship you have with a teacher the easier it is to learn the subject.”

The relief of normalcy is heavily expressed by students and staff. It beams through their smiles and can be recognized in their attitudes. The acknowledgement of the unproductive and overall negative

experiences from last year are an essential part in being grateful for the changes this season brings.

“I had some negative experiences with my teachers online last year,” Lovett said. “Some of those experiences made me even hate learning in general.”

The physical proximity, like any relationship, has been acknowledged as vital for student and staff connections to thrive.

“I definitely see a difference in my teacher’s attitude,” Bronfield said. “They seem more connected with us, since now they get to see all of us and not just a black screen with our names.”

The motivation and excitement to be engaged and involved in all aspects of Martin life has returned to the environment. While virtual learning may have been a strain on the relationship, that’s simply all it was – a strain. The relationship stands strong and continuous to create a positive space in which both teachers and students are motivated and excited to grow.

“Returning to in person, I definitely think that my teachers are putting in more effort,” Lovett said.

“It seems like they’re almost more motivated and excited to teach. Some of my teachers are doing interactive activities that have surprisingly encouraged me to show up to class with a positive attitude.”

Hollywood explores happily ever after in romantic relationships Sirinity Hubbard • Reporter In films, the happily-ever-after archetype is often revisited, though sometimes it plays out differently. Here are some ways happily-ever-after played out in three movies.

Frozen (2013)

In Frozen, Anna navigates two main romantic relationships – with Hans and Kristoff. Anna’s relationship with Hans did not end happily ever after.

It ended as fast as it began. After quickly getting engaged to a man she had never met, she finds out he has ill intentions and cuts ties with him.

While she was away trying to solve the problem in Arendale, she met Kristoff. Unlike her relationship with Hans that was rooted in eagerness, the relationship between her and Kristoff was rooted in friendship. They met, he helped her out, they were apart, and then boom! – the realization that Kristoff is the one for her.

They end up together in the end and their happily ever after has been achieved.

My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)

In My Best Friend’s Wedding, Julianne is navigating a relationship with herself and with Michael. Michael and Jules once had an intimate relationship, but they broke up and remained as best

friends. Jules is invited to Michael’s wedding to support him, but Jules has other plans because she still loves him and wants him to choose her over his fiance.

Throughout the movie, Jules is conflicted about whether she should tell Michael she loves him or not. After some failed and successful attempts to ruin the wedding, Jules finally revealed her feelings for Michael.

This movie did not end happily ever after with a romantic interest, but did end in happily ever after with closure through self realization.

Divergent (2014)

In Divergent, Beatrice navigates a relationship with Tobias. In this dystopian world, being divergent is a bad thing. It means you’re unpredictable and uncontrollable because you don’t fit into one group. If you are labeled as divergent through testing, you are not safe.

When Beatrice took her test, she was labeled as divergent, causing her to keep that fact a secret. Because she was divergent, she needed protection and Tobias was there to provide that.

Throughout the movie, Beatrice and Tobias went through many difficult trials, but were rewarded a happily ever after in the end by ending up with each other for the next chapter in their story.

NEWS • 5

‘I have friends on both sides.’

Students share political experiences on social media Grace Connolly • Reporter Protestors filled the streets, rioters filled the Capitol, and political awareness skyrocketed among citizens like never before. In the past several years, more and more people have become more politically active, with 2020 bringing the most political unrest yet.

Teenagers are among the many demographic groups to have an increase in political activity in recent years, and this can be partly attributed to the rise of social media. Social media has allowed for a constant stream of opinions, news, information, and other political media into peoples’ lives.

Whether it’s an infographic on Instagram, or a political news article shared on Twitter, it’s almost impossible to open any form of social media now without seeing political content.

Some people choose to constantly state their opinions, beliefs, and values on political topics, whereas others choose to remain silent on issues.

Because of this divide between political posters and non-posters, social media experiences are widely varied.

“I think the main reason I post political content is for self expression,” former Martin student Catie Wilkerson said. “I like to make my Instagram a mirror of my personality.”

The attitude of self expression is likely the most popular reason people choose to share, post, send, or tweet political content on social media. On the other hand, expressing one’s beliefs on a website doesn’t appeal to everybody.

“I don’t post political posts because honestly, I hate confrontation,” senior Kate Atkins said. “It’s not that I disagree with speaking out, I just simply don’t want to fight or argue.”

Many teenagers, like Atkins, choose not to speak out so they don’t face confrontation. Some face familial divides, while others simply don’t want to risk a difference in beliefs affecting their friendships.

For many people, Instagram is the go-to social media platform for political sharing. Because of its popularity, the app can sometimes overflow with political posts when someone opens their phone. Often, one person will see a post they agree with, share it, and that will start a domino

effect of their peers posting the same post.

“I typically see a spam of the same post,” Atkins said, “which can get annoying.”

Many different issues can be represented through political posts. While posts about politicians and politics can be found, both Atkins and Wilkerson said that they found that the most frequent issues amongst their peers were topics of abortion, racism, women’s rights, and LGBTQ+ equality.

But Instagram isn’t the only social media platform with constant political sharing.

“My primary sources of social media are Facebook and Instagram, although I mainly use Facebook,” English teacher Jennifer McNairn said.

Because of how much everything has changed in the past couple of years, political posts have become more and more frequent.

“With so many controversial things happening, I see political posts probably daily,” McNairn said.

Even people who don’t post political content still witness political posts on social media.

“Many posts are just informational and attempt to spread awareness,” McNairn said. “Sadly though, many political posts are used to spout hatred and ignorance. I tend to be more of an observer of social media than someone who posts a lot, but even when I do, it is usually related to my family or to brag about students or something that happened at school.”

Drawing the line

The best of friends can come to the worst of ends when they grow apart Noelle Pond and Ashlynn Lee • Reporters

S

ophomore Ivy* remembers waking up extra early every morning just to meet her then-best friend at school in hopes of getting her attention, even though the effort was never reciprocated. How many more mornings would she have to spend putting in all her effort just to be able to maintain a one-sided friendship?

As her energy ran low and exhaustion set in, she realized, “It just doesn’t work.”

Navigating friendships can be confusing and painful. So many things can go wrong.

Many people know what to look out for in toxic friendships, but some red flags are not always evident.

“Like hiding jealousy within jokes and having to give too many second chances,” sophomore Luke Jones said.

Throughout their middle and high school experiences, students noticed that fading friendships was a trend.

“I thought I would spend my future with them, because we always were best friends,” Ivy said. “It felt like an effortless and great friendship.”

Self-discovery and comfort in who she was brought her the confidence to break off the relationship slowly.

No one is fully comfortable or ready for a big change, but Ivy said she knew it had

8 • FEATURES

to be done.

“Having other friends was one of the things that pushed us away from each other,” Ivy said.

After drama with Ivy’s friend group, she knew she had to go to one of her “closest friends” for their insight. She was looking to be comforted, but received the opposite, which led Ivy to reach her breaking point and fade away.

“A loss of interest and growing up were other factors in a fading friendship,” junior Donovan Allen said.

Growing apart naturally with age is completely normal and healthy, and it usually ends with closure and the friends being on good terms.

“I had to convince myself to see them, and I was only still friends because they thought we were,” Allen said.

Being trapped in a friendship is unbearable at times.

“Feeling like you have no space for your feelings when you’re with them,” community mentor Jill Broussard said, is an apparent toxic trait. “Changing your behavior to avoid fights or silent treatment, punishment and verbal abuse, or gossip instead of open communication.”

Comfortability and honesty are some of the most important characteristics to maintain a healthy friendship.

But a trend of noxious

friendships is having to put yourself in a bubble.

“It’s hard feeling like you constantly have to filter your true self around them,” sophomore Bunny Bullock said is one of their red flags.

“Racism,” is sophomore Brysen Davis’s major deal-breaker, which he said has previously led to confrontation in one of his friendships.

Confrontation – either direct or indirect – is one of the toughest things someone can go through.

For people with anxiety, especially, standing up for themselves and their well-

being can be seen as impossible.

So you stand up for yourself, and what happens next? Gaslighting.

“It’s invalidating your feelings,” sophomore Serena Chou said.

