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Warrior Post
‘True,beautiful,
Issue No. 1 19 October 2012 Martin High School
miracle’
Martin and community come together to support student Taylor Helland
Abby Bishop • News Editor
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ing pep rally and the game, escorted by her boyfriend, senior Chris Messer. “Having all this attention can be a little overwhelming every once and a while, but it makes me feel supported and loved – like I can do anything with all these people behind me,” Taylor said.
s the Helland family moves past Sep. 18 when they found out that junior Taylor Helland’s cancer returned, Martin and the community have been there to support them every step of the way. Taylor’s freshman year, she was diagnosed with Stage III Signet Ring Adenocarcinoma or in simpler words, colon cancer. She had several operations, 12 rounds of chemotherapy and a risky HIPEC procedure, until she was officially cancer free. ‘Praying for a miracle’ Taylor started to have stomach pain again and went to the hospital Sep. 17. She was supposed to have her quarterly scan a week later, so they decided to do it early. Unfortunately, the doctors found two large masses in her stomach. The next day, doctors confirmed that it was the original cancer and was very aggressive. After some discussion, the Hellands have decided to try a few rounds of chemotherapy, check to see how it is affecting the tumors, and then decide from there. “While the doctors are telling us the odds are stacked against us, we continue to have hope, and we’re praying for a miracle,” Taylor’s father Bob Helland wrote on Caring Bridge. Mr. Helland frequently updates Caring Bridge, a website designed to keep people connected during health events. The site, which was set up in April 2011, has almost 50,000 views now. “We have this horrible, dark cloud just hanging over our heads 24 hours a day, but moments when you people are doing these indescribably amazing things for us, just for a bit there, we actually forget
Junior Taylor Helland is presented on the field as Homecoming Princess Oct. 5. photo by Karsen Cinquepalmi about that cloud, and it’s just a miracle,” Mr. Helland wrote. “Just a true, beautiful miracle.” Homecoming Princess After they received the news of Taylor, Student Council officers came together and all agreed that Taylor should be crowned honorary Homecoming princess. Taylor was presented at the Homecom-
Care and support Taylor plays a vital role in the Warrior band. She is a principal oboe player, in the Wind Symphony, saxophone section leader and a member of band leadership. “As director, I have a renewed sense of dedication to the kids,” director said. “With the day-to-day rigors of marching band, you can lose touch to the fact that 14- to 18-year-olds are doing this, and when something like that happens to one of our kids, it really gives you perspective.” During Taylor’s first battle, junior Jennica McGinnis and Messer created blue bracelets saying “Pray For Tay” with a ribbon and cross. Now, there has been even more of this kind of support for Taylor including two t-shirts. Mary Moore, where Taylor’s mother Julia Helland teaches, created one, but Messer wanted to be able to sell a shirt to Martin Students. Martin established “Tuesdays for Tay” and encouraged students and faculty to wear the t-shirts. “It’s kind of weird sometimes, but at the same time kind of cool to see people that don’t know me care enough to buy a t-shirt and support me,” Taylor said. As of now, the Helland family does not know exactly what lies ahead of them. All they know is that Taylor will go through an undetermined amount of chemo treatments to shrink the tumors, and hopefully be able to surgically remove the tumors once they are small enough. While the future looks shaky, they are focusing on the today, right now, this moment.
news
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What you may have
missed... Events and happenings
from around the school Martin ◄ ◄ Players perform Sylvia as the first production of the year Sept. 13-15. Senior Zack Paslay plays the character Greg as he tries restrain senior Hannah Conelly, who plays the dog, Sylvia. “My favorite was working all day,” Paslay said. “I had to give up part of my summer, but it was worth it.” Photo by Garrett Hayslip/Phoenix Yearbook
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Aug. 31 camera crews from The DFW Home Team came to interview football coach Bob Wager as well as students and coaches. “I showed them some organizations and our sports teams,” junior Colton Hoisager said. Martin was featured on thehometeamdfw.com Photo by Karsen Cinquepalmi
▲▲Seniors Garrett Hayslip and Lauren Senior ◄ ◄ Lara Kunkel studies with her German student from Arlington’s sister city Bad Konigshofen. “They seriously became a second family to me,” Kunkel said. “They were all so great and we all got along so well.” Photo by Brenda Mayo
Sophomore Nic ◄ ◄ Smith competes in the Ken Gaston Invitational near Joe Pool Lake Oct. 4. The Martin team placed first at the meet and is expected to take first in district. The next meet is district on Oct. 25 at Lynn Creek Park. Photo by Tyler Forde
Zang are crowned Homecoming king and queen Oct. 5. Students had two days to vote for Homecoming court and the top boy and girl win. “I felt so respected and liked by my peers,” senior Lauren Zang said. “And that is a feeling I will never forget.” Photo by Karsen Cinquepalmi
“A unique, on-location senior photography experience.”
Sarah Meo • Staffer A running back can run 30 yards in 30 seconds, but the Warrior Marching Band can jazz run across the field in 20 counts while holding an instrument up at set and maintaining good posture and making sure their legs are straight. Then, band members march the rest of the show. This is one of the many things the band has to do in its 2012 marching show called “Fall.” There are some changes coming into this new year for the Warrior Band with the new football field and some new additions to the Warrior Band Staff. “The two new directors make it easier to focus on the kids more,” head director David Carbone said. “Another big change was the improvement of the football field. Band uses it fourth period, and the kids get to go home early from practice so they can work on their studies. Marching on the turf will help since 100 percent of our shows are on turf, we will be
iPad
fortunate to have one day to practice on the turf. It’s like a race car driver driving in an Indy Car on an off- road track.” With the new directors learning everyone’s names and getting to know everyone on the first day of band camp, it sometimes can be tough. “I worked three years to be a band director in Texas and my expectations of one were right,” assistant band director Brad McCann said. There are some bad things of being a new director, like not knowing everyone. “I wake up at 4:30 to make sure I’m here on time because I’m coming from Mesquite to Arlington,” assistant band director Adam Jatho said. There are also some funny things that the band directors experience. “Even though I have many years of teaching under my belt, on the first day of band camp my mom called me to tell me have a good day all the way from Arizona,” McCann said.
Since this is a state year and that means hard work, dedication, and intense practices. “The students have figured out what we been trying to see by achieving and having fun,” Carbone said. Being a new director can sometimes be scary, but they want to make a good impression on kids and the staff of the band. “It’s interesting seeing how my personality interacted with the staff and the kids,” Jatho said. “I enjoyed meeting the section leaders and freshman. I should keep a journal of all the things that happen so I could call them out later on, when they have graduated from Martin.” This year, bands all over the state try to make it to San Antonio every two years for finals to prove that they are the top band in Texas. “Personally, making state is never the goal,” Carbone said. “The process, the kids and making sure the band can perform to its potential has been our focus.”
