August 2007 Issue of The Sycamore Leaf by Sycamore High School

the

leaf

FRIDAY August 31, 2007 Volume LV Issue I 7400 Cornell Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45242 513 686. 1770 ext. 3089

newsbytes

Eight years of excellence Sycamore Community Schools has continued its esteemed reputation by receiving the “Excellence” rating for the eighth consecutive year on the Ohio Graduation Report Card.

Debate club recruits new members Speech and debate club is recruiting members for its first meeting on September 4th. For information, contact Mrs. Connie Smith in room 217, or presidents Tamir Haddad, 12 and Michelle Johnson, 11.

Yearbook pick-ups If you have not yet picked up your pre-ordered 2006-2007 yearbook, it can be picked up at the main office anytime during regular school hours. Don’t forget to order the 2007-2008 yearbook prior to January 1st for $60.

2-4 5-6 fun&games 7 diversity 8 feature 9-19 a&e 20-21 sports 22-29 calendar 31 spotlight 32

inside

The Leaf!

opinion chief

ixteen may not be so sweet anymore-- but now, it is much safer. In compliance with Ohio’s House Bill 343 passed in April, junior parking passes are now limited to two student drivers, instead of the previous three. The new law limits probationary drivers under seventeen to drive only one non-family passenger and prohibits driving between midnight and five a.m., unless with a parent or guardian. “It makes a lot of stuff a lot harder, especially if you need to transport groups or underclassmen to school functions. You end up making multiple trips which is bad because we have deadlines,” said Terrence Southard, 11. Additionally, permit drivers under eighteen are prohibited from driving between midnight and five a.m., and seventeen-year-old drivers between one a.m. and five a.m. Exceptions to the curfew include work,

>> DRIVING LAW: PAGE 2

photo by melodie jeng

New biotechnology class added to curriculum Students bond over summer, prepare for two years of class together

image by staff

Former student paints mural in Commons

ALEXA FOGLER

associate editor

Mrs. Beth Quinones has spent the last four years trying to get biotechnology approved. For the first time this year, 23 juniors will take this science class. “Taking this class was a big commitment and I had to give up some electives, but it’s worth it,” said Tamar Wiener, 11. The class is held two bells a day for two years. It is lab-based and teaches practical science that can be used in the workplace. Experiments will include gene cloning, protein chemistry, and building molecular models. The students will compete with five other area schools that have the same type of class. At the end of two years, participants will be responsible for a capstone project. Each student will be paired with a company or college partner to work with throughout the two years. This provides opportunities for scholarships and co-ops after graduation. Since the group will be spending the next two years together, Tom Seiple, 11 hosted an afternoon of bonding at his house before school started. 16 of the students enrolled attended the party.

Homecoming: September 29

ALEXA FOGLER associate editor

image courtesy of mrs. beth quinones

JUNIORS TOM SEIPLE, Tamar Wiener, and Christina Bell participate in a Biotech bonding activity. The two-bell, two-year long class is being introduced this year for the first time.

“Even though it was only one night we all feel really close,” said Wiener. To apply for this class, students must have a B average in science, a C average overall, be enrolled in chemistry, have taken or be enrolled in Algebra II, and write a paragraph saying why they are interested in the class.

About the Principal

“A Dance with Dr. Seuss” Spirit Week Pep Rally Hallway Decorations Senior: “Oh the Places We’ll Go” Junior: Cat in the Hat Sophomore: the Lorax Freshman: “Go Aves Go”

Friday: Parade: “Sycamore in Suessville” Pre-game Celebration Football Game

Saturday: Dance: 9 p.m.-12 a.m.

In an effort to increase school spirit, former Sycamore grad Elise Allen was asked by the class of ’07 to paint a mural in the commons. After working 30 hours during the summer on the wall, she was asked to do another painting for the gym scheduled to be finished by the beginning of basketball season. The new mural in the main gym will feature the same airplane design from the commons but painted from a different angle. The wording will most likely remain the same, but has yet to be solidified. “It should really jazz the gym up,” said Allen. “Hopefully it will get students more excited to come to games.” Mrs. Margaret Copfer, Allen’s former art teacher and mentor, suggested Allen to Karen Nesbitt, ’07 who helped plan the project. “I appreciate that Mrs. Copfer recommended me,” said Allen. “I went to high school here, so it’s nice to be back. I hope to continue working with Sycamore in the future.”

Q&A with Mr. Chris Davis, principal should the students Q. What expect from you this year? they will find that A. A. II hope am very approachable.

The week of:

news opinion

MELODIE JENG

Potential NHS members

On Thursday, September 20th, the football game against Lakota East will be televised for the first time in Aviator history. The game will be on the local channel, starting at 7:30 p.m until the game ends.

YEARS

Juniors, seniors quickly fill up parking spaces

Several new synthesizer labs have been installed in the music rooms. “This should be a very positive thing for the students in the music department,” said Mr. Chris Davis, principal.

Football game to be televised for first time

55 Celebrating

New driving law limits high school drivers

New labs in music dept.

Current juniors and seniors with a 3.6 GPA or higher are eligible to become National Honors Society members. If you do not already have 30 hours of community service, make sure to get those in before applications are circulated this fall.

VARSITY GIRLS LACROSSE had a perfect season last spring, topped off by their state championships. Find out more about their amazing season and win on page 25.

TRYING TO FIND a niche? Join a club. Check out pages 16 and 17 to learn about all the different ways you can fit in and find a place at this high school.

-administrator for past ten years -principal at Milford Junior High for four years - assistant principal and athletic director at Milford Junior High for three years -assistant principal at Mason High School for three years -lives in West Chester -loves the outdoors -has five kids, ages one through nine

I really like sitting and talking; I enjoy the people side of the job, so hopefully you’ll see me out and about a lot, talking to people. I want to continue the student advisory committee so that students have the ability to express their concerns and share what they’d like to see done differently.

Are there any changes or anything new that you are

implementing this year? My approach is that I have an awful lot to learn here-- the culture, and the students-- before I start saying we have to change anything. There isn’t anything that is really going to affect the students. We’re working on some professional development activities for the staff, which started last year that I helped facilitate, so we as adults are going to continue learning and growing just as we are expecting you students to do.

2 DRIVING LAW: REACTION CONT. FROM FRONT

emergency, or parent/guardian presence. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading causes for teenagers. Statistics have shown that 16-year-olds have higher crash rates than drivers of any other age, and the death rate increases with each additional passenger. “I think it is a good law, particularly because you have young drivers without experience and they don’t need distractions,” said assistant principal Mr. Antonio Shelton. With a large class of seniors, the Green parking lot has completely filled up. Seniors who still need a parking spot must turn in their completed pass by the end of September, and they will be placed in the Gold lot. If there are any spaces left after all senior passes have been processed, juniors may apply for solo spots, and they will be fairly distributed for the Gold and Aves lots. Other local schools have not been so fortunate. Northwest, Oak Hills, and Milford school districts do not provide transportation for students above eighth grade, resulting in inconvenience for parents and possible student carpools that violate the law. Worries have risen over the enforcement of the law as 16 and 17-year-olds look alike, and it is nearly impossible for police officers and school officials to track every teenager. If violated, the first offence is a fine up to $100 and the second is license suspension. “I have five kids and four drivers; the thing I worry about most as a parent is what they’re doing in the car,” said Assistant Superintendent Dr. Keith Kelly. “It’s not only a teen issue. Today, there are so many distractions. We’re all at risk for an accident. Honestly, I think the parents should be responsible to enforce the law, therefore it will be enforced by the student.” It is not known whether the new law has been effective. The school is not in charge of policing the law. Many teenagers find the law troublesome, yet must comply. For some parents, the new law may help decrease anxiety. “I think it has a good meaning and it really doesn’t affect me but in the long run,” said Nikki Ponticos, 11. “I think it will be a good law.” Ohio’s new law may add one year of inconvenience, but decrease distractions and tragedies. Perhaps MTV should rename its show “My Super Safe Sixteen.”

news 08.31.07

Heat wave:

Athletes, band members suffer outdoors

KATE MOORE

ELIZABETH HOOPES & JENNIFER LEE editor-in-chief staff writer

he unprecedented, record-high level of heat is taking its toll on students—especially athletes and band-members. Members of fall sports teams are receiving a beating from the weather, forced to practice outdoors every day in stifling weather. Practice times have been changed for the football and cross-country teams to avoid the hottest hours of the day. The boys varsity soccer team in particular had a nightmarish run-in with the heat. After their game at Elder High School on the first day of school, the bus transporting them back home broke down just five minutes onto the expressway from being overheated—stranding the soccer players on the bus for three hours. “It was more than a hundred degrees outside, but it was a good team bonding experience,” said Joey Hiudt, 12. “We told the parents not to worry about it, but we didn’t expect to be on the bus for three hours.” Not only have the athletes suffered, band members have had to deal with the heat as well. For the past month, the marching band has been working on their latest show, Ropes, at band camp. Unlike previous years, however, the band members had to work in scorching hot weather. “It was ridiculously hot, and we were out there longer than any of the sports teams,” said Scott Kruger, 12. Imagine learning drill sets, music, guard work, fundamentals, and visuals, in addition to doing other strenuous things, in over 100-degree heat, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. “We got out there at 8 a.m., and by 9 a.m. we were already sweaty” said Leah Reis, 10. “We

Interested in becoming

Mr. (or Ms.!) Aviator? Submit a letter of interest to Ms. Klemt’s mailbox

Lunch prices climb with addition of healthy food managing editor

Lunch prices rose again this year as a result of new, healthier foods options and diminished funds. Mrs. Barbara Duncan, Director of Child Nutrition, has dedicated 20 years to providing quality food for students at reasonable prices. “I’ve always tried to maintain quality and buy name brand foods,” said Duncan. In order to keep this balance, the traditional plate lunch will now cost $3.00 as a result of increased food and milk prices. “We are independent of the general funds of the school district,” said Duncan. “In order to run our program efficiently, I had to increase food prices.” New options will include a fresh deli, where sandwiches are made to order, smaller drink sizes, and oven baked fries that contain 25 percent less fat. The deli meal will cost $3.50 and old favorites will also put a bigger dent in people’s wallet. A two-pack of cookies is now 70 cents and the bagels, which are delivered fresh from Bruegger’s Bagels in Blue Ash, are now 80 cents. Duncan explained that healthy options tend to cost more. For example, a loaf of whole grain bread costs 32 cents more than white bread. Food prices are up ten percent overall, which explains the 25 cent increase for school meals.

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100 F o

80 F o

60 F 40oF o

20 F

Q&A

with Carol Combs, nutrition

Q. Did you notice a decline in lunch purchases? I haven’t noticed anything, but it is still early A. No, in the year.

-20

image by sharon wagner

were constantly exhausted from the heat but we pulled through it and did even more at this year’s band camp than we did at last year’s when it was cooler.” Although band camp has ended, the marching band will continue to suffer the heat along with the athletes in order to prepare for their first competition on September 9. “We can only hope the heat will die down,” said Kruger.

Q. Do people seem satisfied with their lunches? they seem to be satisfied since we have a A. Well, bigger selection and more to choose from. Also, the food is healthier, so that’s good.

Q. Do you think that the changes are for the better? A. Yeah, so far it’s better. Q. What does next year look like? don’t know yet, but hopefully prices won’t A. We rise anymore.

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news

08.31.07

School welcomes fourteen staff members

Meet new additions to high school RASHMI BORAH & LIBBY HENNING & MICHELA TINDERA diversity editor

feature editor

arts editor

Mr. Sean Geers Teaching Experience: 7 years at Princeton City; Our Lady of Sacred Heart College: University of Cincinnati; Northern Kentucky University; Ohio Dominican University Pet Peeves: uncleanliness; lying

Mrs. Kelly Flodder

Teaching Experience: High school science; special education; K-5 at Oak HIlls College: University of Dayton; Masters at University of Cincinnati Pet Peeves: Not accepting diversity Music: Red Hot Chilli Peppers; John Legend; Van Morrison Celebrity Crush: Mark Wahlberg

Ms. Stephanie Belt

Teaching Experience: Special ed. for 12 years; managing position for 2 College: Limestone College, SC; Ohio State University Pet Peeves: When kids say “I don’t care” Favorite Music: All but classical Celebrity Crush: Zac Efron

Mrs. Robyn Jordan

Teaching Experience: 2 years at Arkansas State University; 4 years at Cincinnati Public Schools College: Arkansas State University Pet Peeves: Cell phones; talking over people Music: R&B and Rap; anything new Celebrity Crush: Matt Damon; Matthew McConahey

Mr. Greg Ulland Teaching Experience: 6 years at Reading High School; assistant coach at Mount Notre Dame; 5th year volleyball at Moeller College: Miami University Pet Peeves: Dishonesty Favorite Music: Outkast Celebrity Crush: Wife

Mr. Andrew Jennings Teaching Experience: Substitute at Walnut Hills for 4 months College: UC and Xavier Pet Peeves: People not paying attention Music: Indie Rock Celebrity Crush: Charlize Theron

Mrs. Sarah Strong Teaching Experience: High school science; special education; Math College: Xavier University Pet Peeves: People chewing with mouth open Music: Jack Johnson; Plain White T’s; Rihanna Celebrity Crush: Jake Gyllenhaal

Ms. Alissa Seiter Teaching Experience: Ross School district for one year College: UC for undergrad Pet Peeves: lateness Music: Everything; especially music from musicals; but no rap Celebrity Crush: Jensen Ackles

>> NEW STAFF: PAGE 4

news

08.31.07

NEW STAFF: WELCOME CONT. FROM PAGE 3

Ms. LaToya Pitts

Ms. Kathy Ottopal

Teaching Experience: First year teaching College: Wilmington College; University of Florida Pet Peeves: Chewing with mouth open and not mergng properly on highway Favorite Music: Everything but Blues Celebrity Crush: Paul Walker

Mrs. Brenda Fisher Teaching Experience: Professional experience in counseling, supervision, and administration. College: Miami University; Xavier UniversityPet Peeves: Ask my kids and my husband, they will say I have lots of them! Favorite Music: Everything but country music Celebrity Crush: John Mayer

Department: Art Teaching Experience: 6 years College: University of Cincinnati; Miami University Pet Peeves: People not cleaning up in the Commons Music: 50s Music

Mrs. Carol Wood

Mr. Kevin McCoy

Department: Social Studies Teaching Experience: first year College: University of Dayton Pet Peeves: people late to class Favorite Music: JayZ; Lil Wayne; NeYo

Good luck to our

14 new

staff members!

Department: Global Language Teaching Experience: Over 15 years at Yavneh Day School; Academy of Old Languages College: University of Cincinnati Pet Peeves: dishonesty; not focusing

Mrs. Idit Moss

Not pictured:

Teaching Experience: 5th year teaching, taught at North College Hill for the past four years. College: Kentucky State University in Frankfort , KY Pet Peeves: WhenStudents tap me when they need a question answered students telling each other to shut up, and stinky feet Favorite Music: Gospel. Celebrity Crush: Taye Diggs.

Mrs. Sue Koehler hospitalized

Student assistance undergoes changes ROB FRIEDMAN fun&games chief

Mrs. Sue Koehler, one of the Student Assistance Counselors, was hospitalized at the end of last school year and remains very ill. Due to this illness, she will not be at school this year. “I’m going to miss Mrs. Koehler and her help. I hope she’s okay. She’s been a great help,” said Stephanie Post, 11. The other student assistance counselor, Mrs. Susan Warm, retired at the end of last year. However, due to Koehler’s illness, Warm will be returning part time and working with Mr. Rich Canter to fill Koehler’s job. Warm’s official replacement and the full-time Student Assistance Counselor is Mrs. Brenda Fischer. While these changes in staff will affect Student Assistance for a little while, the assistance groups will still occur, and everyone’s needs will be met. To see the schedule of when the counselors will be in, visit the Student Assistance office.