Then, if you’re lucky, we are presented with closure – closing this chapter of your life and putting it back on the shelf. This could take years or just a simple conversation.

“So now when I see her, I feel closure,” Ivy said.

“We’re both growing our separate ways, and it’s okay.” * Not their real name

Cover it up

Student and teacher opinions on wearing masks in school Helena Snegon • Reporter Some can’t breathe with them. Some feel scared without them. While AISD does not have a mask mandate, some students and teachers feel very strongly about whether they’re for or against masks.

For “I wear my mask because kids can’t get the vaccine and until Covid is over, I will be wearing a mask,” sophomore Daniel Taylor said.

“If people wear masks, the Covid rate could go down,” freshman Kaden Bennett said.

“Wearing them helps others,” freshman Owen Ash said.

“People who have immune system problems wear them so they can protect themselves from getting Covid,” senior Brayden Blackman said.

“It’s not a political thing, it’s a health thing and you can die from this virus,” junior Avery Bennett said.

“I feel like people who have the vaccine can still wear a mask,” sophomore Mia Stowe said.

In between Then there are people who see both sides of wearing masks.

“I feel that wearing a mask is a very neutral thing, and in a crowded place it’s good to wear one, but when you’re around people you know, I feel like I don’t have to wear one,” sophomore Brooklyn Bell said.

Against “The material of the mask doesn’t protect you from getting Coivd,” sophomore Natalie Goreham said.

“Masks are bull and don’t do anything for you,” sophomore Blade Barrows said.

“I feel like the pandemic is over and we don’t need to wear them anymore,” freshman Jordan Garrrett said.

Teachers “I feel like it is their choice in the matter,” Yearbook substitute teacher Ozzie Garza said.

“It’s their choice – teachers, students, faculty – and it is their right to do so,” Assistant Principal Steve Smith said.

“I wear one if there are a lot of people, but it’s hard to understand people with the mask on,” AP Psychology and AP World History teacher Griffin Goldestein said.

One school, many cultures

Students discuss recent diversity efforts Jessica Castillo • Reporter The diversity in Martin opens the door for students to experience life through other cultures’ viewpoints.

However, whether the students or faculty decide to use the diversity around them, is up to them.

Students said they often change their behavior in relationships depending on whether they are interacting with students of their own culture.

“With different people, depending on their race, I change my personality or the way I act,” sophomore Daniel Reddic said.

Sometimes it’s hard to interact with people who don’t look like them. With a few responses by Martin students, that is not the case.

“I hang out with White people, African Americans and some Hispanics,” Reddic said.

Based on experience, most people have a positive outlook with diversity in Martin.

“Martin has different clubs like VSA that include people who are Vietnamese,” sophomore Ariana Sierra said.

This response indicates that Martin is recognizing the different ethnicities around the school. There are many areas in which a school can succeed in including kids of all backgrounds.

“I see that in STEM there is a mix of people of different ethnicities,” Sierra

said. “It’s not just one race in the same classroom.”

These students seem to be aware and perfectly fine with their friendships. But are teachers also aware of what’s going on around them?

“I don’t really focus on students and who they group up with,” Statistics teacher Thomas Bobbitt said. “I focus on preparing my lessons and teaching the content.”

Not everyone is observant and some things are just more important than the other. In addition, there are many circumstances where one has to talk or work with other co-workers no matter what they look like. The adults who work in the school have to have a friendly relationship with their colleagues.

“I would say everyone treats me fairly,” security officer Michael White said.

All things considered, there are going to be people more comfortable with a similar group of others.

“I see people with their racial groups and I see some mixed in with others,” White said.

According to Officer Chad Baker, peoples’ social groups are not only based on race.

“I notice people group up with other people who play their sport or do certain activities that they do, but there are definitely cliques,” Baker said.

FEATURES • 9

“That guy on Cooper Street”

Jaylan Ford dances his way through life

A

Lorelai Hofer • Photo/Multimedia Editor

s cars rush down the bustling Cooper Street, one man takes the time to savor life by doing exactly what the classic 60s song instructs – dancing in the street.

Jaylan Ford, a 19-year-old from the Arlington-Forest Hill area, started dancing on the side of Cooper Street five years ago and continues to spread joy to drivers of Arlington today.

As a 14-year-old, who was new to the area and just starting high school, Ford started simply strolling up and down Cooper Street, since it was close to his jobs and home.

“Right before I started my first year of high school, I really just did it,” Ford said.

“I wouldn’t dance or anything, but I would just walk.

Then when I was 16 and I was starting my sophomore year, that’s when the dancing came along.”

Drivers of Arlington were initially bewildered by Ford’s sudden outburst of dancing. Yet they found his energy humorous and a tad bizarre.

“I saw him for the first time in April coming home from a haircut when there was really bad traffic in Arlington,” junior Delaney Costello said. “There he was waving at people and absolutely having the time of his life. It was refreshing to see someone having so much fun and making other peo-

ple happy.”

Ford’s mother, Alena Moore, had a similar response to her son’s sudden interest in dancing as did the rest of the community.

“I laughed at first because I couldn’t believe how fast his head was moving,” Moore said. “But then I loved seeing him every day.”

Through gushing rain or sweltering hot summer days, Ford said he works to make the community more optimistic and confident, through his dancing.

“It makes me want to bring other people out of their shells,” Ford said.

“They will tell me, ‘I’m so scared of being judged.’ I don’t want people to think I’m this or that. Just go out there. That’s the reason I’m out there. I want people out of their shells. I want people to feel.”

Ford’s work to compel his neighbors to, as one of his favorite artists Taylor Swift sang, feel “happy, free, confused, and lonely in the best way” has definitely succeeded.

“Whenever I see him, I automatically feel better, because he puts a smile on my face,” junior Abby Erskine said. “He reminds me that despite what’s going on, I can still have fun and enjoy myself.”

Ford’s encouragement has not gone unreciprocated. He has discerned the re-

wards of increased courage and poise in his life.

“It has helped me be appreciative,” Ford said. “I’ve experienced a lot of stuff in the street, but it has helped me be confident in myself.”

As the world experienced the effects of Covid, Ford used his dancing to continue to stay entertained through the quarantine.

“I told my mom I was going outside and if I get Covid, oh well,” Ford said.

“I went outside and everyone said, ‘Look there’s Jaylan! He’s outside!’ I have fun. I enjoy myself.”

Ford’s eagerness to enjoy life lessened the devastating blow of being in the solitude of quarantine for many students.

“He just let me know that someone cared and was making an effort to connect to the Texas population during this rough time,” junior Marin McCullough said. “Jaylan is my guardian angel.”

Ford’s dedication to doing what he is fond of ultimately contributed to students feeling connected to society during an isolated time.

“Seeing Jaylan did help me feel connected to people again just because it was something we as a community could all talk about,” Erskine said. “Also seeing everyone engage with him helped me feel more connected to people.”

Ford said he plans to continue his dancing until he’s 30 or 40 years old, though

he does face the danger of speeding cars threatening to pummel him as he attempts to cross the street.

“I would say I’ve almost been hit about 20 times,” said Ford. “Once when the light was red, this one car tried to turn and make a u-turn while I’m trying to get over. I almost got hit by the car. If I got hit, I would be getting my butt back up.”

He also advertises for companies while he is out jamming.

“I work for Smokeshop, McDonald’s, my two jobs at the Parks Mall, Eye Care, Powersports, a shirt company, and Evolve Credit Repair,” Ford said. “Your boy is everywhere.”

What may have started as minuscule steps to achieve the goal of getting to work slowly evolved into empowered frolicking that would impact students and the community.

“He makes me aspire to have the energy and positivity he has and shares with everyone else,” junior Katherine Wabbersen said.

Jaylan’s Favorites

-Enzo by 21 Savage and Gucci Mane -ME! by Taylor Swift -Hard in da Paint by Waka Flocka Flame -Way 2 Sexy by Drake

FEATURES • 11

What do you wish you knew?

Counselors answer questions about colleges and careers Aysha Mirza • Editor-in-Chief Oftentimes students have questions but don’t know who has the answers or even feel embarrassed to ask. We surveyed students on the most common unanswered questions, then asked counselors Karen Peters and Lani Gordon to answer them.

Are AP and Dual credit really worth it?