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news
New horizons for Warrior Band Martin band makes new changes for state competition
Senior Bria Benjamin stands at attention at a football game. A new practice schedule has band ready for state competition. Photo by Susie Gibson
School board looks at issuing iPads to integrate technology into classes Abby Bishop • News Editor Even though this school year has just started, AISD school board members are exploring the possibility of having iPads for each high school student in the district by the beginning of next year. “I can’t promise that each student will be taking home an iPad everyday,” board member John Hibbs said. “However, I do feel strongly that this type of technology fits into the AISD Strategic Plan.” The AISD Strategic Plan is a series of visions, beliefs, missions, objectives and goals of the district that will help students excel in all areas of their education. IPads could potentially be a huge money saver, especially if the state decides to cut funding for the schools’ textbooks. The district would not have to purchase a huge number of textbooks or frequently replace them, ultimately saving money.
“There is no assurance that the state will continue to cover this cost as they are looking to cut funding to cover shortfalls,” Hibbs said. “This does give a compelling reason for more online technology.” Each student is issued, roughly, four textbooks each year, and the student’s studying and research is usually limited to those textbooks. One student might have to carry several textbooks back and forth to school, and it is inevitable that some pages are torn or completely removed from the textbook. “There’s no point in having a hard cover textbook that deteriorates in a couple of years,” history teacher Juli Warner said. Teachers and students are noticing that things are continually changing, and a textbook simply cannot be updated like other technology. “Textbooks are quick to become out of date and an iPad would provide lots of
resources that the student can access via technology,” photography teacher Daniel Regalado said. The iPads would be made available to all high school students, if the plan goes through. Students would have to pay $10 or $20, and an optional insurance fee of about $30. “If the district followed the model used by other districts, the initial cost would be minimal,” Hibbs said. “The cost will also be determined by each family’s ability to pay.” AISD would be setting a lot of responsibility on students’ shoulders. There is a huge difference between carrying around a hard cover textbook and carrying around a breakable iPad. “I think if we give students the opportunity, they will raise responsibility,” Regalado said. Mansfield ISD has taken the step towards new online technology already, and
they are seeing the pros and cons of it. The iPads they are using can only access certain applications and web browsers, and the internet usage of students is strictly monitored by teachers. “Most of my teachers don’t really know how to use them during class, but it is only the beginning of the year so it is hard to tell,” Mansfield High School senior Kyla Isbell said. Mansfield students are ecstatic about the new addition to the classrooms and are seeing some benefits. “We can take pictures of some important things we need instead of writing it all out, and we can also email our teachers right then if we have questions,” Isbell said. The school board has a lot of different factors that will help them make the final call, but iPads seem to be in the near future for AISD, maybe even as soon as next year, according to Hibbs.
news
did she die? 4 How Biomedical Science makes real life CSI
Students in Michele Davda’s Biomedical Science class investigate the mystery of how a fictional woman, “Anna Garcia” died. The class uses CSI-like technology. Photo by Lizzie Kirkham
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New Shakespeare class makes comedy, tragedy come alive Alicia Naranjo & Emily Cox • Staffers
Within the 90 minutes of Annette Jones’ second period class, two people have been stabbed, hearts were broken and uncontrollable laughter rang out. A new English class has been added to the curriculum of Martin students, dedicated to Shakespeare. English teacher Annette Jones explains that in English classes, students only pick apart Shakespeare for his writing form, but never fully understand what is going on in his stories. “This is a reduced Shakespeare class,” Jones said. “We study the play, then reduce it into a fun and creative performance.” The students get a chance to fully express themselves through the plays. They can open up to the class and not feel so insecure.
Emily Zerr & Lizzie Kirkman • Staffers
he first day of class, Biomedical Science students walked into a crime scene. With tape outlining the shape of a body on the floor, students wonder what they’re getting into. Anna Garcia is dead. Nobody knows how or why. This is what students in Biomedical Science will discover throughout the year. “Anna was found dead by a neighbor,” teacher Michele Davda said. “She was on the floor with a head injury, vomit and blood on an overturned table.” The point of the Anna Garcia lab is to investigate death by evidence, and discover what body systems caused her death. They are now looking at the autopsy report to draw inferences about her death. Biomedical Science is a series of four courses that Project Lead the Way started about five years ago. It starts with Principles of Biomedical Science, then goes to Human Body Systems, Medical Interventions and ends with Biomedical Innovation. “Biomedical Science is essentially the merging of medicine and biology,” Davda said. “It’s the application of principles of the natural sciences to medicine.”
The goal of this class is for students to investigate career paths in biomedical science. There are more than 70 possible job opportunities including EMT, medical examiner and forensic photographer. They do multiple labs throughout the year, each investigating a different career path. One of the labs they’re working on is the Anna Garcia lab. “I think this class will help me later in life because I want to be a mortician,” senior Madison Lavadour said. “I have to learn about biology and how bodies work.” Some of the other labs they’ll do include working with DNA, dissecting sheep hearts, measuring EKG, blood pressure and heart rate, bacteria investigation, making chromosome spreads and a cell splat. In a cell splat, you drop the cell from a certain height onto a tilted cell slide, and when the cell hits it bursts open and you can see all of its chromosomes. This class is available for freshman through seniors. There are some colleges that offer credit for taking all four classes. Although it is a science class, it is not yet counted as a high school science credit.
Above: Seniors Azzie Johnson and Dylan Beckerman in mortal combat against seniors Johnathan Quintero and George Tichenor Right: Seniors Dylan
Beckerman and Azzie Johnson fight out a scene from Romeo and Juliet. Photos by Brenda Chavez-Mayo
“I can always be myself when we do our plays, like I am at home,” junior Dezaun Foreman said. The students get a chance to add a style of their own to all of Shakespeare’s classical plays, whether it is turning tragedy into comedy, or comedy into a tragedy. The students act the plays and incorporate stage fighting, with the usage of props such as plastic swords. “You make the plays funny and entertaining, even when the original play is dark and depressing,” junior Claudia Hagman said. Jones is considering making a performance, but she is not sure yet if it will happen, “If we perform, it will most likely happen at the end of the semester.”
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Junior captain makes drill team history Jennifer Forsberg•Entertainment Editor
Mind your own buisness
Just dance
features
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After a long night Being a year younger of dancing, she and than most of the officers, the rest of the girls Scott Martinson is faced shuffle into order. with the awkwardness of She closes her eyes, leading her senior subortakes a few deep dinates. breaths and grasps “Not only is Sadie an inthe sweaty hand of credibly dynamic dancer,” her neighbor. She Coach Ashley Gaither can feel the judge’s said, “but she is responible, presence as they caring, and dedicated. She walk around the makes good decisions for circle of trembling the team and always puts girls. Just when them first.” she’s ready to give The role of captain holds up hope she feels many responsibilities the gentle weight Junior Sadie Scott Martinson such as leading stretches, of a hat being leads a dance as a part of teaching dances and takthe Junior Clinic on Sept. 22. placed on her head. ing charge of the team at Scott Martinson is Martin’s As junior Sadie first junior captain. Photo by football games. Scott Martinson Karsen Cinquepalmi “I’ve been on the team opened her eyes for three years now and and saw her reflection in the mirror I’m used to wearing the red uniform,” Scott across the room, she couldn’t believe Martinson said. “It’s weird to be the one in that she had been chosen as drill team front with the whistle and the baton.” captain. Scott Martinson said she looks forward “It felt real and surreal all at the same to practices because she is able to help her time,” junior Sadie Scott Martinson team work hard and then see the pay off said. “I’m excited but intimidated all during a show. at the same time.” Despite occasionally getting overWhen she began dancing at age six, whelmed by the responsibility of being Scott Martinson’s focus was mainly on captain on top of all the homework, Scott tap and ballet. Today she enjoys more Martinson maintains a positive attitude upbeat styles of dance such as jazz and because she is doing what she loves. hip-hop. “My favorite thing is getting really into “In junior high I did a lot of acting a dance,” Scott Martinson said. “I give it and musicals,” Scott Martinson said. my all when I’m preforming. Not only does “That’s where my inspiration to dance dancing keep me in shape, but I love to excame from.” press myself through dance.”