SAT, ACT, AP

How Sycamore compares to surrounding high schools Average

School

ACT score (out of 36)

Average

SAT score # who took (out of 1600) AP test

% AP students who got 3+

School

ACT score (out of 36)

SAT score # who took (out of 1600) AP test

% AP students who got 3+

Sycamore

24.8

1127

396

88.4

Madeira

23.5

1099

113

77.9

Colerain

20.7

991.9

144

79.9

Princeton

20.9

1035

190

53.7

Indian Hill

24.9

1151

241

87.1

Walnut Hills

25.9

1178

550

82.4

Loveland

23.4

1089

141

Wyoming

23.8

1123

249

75.5 Source: Ohio Department of Education

opinion

08.31.07

politically

incorrect

Political outlook not so good Candidates harm party image DAVID DANNENBERG opinion chief

staff editorial

arking passes always seem to create some sort of controversy. Thanks to the passenger limitations for new drivers, this year is no different. With juniors only allowed to sign up in groups of two, many were not even able to get a spot, let alone a good one. Legislators intended the law to prevent teen casualties by reducing distractions for new drivers. However, it has become somewhat more of a nuisance than a protection. Whether driving to school or to somewhere with friends, carpooling is no longer an option. This might even mean that fewer students will become involved in activities this year, unless they start begging seniors for rides. And has it really affected the number of collisions? This summer it seemed that the news covered a different wreck every day, often involving kids who were breaking the new law. See, for the most part these restrictions have not been heavily enforced – and everyone knows it. As long as teens can continue breaking the law without repercussions, it seems unlikely that anything will change. The intentions were certainly well-placed: help teens gain experience without the stress of a loud, lively car. After all, most 16-year-olds only have six months of experience before they are allowed to be on the road unsupervised. The hope is that after another year, drivers will be competent enough to handle the extra distraction. Unfortunately, this does not seem like the most practical approach. If the goal was to increase experience, why not extend the period between obtaining a permit and license? For example, in Michigan new drivers can get their learning permit at 14 and nine months. They are not eligible for a license until 16, allowing over a year to improve skills with an adult in the passenger seat. As of now it seems that the new law is floundering. Many kids are ignoring the law, while those who follow it find themselves inconvenienced. At least there is one upside for juniors who did score parking spots – now there are fewer people to wait for before trying to race out of the green lot.

the

leaf

Sycamore High School 7400 Cornell Road Cincinnati, OH 45242

Mission Statement: The Sycamore Leaf, the official newspaper of Sycamore High School, serves as an educational tool in the training of student journalists to provide information and editorial leadership concerning school, national, and world issues, to provide a public forum for the exchange of ideas and viewpoints, and to give coverage to newsworthy events directly related to the diverse school population. Editorial Policy: Although students work under the guidance of a professional faculty member, the content is ultimately determined by the student staff and should reflect all areas of student interest, including topics about which there may be dissent and controversy. Students cannot publish material that is obscene, libelous, or will cause “a substantial disruption of the educational process.” Content that may stimulate heated debate or

leafing through the masses

““ “

I think that it’s going to be really hard for kids to get to school. If the school doesn’t think of a new rule, there will be chaos. - Charles Noland, 10 Nobody upholds the carpooling rule. You can get away with putting more people in your car. - Michael Frasier, 12 I think it would prevent accidents because more of those occur when there are lots of people in your car. - Meredith Murphy, 11

discussion is not included in this definition. The Sycamore Leaf operates as an open forum for the healthy, robust exchange of ideas. Opinions expressed in the editorials are those of the Sycamore Leaf staff. Letters to the editor are encouraged. All letters must be signed. The letters, not to exceed 300 words, may be edited for clarity, spelling, and grammar. Letters may be placed in Mrs. Jardine’s mailbox, dropped off in Room 115, or e-mailed to: sycamoreleaf@ gmail.com The Sycamore Leaf reserves the right to decide not to cover a death based on relevance, timeliness, and circumstances decided on by the editorial board. In cases that the editorial board decides not to cover a death, letters to the editor in regard to that death will be printed. The Sycamore Leaf’s complete editorial policies can be found at http://goaves. sycamoreschools.org

News Wenjun Zhang Opinion David Dannenberg Melodie Jeng Humor Rob Friedman Ben Dhiman Feature Libby Henning Sharon Wagner Diversity Bobby Jungerwirth Rashmi Borah A&E Casey Manning Jill Cohen Athletics Nadia Khan Will Johnston Spotlight Sanya Dosani Jacy Cagle

The 2008 presidential race has gradually decreased to a pace so slow that it seems as if it is going backwards. It does not take a genius to figure out why, either. The fact is, the candidates are tarnishing the reputations of rival candidates within their own parties. While they commence with the mudslinging, the American public is exposed to each candidate’s dark side. Here is a look at how a few have fared: Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) has received a considerable amount of internet coverage; in fact, his name is searched over the internet more often than any other candidate, according to Technorati. Unfortunately, the libertarian physician has managed to minimize any chance he has of getting nominated by voting against the USA PATRIOT Act and the Iraq War Resolution, among other controversial documents. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) seems to have taken a short break from the front pages as he tries to recoup from the “Obama Girl” mess. Former Junior Senator John Edwards, meanwhile, has gone after Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY), who has recently been tarnished by accusations that she accepted $400,000 in campaign donations from lobbyists. Clinton has tried to defend this accusation by pointing out that the lobbies that she took the money from represent “nurses… social workers… [and] corporations that employ a lot of people.” Edwards, however, will not relent, and is touting himself as a venerable, uncorrupted candidate, while painting Clinton as a member of the “establishment elite.” Senator John McCain (R-AZ) has been out of the limelight for a while, having made a few senseless remarks, and seems to be largely laying low. The same cannot be said, however, for Mitt Romney, who recently bashed former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani for allowing what Romney called “sanctuary city” policies in New York City, which essentially means that Giuliani was soft on illegal immigration during his reign as New York City mayor. Naturally, each candidate is trying his (or her) very best to be appointed by the voters of their respective parties. However, with each candidate slinging mud at other candidates from the same party, the American public will simply begin to believe that each candidate is the worst choice. Not only are the candidates digging their own graves, but they are digging graves for their respective parties as well.

Editor-in-chief: Jennifer Lee Associate editor: Alexa Fogler Managing editor: Kate Moore Business managers: Mary Ann Jiang & Gabirose Keeton Staff Writers Noa Bellilti Leah Burgin Jacy Cagle Jane Chernyak Electra Chronis Sam Cleary Matt Davenport Ben Dhiman Ben Estes Alex Gennett Elizabeth Henning Elizabeth Hoopes Daphne Hsu Kye Isaac Molly Johnson Jared Kamrass Mandi Kipner Matthew Mendelsohn Dan Montague Kate Moore Hannah Myers Jake Newton

Matthew Scheer Matthew Slovin Jeremy Spiegel Michela Tindera Jack Wang Mini-Mag Marissa Gunnarsson Jack Liu

Photographer Jeremy McDaniel Adviser Cheralyn Jardine About us Professional memberships: •Columbia Scholastic Press Association. •Great Lakes Interscholastic Press Association. •Journalism Association of Ohio Schools. • Journalism Education Association. •National Scholastic High School Press Association. •Ohio Professional Writers (National Federation of Women Writers). •Quill & Scroll International Journalism Honorary.

opinion

08.31.07

THE CURRENT DRINKING age in the United States is 21. Some argue lowering the drinking age to 16 or 18 will decrease the “cool, forbidden,” message of alcohol and result in responsible alcohol consumption. Others argue that irresponsible drinking will continue with irresponsible guardians.

PRO

WENJUN ZHANG

news chief

n four years, I can legally drink in the U.S. Of course, in exactly four years’ time, I will be mature enough to handle the responsibility of alcohol. Of course, in only four year’s time, will I be fit to drink? See? It is absurd for the drinking age to be set at 21. While we should appreciate the government’s attempts at regulating drinking, the age limit simply is outdated and does not work well. For example, other countries such as China and Greece who do not have an age limit have fewer problems with drinking than the U.S. This is because without a ban on alcohol, drinking ceases to be a “cool, forbidden” kind of thing. The social pressure to drink is lessened because liquor is not seen as being “special.” The statistics do not lie. In universities, 22 percent of underage students drink heavily, compared to the 18 percent of drinkers over 21. Also, if we lower the drinking age to say 18 or 19, parents and guardians have more opportunities to teach their children about responsible drinking. Moreover, when we are 18, we become legal adults. Our parents can throw us out, and the law recognizes us as adults. Should we not be able to drink when we are adults capable of making our own choices? If I am an adult at 18-years of age, I should be able to make adult decisions about my choices, including drinking. We all remember what happened during the Prohibition Age. When the government tried to meddle in the sale of alcohol, citizens simply created a black market for liquor. By legalizing alcohol, the government helped eliminate an underground business. We should assume that by lowering the drinking age, less underage drinkers will be tempted to drink. Thus, it is important to seriously consider this change in policy. By implementing a drinking age limit, the government only created more problems: help solve the problem by lowering the age limit.

Lower Drinking Age: Would it help or

hurt teens?

CON

image by melodie jeng

KATE MOORE

managing editor

As the problem of binge drinking among teens increases, people are desperate to prevent the epidemic from ruining more lives. The problem is, underage drinkers are already abusing the current law. Lowering the law to include people 18 years of age will change nothing; in fact, it will only decrease the number of people drinking illegally. Teenagers have already proven that it is easy enough to get alcohol. The rising numbers of underage binge drinkers proves that they do not care about breaking the law. Making it legal and taking away the “forbidden fruit” aspect will not deter them. Lowering the drinking age would actually encourage teenagers to drink more, and beer companies would be able to gear their advertising toward a more impressionable demographic. The only way to eliminate the problem is to better enforce the current law. Thanks to irresponsible guardians and lackluster efforts to card underage drinkers, it is fairly easy for teens to drink under the radar. Parents and vendors need to change their mindsets when it comes to allowing teens easy access to alcohol. Many parents think that it is safe to let teenagers consume alcohol as long as they supervise the drinking and do not allow anyone to drive. The problem with this is that it teaches bad habits; plenty of teens will go on to find ways to drink on their own. By the time they reach 21, they are already becoming alcoholics. The goal is that those who consume alcohol do so responsibly. By preventing teenagers from drinking at an early age, we can prevent them from falling into a rut. Lowering the drinking age to accommodate those who already drink will not fix the problem. Adults need to better enforce the current law to show teens that drinking is a matter of serious responsibility. If the supposed enforcers do not take the law seriously, how can they expect us to do the same?

New draft law proposed in House Military service would be mandated ROB FRIEDMAN

fun&games chief

image by jen lee

Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY) has once again proposed a bill that would institute a military draft for people over 18. Rangel was recently appointed chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, which is also known as the tax-writing committee. “There’s no question in my mind that this president and this administration would never have invaded Iraq, especially on the flimsy evidence that was presented to the Congress, if indeed we had a draft and members of Congress and the administration thought that their kids from their communities would be placed in harm’s way,” said Rangel. This is not the first time he has proposed such a law; he did so in 2003 and 2006. In 2003 he proposed a law that would have forced people to register for a draft of 18 to 26

year olds. In 2006 he proposed a law that would mandate military service for both sexes from ages 18 to 42. However, both of his previous proposals have not made it out of House committee. An interesting twist to Rangel’s proposal is that he intends to make everyone serve in one way or another. Those who would are limited impairments would serve in public service jobs rather than the armed forces. “Young people [would] commit themselves to a couple of years in service to this great republic, whether it’s our seaports, our airports, in schools, in hospitals,” said Rangel. The draft law has just recently entered Congress and has to go through a grueling process to become a law.

fun&games

8.31.07

image by sharon wagner

Sudoku Fun

grid form

ROB FRIEDMAN

‘Bop to the top’

8 tricks to be like your favorite High School Musical character JENNIFER LEE

editor-in-chief

f ultra-bright, ultra-cheesy, and ultracute are three words you wish described your life, boy have we got news for you. You, too, can be like Troy, Gabriella, or Sharpay. You, too, can pretend that you go to East High-- where students not only go to school together, but burst out in song together, dance on top of cafeteria tables together, and even go to work at summer resorts in Albequerque together. All you have to do is follow a few, simple steps:

fun&games chief

1. Dump out any and all clothing you could

possibly describe with the adjective “normal.” Fill your emptied-out closets with neons and candy-cane colors-- e.g. any color that My Little Pony would come in. Make sure that your room is pitch black when you get dressed in the morning-- this will make your mismatching of plaids, stripes, colors, and patterns even easier. If you want to go for a Gabriella look, stop by Hobby Lobby to purchase ribbons, bows, and fake flowers to attach to every part of your body. If you are more of a Sharpay, ignore everything that was just said. Think pink and fluffy.

2. Teach yourself and your friends five basic

Fill in each box so that every row, column, and box has the numbers 1-9. Make sure that there are no repeats!

songs that you can rotate whenever necessary. Make sure there is a Happy song, Excited song, Jealous song, Fed-Up-With-You song, and Sad (Break-up) song. Whenever the circumstance arises, burst out in the corresponding song. Try to time it at the most awkward moment possible.

3. When writing the lyrics of these songs, make

sure they repeat the same phrases and key words over and over again, just in case others do not hear you the first time. Make sure people understand What. You. Are. Saying. For example: “Fabulous Hair, fabulous style, fabulous eyes and that fabulous smile. I like what I see, I like it a lot.

Is this absolutely fabulous? Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous.” or even “We’ve got to work, work to work this out. We’ll make things right,the sun will shine. If we work, work there’ll be no doubt. We can still save the summer. If we work this out!”

4. Whenever you sense that you are about to

get in a fight with someone, look them deep in the eyes and say: “We’re all in this together.” This should quickly ease tension and create the atmosphere necessary for an all-forgiving hug.

5. Buy plenty of Bop-Its. It will make it easier for

you to “bop to the top” without hurting innocent bystanders.

6. Make sure to be very, very dramatic. Practice

your offended look, your mean look, your loving look, and your “Oh my god, she’s here?!” look. Use these in rotation.

7. Locate your birth certificates. Chances are,

the name inscribed on them is something like “David,” “Michael,” or “Sarah,” or “Lauren.” Cross these out immediately (preferably with Sharpie), and write in names like “Sharpay” (no pun intended), “Zeke” or “Kelsi.”

8. Ingest a jumbo-sized pill of “East High School Spirit” a day. When congratulating, encouraging, or sympathizingwith a fellow schoolmate, make sure to call them a “Wildcat.” As in, “Way to go, Wildcat!” or “Let’s go, Wildcats!” or “What’s wrong, Wildcat?” However, be prepared to subsequently undergo verbal or physical bullying/abuse by others who have not read this list and/or have not taken their jumbo-sized pill of EHSS, and thus do not have the same fondness for being called a “Wildcat.” You can also try using “Aviator.” However, “Wildcat” is preferable.

diversity

08.31.07

Sixty years of freedom

DIVYA INDRAKANTI, 11 and Samy Sekar, 12, perform a dance in the Bharatanatyam style at the India Independance Day celebration. On August 19th, thousands of Cincinnatians of Indian descent gathered at Fountain Square to celebrate the 60th anniversary of India’s independence from Great Britain, which was on August 15th, 1947. The festivities included a march down Broadway in downtown Cincinnati, and speeches by key members of the community, including Jay Goyal of the Ohio House of Representatives, and Eric Conney of the Ohio Senate.

Indian-Americans celebrate their culture, independence

Senior student debuts cultural talent

RASHMI BORAH

BOBBY JUNGERWIRTH

he world’s largest democracy was not always so. India was under the rule of the British since the 1800s, gaining independence in 1947, exactly sixty years ago. On August 19th, thousands of IndianAmericans living in Cincinnati gathered at Fountain Square downtown to commemorate the 60th anniversary of India’s independence. A march down Broadway to fountain square started off a three-hour celebration, including speeches from Ohio representative Jay Goyal as welll as other members of the Ohio and Hamilton County government. This celebration, both meaningful and important, showed the true spirit of the Indian population, and brought together the people of many states of India, but who think of themselves as one.

An Arangetram is a “debut performance,” a type of graduation performance. It could be compared to a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, a communion, or coming of age ceremony as well. It is performed only when the student is capable (in the eyes of the teacher) of carrying out the rite. It is, in a way, both a test of the teacher’s knowledge as well as the student’s prowess, for they will both be judged by a public audience.

diversity editor

To the student, their Arangetram is a test of their understanding of their dance. For example, the varnam part of a Bharathanatyam Arangetram blends pure dance, body movements with facial expressions, and acting. “I think dance will continue to play a therapeutic role for me,” said Samantha Sekar, 12. After completing their Arangetram, some students move on do not keep dancing, but many others choose to continue.

Q&A with Samantha Sekar

Q. First of all, what is an Arangetram? Q. What was the most exciting part of the whole process? is a debut performance; it literally means: “arang” A. It– stage favorite part of the Arangetram was having the muand “etram” – to raise. So I’m being raised onto A. My sicians come from India to play live music. It would not a stage for the first time. In this particular case, I’m having a “Bharathanatya Arangetram” which means I’m having a debut performance in the ancient south Indian classical dance form, Bharathanatyam.

have been anywhere near as successful a performance without them.

Q. What was the worst part? is Bharathanatyam; how does it compare to other Q. What People will tell you that the four or five hours a day styles of dance? A. of dance practice and the scolding from teachers made me realize that I had a long way to go to bewere the worst parts. For me, though, the excessive A. Itcome a great dancer. One of the things I did to prepare amounts of makeup took a while to get used to. It’s for the Arangetram was to go to India and learn from my “grand teacher,” or my teacher’s teacher. There I found some incredibly committed artists from around the world who devote their lives to dance.