If students are looking to boost their GPA, AP classes will do that. But dual credit will not have any effect. This way, students can focus on other classes that can raise their GPA while still taking an advanced course.

Something to also consider with AP is the test required to be taken in order to receive credit for the class at the end of the year. No matter the score, colleges can still see the results on the transcripts. Money wise, both AP and dual credit classes can help alleviate class expenses with most career plans.

How does the college application process work?

Options include CommonApp, Apply Texas, or the individual university application that they have on their website. Every application process is going to include the application itself, the application fee or waiver (if a student qualifies for one), an official transcript sent, and if required, the SAT/ACT scores.

Some schools in addition to that require essays, recommendation letters, or interviews. I recommend students look at the colleges they are interested in and make a list to keep track of what each university requires. For a two-year college, all that is needed is an official transcript. There are no SAT/ACT requirements with usually no to little fee.

What is the TSI and why should I take it?

Most students assume it is a test to get in dual credit.

They don’t realize that they have to have it if they are not exempt from the SAT scores. To be exempt, you have to make a 530 on the math SAT and a 480 on the reading SAT then you never have to take the TSI. But the purpose of the TSI is that you have to make a certain score so that you do not have to go into remedial classes that you pay for in college but receive no credit.

The score is good for up to five years, so if they choose to take a course sometime, they would already have the TSI done.

I don’t think I’ll be ready for my SAT. What resources do I have that could help?

Khan Academy will always be one of the best resources.

12 • features

It provides a schedule with released SAT tests for practice.

Every student has free access to the test prep so everyone really should take advantage of this. But if a student prefers in person learning, Reading teacher Lori Craig runs a SAT prep class every summer, fall, and spring at the school.

What options do students have if they do not want to attend college?

There are so many options like Cosmetology, Automotive, Plumbing, HAVC – these all require certification that you can get from TCC, so it’s not really college. There is also the military option.

But not getting a degree can also make it more likely to start with the starting level and have to work yourself up, whereas if you attend college, you can start with a higher level job probably with a better salary as well.

But if any freshmen or sophomores have any inclination that they want to go into Cosmetology or Automotive, let their counselors know now. These classes have to be started freshman or sophomore year. And these are both classes where you receive a certification for free at the end of senior year worth $20,000.

How are we supposed to settle on one career?

People change their minds a lot and no one is asking you to settle on one career choice. If you have an idea of what you like, that’s definitely a place to start. But if you decide on something and get to college and realize that it is not for you, change it because you don’t want to go through and get your degree, pay for it, and feel like it was a waste of time and money. But while you’re in high school, if you do have an idea, you are able to take classes and try it out.

What students need to know:

A common misconception is that community college is less expensive, but that’s not always the case. If you are looking at the total cost for four years, it can be more because people think that the first two years would be less expensive than after they can transfer to a university. But universities don’t give high enough scholarships in this case, making it actually even more than what it would be to just attend a normal four year university.

When applying for colleges, don’t stick to just one. Have a back up plan because you never know what can happen.

Every student has two college visit days in their senior year and they should take advantage of that because life on campus can really determine a student’s success.

College application fees get expensive. So if a student is on free and reduced lunch, they get four free application waivers and two SAT fee waivers. There is a new form that has come out called the Socioeconomic Form which can be found by asking your counselors.

{PDA}

The good, the bad, and the gross of public love Inde Atwood and Ely Williams • Reporters Public Displays of Affection can be everything from holding hands and frolicking through the halls, all the way to a makeout session in the dark recesses of the stairwell. But what do people think about it?

Sixty students were surveyed, yet only 19 of them said they were not okay with PDA. “I know it makes some people uncomfortable, but I don’t really care,” junior Moises Sanchez said.

The remaining 41 students said that they were either okay with PDA, or weren’t really bothered too much.

“It’s not an ‘ew’ thing,” junior Donovan Allen said. “It’s more of an ‘ugh’ thing.”

Most people seemed to tolerate PDA up to a point, but where do people draw the line on what’s acceptable?

“Maybe a peck on the cheek is fine, but full-on makeout … no,” junior Avery Michiner said.

Senior Tyler Isgrig took it a step further.

“It can be gross,” she said. “Kissing is too much but holding hands and hugging are fine.”

The most conservative stance came from Officer Sharonda Brown.

“I think a side hug is okay, but not a full on hug,” she said. “I don’t think it belongs in school.”

PDA supporter senior Livia Thorne said, “There’s no shame in PDA, it shows you’re with someone without being too explicit.”

“I’ve held hands, but not kissed,” senior Elijah Hill said.

Brown said that most PDA occurs in the upper gym lobby and the side hallways. Allen said he agreed with her, saying he sees it near the stairs or the UGL. “Behind the bleachers is one of the worst places,” Hill said. “And the parking lot for sure.”

On the topic of who exactly engages in the most PDA, opinions and experiences were mixed.

“I feel like freshmen do PDA in school the most,” senior Elijah Reyes said.

“They get super excited about this new experience of having a girlfriend or boyfriend.”

Freshman Oscar Valle said he agreed.

“I see mostly freshmen doing it,” Valle said.

Allen, however, said he disagreed.

“It’s definitely more upperclassmen,” he said.

Some people take PDA too far, and Thorne said she witnessed the worst of it.

“This one girl had a dog collar with a lock that only her boyfriend could open,” she said.

Securing our school Security guards explain how they keep students and staff safe Olivia Bell • Reporter We’ve all seen the security guards around the school.

Some of us have either talked to them, or possibly even gotten caught doing something by them. But we don’t really know much about them.

“I walk around, check stuff, escort certain kids to where they’re supposed to be, watch the cameras, and observe the kids mostly,” Officer Sharanda Brown said.

The guards have a lot of jobs to do, although not all of the jobs they do are required.

“When I’m not walking around, I try to spread positivity to those who need it,” Officer Michael White said. “If you were having a rough day and I were to tell you something funny, that’s positivity and it’s helpful.”

While some of the guards are trying to do their job and spread positivity around the school, others have to deal with

what the students call “devious licks.”

“I don’t like it at all because it’s mostly damage to the boys’ bathroom,” Brown said. “I know some upperclassmen who are so angry about it because half of their bathrooms are locked. It’s our job to make sure the bathrooms are safe to go into and with what’s going on, it’s hard to do that.”

Officer Chad Baker said he agreed.

“It’s very frustrating,” Baker said. “The worst of it has been toilet paper everywhere and the dispensers broken. I even had a sink destroyed.

I just really hope people stop doing it.”

Even though some kids make their job hard, the officers said they still enjoy their jobs.

“I love my job and there’s nothing else I’d want to do,” Brown said. “I love talking to the students and seeing them around the school.”

Photo by Madison Little

Want more WarPo? Visit martinwarpo.com for more stories, photos and videos

features • 13

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‘It’s hard, but I’m happy’

Junior experiences Martin after fleeing Lebanon

J

Molly Maddock • Entertainment Editor

unior Yassmin Zaarour took a deep breath and walked in the doors on her first day at Martin. She first noticed how big the school is. But her teachers were warm and welcomed her with a smile. She felt comfortable, but also surprised by how different Martin is from her old school.

To escape from the financial crisis, Zaarour left her home, family, and friends to find hope for a better life in America. She may have been born in America, but the only home she really knew was Lebanon.

The dollar crisis in Lebanon is out of control. The Lebanese liquidity issue is an ongoing financial difficulty affecting the nation of Lebanon, starting in August 2019, which was further exacerbated by both the Covid pandemic in Lebanon and the 2020 Beirut port explosion.

“Everything is way too expensive there,” Zaarour said. “You can’t live. The government is completely falling apart and the people of Lebanon are getting no support. Along with no electricity or water, there is no gas. The students had no ways to get to school so all the schools were shut down.”

What was supposed to be a summer vacation to America to visit her aunt and uncle, Zaarour’s short stay turned into a life-chang-

16 • features

ing move. That adjustment couldn’t be easy for anyone, but Zaarour said she is making the best out of a hard situation, especially since the living conditions in America have been better for her.

“In Lebanon, there were no electronics, no running water, and schools have been closed for at least a year,” Zaarour said.

From going to a small school, to an educational break, to a school with over 3600 students, the transitions have been tough.