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During the weekends junior Alex Contreras works as a DJ. He uses the psuedonym DJ A.C. Photo by Ashleigh Jones
Student DJ shares his experiences
Ashleigh Jones•Designer At his gigs, junior Alex Contreras wears a tie, button down shirt, dark blue jeans and his high top sneakers. DJ A.C. takes the stage. He’s the entertainment of a party and is there for hours of fun. Contreras has been working as a DJ now since December 2011. He is inspired by his older brother Eric who has been DJing for 15 years. “He is my mentor and my teacher,” Contreras said. Back in 2011 Contreras came to school with a mix tape of his beats on it and decided to hand them out randomly. DJ A.C. became popular by doing free gigs, giving more mixes and his cards out. Contreras averages one gig a month. He DJs at almost any celebration: house parties, birthdays, anniversaries or Quinceaneras. Some of his gigs are hours away with crowds of 75 or more, but he still manages to be there and get the party started. “At times I do get nervous, because anything can happen at anytime,” he said. You may have recently seen him
DJing at the pep rallies. Contreras manages to practice at least one hour a day. He uses a DJ controller to connect to a computer with a software called “Serato ITCH.” One of his favorite things to do is “cross fade,” where he plays one song and keeps the same beat and adds another song as they fade together. The speed of the beat is tracked by the BPM (beats per minute). Contreras charges $100 an hour for his services. The longest celebration he has worked was a straight six hours. Once he has money saved, he goes to buy more DJing equipment from Cross Roads Audio in Dallas. His favorite genre of music to remix is club music. “It pumps up the party,” Contreras said. Contreras said the hardest type of music to remix is hip-hop because each song has so many different beats. The easiest is Dubstep/techno. “Being a DJ, you get the chance to go a lot of places,” he said. “I love the money and I love seeing the amusement on peoples’ faces after I’m done. I have dedicated my life to music and it has brought me a long way. I hope to go further.” For more info, visit alexcontreras96.wix. com/djac
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Coach Sabina Harrington (right) was a goalie on the Junipero Serra team in 1980.
Caitlyn Hopkins & Sherilyn Morales•Staffers
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irls soccer and volleyball coach Sabina Harrington has earned herself many honors, rewards and records. In high school in California from
1979 through 1981, Harrington discovered her love and talent for field hockey. “My dad was in the Navy, so we moved every three years,” Harrington said. “When I moved to California my freshman year,
Stuff my teacher says
Teacher Linda Boullard shares her lingo Kaylyn Lefan•Features Editor & Susie Gibson• Editor-in-chief
Dictionary of Linda Boullard English: • Good night my nurse: way of saying that is hilarious, or that “it’s a knee slapper.” • Stifle: nice way of saying shut up • Goblets: in reference to students attempting to hide their cell phones while using them during school hours. • Slime wad: you crazy kids • Chirrups: needy children • “That one is hungry. Use the other one” in reference to the staplers • “You better watch out, my hands are legal weapons by the government” • Ben and Jerry: Recycle bins • Chuck: Computer • Herman: Stapler
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nglish teacher Linda Boullard seems to be bringing the laughs to her students with her different sayings. “Most of my sayings come from old television shows,” Boullard said. “I have been teaching so long that these things just come to me.” To make class fun, she uses different sayings, phrases, and literature. “Sometimes my students just look at me like I am crazy and have no clue what I am talking about,” Boullard said. Boullard has her love for English and teaching it, but she is also a big fan of history. Outside of her English classes she is co-writing a book. “I am helping write a book called ‘Boys of Sunset,” Boullard said. “This story is about a plaque that was dedicated to the boys who went to the school I taught at before Martin who died during World War two. The plaque has been in the basement of the school and they are bringing it back out and adding names of the soldiers from Vietnam.” Boullard has many years of teaching under her belt, so the things she say just come naturally to her. “I really love the way I talk,” Boullard said. “It is different, and I feel like it brings happiness and makes the class more fun when the students are laughing with me.”
my friend introduced me to field hockey by taking me to one of their practices.” At first sight of the players, she was unimpressed. “I saw every player wearing skirts, and I was a tomboy,” Harrington said. She told her friend that this was not for her. She didn’t even own a skirt. But Harrington was also a part of student council, and many of her fellow members and friends were part of the team, so she did not discount the idea completely. “I decided to try and play goalie,” Harrington said. “It was the only position on the team that didn’t have to wear a skirt.” At that moment, she discovered her love and talent for the sport. “It was the ‘it’ sport, even bigger than football is at Martin,” Harrington said. “We were really successful. We won state championships and had a strong team.” Harrington was part of the championship-winning team, and also holds state
records in California, including the most individual shutouts in the 1980 season. She was also part of the Olympic Development Team for field hockey. “I was involved in the selection the summers before my junior and senior year,“ Harrington said. “It ultimately turned out that I was in the final 50 of the selection process, but then the US boycotted the Olympic Games in Moscow. I did not make the US team, but I did get to play collegiate hockey.” She played throughout high school, but the constant moving and changing of schools made it difficult for Harrington to keep playing after high school. “Field hockey isn’t common in Texas, so when I moved back here, I started playing soccer,” Harrington said. “Soccer was the closest thing to field hockey, which I still play to this day.”
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features
Who were YOU in high school?
Coach Harrington was Olympic-bound goalie
Susanna Kuh? Who knew,
Hannah-Beth Floyd• Staffer Susanna Kuh is well known in the AISD substitute circuit. As a student in Taiwan, Kuh saw the respect and honor that came with being a teacher. After finishing school, she moved to the United States to study at Texas A&M for a bachelor’s degree in Science in horticulture, garden cultivation and management. “I was the first female enrolled in the Aggie Horticulture program,” Kuh said she is dedicated to interact-
ing with students, specifically ones from Martin, where her three children graduated. “I enjoy the exchange of information with the students,” Kuh said. “I’m learning from them and they’re learning from me.” When in charge of a classroom, Kuh said she tries to keep a level head when dealing with disruptive students. “You can’t think of yourself as the student’s friends, they have enough already,” When not teaching, Kuh volunteers at the DFW airport as a Chinese translator, helping travelers find their connecting flights. “Between the school and the airport, I worked nearly every day last year,” she said. “I only had two days off.” What Kuh is known for is what many think was her role in the fire in the food and nutrition room last February. Rumor spread that Kuh was entirely responsible for the fire when, in actuality, it was a student who placed a binder on a stove top that was later accidentally turned on. “The kids need to learn,” she said. “We are the democratic country of freedom, and when we say things, we’re responsible for them.” - Photo by Chandler Harrell
features
8
A long way from
home
Exchange students share experiences with new country and culture
Overwhelmed by unknown faces and an unfamiliar language, the foreign exchange students experience a new world. New cultures and experiences await them as they step off of the plane and view Texas for the first time. By Natalie Buongiorno • Staffer • Photos by Brenda Chavez-Mayo
Italy:
Cars speeding along the roads and the warm Texas sun beating down, junior Margherita Ghini experienced a major culture shock when she arrived in Arlington. “When I first got to Texas, it was scary,” Ghini said. “I didn’t really know the lan-
guage; it’s very different.” Towering buildings and smells of unusual foods crowded her senses. “Arlington is bigger than where I live,” Ghini said. “The streets and the buildings are all bigger. The size of the things here are different. All of the things are bigger, and the food is different. We don’t have Mexican food in Italy. There is a lot of fast food here and in Italy there is less.” Martin was also a shock to Ghini. The major differences were difficult to get used to at first. Unfamiliar faces welcomed Ghini as she tried to find her way through the many hallways and classrooms. “At my school at home, I don’t change classes every hour,” Ghini said. “It’s easier in Italy because I just stay in the same class and the teachers change classes. My classes at home are only an hour. At home, I finish school at 1 p.m., but I have to go to school on Saturday.”