Q. What did your Arangetram mean to you? word Bharathanatyam can be split into: “Bha” A. The meaning Bhava or expression, “ra” meaning raga or

images courtesy of staff

melody, “tha” meaning tala or rhythm, and “natyam” meaning dance. So the dance combines emotive and expressive movements with fast rhythmic movements. Sometimes we tell stories that are often based on Hindu folklore. Other times we express ourselves through pure dance movements that can be compared to tap dance because there are a lot of quick movements that require coordination of the hands and feet.

also quite difficult to be convincing while telling a story. For example, I had to pretend to be a boy begging his mother for butter and throwing a tantrum when she refused to give it to him. I had to do a lot of characterization, and it takes a lot of practice to really get into the roles.

Q. What role do you think dance will play in your future? I think dance will continue to play a therapeutic role for A. me. When I’m stressed out or have had a bad day, going

to dance class forces me to concentrate on the art that I love and gives me an escape. Also, I hope to use dance as a way of raising money for charitable organizations and other probono causes. I did this during my Arangetram; we raised over $2000 for the Association for India’s Development and the North Carolina Millenium Village Project.

feature

HIGHLIGHTS

08.31.07

Start

page

Did someone say CHIPOTLE?

Extreme summer thrills

07-08 right SHARON WAGNER

Teachers’ lives..... outside of school

featured this month

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Incredible success stories

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feature chief

efreshed from summer break, many students return to school with big plans for the coming year. They may start out well, but after those first few weeks, people fall back into the old routine and begin to slip up. Fortunately, this can be prevented by starting the school year in the right way. These are 3 easy tips for jump-starting the year.

Make a good first impression

People say it over and over, but it really is true. This is especially important for meeting teachers. While no one can make a perfect impression, anyone can dress nicely. This means no ripped-up clothes, and avoid anything that hints too strongly of summer— look focused and ready to learn (even if you aren’t). By simply looking like a straight-A student, a teacher that has never met you before may think you are one and already think highly of you. Make sure to be friendly with your teachers (no matter how crazy they seem), because their early approval will prevent disapproval later. Worried about becoming a teacher’s pet? That is why befriending unfamiliar students is important as well. Staying within a social bubble of 2 or 3 friends in each class could cause problems in future group activities and other nightmares. In any case, being kind to everyone is a great reputation to build.

Join activities… then narrow it down

Everyone at the high school knows that we take pride in offering so many activities. If a student is not already coming back to clubs or sports that they are active in or wants to try something new, check out the selection. However, there are some donots to remember when sampling extracurriculars. First of all, do not over-commit. Having time for 5 clubs at the beginning of the school year may not mean having time for 5 clubs the week before exams. Some clubs may only meet once a month (Art Club), while others may require countless hours a year (most sports) and others take over entire weeks and weekends, plus nights (Aves Theater). If interested in multiple activities, go to a few meetings of each and decide which would be easiest to spend the most time in. Take other commitments, such as jobs, into consideration when evaluating which clubs to continue. One common method of narrowing down extracurricular participation is staying involved in what friends are involved in. This has an upside and a downside: have fun with friends by doing something absolutely fantastic, or get stuck doing something appalling due to peer pressure. On the other hand, joining clubs with strangers is a fantastic way to make new/better friends.

Overstressing accomplishes nothing

Stress plagues all high school students, some more than others. Some even stress over things like getting straight A’s in 7 accelerated classes at once. It is great to aim high, but for the average teenager, this is unnecessary overstressing. The key to beating this affliction is to simply stop worrying. It is easier said than done, but when it is midnight and there are still 2 papers to write, try making a cup of tea and taking a few minutes to relax. Accept that it needs to get done, take a deep breath, and go do it. Do not create excess stress by obsessing over little things, like worksheets that are due in a week, at times like these. To prevent this kind of situation in the first place, do not be afraid to ask for reasonable extensions on big projects if there is a lot going on in other classes, or just your life for that matter. However, there is a massive disclaimer attached to this section: DO NOT EXPECT OR GET USED TO FAVORS. Keep in mind that they will not last if used more than about twice, especially as the year goes on. Of course, this also depends on the teacher. Perhaps most importantly, do not spread stress! Be a vehicle for happy feelings. Look on the bright side of life and try not to complain. When a friend says, “I’m going to fail this test,” say, “At least we aren’t dead!” Just try not to be that obnoxious.

‘Hey, new kid’

New student group offers assistance

ANASTASIA FLOWERS staff writer

As obvious as it seems, new students suffer a great deal of anxiety coming from a different school, different country or maybe even experienced a different learning process. It is a struggle to figure out interactive ways to not have the students feel like outcasts. How will I know where my classes are? Will everyone be nice? How will I make friends? Will the teachers be strict? All of these questions run through new students’ minds. It is an exciting but also uncomfortable moment, yet it is all worth it. It is a struggle to figure out interactive ways to not have the students feel like outcasts. That is the reason whythe high school has a new student group and breakfast available to help new students make acquaintances with others. The new student group is a group that focuses on the positive and negative aspects of being a new student.

The new student breakfast is where some of the teachers, counselors, principals and the superintendent attend to make them feel more comfortable about the school. It is also followed by a delicious breakfast with fun activities as well. These are all activities to help new students discover the great opportunities that this school has to offer. That is exactly why it is good to get involved in sports and clubs, so being at school will not be too bad for the average new student. In the midst of everything, make sure you stay true to yourself and others. Once one starts being something that they are evidently not, it will show through and people will have no respect for that person, which is something no one wants when trying to create and embrace new friends.

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08.31.07

photo courtesy of www.wikipedia.org

MONEY HAS ALWAYS been a deciding factor in how far a person can go. Previously, it was only those who had enough money to pay for college and graduate school that had any hopes of securing a stable life for themselves. As opportunities arise for those who are are at a disadvantage, a growing number of successes in the United States, and worldwide, are those who have had to fight to achieve. As people see those individuals surpass what they thought were “sure successes,” they wonder, “how did they do it?”

New age of success

How nation’s, world’s most disadvantaged make it to top

RASHMI BORAH diversity editor

he era of Harvard legacies being the most successful is over. Now it is not about how much one starts with, but what he or she makes of what they have. As more and more opportunities arise for those who are at a disadvantage, more and more people choose to use what they have to the best of their abilities. Plenty of people have questioned “how do they do it?” Although there is no set formula for how to be successful, there are a number of noted traits that can, and have, helped people, regardless of their financial situation, make it to the top.

Common Traits

“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will,” said coach Vince Lombardi in his video Second Effort. Most people who have succeeded despite hardships tend to have this mindset. In Philip Humbert’s “Top Ten Traits of Highly Successful People,“ the list begins with “hard work.” Hard work has been, and still is, a major factor in how far a person goes. “The big secret in life is there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you’re willing to work,” said Oprah Winfrey, talk show host and philanthropist. Getting help when needed is another common trait. In almost

every single example of a person who went far from almost nowhere, they did not make it alone. Whether it was a family member, teacher or mentor, they were able to find a way to get help from someone.

Noted Examples

Winfrey is an example of a pesron who grew up at a disadvantage. Her childhood was spent struggling in poverty and she lived with her mother, who was not particularly supportive of her or her education. She later went to live with her father, who encouraged her to get a good education. Winfrey went to college on a scholarship she won from an oratory competition; from there, she pursued her education in communications. From there, her career shot upwards, and she is now one of the most successful philanthropists in the world Actress Demi Moore is another successful person who started off at a disadvantage. She grew up in a very unstable home with divorced parents; her stepfather later committed suicide. Moore also suffered from illness and physical maladies, including a bad kidney and an eye operation that nearly took her vision. Plenty of people, from businessmen to actors to musicians have had to overcome struggles, some more than others. The opportunities available today make it possible for everyone willing to work and look around to make it to the top.

The big secret in life is there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you’re willing to work. Oprah Winfrey

OPRAH WINFREY

DEMI MOORE

images by rashmi borah

TALK SHOW HOST and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey is one of the most distinguished, successful figures who started off at a disadvantage. Actress Demi Moore is another example of a noted figure in society who started off behind the rest. Both people were able to overcome their disadvantages through a combination of hard work and determination. They, along with countless other individuals, have proven that one does not need a vast supply of money or access to to “the best of everything” to be successful.

If help is needed along the way, one is

not alone

100% 75% 70% 13% of a student’s demonstrated financial need will be met by Yale University upon the student’s acceptance. from www.yale.edu

of students at the Ohio State University apply for some sort of financial aid, whether it is a loan, grant, or work opportunity. from www.osu.edu

of students at Harvard University apply for some sort of financial aid, whether it is a loan, grant, or work opportunity. from www.harvard.edu

of citizens in the United States fall below the poverty line. from the CIA world factbook

feature

08.31.07

MARY ANN JIANG

business manager

he doesn’t have a life.” Because… Well, because she’s, well, she’s a teacher. Oh, okay I get it. In the same way that it is hard to get to know somebody from just working with them at a job or in the classroom, it is equally difficult to uncover a teacher from sitting in class while doting over parabolas or what human condition J.D. Salinger intended to portray. Speaking of portrayals, Mr. Kevin Wittman, a history teacher, is a member of Playhouse in the Park. He enjoys seeing plays and “hanging out” in Mt. Adams. A teacher’s personal life is not the subject of the class, but nevertheless, it is rather awkward to spend so much time with them and not know more about them personally. This situation is similar to that of living with a sibling and being unaware of what they do after school. There are several instances in which students can learn about the man or woman behind the podium. Some have revealed that Mrs. Margaret Stone, a chemistry teacher, and her husband run a farm with horses and chickens. “On a ‘free’ night I do farm chores,” said Mrs. Stone. One student of Mr. Greg Cole encountered their history teacher on the slopes of Utah with skis stuck to his legs, and, well after she ran into a tree, it was hard to recall what else had happened. Nevertheless, it is a mystery of which only a number of disclosures are public. “Um, it was really weird to see my teachers outside of school. We were on vacation... but it was cool because it was Mr. Cole,” said Meg Simon, 11.

“

(behind the scenes)

I give presentations at other schools and events as “a living historian,” that is, a Civil War soldier. - Mr. Thomas Kriedler, substitute teacher

I read- a lot- anything and everything. If I have a free week, I travel- mostly to Europe to visit friends. I once met Tony Blair [former Prime Minister] in London. - Ms. Marilyn Ray, teacher, Europe enthusiast

“ “ “ “ “ I like to play golf and watch old, sappy romantic comedy movies with my wife. - Mr. Jeff Newberry, teacher

image by ms. ray

Ms. Marilyn Ray is a gung-ho traveler; she boasts of traveling all throughout England, Italy (as seen in photo above), and to various places where she has collected memories, up-close and personal pictures of the former British prime minister, and close friends. Mr. Jeff Newberry is more well known for being at

R e w i n d t o 1 97 5

many school activities (and if one were not aware, that includes Saturday School) but when in his own abode, he enjoys spending time with his wife, being the chivalrous puzzle-piece to her “happy ending”--or maybe it is just the high-strung romantic experience. Instead of popping in movies, Mr. Kevin Wittman fa-

On a free week, I enjoy taking trips. Chicago is my favorite big city. Madison, Indiana is my favorite little town. - Mr. Kevin Wittman

vors watching plays once a month in Mt. Adams, and even venturing out to neighboring towns or big cities. He has racked up quite a few hundred points on his Shell Mastercard. Mr. Thomas Kreidler puts on the jacket and returns to memories from the battlefield as he speaks to American Military History classes.

from a family Pupils of yesterday Iofcome I thought that they educators, so I have “A good leader is a good follower”, and somewhat similarly, “a good teacher is a.. good student?” If not, they can still truthfully recount their own experiences of sitting at a desk while looking forward at a chalkboard. Moreover, they can express their opinions of their teachers. As numerous as they were, their mark has been made and while teachers can not report their own teachers’ typical Friday night, they [word].

always had respect and admiration for teachers. - Mrs. Stone

image by nawid piracha

are devoted people... they love what they do. - Mr. Kreidler

I liked my teachers. They encouraged me. - Ms. Ray

images by amazon.com, cincy-play.com, clarionledger. com, teresco.org

feature

08.31.07

‘A great smile says a lot about a person’

Braces become new trend JAKE NEWTON

W staff writer

hen one thinks of braces, he or she usually imagines something that resembles barbed wire being put into a child’s mouth. However, braces are a very unique invention which use the force of a metal wire and elastic bands to slowly move one’s teeth until they are, for lack of a better word, “perfect.” “Braces are really a part of life. Almost everyone in high school has them; it really is an awkward stage though,” said Kelsey Beck, 11.

History Of Orthodontics

“Perfection” has been attempted for thousands of years with the first attempt dating back to 1800 A.D. According to the American Association of Orthodontics, archeologists have discovered ancient Egyptians with basic metal bands wrapped around individual teeth to close gaps. It was not until hundreds of years later that a French physician, Pierre Fauchard, discovered that it was possible for the roof of the mouth to be expanded. In his books a metal plate that could be inserted in the mouth to form teeth, which would then form a shape due to the constant and heavy pressure. In 1918, one of the first orthodontical appliances was created by a man with the last name of Potpeschnigg. He invented a cone-shaped device along with a metal rod that connected to the teeth, which then became the earliest version of headgear. In 1929, the first dental specialty board, the American Board of Orthodontics, was born. Their goal was to find a more affective way to the orthodontic practice. It was not untill the early part of the 70’s that the braces we see today were born.

Reasons For Orthodontics

Human teeth are not usually perfect. Actually, only twenty-five percent of all people are born with flawless teeth, thus braces become necessary for those with cross bites, over bites, or under bites. Ones teeth might be crooked, or the upper and lower jaws might not be the same size. If the upper jaw is bigger than the lower jaw, called an overbite. If a lower jaw is bigger than an upper jaw it is an underbite. “I had an under bite so I got rubber bands to fix it, and it definitely did; now I have beautiful teeth!” said Taylor Young, 10.

Typed of Braces

There are all different types of braces ranging from the most common metal braces to the practically invisible Lingual braces, a metal bar that is behind the teeth instead of in front. Although metal braces are frequently seen they are the most cumbersome to take care of. Along with making sure they are brushed at least three times a day one must ensure that all food eaten has no possible hazard of ruining the appliance. A special diet is far from necessary when braces are worn although foods such as popcorn, hard and sticky candies

photo by wikipedia

BRACES ARE A relatively old procedure done to straigten teeth and fix underbites, overbites, ect. The braces shwon above are the most common type. They are metal and one of the many different types of braces

such as gum. Also sugary drinks and sodas can cause problems such as tooth decay due to the sugar sticking to the teeth for an extended period of time. “It’s always embarrassing to have food stuck in my braces. I always make sure I have a friend to tell me if I do,” said Kaley Bridgewater, 10. Another type gaining popularity is the Invisalign. It consists of clear plastic trays to move teeth into position over time. This procedure is not recommended for people with severe teeth problems. A disadvantage to this option is that it takes longer since it is removable which does not allow a constant pressure on the teeth.

End Result

After braces are worn two-four years they are removed and another dental device goes on, this time being removable. This device is called a retainer. It is used to retain or keep the formation of the teeth. There are, like braces, different types of retainers. There are ones that are similar to the Invisalign trays, called the essix, the traditional wire and plastic retainer, and a retainer that is like the lingual braces and glued to the back of the teeth. “A great smile says a lot about a person,” said Andrew Dream, 11.

Journey through orthodonitc process

Before

During

After

image by jake newton

Before braces teeth can be very hectic. Such as this picture where the teeth suffer from a dramatic gap in the lower teeth. The problem that is illustrated above is very obvious but other cases such as simple overbites and under bites are very hard to notice, but they are very important to fix.

To identify what needs to be done to make the teeth “perfect” the orthodontists takes x-rays and molds. Braces are put on to apply heavy pressure and slowly align the teeth. Braces can take up to several years to fix the problems. The changes are not noticeable at first but after awhile they become very obvious.