Zaarour said she’s never been to a place this large or diverse.

“Well, that’s what I like, actually,” she said. “It’s so spacious, not like schools in Lebanon. It’s awesome!

There are no pep rallies, no music, the teachers are more strict, and teachers in Lebanon yell more.”

Zaarour said that she will miss being able to see her family and best friend. And she said she feels kinda restricted in her aunt’s house and misses being able to be free at home.

“You know how it feels when you’re at someone else’s house? You can’t dress comfortably and you feel awkward,” she said.

Zaarour said she misses her parents a lot, especially considering they are stuck in Lebanon and she can’t see them until next summer. Her parents are not allowed to leave Lebanon, so she will have to make the long journey alone.

Imagine being shut in and never going out because you couldn’t afford to go anywhere or do anything. This was much like our year of quarantine, except instead of staying home to avoid getting sick, they had to stay inside because they couldn’t afford Junior Hassmin Zaarour to leave.

Photo by Lorelai Hofer “Me and lots of my friends developed be here,” she said. depression and anxiety History teacher John Holfrom not being able to go ten said he thinks Zaaroout and not being able to ur has been adjusting and afford living,” she said. thriving at Martin.

Being able to dance and “I can already tell that laugh and express school she is very unfamiliar with spirit is something Zaarour US history in general and can now enjoy freely. just how things work here, “Now I’m excited for pep so I’d be very curious on rallies and spirit days,” she how things work where she said. “There was nothing came from and how much like that in Lebanon.” it’s different,” he said. “If While her English is she was comfortable talking strong, Zaarour said she about that with the class struggles with the lan- I think it’d be a great eduguage, and faces challenges cational resource. She defitalking with other students nitely adds a different perand teachers. spective on how daily life is “It’s hard but I’m happy to lived.”

High sch l

sweethearts

Junior prepares for her wedding next fall

Former Martin student Triston Tyler gives junior Astrid Montanaro-Spann the best surprise of her life during his proposal last May. Their wedding is planned for November 2022. Photos courtesy of Astrid Montanaro-Spann

W

with a warm, new-found feeling of comfortability. At ro-Spann was participating that moment, she said, she in a race at a competition knew he was the one. for the ROTC program in “It just kind of clicked 2019, she had successful- after a little bit,” Montanaly made it halfway through ro-Spann said. the race before she fell and On January 28, 2020, Tyinjured her hip. As she lay ler asked Montanaro-Spann on the ground, Tyler ran by to be his girlfriend. From and noticed her pain. He then on, things started to stopped what he was doing move quickly for the young and helped her up. couple. When they were Tyler carried her for more just one month into their than a mile before they relationship, Tyler gave made it back to the bus. He Montanaro-Spann a promcontinued to reassure Mon- ise ring. tanaro-Spann that she was “I called him crazy and okay, and she had no need insane, and he replied, ‘I to be nervous or worried. know, but I’m gonna prove Tyler laid her on a bus it.’” seat, positioning himself Following the pattern of between her and the win- moving fast, they got endow, as a way to make sure gaged a year and a half later that her injured hip would on May 17, 2021. Tyler pronot hit the bus wall on the posed at the car dealership, bumpy ride home. when they were picking Once she was comfortable, up the new car he had just Tyler looked into her eyes bought for her. and asked for permission “His parents were all for to kiss her. She politely re- it, but mine were on the jected his offer and he com- rocks,” Montanaro-Spann plied. Yet, as they stared said. deeper, he leaned down and Even though her parents gave her forehead a peck, were hesitant about the enleaving Montanaro-Spann gagement, they gave their

Alyssa Lee and Sally Rodriguez • Reporters

edding bells are ringing for junior Astrid Montanaro-Spann who is currently engaged to her boyfriend of almost two years and quickly approaching her wedding date on November 25, 2022.

Montanaro-Spann joined the ROTC program in the summer before her freshman year, where she met Triston Tyler, her commanding officer at the time.

“I thought he was really cute from the beginning,” Montanaro-Spann said.

At the time, they only considered each other work friends, and their only conversations were about the program. As time went on, Montanaro-Spann said she developed a crush on Tyler and would go to any and every event to see him.

They began to grow closer as friends once Tyler started walking home from the ROTC program with her, and developed mutual feelings for each other.

Later, when Montana-

blessing seeing as both of them were old enough.

“I was extremely nervous at first, but now I understand where they are in their life together,” Montanaro-Spann’s grandmother, Ann Rush Spann, said.

Montanaro-Spann said she wants to be a nurse, and Tyler will continue his career as a Tarrant County Sheriff Deputy. They plan to move into an apartment first, and then buy his grandparents’ house to live in.

“Why should we wait? It has no effect,” Montanaro-Spann said.

Although they have been together for just about two years, Montanaro-Spann said they truly love each other and are ready to take on life together no matter how young they are.

“It’s like being around my best friend,” she said. “He doesn’t expect anything out of me. He cares more about how I feel, than what he needs.”

features • 17

What You Missed

3

Lilly Griffiths • Copy Editor

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2

1.

Soaring off the turf, cheerleader junior Naliyah Jackson flies in the air after a field goal at the Sept. 10 varsity football game. Varsity cheerleaders said they were excited to finally cheer for fans in the stands again. Photo by Arlie Coker

2.

Firing up the football team for their Homecoming game, unofficial Tribe member senior Hayden Barogh leans on the railing to view the game. The Warriors destroyed South Grand Prairie with a final score of 65-17, claiming another victory this season. Photo By Mikayla Erlandsen

3.

where the boys took home second overall.

Dazzling the field, junior Sundancer Naomi Pace stuns the audience with her halftime performance. The Sundancers perform at football games, pep rallies, and dance competitions. Photo by Arlie Coker

4.

18 • NEWS

5.

Seniors Zella Baresh and Courtney Hanson thank each other for their hard work during the volleyball game against Bowie Sept. 21. Martin volleyball finished district play undefeated.

Photo By Olivia Crim

The girls cross country team celebrates after winning first as a team in district. The cross country meet took place at Lynn Creek Park in Grand Prairie where the boys took home second overall. Photo By Lanae Terry

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Senior Mallory Menard engages in a stage kiss with senior Simon Kowalski for the Theater production of She Kills Monsters, the first show of the 2021-2022 season. Photo by Mark Regalado NEWS • 19

Battle of the classes

Seniors celebrate at the pep rally Oct. 15. The divide between underand upper-classmen is apparent in school spirit. Photo

by Madison Little

How Covid changed the halls of high school

T

Trinity Orosco • Features Editor

he rivalry between upperclassmen and underclassmen is a tale as old as time, but has a year at home corrupted the delicate balance of the two?

With freshmen, realistically, coming straight from seventh grade, many upperclassmen feel as if their maturity level is drastically lower than usual.

“Their last full year of school was sixth grade, and then they went to part of seventh grade, and they didn’t have an eighth grade, and eighth grade is a big maturation phase,” junior Trinity Powell said.

“So they just didn’t have that and now they’re in high school and they really don’t know what to do with themselves.”

Senior Symphony Keller said she thinks that Covid has affected the maturity of the underclassmen.

“They haven’t gotten the chance to be around upperclassmen as much, so they can’t observe and figure out how to react to different situations, so there’s not really much to go off to grow,” Keller said.

This inability to observe the upperclassmen has caused the overall impression of underclassmen to be different than in past years.

Since the sophomores

20 • FEATURES

never had a freshman year, some upperclassmen have referred to them using the term “Freshmores.” Many feel that this term better fits the description for this year’s sophomore class.

“They kinda like skipped their freshman year, so everything the in-person school has to offer is completely new to them,” junior Henry Johnson said.

However, some upperclassmen think that the term “Freshmores” should only be used to describe some of the sophomores, not all.

“If they took time in quarantine to evaluate themselves and mature, then I don’t think the phrase would apply,” Keller said.

One thing that upperclassmen can agree on is the fact that all underclassmen have a “thing” that lets you know they’re underclassmen.

“The stopping in the middle of the hallways, or the turning in the middle of the hallway,” Powell said.

“I guess you can just tell by the way they carry themselves and definitely by how they talk and dress.”

Since the underclassmen haven’t truly had a high school experience to know how to fix these “things,” the upperclassmen have some advice that may help.