“God gave us music that we might pray without words.”
Germany:
After hours of sitting still on an airplane, junior Karl Rackow finally arrives at his final destination: Texas. “I wanted to learn the language and more about the culture,” Rackow said. “I was interested in coming to America, and the organization told me that they have a family for me to stay with in Texas.” Experiencing the Texas culture has been a very new experience for Rackow. “It’s very flat here and there are no hills,” Rackow said. “I went to Fort Worth and that was cool. I love all of Arlington. It’s amazing.” A big surprise awaited Rackow when he arrived at Martin for his first day. His school at home consisted of only 300 students in the fifth through twelfth grades. “One of the biggest differences is the school system,” Rackow said. “In Germany, you have one class and you stay with that class all day. The teachers have to change rooms, so you stay in one room.” The size of the schools are also very different. “On my first day, I was very excited and I needed to look at my map to find all of the rooms,” he said. “It was huge and there were a lot of people.”
Norway:
After being convinced by her friends, junior Marit Naess decided that she wanted to travel to America. “My friends were talking about how they went to the states and it was awesome, so I started researching and I ended up here,” junior Marit Naess said. “When I first got here, everything was really confusing. The language is different.” “Arlington is a nice city,” Naess said. “It’s a little bit smaller than the city I come from, and everything’s different. People here drive everywhere and don’t walk as much.” Although she misses all of her friends and family, Naess has made a lot of new friends and is enjoying the many new people. “The people are my favorite part,” Naess said. “Everyone at Martin is much more social. You’re all so talkative. My first day was a mess. When something would happen, I’d just go along with it, but I’m getting used to it now. Martin has about 3,500 people, and my school has 300 or 400.” Some of the things that we are used to and take for granted are new and unusual to Naess. “Texas has awesome clothes,” Naess said. “And stores like Wal-Mart and Hot Topic.”
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Warrior swagger 9
Seniors show their creativity in parking spots
Coveralls, overalls or spirit pants?
Karsen Cinquepalmi • Photo Editor Rachel Hodnett • News Editor
Chandler Harrell • Photo Editor Kim Clower • Sports Editor
The school year has just begun, and already, seniors are getting some perks. Purchasing your own reserved parking spot and painting it are some of the most anticipated things about senior year. Every year, seniors take this opportunity to let their creativity shine and leave a little mark on their school. After seeing a sugar skull, senior Stephanie Harrison was inspired. “I love all of the designs on them and how different it looks,” Harrison said. “The seniors next year need to think hard about what they want to paint and sketch it out because it makes everything easier.”
Four and a half hours of work made senior Trevor Stewart’s spot mirror the updated football field. “I love football,” Stewart said. “It’s a representation of all the hard work I have put into football over the years and I am reminded of that every time I pull up to it.”
Senior Camryn Sulak emphasized the importance of having a plan before painting. “I just completed a four week summer acting course in New York,” Sulak said. “It was an amazing experience and the skyline reminds me of my exciting time there. The dancer represents the 14 years that I have been dancing.”
Senior Conner Beene takes pride in being President of Warrior Band. “Painting the Presidential Seal was difficult because it is copyrighted, so I had to put a twist on it,” Beene said. “Lucky for me, I got it done early and it dried before the rain ruined everything.”
Despite the rain, senior Rachel Spray has spent five hours working on her space, so far. “I am proud to be a nerd. I like all of my AP classes,” Spray said. “I have also worn glasses or contacts since kindergarten. If you’d have known me in elementary school, you’d know that I had some pretty big glasses on my face at all times.”
Spirit Pants
Emma Riley
How did you hear about spirit wear? “I heard about spirit pants through some of my friends, and then we all went together to make them at Teri White’s house.”
news
Spots to save
Jireh Davis
What do spirit items mean to you? “It makes me feel more like a part of the school. “It makes me feel like a sophomore.”
Overalls
Jessie King
What is your favorite patch? “My favorite patch is my mermaid patch. I was the first person to ever get a mermaid patch before, according to Mrs. Weeks. Originally the mermaid was blonde but then she changed it to have red hair to suit me, because I live in a delusional world where I think I’m a mermaid.”
Susannah Metzger Do you feel empowered when you wear them?
“I’d say that I do. It feels good to know that everyone knows you’re an upperclassman. It’s kind of a pride thing.”
Coveralls
Marissa Lockstedt
Are they worth the cost? “I think they are worth it if you wear them the most you can.”
Avery Beard
Was it hard to decide what to put on? “It was so hard to decide what to put on them it took a long time picking out my patches.”
Whatcha
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Rather than going off campus or sitting around, these s Sara Mancha •Staff Artist Susie Gibson • Editor-in-chief Meghan Cabra • Staffer
185 Hallway “We spend everyday playing cards, usually Yugioh or Magick cards,” junior Kayla Benest said. “Other times we play our Nintendo DS games, or have lively debates with each other.” “My big brother would bring me some outside food. Usually it’s a Subway sandwich.” • freshman Zac Reese
First floor
“I like mixing different combinations my food for lunch, such as Oreo cream o ranch Doritos, and spreading nacho ch along with my peanut butter and jelly s wiches. I make it because I like it, and different.” •freshman Katrina Calaluca.
“I pack wheat bread with some Tiki ham, cheddar cheese, lettuce, mayonnaise and mustard along side with some Takis and of course, chocolate chip cookies. I like simple.” • freshman Maranda Greenwalt
Jay Atman’s room 195 “My friends and I have been coming in here to play ping pong for the past few years,” senior Eddie Ng said. “There are also about 15 to 20 people that come in to help each other with physics homework.”
Aaron Cadle’s room 184B Rather than sitting in a busy hallway, some back atmosphere such as their favorite teacher “Some days we have a Super Nintendo set up in,” computer science teacher Aaron Cadle said kids just come in to work on software or watch
doin’?