After braces and other various appliances are used the teeth will look heathier and straighter than ever. The orthodontist will take another mold after the appliances are off to make a retaining device. This device will ensure a perfect smile and will be worn for at most life atleast every night.

s 9f lashback

feature

music

08.31.07

Look back on years of boy bands, teen pop JACY CAGLE

staff writer

he 90s: the time of boy bands and bubblegum pop. Oh, how much we have overcome… We have now moved on and upgraded, for lack of a better word, to punk rock bands and “gangsta” rap, quickly drifting away from the “spice up your life” era. Despite the rapid and vast changes pop-culture has undergone, it can still be fun to, once in a while, sit back to reminisce of the days where Britney Spears and N’Sync cassettes consumed our lives and tape players. The 90s were all about the rise of boy bands, from Boyz II Men to 98 Degrees; young girls, and boys for that matter, were in heaven when these bands were heard crooning on the radio. Surely N’Sync was one of the more popular bands of the day, releasing pop hits such as “Tearin’ up My Heart” and “I Want You Back” with their self-titled album in 1998. The group, with members J.C. Chasez, Justin Timberlake, Lance Bass, Chris Kirkpatrick, and Joey Fatone released one Christmas album, and two other hit albums, No Strings Attached and Celebrity, before breaking up in 2002. Another pop sensation to hit the charts in the 90s was the ever-so-popular trio, Hanson, consisting of brothers Isaac, Taylor, and Zachary Hanson. The group, who+ are best known for their long blonde locks and incomprehensible song “MMMBop,” gained success from the release of their first album, Middle of Nowhere. Despite the “boy band” idea of the 90s, the Spice Girls became one of the most successful and influential female groups of all time. The girls had fans all over the world longing to be “Baby Spice” or “Scary Spice” and to sing along to their popular hits “Wannabe” and “Spice up Your Life.” The group, consisting of Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell, Victoria Beckham, Melanie Brown, and Melanie Chisholm, produced three studio albums along with a $75 million dollar film, Spiceworld.

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

Another top selling female group of the 90s was TLC, which was honored with six Grammy Awards during their 90s run. Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, and Rozanda “Chilli” Thomas released four multi-platinum selling albums, with hits such as “Waterfalls,” “No Scrubs,” and “Unpretty.” Left-Eye tragically died in 2002 before the release of their fourth album, 3D, but the group remains in the Guinness Book of World Records for the best selling album by a female group, CrazySexyCool. Ace of Base was yet another group to have success in the 90s, with their worldwide album sales exceeding 32 million dollars. The Swedish group made the top of the charts with the release of their album The Sign, which holds the Guinness World Record for best selling debut album. The group, consisting of siblings Jonas, Linn, and Jenny Berggren and Ulf Ekberg, had a techno-pop sound that made songs such as “All That She Wants,” “The Sign,” and “Don’t Turn Around” instant hits. The Backstreet Boys were yet another boy band to make the top of the charts in the 90s, selling a total of more than 100 million albums worldwide. The band released many hit songs including “Quit Playing Games With My Heart” from their self titled album and “I Want It That Way” from their second album, Millenium. Despite the departure of band member Kevin Richardson in 2006, remaining members A.J. Mclean, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, and Brian Littrell continue to make success in the music world. Though music is no longer filled with the repetitive noise of Hanson’s “MMMBop” or Spice Girls “Spice up Your Life,” there are still bits and pieces of 90s music remaining in the pop music of today. Music still can have a techno-pop aspect, and teens around the globe still most likely have posters of their favorite boy bands hanging on their closets; however, modern music has definitely evolved since the 90s. Now, instead of crooning about “chasing waterfalls,” the radio blasts songs that educate the young generation on how to spell “Glamorous,” or on “How to Save a Life.”

Billboard’s top 90s songs “Hold On” - Wilson Phillips “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” - Bryan Adams “End Of the Road” - Boyz II Men “I Will Always Love You” - Whitney Houston “The Sign” -Ace of Base “Gangsta’s Paradise” - Coolio “Macarena” - Los Del Rio “Candle In the Wind” - Elton John “Too Close” - Next “Believe” - Cher

all photos courtesy of wikipedia.com

feature

08.31.07

Top rated rollercoasters

Theme park frenzy sweeps nation SAM CLEARY & HANNAH MYERS

W staff writer

staff writer

ith a new year beginning, there is one activity that draws to mind an array of sweet summer memories. Roller coasters are the fruit of our summer vacations. Luckily, students live in an area that has its fair share of coasters. Cincinnati is home to one of the Midwest’s largest and most popular theme parks, Paramount’s Kings Island. Ohio, being the home of such a giant park, is a main stage for the roller coaster frenzy. Kings Island will begin operation under new management this year, having been bought out from Paramount by Cedar Fair.

Superman: Ride of Steel

The Beast

Favorite Roller Coaster Of 100 Students Surveyed..

63% 25% 7% 3% 2%

Millenium Force Top Thrill Dragster

Top Thrill Dragster

The Beast

Superman-Ride of Steel

Space Mountain

All images by Sam Cleary and Hannah Myers

The park also features a new coaster this year, fittingly named “Firehawk,” which mimics the sensation of human flight. It is made up of a half mile steel track which will take thrill seekers high into the air in an adrenaline-induced ride while facing the ground. Beyond the exciting debut of “Firehawk,” the classics will once again be open for riding, including The Beast, the longest wooden coaster in the country. With new features and management, this year at Kings Island should be one to remember. However, as much as we may love our own little summer “thrillville,” there are parks all across the country that exemplify world-class coaster status. Remember, “life is like a roller coaster...it always has its ups and downs.”

Ride of Steel is only one of many featured “Superman” rides across the country, but certainly the most intense. For proof, the coaster has won multiple awards for design and function, including Best Steel Coaster in 2006. The feat is quite admirable, due to the fact that the coaster has been around for over seven years, and still it maintains an unsurpassed reputation as one of the best. Superman - Ride of Steel is a steel tracked hyper roller coaster manufactured by Intamin AG. It opened at Six Flags America in 2000.

Length: 5350 ft Height: 197 ft Drop: 205 ft Descent Angle: 68° Speed: 73 mph Inversions: 0 Duration: 2:10

Originally named “The Champion”, The Beast opened on a rainy Friday, April 13, 1979 at Paramount’s Kings Island. It broke all records beneath it being the fastest, longest, and tallest wooden roller coaster in the world. The man behind the beast was Al Collins, the lead designer and project manager. The Beast is accredited as being the first wooden roller coaster to generate a marketing blitz. It was promoted all over the world in animated commercials and television spots. “The Beast has always been my favorite roller coaster,” said Molly Richards, 11.

Length: 7400 ft Height: 105 ft Drop: 141 ft Descent Angle: 45° Speed: 64 mph Inversions: 0 Duration: 4:10

“Top Thrill” is one of Cedar Point’s most popular coasters. It surpasses Millennium Force in height and speed, expanding straight up at 420 feet. The ride consists of a 20 second launch up one side of the coaster, and then down the other side at speeds exceeding 120 MPH. Though the ride is short, it is one that will not soon be forgotten by a thrill-addict. “I went on Top Thrill once and it was the most intense ride I have ever been on,” said Ben Keefe, 10. Top Thrill Dragster is a steel tracked launched roller coaster manufactured by Intamin AG. It opened at Cedar Point in 2003.

Length: 2800 ft Height: 420 ft Drop: 400 ft Descent Angle: 90° Speed: 120 mph Inversions: 0 Duration: 0:16

Millenium Force

Millennium Force, a 310-foot royal-blue steel coaster, is at the very top of this list. The world famous coaster is located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. Though its younger brother, the Top Thrill Dragster, beats it in complexity, speed and angle, the ‘Force was a clear candidate for our top coaster due to its immensity, class, and groundbreaking technology.

The ride consists of a 6,595-foot track that reaches its peak with a 300-foot drop. Speeds descending from the highest point reach 93 MPH. The total ride length is 1:45. “The speed was indescribable, I felt like I was going to fall out of the seat the entire time,” said Allen Streck, 12.

Length: 6595 ft Height: 310 ft Drop: 300 ft Descent Angle: 80° Speed: 93 mph Inversions: 0 Duration: 2:45

feature

08.31.07

Chipotle settles well in bellies of students

Widespread love for burrito grows ELECTRA CHRONIS

staff writer

traight down the road, maybe two minutes away, there stands a Chipotle. It is practically in everyone’s backyard. And for the amount of students that eat there weekly, that is a very good thing. It is impossible to walk into Chipotle without seeing someone from school; the craze has taken over the daily lives of many students.

Daily trips to Chipotle

Rarely do we come across that student that does not like burritos. There is nothing not to like about them. If ever coming across this weird person who just can’t stand the sight of a burrito, it is only because they are allergic to the tin foil that the burrito is wrapped in. There could be no other excuse to dislike Chipotle. Between the hours of eleven a.m. and twelve-thirty during the school day, regular runs are made to Chipotle. These students would never break the rules; they have out to lunch passes signed by the office, of course. Chipotle is open from eleven a.m. to ten p.m., so don’t try to go there on an early release day. It has already been done, and they won’t open any earlier for burrito-crazed kids. “I had three burritos in one sitting one time. They hit the spot and fill me up pretty fast,” said Caleb Lipsey, ‘07. That is a pretty big accomplishment, most people can barely finish a whole burrito.

Do not make a mess

When there are little droppings of rice spread around in the commons or anywhere else, only one assumption can be made: someone was eating Chipotle. Depending on what is ordered, the hardest thing on the menu to eat without making a mess is the burrito. There is no secret about eating a burrito. People go about it differently. Some slice it in half like a sandwich. Well, that just loses all of the fun. Others inhale the whole thing; who knows how that happens? It is like a math problem. What has to be figured out is, if we have one burrito, one mouth and one napkin, what is the best way to bite into the juicy thing without making a mess? That question was on the SAT recently.

free food?

In the past, the hig h school has sponso red Chipotle days. If stu dents brought thei r student identification to Chipotle, they co uld receive a free burrit o. Last year, December 18th, 2006 was Chip otle day for the studen ts, and January 11th was Chipotle day for th e staff. “We do not know ye t if there will be mo re Chipotle days to co me in the next sch ool year, but hopefully we ca n work something out.” said Mr. Kenji Mat sudo, former princi pal.

History of the burrito

Chipotle Mexican Grill is a Denver, Colorado-based chain of restaurants specializing in San Francisco burritos and tacos. Founded by Steve Ells in 1993, the restaurant is known for its chunky guacamole and large burritos. Chipotle is one of the first successful chains in the category of fast-casual dining restaurants. McDonald’s Corporation used to own a majority interest in Chipotle. To some, the whole McDonalds connection with Chipotle could be considered as a bit odd. Chipotle is a pretty healthy nice place, whereas McDonalds is almost completely opposite. Mickey D’s also has a lot of allegations against them for a variety of things, yet they are associated with a very well-liked Chipotle. Chipotle has a Food with Integrity mission, to have the highest quality ingredients from the best sources. Nearly sixty percent of their chicken and more than forty percent of their beef is raised in this way.

Free for everyone

Chipotle sponsors a lot of different free food occasions, not only the ones sponsored by our school. During football season, sometimes when one has a Bengal’s jersey on, a free burrito can be received. This previous Halloween, if dressed as a big burrito in tin foil, etc., Chipotle will throw down a Burrito. On tax day, Chipotle will accept a tax form completed by April 15th for a free burrito. These are just some of the free offers from the restuarant.

all images

by chipotle

.com

Ingredients Barbacoa Black Beans Burrito Burrito Bol Cheese Chicken Chipotle

Honey Vinaigrette Cilantro-Lime Rice Crispy Tacos Fajita Vegetables

Fresh Tomato Salsa (mild) Guacamole Pinto Beans Roasted ChiliCorn Salsa (medium)

Romaine Lettuce Soft Tacos Sour Cream Steak Tomatillo Green-Chili

Salsa (medium hot) Tomatillo Red-Chili Salsa (hot)

THE MOST POPULAR items on the Chipotle menu: the burrito, burrito bowl and taco. The burrito is probably the most popular on the menu.

feature

08.31.07

cool,

obscure 1 Four

Ludlow Ave. Ludlow Avenue is a quaint, college town-esque street loaded with ethnic restaurants and stores, little boutiques, and jewelry shops. Highlights include Mustard Seed Boutique (a small upscale consignment shop), Sitwell’s Coffee Shop (open until 2 a.m.—perfect for a postBogarts pick-me-up), Esquire Theatre (often shows indie flicks), and Saki Silver Co. (the place to get unique silver pieces to construct jewelry).

places to go around ALEXA FOGLER & NADIA KHAN & associate editor

sports chief

JENNIFER LEE & CASEY MANNING editor-in-chief

1 a b c

Ludlow Ave. Mustard Seed Boutique 311 Ludlow Ave. (513) 221-4022

Saki Silver 362 Ludlow Ave. (513) 861-9626

d 2

Gorman’s Heritage Farm 10052 Reading Rd. (513) 563-6663

town

Sick of giving the impersonal gift of store-bought flowers? Gorman’s Heritage Farm is a great place to pick an inexpensive, yet meaningful, bouquet of flowers. Located on the outskirts of Blue Ash, this charming, family-owned farm also offers vegetable-picking and farm tours. Stems, which include multiple flowers, are just 50 cents, except for sunflowers, which are $1 each; vases are $1; jars of fresh apple butter and jams are also for sale. Appoinments are not necessary, but beware: the farm is closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Sitwell’s Coffee House

Saki Silver Co.

Esquire Theatre

Hold the Nuts! Plainfield Rd. no number Chester’s Pizza 2929 Dixie Hwy. (513) 892-1973

Hold the Nuts!

Gorman’s Heritage Farm

Sitwell’s Coffee 324 Ludlow Ave. (513) 281-7487

Esquire Theatre 320 Ludlow Ave. (513) 281-8750

a&e chief

Mustard Seed Boutique

Exhausted from hours of shopping mayhem? Tired of the boring, overdone food court fare? The next time you are near the Kenwood Towne Center, consider driving a little farther and venturing to Hold The Nuts!, the delectable soft-serve stand in Silverton. Staying true to its name, Hold The Nuts! is known for their attention to food allergies, which means they keep the nut toppings far away from everything else, as well as featuring many non-dairy and unique items on their extensive menu.

all photos by staff

Chester’s Pizza

What pizza joint deserves a 25 minute drive? One with 100% whole milk cheese, baked chicken wings, and chewy, iced brownies for dessert. Chester’s Pizza, a hole-in-the-wall restaurant located just past Jungle Jims on Dixie Highway, offers this and more. Specialties include cheesy garlic bread and homemade cookies. Make sure to place orders ahead of time, because it is carry-out only.

feature

08.31.07

A&F

With more teens and young adults tying the knot before they are mature enough to handle married life, the question is: how young is too young? image by alexa fogler

‘They don’t realize that you’re going to be a different person’

More young adults getting married, divorced ALEXA FOGLER

associate editor

at Pikna, ‘06 understands that teen pregnancy can carry a stigma. Pregnant herself, she often feels strangers making assumptions: it was a mistake, a one night stand, or maybe the father left. But they are wrong. At 19, Pikna breaks the stereotype: she says she is happily married. “People look at me and they’re like, ‘who knocked you up,’” said Pikna. “No, I made the decision to get married and pregnant and learn responsibility.”

The trend With shows like Engaged and Underage on MTV featuring young adults getting hitched, and the media covering unions of young celebrities such as Avril Lavigne, 22 and Deryck Whibley, 26, Pikna’s case is one among many. The 2000 U.S. Census showed a 50 percent increase in teen marriages during the 90s. According to a CNN poll in 2002, 63 percent of 17-23-year-olds were in favor of or considering young marriage. When that same poll was taken again in December 2003, the number increased to 84 percent. Young adults get married for different reasons. Therapist Emily Dressman LISW (Licensed Independent Social Worker) of Cincinnati, Oh. suggests that marriage can be an escape from a rocky home life or from parents who are abusive or have addictions. If a couple does not believe in abortion, premarital pregnancy often forces a union.

The side-effects

“

Counselors cannot say if getting married

photo courtesy of northwestern.edu

young is a good or bad idea because each couple is different. However, experts on both sides of the issue agree that this trend has lasting effects. Postponing marriage until after age 25 reduces the chance of divorce by up to 25 percent, the National Marriage Resource Center reported. Waiting until after 25 has biological advantages as well. At this age, the brain stops developing and reaches its point of “intellectual maturity” said The National Institute of Mental Health. The last parts of the brain to grow are those involving judgment and consequence. Research has also shown that adults over 25 think with the rational part of the brain known as the prefrontal cortex. Teens use the emotional part of the brain called the amygdala to make decisions. “Being able to evaluate whether the decision of marriage is really one that will be best in the long run may not be the strong suit of a teenager,” said Dr. Gail Saltz, who has contributed to the Today Show and O The Oprah magazine. Because the ideals, values, and personality of a person changes after his or her mid-20s, Dressman frequently finds that marriages fall apart when one spouse is unwilling to change his or her ways. “We see a lot of middle aged couples coming in after 20 or 25 years of being married where one spouse did not grow with the marriage,” Dressman said. “I hear it constantly, ‘you knew I was like this when we got married.’ They don’t realize that you’re going to be a different person.”