“Don’t worry about dra-

ma, it’ll be over in a blink of an eye,” Keller said. “Also, procrastination is normal, but if you’re thinking it’s, ‘Just one assignment that won’t affect you later.’ It will, so try to do the work.”

Upperclassmen have a lot to say about underclassmen, but what do underclassmen think of them?

“I think the upperclassmen who pick on and mess with freshmen are annoying because freshmen already have enough trouble with getting adjusted,” sophomore Dani Marvin said.

Freshmen aren’t the only class having a hard time getting adjusted this year.

Many still think that the sophomores should be “Freshmores,” but does the class of ‘24 agree?

“I am freshman/sophomore because a lot of us did not go in person last year and are just as confused as the freshmen are, but I still think we can be considered sophomores since we got the required amount of credits,” Marvin said.

Many underclassmen may not know how things work, but there may be some things that upperclassmen can do to help them.

“They can show underclassmen around the school and help them find their classes and answer some questions,” Marvin said.

With both the upperclassmen and underclassmen

sharing their views on each other, what does a teacher think of the effect that the awkward Covid gap has had on the classes?

“When you think about ninth graders here they haven’t really been through a regular school year, since seventh grade, they never got to go through kinda that eighth grade, big dog on campus, phase,” Student Council teacher Courtney Briggs said. “Same thing goes with tenth graders. They didn’t get to go through freshman year to be humbled a bit.”

This year’s sophomores are not only different from past years, but also have a completely different term people refer to them as.

“I think that term freshmores is very accurate because they never really got a humbling experience to be the little man on the totem pole, so I understand it and I don’t think that it’s too derogatory,” Briggs said.

No matter the grade, high school is hard for everyone, especially since Covid.

“Get involved, find your niche in a club or organization that would make you happy, and bring pride to your school,” Briggs said.

“And for upperclassmen: Lead, and make sure that what you’re doing is not only serving our school community, but the people around them as well.”

Human

but

hurtful

How teachers’ words affect students more than they could imagine Zizi Belvin • Reporter

A

hand shoots up in class, and the teacher calls on them.

“What would you do if the number is outside of the parenthesis?” the student asks.

“Guys, this should be common knowledge at this point,” the teacher says.

“Come on. Pay attention. I already went over that.”

The teacher carries on with the lesson while the question remains unanswered and the student feels as if they’ve been left behind by the rest of the class.

Every day, students experience sarcastic, snide remarks from teachers who likely don’t even realize what they’re doing. And it’s these absent-minded jests that make students more apprehensive around teachers.

Many teachers are selfaware of their mistakes when it comes to how they speak with students, and most of those who were guilty of making oblivious snide comments said they regretted it once they realized what they’d done.

But even if they’re apologetic, many students said they had experienced the thoughtless statements from the other end, and it

left them feeling like they were the issue.

The largest portion of the issue seems to be that teachers, like students, will speak before they can fully think things through.

“We’re all people,” Chemistry teacher Kathy Meyer said.

Meyer said that she never means to say anything that may bother students, and that, though it may not seem like it, the hurtful statements are often accidental.

“If I did, then I didn’t know I was hurting them,” Meyer said.

Even teachers are human and can let some things slip out from time to time, so a good way to start making yourself more comfortable around teachers is to understand that, like you, they are human and can also make mistakes. Nobody is perfect when it comes to what they say.

Even if some of the comments are accidental or absent minded, it doesn’t always seem like that to the students.

Junior Trinity Cook said that when she’s around adults and teachers, she gets anxious. And not for any reason, in particular.

“They’re adults,” she said.

“They’re scary.”

Cook, on a few occasions, said she has been talked down to by her parents over a few different topics, such as what she knows and doesn’t.

“I feel I know more about schooling than my parents because of my third grade experience of sitting at the table crying,” she said.

“They think they know how we learn, but it’s changed so much.”

For her, as well as many others, an obstacle seems to be respect. Who do you give instant respect to and should you give it to when they don’t return it? It could be perceived as rude if you don’t instantly respect everyone, but if you’re respectful to people who are repeatedly disrespectful to you, then it could take a toll on your mental health.

One connection that some don’t think to make is that between respect and mental health. If people constantly treat you poorly and disregard you, you won’t want to interact with them. However, if you have to constantly interact with them because of school or work, you’re going to be in a bad mood constantly.

Business teacher Dee Reed said that she tries to make her students’ day better by simply saying good

morning. And when she makes snide comments, she instantly regrets it.

“I think I just react too quickly,” Reed said.

She said she also understands that teaching style can change the way students go about their day.

Reed changed her teaching style to benefit the students more, switching from a strict teaching style to a more flexible style that keeps a curriculum while also allowing some freedom.

“I still keep structure, but the compassion helps,” she said. “Just being kind helps.”

Your words can do more than affect those around you, too. Disrespect can affect your self image as well.

People may be less inclined to be friends with you, or they may mirror your attitude back at you. What you say shows your character significantly, it helps people judge how intelligent you are, how much you care, and your mood. So much is based on a few sentences, so why not think them through a little bit longer?

“Being rude to students doesn’t diminish them, it diminishes me,” Astronomy teacher Roy Miller said.

features • 21 FEATURES • 21

Hanging by a

thread

As politics become more polarizing, students determine which friendships are worth maintaining Amanda Kohutek • News Editor Fires. Riots. Hurricanes. The nation’s capitol stormed. Rising poverty and unemployment levels.

A global pandemic.

These are only a few of the many issues that the teens of 2021 have on their minds as they begin to develop their own opinions on the politics that run our country.

But sometimes those beliefs begin to develop in the opposite direction of that of their peers, and students are left to navigate ways in which to maintain those relationships.

“I always love listening and hearing what someone’s perspective is,” senior Kirstyn Dickey said.

“Because sometimes it’s just perspective and it’s all about what they’ve learned and what I’ve learned, versus, maybe they’re more educated on this subject than I am, or they’re affected by that more.”

Nevertheless, talking through political conflicts is only an option for some specific topics, Dickey said.

“When it boils down to basic human rights where someone is literally struggling in the dirt, and you see them struggling and then decide to turn a blind eye,” Dickey said. “That’s when I’m like, okay, let’s

take a step back here and reevaluate this friendship.”

But that stage of reevaluation can sometimes end in a broken relationship.

“I just have a hard time being friends with people who look at me and are like, ‘Oh yeah, that person doesn’t deserve rights,’” Dickey said.

There are more ways to maintain a friendship while having differing views, senior Gracie Mainoo said.

“If you wanna believe something, it’s okay, whatever,” Mainoo said. “If I believe something else, it’s okay. We just agree to disagree at the end of the day.”

That’s not to say that students aren’t influenced by any of their peers.

“I’ve probably had more of an effect on my two best friends by making them care more,” Dickey said.

“Not necessarily changing their opinions, but making them more aware.”

Despite friends’ influence, the choice to agree with or disagree with a view can’t truly come from another, Mainoo said.

“My goal, as a Christian, is just to witness,” Mainoo said. “And then that decision, if you want to believe what I believe, is between yourself and if you want to actively go and change your

views.”

As a product of this, politics will have different levels of importance within each and every relationship.

“If something gets brought up that day, or a new law is made, or something like that, I try to have conversations with my friends so that they stay aware,” Dickey said.

The struggle to balance politics and relationships may have become more relevant in the wake of recent events, according to AP Government and Politics and AP Macroeconomics teacher Jeff Beck.

“The 2016 election was kind of a cleavage point where people discovered things about each other by reading online posts that they didn’t always know about each other,” Beck said. “It could’ve been a cousin, a family member, or even their own parents that they didn’t realize how extreme the other’s point of

views might have been.”

Even then, the likelihood of students losing friends to political differences is low, Beck said.

“So much of people’s identity is tied to things including their politics, so most friends have similar views on things anyway,” Beck said. “That’s kind of how they became friends in many cases.”

Ultimately, each friendship has its own unique situation and every person may have a preference on what matters most to them: their political beliefs, the friendships they have, and whether they can make both coexist.

“In the end, we all have a different set of eyes,” Dickey said. “We all see the world in a different perspective, with different issues, and different circumstances. So, the impact that each of us can make on each other is what draws me to politics.”