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Kaylyn LeFan • Features Editor Michaelann Durden • Staffer Photos by Melody Asgari & Susie Gibson
with on my heese sandd it’s
students venture into a more laidr’s classrooms. p that everyone gets really involved d. “Other days are more relaxed and h YouTube videos.”
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students find a different way to enjoy their time during lunch
Tales from ‘The Fishbowl’
Story and photos by Michaelann Durden • Staffer
Second floor “Sometimes my mom would cook me up some fried rice with some beef and eggs, alongside a soy and chili sauce mixture. I pack it, but she makes it.” • freshman Preston Pham
In front of the Little Theatre “I’ve been playing the violin since fifth grade,” freshman Anthony Ribbe said. “I just started playing for my friends during lunch because I was bored.”
“I saw a bunch of papers that said we couldn’t sit there any more and it made me sad, but we had to move,” freshman Logan St. Germain said. Others also felt the same way when they were first kicked out of the 287 hallway. “Sea World,” the nickname that was given to the hall where a large mass of freshman socialized during lunch, has been relocated due to excessive amounts of trash and grapes everywhere. “The freshmen were not respectful or being responsible,” ASL teacher Barry Darrell said. Before the relocation, the freshmen referred to their hallway as their “kingdom.” The fish had picked one of the hottest places in the building, but why? “We were walking around the school, got bored, and sat down,” freshman Landon Hackley said. Depending on where they’ve relocated to, at any time 60 or so freshman crowd the hallway. They said that they’re all friends, but they thought cliques would eventually form. “We’ll eventually split off,” freshman Jay Schmidt said. Other freshmen say that their pride comes from their close bond between everyone. “I love grape civil wars,” freshman Kyle Lewis said. “It’s a one-on-one fight. You turn away from each other and you throw grapes. Whoever gets hit first, loses.” “The other day we had a food fight and I just ate whatever was there,” freshman Chandler Hall said. On more current events, some of the freshmen are upset about the movement. “It was harsh,” freshman Punit Patel said. “Our kingdom isn’t as good now,” freshman David Cerda said. “Now that we’re back to school and not together, everybody is changing.”
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Senior George Tichenor prepares to face the battle of his lifetime Jamie Gisburne • Sports Editor & Trey Wise • Staffer “I am an American soldier. I am a Warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of the United States, and live the army values. I will always place the mission first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I am an American Soldier.” Every soldier has a common purpose: to protect the weak and preserve our freedom. Now one Martin student has taken on the ultimate task: to serve our country and protect our freedom in the most deserving way. “I felt confident,” senior George Tichenor said. “Like I’m being upheld to a higher standard.” Tichenor was just an average senior awaiting his future when he decided he wanted to have the greatest honor of all, to defend our country by joining the Army. “My dad took me to the recruiting office to see if I was even able to go through and
recruit,” Tichenor said. During recruiting, Tichenor had to take two exams and go through many physical tests to be able to qualify for a spot in the Army. “We stayed in a hotel for a night and had to get up at 3:30 to get on a bus to Dallas where I went through many tests to make sure I was a good applicant,” Tichenor said. After passing all of recruiting, Tichenor had to wait out his luck and hope that he was ready whenever the time came. “I’m in the Future Army program,” Tichenor said. “A spot in the Army has been reserved for me until I graduate, and then I am shipped off to basic training camp. I’m nowhere near ready to become a ranger, though.” During the ranger assessment and selection program, he will go 61 days with very little food and sleep while enduring one of the most rigorous training programs
in the world to become part of the ranger regiment and the army special forces. “I want to live the ranger lifestyle,” Tichenor said. As a part of the future soldier program, his Sargent is training him and preparing him for the task ahead. A lot of times, parents worry about what their child is going through and how they will deal with the thought of their child going out into the war. “As a parent you always will worry about your child, but I have gained new respect for my son,” Tyler Tichenor said. “He goes off and prepares every day for what’s ahead of him.” “I’m not nervous, I’m ready,” Tichenor said. “I’m trying to get myself as prepared as I can be. I have a lot expected of me.”
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American soldier
Senior George Tichenor poses with an American flag to show his patriotism. Tichenor goes to basic training during the summer. Photo by Thomas Rowe
Martin High School • Arlington, Texas
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The Warrior Post Susie Gibson Editor-in-Chief Oscar Araujo Online Editor-in-Chief Larissa Gonzales Copy Editor
Abby Bishop • Rachel Hodnett News Editors
Kimberly Clower • Jamie Gisburne Sports Editors Karsen Cinquepalmi • Chandler Harrell Photo Editors
Jennifer Forsberg Entertainment Editor Ariel Hernandez Opinions Editor Erin Hibbs • Kayln LeFan Features Editors
Caught on camera Pictures aren’t worth the consequences A picture is worth a thousand words. But is it worth your spot on the team? Is it worth the criticism and judgement you receive from your “friends?” Exactly how many people saw that pic you uploaded five minutes ago? Social media is not some fad. It is a revolution in the way we communicate toward one another. Beneficial, yes, but can also be used as a vicious tool to haze anyone who is part of the virtual community. Social media has sky-rocketed throughout the years making these companies billions off something as simple as a tweet. And it’s not just teens – it’s our parents, teachers, businesses and even grandparents. We’ve all seen someone being bashed over Twitter or a scandalous picture of someone at that party last night. Risks we take could
potentially cause us to lose our job or ruin our chances at scholarships. All this in one picture that you didn’t even know was taken until today. And don’t fool yourself. People are checking. Employers are checking your Twitter feed. Coaches and club sponsors are, too. College admissions officials have rescinded college acceptances because of inappropriate tweets. Complain all you want about how unfair and in violation of your freedom of speech it is, but yes, you can suffer realworld consequences for content on your social media site. Don’t underestimate the consequences of what can happen from an unfortunate picture. You are in total control of what happens on the social network.
Keep it classy Traditions are taken too far
Sara Mancha Staff Artist
Staffers:
Sarah Baggett, Natalie Buongiorno, Meghan Cabra, Rosa Castaneda, Morganne Clay, Madeline Cope, Emily Cox, Michaelann Durden, Katy Fitzgerald, Hannah-Beth Floyd, Tyler Forde, Rachel Hanson, Britney Henneman, Caitlyn Hopkins, Lauren House, Lizzie Kirkham, Madeline Maxwell, Brenda Mayo, Morgan McKsymick, Sarah Meo, Sherilyn Morales, Alicia Naranjo, Maggie O’Brian, Jarred Osterman, Dale Rives, Sharee Rodgers, Bri Roney, Kaitlyn Rosenbaum, Thomas Rowe, Madeline Rusin, Caleb Smith, Trey Wise, Amanda Woods, Emily Zerr
The Warrior Post is the official monthly publication of Martin High School. Opinion columns don’t represent the opinion of The Warrior Post or of Martin High School. The Warrior Post will not accept advertisements for products or services not legally available to students.