There are other ways that people prepare for marriage which are far more important than age. You can also be older and still unready for marriage - Timothy Stevens, university chaplain at Northwestern University

Change is something Pikna and her husband deal with too. “I have found that I’ve been changing more quickly than he has,” Pikna said. “I feel more mature than him. He’s going through his frat boy phase, and I’m going through my mommy phase.” If a couple marries before they are fully matured, one spouse can lose his or her identity, which is another downfall of young nuptials. “Girls tend to take on the personalities of their husbands and boyfriends,” said Jami Stutzman, a sexual education teacher at Healthy Visions in Cincinnati, Oh. “In the meantime, they are not finding who they are, and after they are married for 20 years, they still don’t know who they are.”

“It can be very positive” Other sources find it beneficial for a young couple to marry. Some of these young couples grow up together to make great teams. “Marrying young lets you grow together in a different kind of way where you’re not as entrenched in your own world and lifestyle,” said Linda Hoff-Hagensick LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) of Evanston, Ill. “It can be very positive.” At 36.6 percent, young women ages 20-24 have the highest divorce rate of any age group, said the National Center for Health Statistics. But most couples enter marriage thinking they will be on the right side of those odds. “I won’t regret getting married,” Pikna said. “Zak will be the same person underneath in a few years. I don’t care what people say.”

photo by staff

Marriage statistics

average age of marriage for women

average age of marriage for men

percent increase in teen marriage in the 90s

percent of 17-23-yearolds were in favor of young marriage

“

Studies show that we change and grow in our 20s. Sometimes when people get married young they end up changing in different ways and don’t know how to deal with it. -Mrs. Laura Miniard, AP Psychology teacher

feature

08.31.07

How to find niche in

Clubs offer fun environment for KATE MOORE & MELODIE JENG & RASHMI BORAH managing editor

opinion chief

diversity editor

n a school with over 2,000 students, meeting new people and getting involved can seem overwhelming. Just figuring out where to begin can be a serious problem. Getting involved in a club is the perfect solution for anyone who is afraid of getting lost in the crowd, and a variety of groups ensures that there is something out there for everyone. Students who enjoy sports but do not want to play competatively can join one of several athletic clubs, including Ultimate Frisbee or Badminton Club, as well as many intramural options. Those who are more academically inclined have a myriad of choices, from Science Club to DECA. For anyone who wants the perfect a second language, the ASL and Japanese clubs are among the many groups that are open to foreign language students. “I’m looking forward to a rematcha gainst German Club, because I inadvertantly stacked the German team with some of the French Club playrs,” said Mrs. Jackie Wyatt, French club sponsor. If one would prefer to pursue a hobby outside of class, Fencing Club and Equestrian Club would be great options. Other creative students are encouraged to join Art Club or a variety of vocal groups that are supported by the school, such as SWEET or SHAG. Those involved in theatre should also look into STAG and CREW. “Art Club has a bunch of different types of people in it. You don’t have to be really into art, but it’s a great way to get involved and help the commmunity. Mrs. Copfer is amazing and it’s fun,” said Amar Singh, ‘07. Student involvement clubs also provide a great way to give back to the school and the community. Key Club makes it simple for anyone to find volunteer work to fit into his or her schedule. Wherever one finds themself, it is important to find a place to fit in and get involved. Taking an active role in a club makes school all the more worthwhile.

Student Involvement Key Club

Few things in life are more rewarding than volunteer work. However, giving back to the community can be rather time consuming and difficult to organize. Key Club works to offer a variety of volunteer opportunities that fit the average student’s busy schedule. Also Meetings are held monthly and check out... additional opportunities are usually posted on the Blackboard Stepping Out Club site. Anyone who is interested Random Acts of Kindness should contact Mrs. Kate Korchok for more information.

Student Assistance Council

Academics

Debate and Speech Club Getting involved in high school is tough. It may seem that most clubs already have their “star members” set. However, Speech and Debate club is one club that is that is recruiting new members with arms wide open. Speech and Debate club, which meets on every first Tuesday and every second-to-last Thursday of each month, is beginning its recruitment process for the 2007-2008 school year. After a very successful season last year, the club is looking for new members. Last year, the club sent both of their debate teams to the OHSSL State Finals, including the only freshman and sophomore to qualify. The teams also experienced victory in rounds at the finals. For this school year, a number of new categories in speech have been made available to students this year, Also in addition to Public Forum for check out... debaters. The first meeting is on Leaves of Thought Tuesday, September 4. For more Junior Engineering information contact presidents Technical Society (JETS) Michelle Johnson, 11, and Tamir Haddad, 12. National Honor Society

Ultimate Frisbee Stepping Out Club

Art Club

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08.31.07

school of thousands

students to meet new people Athletics

Ultimate Frisbee

Music/Arts Art Club

Art Club is open to artists of all skills. Meeting monthly on Thursday, this club allows students to create projects which often contribute to the community. Last year, the club painted bricks which were sold during the Fine Arts Weekend. Proceeds exceeded Also $2000 and benefited check out... breast cancer awareness. Sycamore High School Arts Every year, Art Group (SHAG) Club creates Safety Theatre Crew Town, a community in MontgomElectric Ensemble ery where children (SEE1) learn about safety techniques for dangers in everyday life. Other previous activies include face painting, paintings in the Global Language hallway, Christmas ornaments, and more.

Tired of backyard frisbee? These students take recreation to a competitive level, meeting throughout the year to practice this unusual sport. Ultimate Frisbee has grown in popularity during the past few years, but for those who do not already know how to play, this is the best time to sign up. The group is currently meeting at Dulle Park every Sunday afternoon from 2-4 p.m. They are learning how to play the game in Also preparation for Huck-O-Ween, an event attended check out... by high school students from Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Practice will Cycling Club continue during the winter and spring, when Student Athletic Leadership they will begin playing in a high school league. Team (SALT) â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ultimate Frisbee is incredibly addictive because it is so much fun,â&#x20AC;? said Mr. Mike Badminton Club Gutekunst, physics teacher and team sponsor. The club team will also have the opportunity to participate in the state tournament again, after placing second last year. Anyone who is interested should contact Gutekunst, Alex Rock, 12 or Phil Broderick, 12.

Foreign Language and Diversity French Club

There is a club for every foreign langauge. The foreign language clubs help students practice speaking their foreign language and learn Diversity Committee about the culture in a casual environment. Black Student Union (BSU) Meetings are often scheduled to Spanish Club celebrate French holidays such as Mardi Gras. Other events include crepe day and ice cream day. The french club has also traveled to Le Petit France. Last year, the french club was challenged by German club in a soccer match which unfortunately resulted in a loss. French Club meets monthly, after school in room 249, beginning in mid-September this year.

Also check out...

French Club

Environmental Club

NHS

all images by melodie jeng

a&e

FALL arts and entertainment

popular CULTURE SHARON WAGNER feature chief

When subscribers received their new issue of The Rolling Stone during the first weeks of August, some were a bit disturbed by the cover. Covers of the Stone have been disturbing before, of course—the most famous ones portray nearlynude celebrities—but this one was truly horrifying. Yes, it was Zac Efron. Taking his shirt off. No one needs to see that. How could they print this? If teens were offended, how did the older and even more musically-pious subscribers feel about it? It only meant one thing—the Stone has a new target audience: 12-year-old girls. Disney has now infiltrated the very highest levels of music sanctity. The plastering of the corporation’s number-one stars across the pages of every publication covering American popular culture has become commonplace. Amazingly, regardless of the fact that the corporation has a “family-friendly” style and targets children between the ages of 5 and 15, it thrives in the middle of a culture which prizes violence, obscenity, crime, and sympathizes with the rebel. The hit made-for-TV movie, High School Musical (and if that were not enough, High School Musical 2) has irreversibly become a staple of popular culture; this Efron cover underlines the ugly fact that all must soon acknowledge the Disney takeover, whether they like it or not. We must keep in mind that there is a reason that the Stone got away with its blasphemous act: High School Musical is arguably the best example of kids’ music ballooning in popularity and providing sustenance for the record industry. The industry has been imploding since digital music hit the world stage, and, as much as the childish influence seems to be desecrating it, Disney is actually helping to slow the fall by feeding and expanding its audience of ‘tweens’. The Stone needs to welcome these underage listeners and encourage their growth if its editors want to keep writing about music. So, why not put their star, Efron, on the cover? “Because he is a children’s celebrity” is no longer a valid answer. The explosion of kiddie culture could even be beneficial beyond financial purposes. Perhaps the warm, cheery, poppy, bubblegum goodness will create a more responsible, morally-sound generation to counteract our society’s spiraling entertainment ethics. In the end, music lovers must grudgingly accept that they ought to be glad that Disney is taking over instead of MTV. Otherwise, there would be even more teen stars stripping on the cover of quality publications.

CASEY MANNING a&e chief

08.31.07

preview The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

OVIES

Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck star in this film that attempts to expose the personal life of one of history’s most infamous rebels.

9/21 all photos from imdb.com

Dedication

9/14

Starring Mandy Moore and Billy Crudup (of The Good Shepard fame), this film follows the life of the author of a famous children’s book series after the death of this best friend and illustrator. The depressed main character must work with a new illustrator, and fight to get over his new-found cynicism in his quest to write the next children’s bestseller.

Aliens In America

elevision

After Justin (played by Dan Byrd of A Cinderella Story fame) is voted “eighth-most bangable girl” at school, his mother takes his popularity into her own hands by requesting a female foreign exchange student. When Raja, a awkward Pakistani boy who is more of an outsider than Justin is, shows up on his doorstep, (comedic) turmoil insues.

9/19 10/1

Kid Nation

The premise of this controversial reality show is that fourty children (ranging in age from eight to twelve) are left to their own devises in an old abandoned Western town. They must create their own government, and each episode they are to elect one of their own to recieve a “gold star” worth five thousand dollars.

look ahead...

Girls have been gossiping...

Our musical... Seussical?

Aves Theatre is preparing for an exciting new season. This year, they are introducing a winter musical into the mix. Turn the page for details on all of the ‘07-’08 school year productions!

pg 21

From the creator of the OC comes a tv series based off of a muchloved teen book series. See what all of the hype is about and how other students feel about the upcoming show.

pg 21

a&e

08.31.07

Rock to classical music

SEE1plans for another star-studded season MELODIE JENG ensemble includes many electric sting-orchestra instruments along with guitar, keyboard, bass, and drums. “There’s more I can do with [an electric violin]. I play with a lot of bands and took the year off last year to play with bands. I learned a lot and hope to share some with SEE1,” said Joe Macheret, 11. This is the third year Wood is playing with SEE1. Songs will range from classical Copland to legendary, Jimi Hendrix. This is not a typical orchestra concert, this concert will be loud. For those who are busy during the week and enjoy art and pancakes, the orchestra plays during Pancake Day on Saturday, March 1, in conjunction with the Fine Arts Weekend. The last performance for the entire orchestra takes place on Thursday, March 16. Though the orchestra may be smaller this year, the talent is still the same. Orchestra teacher, Mr. David Smarelli has high goals: increase in private lessons and a music convention performance in future years. All of the orchestra concerts are free admission with exception for the SEE1/Wood concert and Pancakes at Pancake Day. “You’re gonna get high quality music at a free price,” said Smarelli.

SERENA, NATE, AND Blair are characters in the book turned television show, Gossip Girl. The show will be airing its first episode on the CW network on Wednesday, September 19th at 9 p.m.

Girls gossip about

CASEY MANNING a&e chief

Living in Cincinnati, we have access to almost every type of ethnic food available. From Ethiopian to French, traveling around the world by fork is relatively easy. But as Dorothy taught us long ago, there is no place like home. Even our sophisticated palettes sometimes crave the most classic of American down-home cuisine--that being, my friends, the hamburger. When such a desire strikes, Red Robin (located in Deerfield as well as West Chester) is a good place to be. With 29 gourmet burgers, ten of them not being beef, ranging from the relatively mundane*, to the sensational±, to the insaneº, and with all of them available with a Boca burger option and prices ranging from $7.99 to $9.49, there really is something for everyone. (Note: The Red Robin Gourmet Cheeseburger* [lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions, mayonnaise, and pickle relish with choice of Cheddar, American, Swiss, Pepper-Jack, Monterey Jack, Bleu, or Provolone cheese], the Whiskey River® BBQ Burger± [barbeque sauce, Cheddar cheese, onion straws, lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise], and The Banzai Burger™º [teriyaki sauce, grilled pineapple, Cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise]).

On a busy Sunday afternoon at the Deerfield location, our waiter was very attentive, and our food arrived quickly. My Freckled Lemonade®, a delicious concoction of lemonade and strawberries (which are quite fun to attempt to suck through one’s straw) that is mixed fresh at the bar, came with “bottomless refills” that appeared at my table before I could finish the last one. One of Red Robin’s many promises to customer satisfaction is that they to customize any order. Though this probably applies mostly to their self-proclaimed “world-famous” burgers, our server did not bat an eye when I asked for my “Gourmet Mac & Cheese with Chicken” without chicken, but with everything else—including the bacon—still intact. Not a vegetarian, just a chicken-hater, this reviewer felt right at home. Burgers, being such an American staple, are a dime a dozen. After a while, every sesameseed-topped-squishy-bun-sandwiched-indistingighable-sauceladen cow patty starts to taste the same. Yet, after one beefy bite at Red Robin, burgers will once again become distinguishable because they will all pale in comparison to that of the one on your plate.

upcoming fall series

MICHELA TINDERA

Beyond gourmet burgers

Red Robin’s menu can please all

all images by michela tindera

opinion chief

Few high schools can say they have an orchestra class, chamber orchestra, and rock orchestra. Last fall, the orchestra joined the marching band to Disney World in a trip which provided the opportunity to perform in front of a large, public audience. The follow February, the Electric Ensemble (SEE1) played a sold out show with violinist Mark Wood, of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and drummer Jeff Plate. This year, the orchestra may not be taking another 17-hour bus ride but will still be providing many performances. Returning to the fall, the Senior Spotlight concert is scheduled for October 25 in the auditorium. This special show allows seniors to play a solo with the orchestra or conduct a piece. “Senior spotlight is a good opportunity for all the seniors to see their senior friends on stage,” said Kimberly DeLong, 12. Next is the cumulative winter concert. The high school orchestra plays last, prior to a “rockin’” grand finale with all the orchestras and SEE1. This concert is at the Junior High on Wednesday, December 12. Wood returns to play with SEE1 on Friday, February 22. This unique show fuses classical instruments with of modern music, jazz, and rock. The large

Catch Gossip Girl on the CW Network at 9 p.m.

staff writer

everly Hills 90210, Dawson’s Creek, The O.C., and…Gossip Girl? Yes, the next of the teen dramas have arrived. “I’ve been reading the Gossip Girl series for years now and I’m so excited that they finally made it into a TV series and it’s going to be great,” Jenny Margolis, 12. The show which airs its first pilot episode Wednesday, September 19 at 9 p.m. on the CW has been compared to the likes of Laguna Beach and The O.C., but on the east coast. This is not surprising due to the fact that the creator of this show, Josh Schwartz, is also the creator of The O.C. “Yeah, I’m going to watch it,” said Vicky Kindred, 9. Based on the popular book series of the same name by Cecily Von Ziegesar, this drama gives viewers a glimpse into the elite lives of socialite teens who attend some of New York City’s most prestigious private schools and have the best of everything. “I think they’re crazy, but if I could trade places and be in the kind of shape that they’re in it’d be cool,” said Lauren Klapp, 12. The show focuses on the lives of sometimes

best friends Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) and Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) who compete over everything: the spotlight, the glamour, and of course boys, most notably Nate Archibald (Chase Crawford). It also follows siblings Dan (Penn Badgely) and Jenny Humphrey (Taylor Momsen) and other minor characters. Gossip girl, the mysterious blogger, catalogs the lives of these socialites. Sometimes her writings even cause a ruckus among the gang. Though Kristen Bell, who plays “Gossip Girl” has an incredibly monotonous voice, her character still provides some intrigue. Unfortunately the show may not get very much attention, since the CW has lower viewership than main networks. However, this may actually be a plus – Gossip Girl’s target audience is teens, who are also the core audience for the CW. Will the names Blair and Serena become as household as Dawson Leery and Seth Cohen? Watch the premiere on September 19 and find out. This is Gossip Girl, signing off.

