The Lion's Tale - Volume 57 Issue 5 - Oviedo High School

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LION’STALE OVIEDO HIGH SCHOOL • 601 KING STREET • OVIEDO, FL • 32765 • MARCH 15, 2017 • VOLUME 57 • ISSUE 5

PEOPLE

BEHIND LABELS

PG 11

LABELS INACCURATELY DEFINE TODAY’S YOUTH

03

JET PROGRAM PROVIDES WORK EXPERIENCES

15

CHEATING CARRIES CONSEQUENCES

21

TECH SUITS AID ATHLETIC PREFORMANCE

2 | NEWS | THE LION’S TALE | MARCH 15, 2017

The month

in photos

The

Photo’s Of

The Month

County Science Fair showcases students’ talents WRITTEN BY DOUG CHIODINI

Senior Mitchell Hammack placed second in math and computer science and senior Ben Shirey placed first in animal science with their respective projects.

Hammacks’s project, creating a computer program to detect melanoma, and Shirey’s project testing the adaptive camouflage capabilities of octopi, placed at the Seminole County Regional Science, Math, and Engineering Fair on Feb. 11.

To reach his success, Hammack overcame the lack of available resources.

“It was overall really hard to do,” Hammack said. “I had to get images of melanoma skin lesions and nonmelanoma skin lesions, and there aren’t many images available. I had to go to my dermatologist, and even with that, I didn’t have as many images as I would like.”

As Hammack worked through adversity, Shirey had to deal with uncooperative octopi and colleagues.

“The octopus was annoying,” Shirey said. “She didn’t make it very easy for us, never wanted to leave her cave and the staff didn’t always do what I wanted them to do.”

Hammack created a program that could correctly diagnose melanoma 93.4 percent of the time, which he said would have been more accurate with more images.

Shirey found a correlation between the prey he fed the octopi, both dead and living, and the color the octopus turned.

As Hammack looks to write algorithms to predict economic tendencies and Shirey looks to become a marine biologist, their experiments gave them vital experience in their prospective fields.

PHOTO BY OLIVIA BASTONE

ART COMPETITION. The Lake Mary Heathrow

Festival of the Arts showcased seniors Janina Bagherzadeh, Logan Sandelli, Karli Haywood and sophomore Sydoni Pfaeffle’s works, who won third place painting, first place painting, first place mixed media and second place painting, respectively.

PHOTO BY MITCHELL HAMMACK PROJECTING SUCCESS. Senior Mitchell Hammack took the experimental science course, which is instructed

by AP Biology teacher William Furiosi. Hammack is also ranked 7th in the class of 2017.

New classes allow greater opportunities for education WRITTEN BY CHRISTINA YORK

Having various options for new classes for students to choose from allows for greater possibilities in the academic fields.

TV production teacher Kevin Patterson will be instructing a new TV production class, called “O-Town Sports.”

This new addition to the class roster is the same as the original, except for minor differences.

“It will essentially be an extension of what we already try to do on WROR-TV,” Patterson said.

The class will give students a better understanding of how sports are covered by prominent media outlets.

“This class has real-world applications in that we will be modeling it off of companies such as ESPN,” Patterson said.

The O-Town sports series will be aired every Friday next year, as a product of the class.

“We will be designing features, highlights and live games for sporting events, hoping to create a new brand of O-town sports,” Patterson said. “We will be using platforms like Twitter and SnapChat, possibly an entirely new account for the sports version of news.”

As well as O-Town Sports, there are other new classes arriving to the curriculum guide for next year.

One of the few classes is Bioscience 4, which consists of advancing biotechnology.

“I was thinking of taking a new science class because I saw it was added and it interested me,” said sophomore Alyssa Campbell.

Bioscience 4 can help students explore different aspects of biotechnology to see if that specific field holds something for them in the future.

Many students, like Campbell, believe the inclusion of new classes is a unique way to get students more involved and interested in their education.

“I think it is beneficial and smart of the school to have these classes, and for students to be able to choose what they want to take,” Campbell said.

Sophomore Rebecca Lawler believes new classes add variety to students’ academic career, as well as improving teacher and student relations.

“I am new to this school, but hearing about classes being added to the school sounds like a good idea for students and staff, giving the teachers new teachings and the students new opportunities,” Lawler said.

PHOTO BY AARON NEDLAN

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. Students with a 4.0 GPA are invited to a lunch with Principal Trybus as they celebrate their achievement on the honor roll.