iPads aren’t the answer
Staffeditorial
Emma Bruce • Ashleigh Jones Designers
Tricia Regalado • Marlene Roddy Adviser • Principal
Read it & weep
Kaitlyn Rosenbaum & Madeline Rusin •Staffers School spirit is a good thing to have, but a little can go a long way. We all know of Martin’s traditions such as seniors painting their parking spot, upperclassmen overalls and coveralls. But one of the most wellknown traditions is First Event and the booing of the freshmen. Every year at the First Event pep rally, upperclassmen boo the freshmen as they enter the gym. But this year, there was a bit of change to this tradition. To start the pep-rally off, all grades enter separately in descending order. Everything goes well until the freshmen come in. At that time all upperclassmen turn to boo them. But this year didn’t go as smoothly as previous years. Plastic footballs were thrown from side to side, and bystanders were hit by the flying objects. The seniors blocked their faces with newspapers to avoid watching freshman cheerleaders. Aside from the disrespect at the First
Event pep rally, students have also been getting too rowdy at events such as football games. They have thrown water bottles at the opposing team’s cheerleaders and yelled offensive things. The hallways have also been a place where students go to be rude and ridicule others. Martin should be a place where the student body comes together as one. Traditions can be kept, but there is a fine line between school spirit and disrespect. There will always be friction between the grade levels, but this has been taken a bit too far. You can have fun with your friends and interact with cheerleaders and other groups, but disrespecting others is unnecessary and does not reflect well on you or the rest of the school. Students need to work on maturing a little bit more and learn the difference between having school spirit and “unclassy behavior.”
Morgan McKsymick • Staffer I’m sitting in English class trying to read a book on my iPad, and I get bored and decide to check Twitter just for two seconds. All of a sudden I’m completely distracted from my actual classwork. See how easy it is to get distracted from your assignments when working on an iPad? If our school was given iPads for our classwork, nothing would get done because most of us would choose reading tweets over reading an English book. The main problem with being handed an iPad is all of the things we can do on an iPad rather than our actual work. An iPad is basically just a bigger version of an iPhone, so why would we be allowed to use an iPad but not our phones? They’re both the same amount of distraction. The cost of an iPad for every single student in the Arlington school district would be overwhelming. We could use the money to do something else for our school. For example, we could get Macs for all of the computer classes before we decide to get iPads. Computers are far more important, and something both students and teachers use everyday. Kids are smart enough to find a way to text on their iPads, so they might as well allow phones if they’re going to allow iPads. If the iPad was only used for school purposes, things would be fine. But will everybody follow the rule of using it only for school purposes? No. The school board could try to block all of the distracting web pages and apps, but we’ll find a way to get around them just like we do on the computers. Let’s just face it, we all love electronics. Let’s not ruin them by reading books and doing homework on them. I would rather use my electronics for entertainment instead of doing homework or assignments. I think we get more work done the way it is now, and most people will be too distracted trying to read an English book on an iPad, and would rather read tweets instead.
More than just a
Show your caring beyond the screen Maddy Cope & Madeline Maxwell • Staffers
The real life
#PrayForConnor hit a world trending topic on Twitter. On Aug. 31 Connor Gage’s death was the topic of almost everyone’s tweets. Connor attended Ft. Worth Christian Academy. Though it’s nearby, how was it the Martin students heard so much about it? People pass away everyday so why is it that Connor stood above the
Before Twitter, when someone passed away, we would make time out of our busy schedules just to lend a shoulder to cry on. We made dinner for the family so they’d have one less thing to worry about. We’d send a box full of letters to their home. We would raise awareness in reality and not only in technology. Twitter is the easy way out. We get lazy and lose touch with the real world. We see everyone tweeting compassion towards mournful events trending on Twitter and we all become followers. We let Twitter become our leader. But sometimes you need to let your heart lead you instead.
show you the love that I already have for you and my eagerness to do life with you,” I wrote in my first entry to my future husband. Journaling to my unknown Romeo is absolutely life-altering. Writing him letters makes me fully understand the intimacy of the relationship that Christ has set out for us. To me, the way He loves and pursues us is the perfect model of how we need to base our relationships. I write to my husband explainging that I am constantly praying for his growth through Christ and the ways I am preparing to live life with him. I plan on giving him the journal on our wedding night, so he may see my absolute adoration towards him. Through journaling to Mr. Right, I have taught myself what humility honestly is. Without selflessness, the letters are nothing but another way to glorify myself, which is what love has transformed into lately. I refuse to let my purity be attention seeking. Purity is not selfish; it is giving yourself
completely to Christ, not to expect anything in return. Christ adores us so much that He may lead us into a relationship with someone. I strive to be so hidden in Christ that my husband will have to seek Him to find me. The word “love” has been so humanized that it’s only seen as a temporary “feeling” that comes more from desires to have what Nicholas Sparks depicts as love. It’s the need to be accepted by someone, so you may be accepted by everyone. Having a relationship in our society is more based on spontaneous feelings than really thinking about long term. When everything is based on temporary wants, there is no place for love, only passion. Passion is not love. Passion is a present feeling that could be gone within a week. Love, when based through the unending adoration of the Lord, will never fail. I have committed myself to waiting for my husband in hopes that I can not only begin a relationship with him but begin a movement. I long to encourage others to also keep themselves pure for their future spouses and for their infinite partners in life and, in my case, in Christ.
I’m marrying my husband before I meet him
Erin Hibbs• Features Editor What if you married your spouse before you knew them – if you lived as if your future husband or wife was watching your every move? Would it change how you live? True Love Waits promotes purity, but more often than not it’s just a ring, a forgotten promise or a guilt-driven commitment. We find ourselves dangling off the cliff between being pure and falling into temptation. My promise is to not be pushed to that limit, but to completely save myself for my husband. Purity is so much more than just physi-
cally saving yourself from that final leap. It’s also emotional and spiritual. Emotional purity is to guard your heart in every relationship and not allowing yourself to pour into someone that is only temporary or one that will not benefit your future spouse. By being immodest or too open with the way we compose ourselves, we can cause others to stumble. We have no position to ruin someone else’s love story because of our own want for attention. We are going to have someone that will love us not for what we can give them but for who we are. Why give anyone other than our future spouse any part of us? Nov. 15, 2011, I started journaling to my husband. I journal so I can give him something to showcase how much I truly love and have committed myself to him since before we even met. “Well this is me, talking to you, whoever you may be. HAHA that rhymed. Anyways, tonight I’m starting something new. I want to
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rest? What we really want to know is why we cared so much for a kid we never knew. In the process of writing this story in the weeks after Connor’s death, he is neither mentioned nor tweeted amongst Martin students. The definition of caring is sometimes misused in the modern generation. We blame Twitter. Twitter is just a way to exploit our feelings outside of reality. Is a caring tweet really showing you have a heart? Or is it just a way to fit in with the crowd? Our Twitter timelines were blown up Sept. 3 with a link to a video of Connor Gage. It brought some to tears, some to gasps. It gave everyone, including Martin students, an inside look on Connor Gage. We got to see Connor for who he was.
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Ghostly encounters
There’s an app for that
Anna Dressed in Blood chills
Addictive apps beyond social media Sarah Baggett & Lauren House • Staffers
You may be addicted to social media, but what else do you check on your phone every day? Here are some apps that are ingrained in to your brain. Just because you already have music on your phone doesn’t mean you can’t make your own. Junior Ashley Jacobus plays Magic Piano daily. “It was on a preview of another game,” Jacobus said. “You can get new songs that you listen to and play them on the piano.” Not everything is fun and games though. Senior Philip
Lover uses his texting app on his Android to make his dreams of having an iPhone come true. “Basically a message pops up like an iPhone message and you can reply instantly without opening the message,” Lover said. Shark Week may be over but you can still relive the memories with HShark2, a game where you can be the shark. “You tilt the phone to swim and try to eat people, penguins, and fish,” sophomore Megan Crown said. “I found it on the top 25 Apps and recommend it to anyone who finds themselves bored.” Ever play Tiny Wings? Hot Donut is similar, except you are a donut!