Exciting season ahead for 07-08 theater NOA BELILLTI

‘Seussical’ added to musical lineup

staff writer

Aves Theater wowed the school last year with a musical filled with intricate set changes and award winning participants. Theater director John Whapham announced last year that Romeo and Juliet and Romeo West Side Story would be the 07-08 shows. and Juliet As soon as word was out, students frantically began brushing up on their Shakespeare Nov 16-18 repertoire and singing “I Feel Pretty” in the Seussical shower. Everyone believed the season to be set in stone. This, however, was not the case. Jan 31-Feb 2 “Whapham is full of surprises,” said CourtWest Side land Love, 11. “You never know what the Story man is going to do.” April 10-13 Whapham, sticking to his reputation, recently added Seussical the Musical to this year’s season. “We were so pumped about the new season that we just had to add another musical,” said

Showtimes

Whapham. “I wanted to have something light and fun in the middle of the season since Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story are more serious.” Based on the works of Dr. Seuss, the story follows the adventures of an elephant named Horton. Seussical is entertaining to audiences of all ages. Many Aves Theater Board meetings were held to discuss this new addition. “We felt it was best for the talent we have in the theater department,” said Christine Linz, 12. “I really love the show and am excited to put it together.” Auditions for Seussical will be announced after Romeo and Juliet is well underway. In addition to these performances Whapham’s theater classes will be taking the stage in the Acting Showcase on October 5.

sports

08.31.07

Lady Aves lacrosse crowned state champions

Question of the Month

Team first to claim title with undefeated record JENNIFER LEE

THE VARSITY GIRLS lacrosse team from last season celebrate a victory. The girls had much to celebrate as they went undefeated and went on to win the state championship.

editor-in-chief

erfection: it is not a word often used in the world of high school sports. For the varsity Lady Aves lacrosse team, however, perfection is the only word that could accurately describe their magnificent ’07 season. After sweeping through their entire season undefeated, the team headed to the State Championships in June with high hopes. The longer they could hold off defeat, the longer they could preserve their untarnished record. “I have never been so nervous in my life,” said Jackie Pittman, 12. “I couldn’t sleep, and I was shaking.” The girls started off on a high note, crushing Chagrin Falls in the semi-finals 14-2. After their qualifying win, they looked anxiously toward the final tournament game against Upper Arlington: the game they had been waiting for all season. For ‘07 seniors Allison Bell, Lizzie Lohse, and Karen Nesbitt, here was the golden opportunity they had worked toward for four years—and a chance to go out with a bang. With so much at stake, both teams got ready for a hostile battle. “Upper Arlington has never been a team to give us much respect, and let’s just say that this ran true the day of the state game on their home field. Because of this, we went out there fired up,” said Pittman. “I can’t even explain how pumped up we were.” The aggressive Lady Aves leapt to a 4-0 lead early in the game, but the UA Bears fought back with four goals of their own. By the second half, the Aves were leading again 9-4. But the Bears, as three-time state champions, refused to surrender, and quickly put the score within two goals’ reach at 9-7. “I can’t count how many times we would all just look at each other and say, ‘We’re not losing!’” said Pittman. Showing off their defensive skills, the Lady Aves were able to hold off the Bears until the end of the game. The final score: 9-7. “I’d try to explain the joy and excitement that accompanied the last minute of the game and the first few minutes of the win, but I don’t have words that would justify it,” said Pittman. “But I will say with confidence that we worked our tails off and deserved that win more than anyone. I can’t give enough credit to the seniors; they were amazing. ”

We ask sports writers a question of the month to see their various responses and takes on controversial and current issues in the world of sports.

Will Michael Vick ever be able to succeed in the NFL again after being suspended indefinitely? NADIA KHAN sports chief

He will be allowed to come back into the NFL; whether or not he can succeed...well that depends if he can learn how to complete a pass.

WILL JOHNSTON sports chief

photo by jeremy mcdaniel

Nesbitt led the game with four goals, but Bell, Lohse, and juniors Becca McLouth and Brett Yenger also put in quite an effort with numerous goals and saves. “We wanted it really badly, and the score shows it. We out-hustled, outplayed, and definitely outclassed them,” said Pittman. It was a year of firsts for the Lady Aves, as the first team from Cincinnati to win the state championship and the first team ever to win

a state championship with an undefeated season. They were also ranked 19th in the nation in the U.S. Lacrosse magazine. “We worked hard, and winning State was the icing on the cake to show how hard we worked,” said Brett Yenger, 12. Sure, perfection may be hard to come by— but with an untainted 20-0 record and their title as 2007 State Champions, the varsity girls lacrosse team has been there, done that.

Q&A with Jared Kamrass, 11 did you get started and I usually coare your thoughts Q. How A. Andy Q. What doing the show? host, we both interview on doing a solo show? guests, talk about sports I was working for very honored they A. When A. I’m stories, and give our Lance [McAlister] at Clear would consider me

photo by will johnston

coming up in sports

a look at what is

on deck

Jared Kamrass, 11, co-hosts the radio show “Super Sports with Furball and The Kid” on 96.5 FM with sports journalist Andy Furman. Unbeknownst to many listeners that he is 16 years old, Kamrass talks with The Leaf about his experiences on the show. Listeners can hear Jared and Andy on 96.5 Super Talk radio from 4-7 PM Monday through Friday.

Channel, I met Andy, who was working at WLW. When he switched stations to work at 96.5, I became his intern, and he put me on the air, and it just sort of stuck.

opinions and take calls.

long do you plan to Q. How continue doing the show? long as I can. I plan A. As to continue doing it through the school year.

What is your most memolong have you been Q. rable experience? Q. How doing it? when Pete Rose early June, but I’ve A. In-studio: A. Since came in, but my favorite been working with Andy for two and a half years.

Q. What do you do?

part of the job is going into the Reds’ dugout and talking to the players.

talented enough to do a solo show. I’m excited about the possibility, and I would put the most effort I can into making it a show people would want to listen to. Andy Furman’s thoughts on Jared: “I can’t get rid of him. He’s like a stray dog that you gave a bag of food to, and now he follows me around everywhere.”

Definitely. Vick will be back by 2010 at the latest, though not with the Falcons.

ROB FRIEDMAN specials chief

No. This situation, and the fact that he lied to Commissioner Goodell, has damaged his reputation to the point where he will no longer be effective. If he ever does play again, he will not be able to effectively fill the role of quarterback and leader of the team.

JARED KAMRASS sports editor

Some would say he was never successful before this story. He has a career 54% completion percentage and a 75.8 career QB rating. Vick will have a hard time finding a team willing to put a huge financial investment in someone who is known to be a risk. Also, teams do not want the monumental distraction of a media circus that would most definitely accompany the acquisition of a Michael Vick.

BEN ESTES

Check out page 24 to find out how the girls and boys golf teams are doing at the beginning of this season.

>>24

The varsity girls tennis team hopes to have a successful season. Go to page 25 to find out more.

>>25

Itching to know how the Bengals are going to do this season? Move on ahead to page 29 to find out.

>>29

sports editor

The answer is simply no. Vick’s career has been one of ups and downs up to this point, with more of the latter likely to come when he returns playing. The long layoff coupled with all of the scrutiny and hate directed towards him by fans and media will prevent success.

sports 08.31.07

Full Court Donaghy scandal taints already dark NBA image JARED KAMRASS staff writer

By now, you have heard of “rogue” NBA referee Tim Donaghy. Recently, Donaghy agreed to tell Maricopa County, Arizona officials about other referees who similarly gambled in casinos, and potentially changed the outcome of games. Certainly, the possible fallout for the league is difficult to even comprehend. If Donaghy implicates an abundance of officials, the entire sanctity of a league that has been improving its image will be compromised to an unprecedented level. Forget that one of the most respected men in sports, Commissioner David Stern, could very possibly be fired. Forget that sports has never had a scandal that has the potential to shake the very foundation of a major sport. The NBA will never be the same it was just months ago. Keep in mind that the NBA was in a crisis to begin with me. The lackluster San Antonio Spurs’ Finals victory over Cleveland was watched by fewer people than a generic hamburger show on the Food Network. That, added to the possibility that Phoenix Suns games may have been thrown or influenced last year, results with a league that is in more disarray than baseball with steroids and football with criminals. Even if Donaghy cannot provide concrete evidence, public opinion will be swayed permanently to the point that whenever a questionable call is made in any game, the fans’ minds will jump to conclusions about the cleanliness of the referee. Now there is no question that Donaghy is a low-life scum who obviously succumbed to the possible riches of getting his hands dirty. Maybe he was a “rogue isolated incident,” but maybe not. As a casual NBA fan, I automatically take a cynical stance and think that all officials are dirty. I am not alone. Everyone I have talked to that calls himself a casual or occasional NBA fan feel similarly. Rright or wrong is not the issue; sports are about public perception and the NBA has been spending years redoing its image, all for naught at this point. The time of your father’s Association is gone. In the words of Rick Pitino: “Larry Bird isn’t walking through that door.” This is not a league based on crew-cut, high short wearing athletes. The league has attempted to distance itself from the “hip-hop culture” with which is so often associated. The NBA has lost the public perception and it is time to clean house. Stern is a good commissioner and a better person, but forever more will his face be linked to the referee scandal. It is not fair. It is not right. But it is something the NBA needs to do.

Kicking off:

Varsity football shows potential in first game WILL JOHNSTON

sports chief

o those who were previously unaware, the 2007 varsity football team is almost completely different from the 10-2 squad of last year. There are new starters at a myriad of spots, including almost every skill position. Needless to say, questions abounded about a virtually untested and unproven team, who knew what to expect? After their initial victory at Withrow, these questions can be given some new perspective.

Offense progressive

The performance of Varsity’s offense was really a tale of two halves. In the first two quarters, the team ran the ball early and often with junior running back Bud Golden. Golden was able to gain good yardage off of first down, however they failed to maintain drives and ended up punting repeatedly. The offensive line did not play well in the first half; new quarterback Casey MacClean, 11, had virtually no time in the pocket to throw the ball, and was sacked repeatedly, including the first time he dropped back to pass in the game. Also, wide receivers dropped several passes that should have been caught. Needless to say, these factors combined to produce several short-lived drives for the offense. However, Withrow was not exactly putting on an offensive clinic, which between the two teams produced a seemingly endless series of punts or turnovers in the first half. Big plays can always change the nature of a game, as proven Friday, August 23. After handing the ball off to Golden countless times, MacClean put the first points on the board when he rolled left off of a play-action hand-off and hit a wide open Steve Hull, 11, for a 34 yard touchdown pass. This play seemed to finally get the offense going, as on their next series they ran another play-action pass and this time MacClean connected with Lamar Passmore, 11, for a 48 yard touchdown pass. Halftime came shortly afterward, but the offense picked up right where it left off. Varsity reasserted the run in the second half, as Golden scored on touchdown runs of 10 and 4 yards and finished with a 206 yards rushing. MacClean was in much better rhythm in the second half, and though he did not throw

another touchdown, seemed much more at ease in the offense and completed the majority of his passes. He finished 8/14 passing for 139 yards and 2 touchdowns with no interceptions. The play of the offense in the second half is what one should focus mainly on. Most problems encountered by the offense in the first half (poor line protection, dropped passes, inefficient blocking) were a product of inexperience and will fix themselves as the season goes on. The line will protect better and do a better job of opening holes for Golden; the improvement was clearly visible and should continue to pick up. A signature of Coach Scott Datillo’s game is that the running game will continue to be the staple of the offense. If Golden were to rest, number two running back Andrew “Robo” Hare, 12, would be ready to step in (Hare ran for 35 yards on only 6 carries at Withrow). MacClean’s passes were for the most part very accurate; he played impressively for his first career varsity start. The offense did not run nearly as many QB keeper option plays as last season, instead focusing more on the traditional drop back and pass. When forced to run, MacClean did so well, scrambling 6 times for 38 yards in the game. With the running game set and the passing game looking good, expect continued improvement.

Defense

Though Withrow scored 21 points, the final score was hardly indicative of how well the defense played. Throughout the first half, Varsity was quick to pressure Withrow QB Juandez Brown, repeatedly stopping their overused wide-receiver screen passes and stuffing the run. In fact, the Tigers managed a grand total of 3 yards rushing on 15 attempts for the whole game (a 0.2 yard average). These statistics testify to how well the Dline played throughout the game. The line was repeatedly able to pressure Brown on blitzes, and the Tigers did not move the ball very well until the second half when they started rolling their QB out of the pocket. Top corners Alden Olverson, 12, and Marty Jones, 11, played well, as well as the linebacking core on both pass protection and

rushing on blitzes. The only nagging concern against the defense was that while they were able to stop the Tigers from scoring through most of the game, they did give up two big plays that accounted for the majority of Withrow’s offense. The Tigers first score came late with 2:43 left in the first half when receiver Brendton Williams caught a short pass from Brown and utilized good downfield blocking to run away for a 52 yard score. The next came with 3:58 left in the 3rd quarter when Darrion Brown broke away and caught a pass for an 80 yard score. Both of these plays can best be described as “isolated incidents.” Other then these two scores, the defense stopped Withrow repeatedly and played very well. The Tigers only other score came with 2:01 left in the game when our offense turned the ball over on a fumble on about the 20 yard line. However, at this time Withrow was down 28-14 and the game’s outcome was hardly in doubt. Like the offense, the defense played amazingly well for such an inexperienced unit. They are very fundamentally sound, and expect the number of big plays that the D yields to decrease as the season goes on.

Special Teams

The special teams may have been the most impressive part of Varsity’s performance. Hull’s puntes averaged an outstanding 43 yard average, and the Aves covered the Tiger’s returns very well. Jones did well on kickoff returns, averaging 21.5 yards per return. He averaged 6 yards on punt returns, though Withrow likewise did well on coverage and he was repeatedly forced to wave for a fair catch. Stephen Stein, 12, hit all 4 of his extra point attempts, and did not attempt a field goal. Overall, Varsity executed all of its special teams maneuvers flawlessly.

Random Notes

Former Sycamore greats Caleb Libsey, Kyle Battle, and Mike Latessa were in the house for the win...There was a very large and passionate crowd for the Aves considering it was an away game almost downtown, including one particularly excited fan... Varsity’s next three games are at home.

Varsity boys soccer hope workouts will lead to season success Strives to prove critics wrong SENIOR MATEO VILLAMIZAR battles with an opponent from Oak Hills last season. After spending endless weeks going through grueling conditioning, the varsity soccer team is looking to prove to critics that they are truly underrated. Though they lost their first game against Elder on August 23, they still have high hopes and look forward to a great season after working so hard during the summer heat.

BEN DHIMAN staff writer

photo by jeremy mcdaniel

After a summer of hard work that can be judged as no less than excruciatingly backbreaking, brutal, and torturous, the soccer teams have prepared themselves for the long season ahead. After both JV and Varsity teams fell to Elder with a score of 2-1, the program is looking to improve on their loss to the second best team in the city. With a varsity team stacked with immense talent in all positions and a JV team, comparable, the upcoming season looks to be a success. For the players, this summer has been monopolized by workouts, which wrench deep into everyone’s endurance and strength. All of the work leading up to the season has made the teams the most fit in the city. This important feature will allow the teams to over rule their opponents far into the game. Working to achieve a state

championship, the varsity team faces a fierce GMC schedule, as well as, the tough tournament at the end of the regular season. At a pre-season rank of 6 in the city, the team has been underrated and looks to surprise many of the top ranked schools. This constant doubt hovers over the teams head every year, as the team is used to being counted out during pre-season ranks. Even after a district championship last year the team continues to be doubted. This thought fuels them to play even better. The soccer teams this year are looking for victory over tough rivals to prove preseason rankings wrong. This achievement will not be easy, but is accomplishable. Though the boys suffered a defeat at Elder on August 23, they still believe in their talent this season with many seniors.

sports

08.31.07

DANIELLE CULIN, 12, celebrates with Bianca Patel, 10 after a good point. The varsity girls tennis team is looking for continued success in the GMC this season. New head coach Mike Teets looks to instill a team unity in the girls in order to better their playing status.

View from the Stands Much ballyhooed Beckham will not change a thing for MLS BEN ESTES staff writer

He arrived with much fanfare. After months of endless anticipation, David Beckham finally stepped into Los Angles International Airport, immediately mobbed by a sea of media. From the time last January when the soccer player/celebrity announced he was leaving European team Real Madrid to come play for the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer, much speculation has been made as to his impact on American soccer. Will American interest in the sport skyrocket? Will the United States become an international futbol power? Will MLS become mentioned in the same breadth as the NFL and MLB? The answer is the same to all three questions: an emphatic no. The fact is that this country will never be that attracted to a sport like soccer. We have a passion for speed, action, and high amounts of scoring. How else can the popularity of a “sport” like stock car racing be explained, or that football has overtaken baseball as America’s favorite, despite the latter being our “pastime?” Soccer is too boring and too slow. Games often end with scores like 1-0, or 2-1. It is dang near a miracle if a combined 10 goals are scored in any given match. One player coming over from Europe can not change this fundamental issue U.S. sports fans have. Besides, it is clear that Beckham’s main purpose in this country is going to be that of “Hollywood celebrity.” The scene of his arrival was very telling in that most, if not all, of those who swarmed him were photographers for gossip magazines, rather than sports reporters. His pop-star wife already has her own reality television show. Beckham’s first game for the Galaxy, an exhibition against European power Chelsea F.C., was more Hollywood event than anything, with camera shots of celebrities just as common as actual on-field action. He played the last 16 minutes. Sure, more people may casually tune in to watch MLS matches if there is a chance Becks might play. But that will be the extent of this English import’s impact. His legacy will be of failure, if only because the goal of making soccer as popular in the U.S. as in the rest of the world is unattainable. In fact, his actions so far seem to portend the goal of pursuing an acting career more than anything else. Really, who can blame him? He will be more successful at acting than at trying to change American sporting culture, even if he is more Shaquille O’Neal than Al Pacino on the big screen.

photo by jeremy mcdaniel

Girls varsity tennis gold team starts season strong New coach leading group to victories early on SANYA DOSANI

spotlight editor

he girls of the varsity gold tennis team are not just ready to play this season—they are ready to win. Under the leadership of new head coach, Mr. Michael Teets, and senior captains Danielle Culin, Joanne Jih, and Caitlin Rettenmaier, the girls have been conditioning and practicing all summer. Their hard work has already begun to pay off: the team crushed Oak Hills in its first match on August 16th with a 5-0 victory. They continued domination with a 4-1 victory over Anderson on August 22nd.