Shoot your shot... or not Students decide whether or not to get the Covid vaccine despite family opinions Claire Loyd • Copy Editor

L

ike everything else these days, vaccines are quite controversial, especially the Covid-19 vaccine. These past few months these vaccines have been researched, formulated, and rolled out to the general public right before our eyes. Some

people might be left with questions concerning the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, while others are 100 percent trusting of the science.

Although the vaccines seemed to be developed too fast to also be effective, it is important to note that the CDC has been conducting research on mRNA vaccines years prior during Obama’s presidency to the Covid outbreak.

A good way to understand this science is to think of mRNA vaccines as a Lego that is able to have something “snapped to it.”

When the virus started, the mRNA vaccines “snapped”

24 • features

a Covid protection building block to it.

The Johnson and Johnson vaccine, which is another popular vaccine given in the U.S., is a single-dose vaccine that does not use the same mRNA vaccine science as both Moderna and Pfizer. Instead, the J&J vaccine is an adenovirus vaccine that works with your DNA to create spike protein to ward off the Covid virus. However, the J&J vaccine is shown to be around only 66 percent effective in protecting against the virus.

It is also important to note that the Johnson & Johnson (not an mRNA vaccine), Pfizer, and Moderna vaccines were given to the public before obtaining final FDA approval.

It’s almost taboo to ask someone if they have or haven’t been vaccinated, ask for proof of vaccination, or even just ask what their personal opinions on vaccines are. People seem to be very passionate about whichever side of the spectrum – pro or anti-vax – they fall on.

“Everyone should get vaccinated,” senior Britney Vo said. “It saves lives.”

The Pfizer mRNA vaccine was the first of the Covid vaccines approved for ages 12 and up.

“I have both doses of the Pzier vaccine and will be taking the booster around December,” senior Kirstyn Dickey said. “It’s a privilege and honor.”

Although it was very difficult to acquire the vaccine around March of last year (due to the “hierarchy” of who gets it first like nurses, the elderly, immune-compromised, etc.), the Covid vaccine is now given free of cost and is available at walk-in appointments at almost every pharmacy, grocery store, and doctor’s office.

Vo said she received the vaccine in March.

“My whole family got it,” she said. “And morally, it was to protect others.”

The Pfizer vaccine has been proven to be around 95 percent effective (percent depends on age) in preventing Covid in patients 12 years old and up.

Side effects of the vaccine have also been recorded, most commonly fever, chills, headache, drowsiness, and full-body aches.

“I had no side effects after my first dose,” senior Bailey Hays said. “But I had a fever, chills, body aches, and headache for about a day and a half after my second Pfizer dose.”

Although most people experienced short-lived side effects of the vaccine, others had a far different experience.

“The following months I felt fatigued every day and even with a lot of sleep it didn’t feel like enough,” Vo said. “Thankfully, I started to feel fine after two months or so.”

A common theme in teens getting the Covid vaccine is the idea that many of them

had to go behind their parents’ backs for the sake of protecting themselves and others.

“Both of my parents are high risk but anti-vax, and since I worked every day and would soon be at school, I decided I would be the bigger person and do my part to protect my family,” senior Livvy Monk said.

While some students turned to their parents to help make the best choice for them in getting vaccinated, others decided that, being 18, they could take matters into their own hands and make the decision for themselves.

“This is my first vaccine since I’m now 18 and in charge of my health,” Monk said. “I didn’t do super intense research, I just watched the death rates of those vaccinated and unvaccinated.”

The Pfizer Covid vaccine is now FDA approved for anyone ages 12 and up, although it was still readily available before this approval.

“I can imagine having a vaccine be approved by the FDA is not a simple process,” Vo said. “So to have it approved shows more validity in the vaccine than ever.”

In Texas, 51 percent of people of vaccine age (12 and up) have received the covid vaccine.

“I believe that even if you don’t believe in getting the vaccine, you should do the minimum and wear a mask in order to protect others and yourself,” Hays said.

‘We rise by lifting others’

Positive interactions between coaches and teammates create success Allison Greenwood • Reporter

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elationships between teammates and the relationships between athletes and coaches greatly impact the performance and experience of a team.

“I value honesty and integrity the most, as well as being driven,” Varsity Cheer coach Lindsey Oseguera said. “I enjoy when my athletes have passion for the sport because then they’re much easier to train. It gives me energy when they’re energized and when they’re determined to do their best, and giving all of the effort they can.”

This mindset is beneficial for both aspects of athlete/ coach relationships and is a vital part of creating an environment for progress.

“A coach that includes everyone and makes sure we’re all wanted and can make it a fun environment,” junior volleyball player and cross country runner Desiree Reinwand said.

Athletes strive to be important assets to their team which is best accompanied by a supportive coach.

“Coaches have to be able to hold you accountable but listen to what you say,” senior football player Nana Boadi-Owusu said.

Although coaches are major contributors to the team, they are not the only party accountable for the uplifting morale. Strong relationships between teammates are also necessary.

“Trust, dependability, and accountability,” Boadi-Owusu said. “Trust is very important in the stuff we do.

If you don’t trust somebody to do their responsibility on the field, then that can lead to a busted play.”

Each athlete individually must devote their time and be reliable to help build trust within their relationships with their teammates.

Teammates value trust, and support, and coaches observe these efforts made by their athletes from their perspective as well.

“I observe teamwork, sharing a passion for the sport, and uplifting each other,” Oseguera said. “I know that sometimes they don’t always get along with one another, but at least at practices, I don’t see it.”

Throughout these interactions are life skills that will benefit student-athletes.

“I think that a life lesson to learn is that you won’t always enjoy all of the people you’re going to work with,” Oseguera said. “But you have to remember the common goal and work through it and succeed in that way.”

Being a teammate reveals who individuals truly are through their actions.

“They show a lot about our character, and I think it’s more enjoyable to be around people who have those values, it makes it more fun,” Reinwand said.

Athletes have the opportunity to bring built-in friends to create memories through these strong relationships as a teammate.

“We always have team dinners every Monday, and they’re a lot of fun,” Reinwand said. “And also for Cross Country, we always

hang out after our meets and we just like being around each other.”

In addition to the time athletes dedicate to their sport, they also seek to spend time with their teammates outside of practice.

“We’re all really close because of football and the time we’ve spent together in football, we just end up spending a lot of time out of football together too,” Boadi-Owusu said. “It just happens to be that way. Those are the people we see everyday, so we just want to hang out with them.”

Relationships between

teammates and coaches will never be perfect, but they can be close when there is equal effort by the athletes and coaches.

“If there’s an unhealthy dynamic, I think that sets the program and team up for failure, so anytime there’s an issue or an unhappiness, I try to address it and squash it as soon as possible because I think that having a positive environment is the utmost important thing within any kind of activity,” Oseguera said. “There must be positivity and there must be a good environment for that.”

features • 25

Photos by Macy Clift

To Hell and back A cycling experience that was truly ‘Hotter ‘N Hell’ Ezrie Camp • Features Editor

I

t was about mile 60. As we approached Hell’s Gate, I began to question my sanity. Why would anyone in their right mind voluntarily choose to ride 100 miles? They would have to be ridiculously crazy to even remotely consider it.

Or, they have a fire of motivation, strength, and grit inside of them just waiting for the perfect opportunity to be unleashed. I would be the latter.

Riding 100 miles, in Texas summer heat no less, might just be the hardest thing I have ever done, but I wouldn’t trade the experience and joy after for anything.

About two weeks before Hotter ‘N Hell, a large road ride that starts in Wichita Falls, I still hadn’t decided whether I was going to complete the 100-kilometer or 100-mile route.

It was almost a guarantee that I would finish the 100-kilometers without any problems, yet there was something enticing about the challenge that the 100-miles provided.

My longest ride up until this point was 44 miles, not even half of what I was considering riding. My dad was already signed up for the 100-mile ride, and he had signed me up for it as well in the hopes that I would join him for the challenge.

As the week went on, though, my mind battled to make a decision. Would it be the 100-kilometer ride

I knew I could finish or the 100-mile ride that I knew would take everything I had?

One day, a peace came over me, and I knew exactly what I was going to do. I was going to ride 100-miles, and I was going to do it with my dad who also happens to be one of my cycling coaches and greatest mentors.