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“You’re a super-donut rolling down hills and trying to get to the finish line as quickly as possible,” freshman Marrissa Quintanilla said. “I play Hot Donut at least a couple times a week, and I’d suggest it to anyone looking for new games.” Sophomore Rhett Enterline spends his free time jumping on the bandwagon and racing his friends in Vs. Racing 2. “All of my friends were playing it one day, and it looked fun, so I downloaded it,” Enterline said.
Ariel Hernandez • Opinions Editor When you’re a regular 17-year-old boy, your plans for the future don’t usually involve killing the dead. But that’s exactly what Cas Lowood does for a living. This first-person narrative, by Kendare Blake, is the predecessor to the sequel Girl of Nightmares. This highly acclaimed duo in Young Adult Fiction is one that both bibliophiles and non-book readers will adore. Jump in this tale of mystery, thrills and magic, constructed by the whimsical mind of Kendare Blake. Along with a colorful set of characters, witty writing and a hilariously smug protagonist, this is much more than just a simple ghost story. Blake’s highly original book with a gorgeous cover and blood red font, is that book you carry around with you. You’ll unregrettably stay up way too late to read this story unfold. Without a single dull page, Anna Dressed in Blood delivers.
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Knowing about caring and caring about you
(That aren’t what you’d think)
Looking for a new way to spend late nights and Saturdays? Tired of the same old standard TV shows? Check out some of these student recommended favorites that aren’t what you’d expect. Here’s 5 TV shows that you probably don’t watch...but you should. by Dale Rives • Staffer
Hoarders: Buried AliveDocumentary/Reality This show focuses on the ugly truth of the illness known as hoarding. “I like to help people, and it’s amazing to see these people, with this huge problem, get help,” said junior Lauren Mitchell. “They need help, and with the show they get it. You’d be amazed to see the things they hoard. It’s interesting to look around the house and see what all is in there,” Mitchell said. Hoarders: Buried Alive is in its fourth season and runs on TLC.
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This isn’t your grandmother’s antique store. The show focuses on the wacky, weird antique store owned by Mike Zohn and Evan Michelson. Objects such as mummified cats, monkey skulls and straightjackets have passed through the store. “You can watch it for hours and you cannot believe people would want some of this stuff,” junior Megan Grimes said. “It’s a unique show that anyone can watch and find interest in.” Oddities runs on Discovery Channel and is working its third season.
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Arrested Development- Comedy
If you’re into exploring and finding cool stuff, this is the show for you. “At first I watched it because I like history, but the stuff on there that they find is vintage and cool,” freshman Cameron Churkey said. The show is about two men who travel around the U.S. searching for antiques and collectibles in old barns and piles of junk. The show revolves around the interesting stuff they find. American Pickers airs on the History Channel.
This show focuses on an insane, upper class, dysfunctional family that is thrown for a loop when they become the center of a FBI investigation. “A smart comedy about dumb people,” sophomore Toby Griffin recommends. “It’s hilarious, and I recommend it. You can watch it once, and be entertained for hours on the jokes.” The show lasted three seasons, and a fourth is currently in development, available on Netflix.
Psych- Detective-Comedy/Drama Psych is a hilarious police drama centered around an immature man and his best friend who have convinced the Santa Barbara P.D. of the main character’s “psychic powers,” which is actually just keen powers of observation. “It’s hilarious, dramatic mix that makes it likable to everyone,” junior Jo Conaway said. The show is entering its seventh season this winter and airs on ION.
Photo by Bri Roney
Oddities- Reality
American Pickers- Reality
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Sophomore publishes 17 story online on Wattpad
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Bri Roney • Staffer Wattpad is a Canada-based website that has joined together the best of both the writing and reading worlds. Founded in 2006 by Ivan Yuen, the popular website describes itself as “the best place to discover and share stories.” Though not all Wattpad stories get hundreds of thousands of reads, sophomore Katelyn Needham knows what it’s like to be the author of a Wattpad-famous story. “Do you remember when our teachers used to have us write stories with our vocabulary words in them?” Needham said. “That’s when I first realized that I liked to write. The other kids in my class wrote the shortest story they could while mine was a page and a half or longer.” As she got older, she became more and more interested in writing. By the time she was in seventh grade, Needham considered writing to be a real hobby of hers. “I write from a teenager’s point of view,” Needham said. “I write about relationships and things teens go through. I can’t really write from a 30-year-old man’s point of view. That wouldn’t make any sense, would it?” When posting her story ‘Why Do Older Guys Like Me?’ to Wattpad in Sept. 2010, Needham didn’t expect much. But when the reads on her story began to skyrocket, it was clear that people liked what they saw. “I was amazed,” Needham said. “I didn’t think anyone would like my story because it was my first one and there were a lot of grammatical errors.” With 274,823 reads and counting, Needham’s story continues to grow more and more popular by the day. “Every time the hits went higher, I was like ‘Dad, look! Dad, look!’ All I could say was ‘Man, I can write something that people enjoy.’” Though writing is a definite passion of hers, Needham also has one very different career path in mind. “I want to do some form of writing, journalistic or not,” Needham said. “But my main career path would be psychiatric help for war veterans and their families. I find the human mind really interesting.”
sports
18 Word on the turf
Martin welcomes a new turf for athletes
Caleb Smith• StaffBang Bang! The sound of the yellow tractors plowing clay, soot and sand rang in the Martin athletes’ ears as their black tank top shirts dripped sweat onto the fresh, green lawn at the annual strength and conditioning camp in June and July at Martin High School. The highly-anticipated wait of the new, green turf ended in Early August as the construction workers rolled out the green masterpiece. This is a turning point for all Martin athletes. Not only will they get the chance on playing on more effective grounds, it will also provide the joy of not canceling games such as soccer due to a rained-soaked, muddy field. “This is a convenient thing more than anything,” head football Football and soccer athletes have benefitcoach Bob Wager said. “You’re ted from the new turf field. The turf was asking a 16-year-old kid to drive installed this summer. Photo illustration by to Cravens Field for a football Chandler Harrell game or a soccer game due to cancellation? This will definitely provide and provides a better playing surface which easy transportation for the athletes.” will be appreciated to our style of play,” seAll AISD schools had turf put down nior soccer player Stanley Smith said. for their athletic field in part to save The turf has helped provide motivation money on transportation costs. for players to improve their game on and During soccer games is one place off the field. where the turf field makes huge imThe installation of the new turf field is pact. expected to bring a sigh of relief, joy and “I think this season will be great, effervescent attitude to all Martin students, providing the turf will be more smooth and to the Martin athletes.