“We’ve had some really good matches so far, and if we keep going the way we do, we’re going to have an exciting season,” said Anna Habib, 12. Recently, the girls have been focusing on doubles in preparation for the doubles tournament, which took place on Saturday, August 25th in Pickerington. Rettenmaier and Niharika Baravkar, 12 defeated their opponents for the team’s sole victory. Aside from practices and matches, the girls are working on strengthening their team unity as well with a pasta party. The team

bonding is supposed to make the girls more comfortable with one another, and it seems to be working. “I think we’ll do well this season because we all know each other and work well together on and off the court,” said Allie Martin, 9. The girls have the talent, work ethic, and enthusiasm needed to make a successful season, and so does their coach. Described as tough but fair, Teets mixes conditioning and learning of skills well. “I’m looking forward to a great season!” said Teets.

Girls JV tennis team looks ahead GABIROSE KEETON business manager

photo by jeremy mcdaniel

IN ACTION FROM last season, Maria Martinez, 10, prepares to hit a shot. She returns to the team for this campaign. The girls have already gotten off to a 1-0 start.

After the retirement of the girls’ tennis team head coach, Mrs. Maxine Yates, the “future” of the team fell into the committed hands of Mr. Michael Teets who is also the boys’ tennis team coach at the high school. His aspirations for this coming year are to pull the boys and girls teams together so they support each other during their individual seasons. Girls’ tennis tryouts were held from August 6 to August 10. Freshman and sophomores tried out in the morning from 8-11 and juniors and seniors tried out from 1-4. At the end of the week, teams were announced and the girls were introduced to their individual coaches. The JV tennis team coach this year is once again Coach Tanner who coached the JV team for the first time last year. The return-

Successful season in sight ing girls on the team are excited to be playing with her again and hope to have another successful season. “I think that this year we’ll do very well because we have pretty good players on our team. I just have a good feeling about this year. I’m looking forward to working with Coach Tanner again because we had a really successful season with her last year,” said Rosalie Wei, 10. With some returning juniors and sophomores as well as the new freshman, the team is looking forward to a triumphant season. The veterans of the team are happy with the talent and enthusiasm that the freshmen have brought with them. “This being my second season I think that the team seems really talented. We’ll probably all be able to work well together and

achieve our goals,” said Jenny Miller, 11. Although it is just the beginning of the season, the girls have already set out their game plan for the end of year GMC’s. And with the help of the freshmen as well as the rest of the team, the girls JV tennis team feels confident about their chances. “I would hope to play at the GMC’s and get our team somewhere between first and third place. I love the new freshmen and can’t wait to see how they come along and progress throughout the year,” said Ana Maria Martinez, 11. The season has just begun for these girls, but they are well on their way to a victorious end. And as of August 23, the girls can already put one tally under the victory column because of their win against Princeton, 3-0.

Varisty green girls tennis enjoys early success KAVYA REDDY spotlight chief

Varsity green tennis team started out the season with a win against Beavercreek on August 14th. At first singles, Michelle Tom, 12, beat her opponent 6-4, 7-5. Priyanka Grandhi, 11, won 6-3, 6-2 at second, while Aamna Dosani, 9, won 6-1, 6-1. In doubles, the team of Sanya Dosani, 12, and Divya Indrakanti, 11 lost a hard fought battle, 0-6, 4-6. At second doubles, Jane Robertson, 12, and Lissa Amin, 12, crushed

their opponents 6-2, 6-1. “We have a bright group of girls, and I am excited to see the potential in the upcoming fall season,” said Coach Mr. Eric Maclin. The team is compromised of five seniors, Tom, Amin, Robertson, S. Dosani, and Melinda Kelley, 12. Also, returning juniors include Kavya Reddy, 11, Indrakanti, Grandhi, Esther Wu, 11. It is has one sophomore, Joyce Zhang, 10, and lone freshman A. Dosani.

This fall season is Coach Maclin’s first time teaching girls’ tennis. He has taught the boys for 2 seasons now with his third season coming. Maclin teaches at Harpers Point Racquet Club on various ability levels. On August 20th, the girls traveled up to Upper Arlington and suffered a loss of 5-0. “Upper Arlington is a tough team and they are usually the only team who we loose against the whole season, hopefully we can beat them next year,” said

Indrakanti. The team will be playing Loveland on September 6th at home at 4:00. On September 10th and 15th, the girls will be playing in the Greater Cincinnati Tennis Coaches Association (GCTCA). This tournament is a city-wide event that is held for all varsity and junior varsity teams. Teams are categorized in flights according to their rank. “This is my last year playing tennis for the school, and I hope to make it fun,” said Robertson.

sports

08.31.07

Varsity girls soccer kickoff great season with two wins

Defeat number one in city, long-time rivals Ursuline NADIA KHAN

sports chief

JOANNA LIN, 12, AND Abbie Tepe ‘06, team up to take the ball past defenders and goalie. Teamwork and hustle took the team to the state semi-finals last year. Their 2007 season has begun with just as much promise and dedication. Toppling the top team in the city is only the first of many matches to come. Kelsey Hildal, 11 (top right) returns hopeful and focused.

im. Kick. Score. The girls varsity soccer team is off to a tremendous start to the season. Looking to get to state, the team has proven they are ready to do whatever it takes to achieve this. “Hopefully we’ll win the GMC again, and come tournament time, we can get to state,” said Deena Schwen, 12. Following an undefeated preseason in which they held off strong opponents such as St. Ursula and Badin, the girls faced Ursuline, ranked number one in the city, in their first game on August 22nd. But the girls were not going to go away easily. After practicing in the scorching summer heat, the girls were ready to take on anyone, and they came out ready to play—and ready to win. With a stellar defensive performance, the girls held Ursuline to no goals, while earning two of their own, coming from Ali Shewmon, 12, and Alix Hildal, 11, thus winning the game 2-0. “Ursuline has been one of our biggest rivals, and we’ve always had extremely competitive games with them, so winning meant a lot because they’re really good and they were the first team this season,” said Shewmon. The summer practices were a great way for the girls to condition and prepare for the season. They were used to grueling conditions and were ready to face anything that came their way. After two-a-days in 100 degree weather, how could it get any worse? “I hate to say it, but the summer practices really did help prepare us, so we were ready for Ursuline,” said Schwen, 12. On Saturday, August 25, the team looked great again, defeating Milford 2-0, with goals from Shewmon and Schwen. The girls hope to continue their early success through to the rest of the season, starting with their first home game against Mount Notre Dame September 1st at 1 p.m. “We’re looking forward to having a great season, so hopefully we’ll get a lot of fan support,” said Schwen.

all photos by jeremy mcdaniel

The rest of the girls season is as follows...

9/1 MND 9/20 Colerain 9/4 Anderson 9/25 Lakota East 9/6 Oak Hills 9/27 Middletown 9/8 Seton 9/29 McAuley 9/11 Princeton 10/2 Hamilton 9/15 Loveland 10/4 Fairfield 9/18 Lakota West 10/9 Mason

More than the race

Get running start to season

Boys cross country

Girls cross country team runs from the heart

Hope to fulfill high expectations

CASEY MANNING a&e chief

NADIA KHAN sports chief

Looking to run towards success, the boys cross country team has begun what they hope to be another excellent season. With 40 people on the team, the boys anticipate hopefully sending more runners to state. “I expect us to be close to as good as last year,” said assistant coach Mike Gutekunst. Team captain Ben Foley, 12, along with runner Hank Geer, 11, lead the team and are also two of some of the top runners in the city. The runners also had a lot of time to bond over the summer, and they took advantage of this by going camping at East Fork State Park and canoeing on the Little Miami River. Team bonding allows the team to grow stronger in ways that running alone cannot offer. “Pasta parties are always something to look forward to,” said Gutekunst. However, summertime was not all fun and games. Enduring the heat, about 25 runners showed up to run the strenuous course throughout the summer practices. “We all worked hard over the summer, and we think we can compete well as a team,” said Sanjay Choudhury, 12. Also, the team held their alumni run, in which 15 Sycamore grads returned to run, on Saturday, August 11th. Of the 15 returning runners, five are currently running for division I schools. Though the team lost many strong competitors last season, they still have high hopes for this year, and the drive and determination still remain. On August 25th, the boys had their first meet at Fairfield, and they competed well, with Foley, Geer, and John Stucker, 11 rounding out the top three. “We are very inexperienced, but we had a great summer, and we have pretty good talent, so if we are patient we can be pretty good by the end of the year,” said head coach Jim Smanik.

HARD AT WORK, both the boys and girls cross country have been practicing everyday and throughout the summer. The young boys team has spent time bonding and has hopes for a successful season. The girls team will be running at many new meets, working hard for the GMC meet. James Austrow, 12 and Melissa French, 10 are among the top runners.

“It’s funny how our sport is other sports’ punishment.” This is the mantra that the girls cross country team lives by. Mile after mile after mile. Beginning the first week of summer, the girls forewent sleeping in and instead went to practice at 7:30am. “It’s amazing how dedicated they are,” said Erika Russel, 9. “I don’t know if I could ever do it.” Now that school is in session, the girls are preparing for the GMC fall season. Practices are after school Monday through Thursday, with an “easier” practice every Friday morning before school. With meets at Fairfield, Lakota, Mason, Alliance, Fairmont, and Centerville before the big GMC meet, the team is intensely working to meet their goals. “We’re looking forward to our meets this year but they’re at different schools than they were last year so it will be a new and exciting season!” said Viona Zhang, 12. On August 25th, the girls competed in their first meet of the season at Fairfield. The cross country team finished 2nd overall at the meet, with Alanah Sontag, 11 placing first in the competition. Team-wise, the top five finishers were Sontag, Alison Kirgis, 12, Melissa French, 10, Viona Zhang, 12, and Meg Simon, 11. “Some people probably think we’re crazy because we run for our sport,” said Marybeth Stucker, 12. And, yeah, we are a little crazy, but really we run to find out what we’re made of- to see just how far we can go.”

sports

08.31.07

Mens water polo team swimming towards state Improved team excited for season MATT MENDELSOHN

staff writer

fter last season’s learning year, the 2007 mens water polo team looked forward to returning to the pool this season. “Sometimes with a young team, you go through a growing season with most players just learning the basics. After a year of experience, this team looks ready to go,” said Chris Lo, 11. Last season was frustrating at times for a young team who had no seniors, but most of those young players have returned with improved skills. Several of the players attended camps this summer, and have picked up some new skills. “Compared to last year’s camp, this one was so much better at improving our skills,” said Matt Oberly, 12. This year, the team looks to have more experience, with three seniors (Mike Yellig, Ian Campbell, and Oberly) and several juniors. The squad, however, does enter the new year with some momentum, after winning a game in the double-elimination state tournament, and winning several others in the preceding tournaments. The returnees are led by Yellig, the leading scorer from last year who was also an honorable

mention on the All-Ohio team, the only member from last year’s team to do so. Add in Chris Culin, 10, Ben Keefe, 10, and Kam Keeling, 11, among others, this squad has the potential for an explosive offensive attack. Also, returning varsity players are TJ Biddle, 10, and Scott Wright, 11. Biddle was one of the most improved players on the team last season, and Scott provided tremendous defense. Back to play goalie are Campbell and Matt Mendelsohn, 11, who split time on varsity throughout the season. Though there were only a few newcomers, the most important additions were the new coaches, head coach Brian O’Rourke and assistant coach Pat Carroll. O’Rourke and Carroll were teammates at Miami University, where they were part of the MAC championship-winning swim teams. Both were all-state water polo players in high school, and look forward to helping this team. With some much needed experience, the mens water polo team has high hopes for this year. They will be tested early with tournaments in Napoleon, Ohio, followed by trips to defending state champions Milford and rival Mason.

all photos by jeremy mcdaniel

MIKE YELLIG, 12, shoots the ball against an opponent. Yellig was the leading scorer from last year’s team and will be counted on again to provide more offense for the team this season. He is also one of three seniors on the team, helping to add experience to a team that had no seniors last year.

Girls golf hits hole in one

Girls water polo succeeds early

Team anticipates good season

Season off to great start

NADIA KHAN sports chief

KATE MOORE

managing editor

Four matches into the season, the varsity girls golf team is off to a good start, posting a 4-1 record and a new record for 18 holes. With fresh tactics and several new team members, the girls are looking forward to a successful season. Returning to the team are juniors Amy Smith and Jenna Kelly, as well as sophomores Adrienne Wessinger and Molly Fitch. Seniors Aly Mazzei, Melodie Jeng, and Kate Moore have also spent previous playing time on the roster. Jackie Weber, 9, and Katie Bitzer, 10, are new to the team this year. The team has already competed in three consecutive invitationals, placing eleventh, eighth, and seventh. They also won their first quad-match, beating all three opponents. The ladies had a 179, beating out Middletown’s 186, Princeton’s 212, and Hamilton’s 226. In addition, Adrienne Wessinger, 10, took co-medalist with her round of 43. “So far, we’ve had an amazing start this season. It is exciting to see us come together as a team and do so well,” said Wessinger. Refusing to slow down, the team went on to break their own 18-hold record by shooting a 346, as well as narrowly defeating Ursuline. This winning streak was slightly disrupted by the following tri-match, in which the girls’ 175 beat out Lakota East but lost to Mason’s 156. The ladies moved on to play 18 holes at Pleasant Hill, the course where the Sectional Qualifier will be held this fall. They then broke their own score again, shooting a 339. “We already hit the ball plenty far enough for success on that golf course, so if we are to improve our score at the October Sectional we’ll need to save more shots around the greens!” said Dr. Keith Brackenridge, varsity coach. In addition to traditional practice, the team has started meeting with a sports psychologist. The ladies are working on setting specific goals for themselves and the team as a whole, and are taking a look at what aspects of their game they should approach differently. “The first part of the season has been really hot and long. We are really happy to have the 18-hole matches over with a good showing and a great GMC record,” said Mazzei. With a fresh outlook and an energetic team, the ladies are looking forward to a season of continued success.

MEMBERS OF LAST years varsity green golf team practice prior to a match. This years squad hopes to repeat their success, as the team missed out on state by only two strokes in 2006.

Varsity boys golf off to fast start Team returns talent, brings in fresh faces WILL JOHNSTON sports chief

Through the early part of the season, the boys varsity golf team has already established an impressive record. To start off the year, Varsity won a three-team match against Fairfield and Centerville at Yankee Trace. The Aves shot 300, while Fairfield tallied 307 strokes and Centerville 317. Varsity’s second tournament was the Anderson Invitational at Legendary Run, which they won shooting a 301. In the team’s third tournament, Varsity came in 7th place shooting a 317 at the Kings Invitational at Kings Island. Most recently, the Aves played at the Middletown Invitational at Weatherwax on August 27, winning with a score of 302. This match was of crucial importance to the team, as they showed considerable resilience by coming back from a bad start to win. Also, it showed the team could do well on a course that will host the GMC tournament and the

Districts. The team returns a number of talented players from last years team that came fourth in the District tournament, missing State by only 2 strokes. Returning players are Bryce Lindsey, 12, Alex Roth, 11, Stephen Hesterberg, 11, Wes Denny, 11, and Nick Schmidt, 12. Also vying for playing time on varsity will be Nick Capozzoli, 10, Ivan Coronel, 10, and Matt Nickol, 9. With these players coming back and new talent in the pipelines, the team is confident about itself as it goes through the season. “We feel we are a very good team but we have a way to go and a lot of competition to get through. Teams like Lakota East, Lakota West, Fairfield and Middletown are very tough competition in our league and so are the GCL teams,” said head coach Paul Phillips. “We have our goals mapped out for us and we’ll just have to take them on one day at a time.”