The morning of the event we woke up at the crack of dawn – 4:30 a.m. to be exact. I had chills all over my body, my heart was beating at what felt like 500 beats per minute, yet my mind was calm and my thoughts were collected. I was excited for the day ahead of us.

All of the preparation was done. The years of training and the daily hours of hard work were put in, and I knew that the only thing left to do was ride.

When my dad and I got to the start line in Wichita Falls, there were thousands of people lined up to ride. My heart began racing again, and my mind was shooting off in about a million different directions.

“How am I going to ride with all of these people?

What if they fall? What if I fall? What if I get lost? What if I can’t find my Dad?” Oddly enough, we had not even started the ride, and I was more scared about being among all the people at the start than I was about actually completing the ride. But then the crowd began to move. People spread out, and I began to find my rhythm. There was a nice

morning breeze that somehow seemed to blow all my nerves away. Each pedal stroke seemed to bring a sense of joy and serenity, and as I looked around, I knew everything was going to be okay.

The first half of the ride went by quickly. My dad and I finished the first 50 miles in three hours. My legs were strong, my breath was steady, and my attitude remained surprisingly positive. I was feeling good and ready to ride another easy 50. At about mile 55, though, the heat had grown more intense and my body was screaming at me. My mindset started to decline as well. “I’ve already set a personal record, do I really need to go any further?”

I thought to myself. The mental struggle began, but in the back of my mind, I knew I needed to push to finish what I had started.

It was about mile 60.

Hell’s Gate loomed over us, both figuratively and literally with a giant inflatable

demon at the entrance. As we rode, I realized how appropriate the name of this section was as it would be the hardest part of the entire ride.

In blatant terms, I thought I was going to die. The heat radiating from the pavement was 107 degrees. We were out in the open with the sun beating down on us.

My water supply was getting low, and by this point, my whole body was hurting, from my head down to my toes and everything in between. I really thought I was done.

After what felt like forever, we made it to the mile 75 rest stop. I was light-headed and dizzy, feeling like I was about to fall over. My body was tired. My mind was tired. I knew I needed to eat, yet my body wasn’t receptive to anything it was offered. I knew I needed to drink, but everything I put in my mouth wanted to

continued on page 31

OPINIONS • 27

Rings of representation Shang Chi bolsters Asian presence in media Katie Nguyen • Reporter

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hang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Marvel’s newest superhero movie, tells the tale of an Asian-American man, Shang Chi, who is forced to confront both his culture and his past. The film deals with themes of accepting one’s past, and it places an emphasis on embracing Asian culture and heritage.

Shang Chi, for half of his life, ran away from his family and culture. When he is threatened by a situation that puts his estranged sister in danger, Shang Chi is forced to return back to his roots. “I thought I could change my name, start a new life, but I could never escape his shadow,” Shang Chi said in the movie.

The film pays homage to Asian actors who paved the way for Asians in the American movie industry. The actors and directors drew inspiration from Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan’s iconic fighting styles, in order to

28 • ENTERTAINMENT

carefully craft the martial arts scenes.

Many Asian values are acknowledged in Shang Chi: honor, loyalty, and the importance of family. The film does a great job at incorporating these principles through its characters.

Chinese culture is celebrated throughout the entirety of the film. The use of the language, Mandarin, makes the film feel more authentic or real to Chinese audiences. For many Asians in America, hearing your mother language in the media is rare and can feel surreal.

Many mythical animals from classic Chinese stories were featured in the movie: dragons, the Fenghuang (phoenix), guarding lions, hunduns, huli jings (nine-tailed foxes), and qilin amongst more mythological animals. Mythology is important to culture – it can reveal what people believed in the past, why people believe what they do, how something came to be, and much more.

In most Asian cultures, people still maintain a bond with their loved ones even after death. Throughout the film, the characters could be seen paying respects to the deceased. For example, the characters honored their relatives during the Qingming Festival by “tomb sweeping.”

“What I didn’t anticipate was that the movie’s distinctly Chinese details would connect me to Shang-Chi in a way I’ve not experienced with any other blockbuster made in Hollywood,” Time Magazine journalist Kat Moon said.

Shang Chi is much more than just another superhero movie. For many, the movie represents hope for Asians in America and positive change. Shang Chi is the first Marvel superhero movie with an Asian lead.

Asian representation in American media is incredibly minimal, and even when Asian characters are featured, they’re often pictured with undesirable traits.

The Asian community often can feel as though their voices aren’t being heard, because of the lack of representation. It is important to tell the stories of minorities. Hearing more perspectives will help people become more open minded as well as empathetic. It is also important for future generations to see people who resemble what they look like in the media – literature, films, news, etc. Role models can influence how people grow and develop.

People can better relate to others that look similar to them.

With movies like Crazy Rich Asians, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, The Farewell, Parasite, and Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings releasing, there’s hope for Asian representation in American media. The Asian community is becoming more and more recognized and acknowledged. These films help pave the way for the future of the Asian community in the movie industry.

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Can the show go on?

Concerts after COVID-19 - were they worth the wait?

Tiffany Quach • Reporter Covid, the nationwide pandemic that shut the whole world down, forced a time where most of us were kept in our houses, away from the public, and specifically, away from concert crowds.

Senior Isabella Mendez recently attended Harry Styles’ Live On Tour Concert in September.

“It felt amazing to go to the concert,” Mendez said. “I was smiling the entire time.

The most memorable thing would probably be the fact that I got to go to my first concert of my favorite artist with my best friend.”

While attending the concert, she said she did have her concerns about getting Covid.

“I am already fully vaccinated and I made sure to wear my mask,” Mendez said.

Mendez also mentioned the precautions that each venue had to take in order to hold the concert.

“Harry Styles said that we had to wear a mask, and he highly recommended that we be fully vaccinated,” she said. “If we didn’t have the vaccine, we had to make sure that we tested negative for Covid in order to attend the concert, and we had to stay safe and maintain social distance before the show.”

These precautions en-

30 • ENTERTAINMENT

sured the safety of the individuals who attended.

In addition to that, Mendez mentioned the fun requirement that her idol would implement for future events.

“For future Harry Styles concerts, he is giving discounts on his merch if you have your Covid vaccine card with you,” she said.

Regarding concerts reopening again, Mendez said she was relieved.

“I think the world is slowly going back to normal,” she said. “So I think it makes sense that concerts are reopening. Although some artists aren’t traveling all around the world, and are only going to specific countries.”

In September, sophomore Alexis Torres attended a Los Bukis concert to see one of his favorite bands live.

“It felt really exciting and emotional to be there,” he said.

Torres said that Los Bukis have been together since the 70s, and this was their first-ever tour since the 90s, which made this concert even more special to him.

“Every person who went to the concert had to show proof of vaccination, and have a negative Covid test within 48 hours,” he said.

Despite that, Torres feared people were lying about their vaccination, or

Senior Isabella Mendez attends the Harry Styles concert in September. “I was smiling the whole time,” she said. Photo by Isabella Mendez about their COVID-19 tests, just to get into the concert.

“Another main thing I was scared of was whenever people coughed without their masks on,” he said.

As concerts were getting shut down for quarantine, Torres said, “It was a mix of relief and being upset.” He said he was sad he couldn’t go, and he realized that he had to wait a long time to be able to go again.

“But at the same time, I thought it was good that the concert was cancelled so that it could help the pandemic,” he said.

In October, sophomore Jaecey Renfro got to see Lil Baby live.

While seeing him perform live, she found the most memorable part to be the fact that she got the opportunity to see her favorite artist right in front of her.

“I love their music, and this was the first time I’ve ever seen them live,” she said.

Although Renfro said she was having the time of her life at the concert, she did have her fears of getting sick with Covid, or any other illness. She felt that the big crowds put her at risk, despite being fully vaccinated.

“I was scared of getting Covid since there were so many people there,” she said.

Renfro’s thoughts on concerts reopening have been up and down.

“A lot of people attend them, so you do have a higher chance of getting Covid,” she said. “But I guess it is a good thing that they’re coming back because that means the world is slowly becoming normal again.”

Continued from page 27: To Hell and back come right back out. Every part of me wanted to stop right then and there. I felt like I had nothing left to give.