Let the game do the talking
Deaf Freshmen football player shares his story
Tyler Forde • Staffer Thursday nights, under the lights, freshman Micah Willis looks to his interpreter for the play call. Knowing the call, he waits in the backfield with anticipation. The hike is handed off to Willis and he is off. Willis is the running back for the freshman Red team and stands out from his teammates and spectators. He is the only deaf player on the Martin football team. Being deaf does, in fact, give Willis some advantages over other players like fewer distractions on the field, tuning out the crowd, and focusing on the way Martin runs its offense. “We run an offense focused on ball movement,” coach Neil Sharum said. “The calls are used to draw the defense offsides.” Willis’s biggest struggle on the field is communication with his teammates. Although he can read lips, in order to get the play calls, there has to be an interpreter on the sidelines at practices and games. “I stay focused on the game and I can’t hear the distracting things being said,” Willis said. Growing up, Willis did not want to play football, but was talked into it by his mom.
Freshman Micah Willis catches a football at football practice. Willis learns plays with the help of his translater. Photo by Chandler Harrell
He also plans on trying out for the basketball and track team. “He is a great kid, he works just as hard and is treated like every other athlete,” Sharum said. Well liked among the players and coaches, Willis has a positive effect on the team “It’s cool to play with him and very cool to watch him play,” freshman Landon Hackley said. Performing well in the classroom and on the field, Willis will let nothing hold him back from reaching his goals and achieving success. “He doesn’t let anything keep him from being just like all of the other players,” Sharum said.
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History teacher runs haunted house in spare time
Haunted Houses Madeline Rusin • Staffer Haunted houses are full of screams, blood, horror, thrills and spine-tingling chills. Here are some of the top 5 haunted houses located all over the Tarrant County area.
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Cutting Edge Haunted House located in Forth Worth was featured on “America’s Scariest Haunted Attractions” on the Travel Channel. Cutting Edge also holds the Guinness World Record for the World’s Largest Walk Through Haunted House.
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Hangman’s House of Horrors is also located in Forth Worth. Hangman’s features a hour and a half walkthrough haunted house. Hangman’s also offers three side attractions incuding a haunted maze full of darkness and a 3D Wonderland through the rabbit hole as if you are Alice in Wonderland.
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No need to look far for fear, Zombie Manor is one of the many adventures in Arlington. Before Zombie Manor was opened as a haunted house, The Landrun Manor was built in the 1800s on an old cemetery where the family practiced voodoo and spiritual rituals. We now know this as Highway 287.
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Boneyard Haunted House, also located in Arlington, is said to actually be haunted. No one knows the full true story. Locals say it has changed as generations pass the stories on. No matter what the story, you will get the feeling of the house being truly haunted.
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Texas Scaregrounds in Kennedale, was voted for one of the top haunts in the country by Haunted Attractions Magazine. Texas Scaregrounds includes Chaos haunted house and Havoc’s Interactive Hayride. Whether inside or outside you can’t escape the horrors of Texas Scaregrounds.
- art by Sara Mancha
World History teacher Scott Davis and senior Aspen Kelso in the Dining Room in Midnight Mansion. The Midnight Mansion is the biggest haunt at Terrorplex Haunted House. Photo by Britney Henneman
Britney Henneman • Staffer
S
ome students know or have heard of teacher Scott Davis, but there is more than meets the eye with World History teacher Scott Davis. Aside from being a teacher, Davis also runs a haunted house called Terrorplex in Rendon off of Highway 1187 across from the TNT Fireworks stand. Terrorplex opened in the fall of 2007, meaning they’ve just hit their five-year anniversary. Terrorplex is open every weekend, Friday through Sunday, until Nov. 3. Many former and current Martin students volunteer at Terrorplex. Senior Aspen Kelso is the head makeup artist, along with Davis and they work together to do the makeup for about 60 to 100 people within an hour. A few years back, Davis was working for a different haunted house when he heard about the location where Terrorplex is now located. He went to go check out the location, and bought the five-acre lot almost immediately. He decided then that he wanted to
run the haunted house with his brother. “We had many name ideas,” Davis said. “Some of them used the word ‘Terror’ and others used the word ‘Plex.’ We just put a few together and came up with the name ‘Terrorplex,’ and it just stuck.” General admission to Terrorplex is $27 per person, or four dollars off if a student ID is presented upon purchasing a ticket. A VIP ticket is also offered which is $37 at the door, or a VIP discount ticket can be found online. The purchase of a VIP ticket gets you to the front of every line, a discount on concessions and t-shirts, and one free shot glass. Typically, Saturday nights in October are the busiest with smaller crowds on Friday and Sunday nights. Terrorplex has four main attractions. The first one is called Midnight Mansion, which has a Victorian mansion theme, featuring Dr. Morbid and Saul. The second is Circus of the Dead and has a clown theme, with Dude the Clown being the main character. The third is Infected and has a mix between a military and zombie infestation
For more information regarding Terrorplex or for discount offers, visit:
terrorplex.com on Twitter at TerrorplexDFW on Facebook at Terrorplex.park
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theme. The fourth attraction is called Limbo, which is an outdoor, black maze. “On an average night there are about five or six people who have wet their pants by the time they leave,” Davis said. “It’s funny to see the big tough guys leaving scared and with wet pants.” Terrorplex also has a full concession including food and drink, t-shirts, glow sticks, a psychic palm reader and a concert stage. “My favorite thing about the haunted house would have to be the decorations and building the sets,” Davis said. “I also love seeing peoples’ reactions after they come out of a really scary house.” Davis builds new sets every year, so Terrorplex is always changing. “Unlike some haunted houses, we change our sets up every year, so if you come one year, then come again the next, because everything will be different,” Kelso said. “Most people don’t really see how much work and effort we put into this place.” Davis strives for 100 percent satisfaction from customers. “The customer’s reaction is important to me,” Davis said. “I always ask customers questions as they’re leaving to see what they thought and how they liked it, so I can make Terrorplex the best it can be.”
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FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS... Every Friday night, our school comes together for a football game or pep rally.
Morganne Clay & Morgan McKsymick • Staffers
“When I walk on the field I try to zone out all of the fans and just worry about my responsibility and focus on what I need to do to help our team be successful during that game,” senior varsity football player Regan Luce said. Photo by Karsen Cinquepalmi
“My favorite part of Friday night football games is playing in the drum line with the cheerleaders during the third quarter,” senior drum-line member Armando Chapa said. ““It’s awesome to perform with them and interact more with the student body.” Photo by Karsen Cinquepalmi
“Before our football games we have to be mentally and physically prepared,” senior varsity football player Skylar Tardy said. “Every week we watch hours of film and know exactly where every player on the opposing team is at all times.” Photo by Karsen Cinquepalmi
“After spending so much time with the Varsity football team I become emotionally attached to my players. I feel both the lows and highs each of them have during the season,” varsity football coach Bob Wager said. Photo by Karsen Cinquepalmi
“My favorite part of performing in the games on Friday nights is hearing the applause after we’ve finished our dance that we’ve worked so hard on,” junior Sundancer Elizabeth Howe said. Photo by Karsen Cinquepalmi
“I get pumped up when the crowd joins in on cheering with us, because it brings us all together and makes the game that much louder and exciting,” senior varsity cheerleader Olivia Speeg said. Photo by Karsen Cinquepalmi