After a disappointing end to last year’s season, the girls water polo team wants to prove that they are worthy of the state championship. Losses to both Milford and Upper Arlington at regionals robbed the girls of their dream of getting to state. They do not want to let that happen again. “I think we have a better chance this year because a lot of our school rivals lost more seniors than we did,” said Anne Fiorenza, 12. They attended camp from June 20th to June 24th at Princeton University and began conditioning the second week of August. Though conditioning consists of mainly swimming, rather than actually playing water polo, it still helped the girls get into shape and familiarize themselves with being in the water again. Leading the team are seniors Michaela Mondro, Hannah Myers, Fiorenza, and junior Jenna Tameris, all returning starters from last season. Tameris was first team all state last year as a sophomore, so although the ’07 seniors will be missed, the team is still very talented. “We lost four starters last year, but our girls that stepped up from last year’s JV team have been doing a good job filling their shoes,” said Tameris. Also, since rival teams lost more seniors, the team is thereby more experienced than others also competing for the state title. The team traveled to Columbus for a tournament on Friday, August 24th, but they lost to Upper Arlington 5-16 in their first game. However, the next day in the tournament, the girls really picked up their play in order to defeat Villa Marie of Pennsylvania 10-3, Mason 14-3, and Milford 14-11. “I think we did really well playing as a team even though we haven’t had a lot of time to practice,” said Mondro. So the team looks to continue their success from the invitational throughout the rest season in an attempt to claim the state title as their own.

sports

08.31.07

THE PITTSBRUGH PENGUIN’S Sidney Crosby prepares before the action resumes in an NHL games. Young stars such as Crosby are littered throughout the NHL and have contributed to the growing popularity of the league.

photo courtesy of google.com

Big hits, lots of thrills in upcoming NHL season

Big names look to carry their teams far into postseason DAVID DANNENBERG

opinion chief

ince the 2004-2005 NHL lockout, the popularity of hockey in the United States has grown to the point where NBC now owns the broadcast rights to the NHL, hockey clips routinely dominate the Top 10 on SportsCenter, and plans for brand new, quarter-billion dollar arenas are approved by major cities. Last season was full of surprises, and it was the first season in history that both of the previous Stanley Cup finalists (Carolina and Edmonton) did not reach the playoffs. Here is how the upcoming season looks for the best teams in the league.

Eastern Conference

New Jersey, Pittsburgh, and Ottawa look to dominate the Eastern Conference, with Buffalo likely performing below expectations. New Jersey has a great team all around, with Brian Gionta and Scott Gomez leading the offense, Brian Rafalski holding the defense, and Martin Brodeur in net. Gionta, despite his short stature (5’7”, 175 lbs.), is one of the fastest and most physical players in the league (he was also MVP of the All-Star game last season), while Brodeur is one of, if not the, best goalies in the league, as he set a new NHL record for wins last season (48). Look for a very strong showing in the upcoming season. Pittsburgh has incredible potential as they look to pick up where they left off, having a breakout regular season last year. Pittsburgh’s most publicized strength is their seemingly unstoppable offense, led by wonderkid Sidney Crosby (who led the league in points last season at age 19), young star Evgeni Malkin (who won Rookie of the Year last season), and veteran Mark Recchi (who has over 1000 points and 500 goals in his career), all of whom are extraordinary players. And so far, Crosby has lived up to all the comparisons to hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. With Sergei Gonchar anchoring the defense and young Marc-Andre Fleury in net, the Penguins can only get better. Ottawa arguably has the best offense in the NHL, but their defense is comparably unspectacular. In the case of the Senators, though, the old adage “a good offense is a good defense” holds true. Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfreds-

son, and Dany Heatley, the best left wing in the league, make up the Senators’ all-star offense. With their incredible first line and Ray Emory as the starting goaltender, one can expect a relentless scoring blitz and a deep playoff drive from the Senators, because no team in the Eastern Conference can stop them, as last season proved. Buffalo is a team that has a couple obviously skilled players, such as Thomas Vanek and goalie Ryan Miller, but the team seems to fall apart easily. The Sabres lack any semblance of a solid defense, which is the main reason that they lose games when they do. Plus, rising star Chris Drury signed with the New York Rangers, and center Daniel Briere signed with Philadelphia, leaving huge gaps in the Sabres’ offense. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that Buffalo will experience the success that they enjoyed last season, and they may well fall short of the playoffs.

Western Conference

In the Western Conference, Anaheim, Dallas, Nashville, Vancouver, and Detroit look to remain the leaders. Anaheim is a defensive powerhouse, boasting both Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger. And the Ducks have Teemu Selanne, a player who, though experienced, is often underrated. Plus, nobody in the league can match starting center Andy MacDonald for speed - he happens to be the fastest skater in the NHL. Add Jean-Sebastian Giguere in net, and one can expect a flurry of shutouts by the Ducks, leading to another deep playoff run. Dallas is a perennial powerhouse, relying largely on center Mike Modano, who is arguably the best American player in the NHL, and left wing Jussi Jokinen for goals. But the offense is not all that is good about the Stars. Sergei Zubov, one of the smartest defensemen in the league, leads the defensive effort and always seems to be in position to take the puck or block the opposing team’s shot. If the Stars’ offense and defense are good, then their goaltending is excellent. Marty Turco, who won two NCAA championships for the University of Michigan, had the lowest goals against average in the NHL playoffs last season, allowing a miniscule 1.3 goals per game. And with Mike Smith as the backup goalie, Dallas has some great trade potential. Moreover, the Stars are very consis-

tent, which means that they will definitely be making the playoffs again this season. Nashville has a star-studded lineup, boasting the legendary Peter Forsberg as the starting center, with veteran Paul Kariya accompanying him on line one. But the Predators’ roster is also deep; accomplished center David Legwand leads line two, giving the Predators a lot of flexibility. The Predators lack a comparable defense, but goalie Tomas Voukoun had a high enough save percentage (92) last season to curtail (but not eliminate) the necessity of one. Vancouver has perhaps the most effective offense in the Western Conference, using brothers Henrik and Daniel Sedin as potent weapons against opposing teams. Markus Naslund, the old-fashioned left wing (he uses a wooden stick), offers strong support. And the Canucks have a very experienced defense, led by Sami Salo and Mattias Ohlund. Only the best forwards can get through Salo or Ohlund on a breakaway, but when it happens, Vezina Trophy finalist Roberto Luongo is in the net to stop them. Vancouver is one of the best-rounded teams in the NHL, and will likely go far in the playoffs this year. Detroit plays in the second worst division in the NHL, and with the iconic Nickolas Lidstrom leading the defense with the newly aquired Brian Rafalski and the reflexive Dominic Hasek in net, they will almost certainly make the playoffs this season, though they lack outstanding individual talent on offense. Then again, if there is any team in the league that knows the meaning of team chemistry, it is the Red Wings. Detroit’s first line has a multitude of points, evenly spread out between the three players, and, though they have no offensive leader, the lack of a governing force seems to have worked well for them. This is not true, however, when it comes to physical games, as the Red Wings are routinely bullied on the ice, due to the fact that they lack an enforcer on the team. The 2007-2008 NHL season will certainly be prone to sensational surprises, unbelievable upsets, and thrilling displays of showmanship. With such excitement brewing, there is no reason not to pay attention to the season.

sports

08.31.07

COMPETING IN CINCINNATI are James Blake, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Roddick. All the top players in the world played in the tournament, and the world number one Federer won the title.

all photos courtesy of cincytennis.com

World-class tennis comes to Cincinnati Roger Federer takes home 50th career title MATT SLOVIN

staff writer

he Western & Southern Financial Group Men’s Masters is the longest running tennis tournament in the United States still played in its original city. The tournament has been played at several venues, but has settled in nicely at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, located in Mason. Beginning in 1899, many other names have been used for the event such as the Cincinnati Open, the Tri-State Tennis Championship, the Western Tennis Championship, the ATP Championship, and Tennis Masters Series Cincinnati. The Western & Southern Financial Group Men’s Masters, held August 10-19 in 2007, is a part of the prestigious US Open Series that ends with the US Open. In the past years, the champions of this tournament are among the best in the world. In 2006, Andy Roddick took home the hardware. In 2005, world number 1 Roger Federer was the winner. 2004 saw legend Andre Agassi crowned champ, while in 2003 it was Roddick as well. Many fans consider the tournament to be among the best in the country and that is part of the reason why they continue to return year after year. As incredible as sites such as Monte Carlo, Rome, and

Paris are, the players seem to enjoy coming to Cincinnati as much or more than those incredible locations. “If you ask me where I’d want to play, I’d choose Cincy to be honest…I get energized to play here. This is a special place for me,” said Roddick. In addition to the Men’s Masters, there is also a women’s tournament hosted every year. It is a Tier III tournament, which is the lowest on the WTA tour. However, the hardhitting ladies seem to love it here, as well. “I keep forgetting it’s a Tier III. It feels like a bigger tournament. I definitely believe this is a good venue. It’s not a Tier III venue at all,” said Serena Williams.

2007 Tournament

This year’s draw was filled with all of the best players on the ATP tour. All of them wanted to overthrow Roddick who was the defending champion. The favorites included Federer and Rafael Nadal, among others. Nadal’s championship hopes would be short-lived as Juan Monaco, of Argentina, was able to emerge victorious over the number two player in the world. Roddick’s week would also be cut short as he was knocked out by David Ferrer, the 16th seeded player in

the tournament. Surprise quarterfinalists included Nicolas Almagro, of Spain, and tournament wild card Sam Querrey. Querrey is an up-and-coming American player who stands in at 6’6”. Nikolay Davydenko was also a semifinalist. He was seeded 5th in the ATP Masters Series event. He managed to play solid tennis on the hardcourts in Cincinnati despite being surrounded by gambling questions after an incident a few weeks back when there were a surprising amount of bets on an opponent of Davydenko, and following that, Davydenko chose to retire from the match during the 2nd set. Surprisingly, only four of the players in the quarterfinals were seeded in this year’s tournament. There were plenty of upsets throughout the grounds during the week, with the biggest of which coming when mighty Nadal fell. Tennis fans flock to Cincinnati for one of the greatest weeks of tennis in the world. Many enjoy the other activities the event has to offer as well: live music, the qualifying tournament, and the seniors matches that always is humorous. Fans also enjoy watching the pros practice on the outer courts of the complex.

ROGER FEDERER AND James Blake play each other at the finals at Cincinnati. The final match was not a close one as Federer came out on top very easily, winning his 50th career title.

sports 08.31.07

engals attempt to rebound from last season

egin quest for division title JEREMY SPIEGEL

staff writer

he 2006 NFL season was supposed to be the Bengals’ year. Carson Palmer was returning from the offseason knee surgery earlier than expected, and the receiving group, led by all-pro Chad Johnson and TJ Houshmandzadeh, was one of the deepest and most explosive. Rudi Johnson was consistently great in the backfield. Second year linebackers David Pollack and Odell Thurman were ready to lead a defensive resurgence. Eight wins and nine arrests later, the Bengals are still wondering how 2006 went wrong. While the 30th ranked defense deserves most of the criticism, the offense played inconsistently all year, which was part of the reason the team slumped to three straight losses to end the year with an 8-8 record, their third in four years under Marvin Lewis. Now, the team enters 2007 with several question marks. Will the defense finally make the improvements it was supposed to when Lewis was hired? Can the offense play consistently well all season? Can the players stay out of trouble off the field? If these problems can be resolved by the season opener September 10, this could be a rewarding year for the Bengals. If not, Lewis may be facing the pressure of not living up to the team’s raised expectations.

Proven stars seek offensive explosion

photo courtesy of ap photos

quarterback carson palmer throws a pass for the Bengals during their preseason opener against the Detroit Lions. Since being selected as the first overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft, Palmer has thrown for 10,768 yards and 78 touchdowns. He is expected to be an offesive leader for the Bengals this season as usual, along with veteran receivers Chad Johnson and TJ Houshmandsadeh and running back Rudi Johnson.

On offense, the team has many pro-bowl quality players ready to lead the team to the playoffs. The offensive playbook starts and ends with quarterback Carson Palmer, who has had an entire offseason to practice with the team this year. Since first starting in 2004, Palmer has thrown for 78 touchdowns and only 43 interceptions. Last season, he threw for over 4,000 yards and 28 touchdowns. Last year, C. Johnson and Houshmandzadeh became the first receivers in Bengals history to have over 1,000 yards each. However, the eight game suspension of Chris Henry raises depth issues. Palmer must find a way to make up for the loss. Reggie McNeal and Tab Perry are favorites to back up the starters. At running back, Rudi Johnson is expected to be another

cornerstone of the offense. Johnson’s power running contrasts nicely with Palmer’s passing game. Rudi has run for at least 1,400 yards and 12 touchdowns the last three seasons. His backup has yet to be determined, as second round draft pick Kenny Irons was injured in the preseason opener.

Young players lead defensive upgrade

Despite the multitude of offensive stars, the key to the Bengals’ season will be the defensive improvement. Last year, they ranked 30th in the league in total defense, and 31st in passing defense. If the team wants to return to the playoffs, the defense needs to improve. Justin Smith anchors the defensive line, which is an area of concern. Smith can play every down and is good against the pass and the run, but he has never reached double digit sacks. If the defense is going to play better, Smith needs to get to the quarterback more. Last year, the linebacker group was a strength of the defense. However, Thurman was not reinstated by the team after his suspension, and Pollack may never play again. That leaves new arrival Edgerton Hartwell and Landon Johnson on the outside and second year Ahmad Brooks in the middle, an inexperienced group, with the exception of Hartwell, who was signed to bolster the experience level. No position has gone through as much change as the defensive backs, an area where the team spent three draft choices on this year, as well as their last two first round selections. Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall should be a great cornerback duo for years to come. For now, however, Deltha O’Neal will start over Hall. Madieu Williams and Dexter Jackson will start at safety, although rookies Marvin White and Nedu Ndukwe have both impressed coaches during camp. In order for the team to have a successful season, the defense needs to take the step up. When Lewis took over the team before the 2003 season, eight win seasons were only a dream. Now however, the Bengals need to show they can win when it counts, or it will be another

AFC North rivals compete for success Four teams fight for division championship, playoff berth As the defending division champions, The Baltimore Ravens are the team to beat in the AFC North. Although the Ravens are known as a defensive oriented team, quarterback Steve McNair turned the offense around last year, completing 63% of his passes. The Ravens cut leading rusher Jamal Lewis in the offseason, but replaced him with 25 year old Willis McGahee. Despite the improvements in the offense, the Ravens are still a defensive-first team. Last year, the fierce defense ranked first in the NFL, allowing 264.1 ypg. Even though they lost allpro linebacker Adalius Thomas, Ray Lewis remains as tough as ever, and anchors the defense. Until another team proves that they can win the division, the Baltimore Ravens’ defense makes them the favorites to repeat as champions.

Since their return to professional football, the Cleveland Browns have been the most hapless franchise in the NFL. However, they hope that their great draft haul this year will allow them to turn their fortunes around in the future. The keys of the draft will be first round picks Joe Thomas and quarterback Brady Quinn. Both players have the potential to be great at their respective postitions. Young reciever Braylon Edwards and tight end Kellen Winslow are also important to the team’s revival. If both players can recover from injuries and improve their games, whoever the Browns play at quarterback will have some nice targets. Although the team is at least a year away from competing, the young offensive stars provide a nice core to build around for the future.

The Pittsburgh Steelers suffered a letdown season last year, winning eight games a year after winning the Super Bowl. This year, new coach Mike Tomlin hopes to restore the excitement and passion to the Super Bowl levels. The Steelers will always remain a running team, and Willie Parker has established himself as one of the best running backs in the NFL. The Steelers defense is always a strength, and a unit that ranked ninth in total defense last year hopes to improve even more. Safety Troy Polamalu is one of the best defenders in the league, and can line up in many different places and positions. Two years ago, the Pittsburgh defense was unpenatrable, leading the team to their fifth championship. This year, the defense hopes to regain that edge and lead the team on another long playoff run.

08.31.07

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calendar

08.31.07

September

26 27 28 29 30 31 1 Labor Day

Boys Varsity & JV Soccer, vs. Oak Hills at home 5:00/7:00

Varsity Football, vs. Harrison at home 7:30

2 3 4 5 6 7 Girls Varsity Golf, vs. Colerain, MND, & Lakota West at home (Glenview) 3:30

Picture Day

Girls Varsity Gold Tennis, vs. Fairfield at home 4:00

9 10 11 12 13 14 115 5 Boys Varsity & JV Soccer, vs. Lakota West at home 5:00/7:00

Girls Varsity Green Tennis, vs. Wyoming at home 4:00 Early Release Day

6 17 18 19 20 21 22 116 Varsity Football vs. Princeton at home 7:30

Homecoming Parade 4 p.m. Homecoming Football game vs. Princeton 7:30

Homecoming Dance 9 p.m.12 a.m.

image by sharon wagner

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