The burning motivation inside me said otherwise, so my dad and I continued on.

One pedal stroke at a time, taking turns in the lead to give each other a chance at recovery, and stopping at every rest stop to ensure we made it to the end.

Mile 90. I could see the blue and white stripes of the rest stop tent just over the crest of the hill.

My body and mind synched up, and I got a second wind as I realized that we were on the homeward stretch with only 10 miles

to go. My outlook was renewed and my whole body somehow felt lighter, like a 100-pound weight had been lifted. Our speed picked up from a dragging 12-milean-hour pace to a solid 18.

The water on my head combined with the wind that was coming up behind us created a most welcomed cooling effect. We were almost there.

As we entered downtown Wichita Falls, my smile beamed from ear to ear. I looked over at my dad as a crazy idea entered my mind. At the end of all of our road rides, my dad and I always sprint to the end as a way to really empty the tank, and I thought to my-

self, “Why should this one be any different?”

“Hey, wanna go for the sprint finish?” I asked him.

He looked at me like I was insane, which I was, but he agreed. My eyes were set on the finish line and a grin came across my face. The derailleur on our cassettes clicked as we shifted from one gear to the next and our speed became intense.

As we flew through the finish line, a huge wave of joy came over me. I turned to my dad, and couldn’t help but smile and hug him.

I had just ridden 100 miles.

100 miles!

And I had done it all with my dad, my biggest role model and one of the best

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motivators I know.

My whole body hurt, my mind was tired, I was drenched in sweat, and probably smelled like a boy’s locker room, but at that moment none of that mattered.

I had just accomplished one of my biggest goals, not only as a cyclist, but as a person.

I had pushed my limit physically and mentally beyond what I ever thought was possible and found a whole new world of possibility.

All it took was three packs of energy blocks, two energy gels, bottles full of water, and a whole lot of grit, tenacity, and perseverance.

Visit martinwarpo.com for more stories, photos, and videos

“She is gonna make us better” New Athletic Director Colby Davis brings energy, excitement Ally Little•Sports Editor Tucked under the bleachers in Gym A hides Martin’s newest Athletic Coordinator – enthusiastic, creative, and most notably a female.

This semester marked the hiring of new coordinators at all Arlington ISD schools, specifically to oversee female athletics.

Martin was the first in the district to fill this position when they promoted varsity basketball coach Colby Davis. Athletes and coaches said they are excited to see what she will do with the new position and where she plans to take the Lady Warrior athletic program.

“I’m honored,” Davis said.

“Honored and humbled to be in this position. To me, it is an opportunity to serve almost 4,000 students, coaches, and kids.”

Davis had nothing but good things to say about her new home base.

“Martin is a phenomenal place and I hope to do my part to add to that,” Davis said.

As far as gender affecting her treatment in her position, Davis shared her experience and gave some credit to the coaching staff at Martin.

“I think I have been on an equal playing field and that is due to the great men that I have been surrounded with,” Davis said. “I have been fortunate enough to have been treated the same going up the ranks. I have been empowered.”

32 • SPORTS

Even though she said coordinating hasn’t always been her goal, Davis has taken her given path and run with it.

“I have always been told growing up that I had leadership qualities, and things kinda just fell into place,” Davis said. “My beginning goal was to go and become an athletic trainer.”

There is nothing that could stump this coach with her philosophy and her drive for growth.

“I’m all about the journey,” she said. “Every place I have been has been special and I have learned a little bit from each place, and that has guided me to here today. Work ethic, and approaching everything with a servant’s heart is what I’ve tried to do.”

Davis said she has a clear plan for what she wants to bring to Martin athletics.

“Energy, enthusiasm, and a passion for helping people whether that be kids, coaches, or whoever,” Davis said. “You don’t lose anything by being helpful.”

Davis said she does not plan to take her new position for granted.

“Sometimes people in leadership positions want to gain all the power, but what I have found is that my greatest reward is when I can give it to other people and help them achieve their goals in life,” Varsity football coach Bob Wager has nothing but good to say about his new colleague.

“She is a rockstar,” Wager said. “She’s a ball of energy.

She has the best interest of kids at heart, and she works for kids. That is one of the things I love about her.”

Wager describes the philosophy with which he and Davis approach their jobs.

“Colby Davis without question works for kids, and I think that is her greatest strength,” Wager said. “She and I are working for the greater good of the school. She is my equal, my partner, she is my peer.”

Wager said he feels strongly about the integration of females into the athletic coordinator position.

“I think it’s something that should have happened a long long time ago,” Wager said. “She brings strengths to my weaknesses and brings strengths to my strengths as well. We quite frankly went out and got the very best, and that is who Colby Davis is.”

Wager acknowledged that the district athletic program as a whole was lacking female representation.

“You looked at the athletic leadership over the district and it was one female and eight males,” he said. “This female athletic coordinator position was a game-changer because this happened on all six campuses.”

In contrast, Wager had nothing but good to say about the leadership at Martin.

“I don’t think we lack representation, I think we’ve got some elite-level coaches on our staff,” Wager said. “I think we are extremely well represented.”

Wager explained how im-

portant a role Davis plays, and exactly how the two are approaching the job in the future.

“Neither of us views this as the fact that we just cut our workload in half, we view it as we are just going to do it doubly well,” Wager said.

Varsity basketball player senior Kacie Trussell said she believes her coach will bring new focus and energy to the Martin athletic program.

“I think she is fit perfectly for her position,” Trussell said. “I think the program will start to become shaped into focusing on all of the sports instead of being focused mainly on football. It was time for a change. and the organization will benefit from a new perspective.”

SPORTS • 33

Running on rage

Runners motivated by frustration with former coach Laynie Stroup•Sports Editor A coach is dependable, reliable, and reputable.

However, in Sept. 2020, the Cross Country team coach left with little warning.

Jason Grennier, head cross country coach 201920, parted ways with Martin just a few weeks before the season opener in 2020.

“Him leaving quite literally right before the season started was definitely really frustrating,” senior Steven Neff said. “It almost felt like he betrayed us because we worked hard as a team all summer just for him to leave.”

As Grennier made his way to Frisco Reedy high school, assistant coach Jamie Couch stepped into the head coach position.

“I was nervous to see what coaching would be like after he had left,” senior Kate Atkins said. “After having Coach Couch as the new coach, it has been a real blessing.”

After losing the coach, the team had to step up and prove themselves.

“The hard part was trying to shift the focus of the team to our season and our goals, not the past,” Couch said. “The senior runners have been through quite a few Cross Country coaches

34 • SPORTS

throughout their four years and I knew they would be frustrated yet again with another transition.”

A year later and the Cross Country program is seeing more improvement and aspirations for making State are rising.

“He missed out on a phenomenal group of young athletes,” Couch said. “He left some amazing athletes behind who have developed not only as athletes in the past year but as young adults.”

So when the Warrior Cross Country team ran into Grennier at the Sept. 3, Fossil Ridge meet in Keller, this was the first time they had seen him since his departure from Martin.

“I immediately had a pit in my stomach and I was super upset to see him,” Atkins said.

However, they quickly found out that Grennier was gone from Reedy and was now at Northwest Nelson High School.

“Seeing coach Grennier was just weird,” Neff said.

“I was more shocked that he had already changed schools.”

This was the second meet of the 2021 season, so the athletes were still trying to see where they fit in the race. After a conversation with Grennier, they knew exactly where they wanted

The Cross Country team celebrates after the Oct. 14 , 6A - district 8 meet at Lynn Creek Park. The team went on to race at the Regional meet Oct. 25. Photo by Lanae Terry to finish.

“My main goal was to beat all of his girls, which I accomplished,” Atkins said.

Martin’s varsity girls finished second at this meet, Grennier’s girl’s team finished fourth.

“I think I pushed myself a little harder seeing him at the meet because I just wanted to prove to him that I could be successful without him and that he was

not the sole reason for our team’s success,” Neff said.

Seeing Grennier at this meet not only pushed the athletes more, but it allowed the team to focus on the future and be thankful for the amazing coaches who help run this team.

The team raced at the 6ARegion 1 meet in Lubbock on Oct. 25. The girls placed 13th out of 24 teams. The boys placed 21 out of 23.