New Classes Coming to OHS O-Town Sports Class

- Teacher: Kevin Patterson - Credit: 1.0 Bioscience 4

- Teachers: Kathy Savage and

Amy Demins - Credit: 1.0 FRONT PAGE DESIGN BY FERN SILVA

PHOTO BY FERN SILVA

FINAL TOUCHES. Junior Brittany Watley, the specialty editor of the yearbook, meticulously crafts The Oviedian, the yearly publication under the supervision of Alicia Pope.

DESIGN BY SAADHANA SRIDHARAN

MARCH 15, 2017 | THE LION’S TALE | NEWS | 3

Soaring to Better Future JET program provides job experience through local, on-site training trips PHOTOS BY SAADHANA SRIDHARAN WRITTEN BY SAADHANA SRIDHARAN The bus ride to the Ace Hardware store was lively, and upon arrival, everybody immediately got down to the nitty-gritty. In a matter of minutes, everyone is sweeping, mopping, dusting, and sorting through items on the shelves, with big smiles on their faces.

This was the scene of the Job Experience Training (JET) program, where every day, a few students travel to different workplaces around the local area. There, they gain valuable job experience and skills, working for a few hours that span first through third periods.

“Our students are pursuing either a Special Diploma or Standard Diploma through Access Points,” said transition resource teacher Joyce Davis, who has run the JET program for the past four years. “Many of them will go directly into the world of work after exiting high school. So, it’s really important to develop those skill sets and get them ready to meet their future goals for employment.”

Working at many different places helps accomplish that goal.

For instance, the JET students worked at a Publix in the first quarter, the Townhouse Restaurant the second quarter and the Ace Hardware store this quarter. This results in the students gaining a plethora of skills: from sorting through products on display tables, to cleaning and setting tables, to cheerfully greeting customers.

“My favorite thing to do is cleaning the windows, to make them nice and [sparkly] clean,” said senior Jessica Thompson.

Thompson wanted customers to be able to see the items inside the shop, to pique their interest in the store.

It’s this thoughtfulness that makes JET students great workers, according to Davis.

“I liked working at the Townhouse diner,” said senior Joseph Marr.

Thompson agreed.

“I liked [setting] the napkins [there],” Thompson said.

The students enjoyed their work at Ace too, meticulously fulfilling tasks as they talked to their fellow students and employees of the store.

Larry Lacette, who works at the store, first heard of the JET program when Davis came into the store.

“She talked to me about it, and I talked to my boss, and he said it sounded good, and was positive about it,” Lacette said. “[But] I had no idea what the program [was].”

According to Lacette, the program has

worked out well for the store. “[The students] come in, do their job every day, are very enthusiastic, and get things done; it’s been a good experience for us and they seem to enjoy it,” Lacette said.

“They interact with us, too!”

Lacette said he has gotten to know the individual students’ personalities, and appreciates the warmth they bring to the store.

It’s not just employees of Ace hardware that are pleased with the JET program. Elston Watson, the job coach for the JET program, said that the students get compliments from customers on how diligently and cheerfully they work.

“People often ask us about the program, about what it is, and how it works,” Davis said. “They are often surprised about how much these students are willing to do to expand their knowledge.”

Watson also says that he is approached at a workplace, nearly every week by a parent of a student in a special needs program. “[When they learn about the JET program], and how it helps graduates, it gives [parents and students] something to plan for, and hope,” Watson said. “I think parents are relieved because they know that their child will have a [source of self-sufficiency] and independence.”

After staying in the JET program for, typically, two years, or until they turn 22, students go on to find jobs at places like the ones featured in the program, according to Davis. Sometimes, one of the places a student has worked at during JET hires them after graduation.

Both Joseph Marr and Brian Rubacha said that they hope to find a job similar to the one they are learning about now once they graduate.

Given how hard-working the students are now, plus the fact that they have a hearty resume due to the multitude of work they have done in JET, they are pretty confident that they will have good chances.

“One of the goals of the JET program is to produce independent people who contribute to their community,” Davis said.

According to a JET program flier, “the community is afforded financially independent, skilled individuals who will become contributing members of society.”

Watson sees the program as very useful.

“Each kid is different,” Watson said. “I’d say that every kid has--no matter what program they’re in, JET or mainstream--their strengths and weaknesses. To each, we [have to] communicate [and teach] differently. Like, with Joseph, we talk about sports. He loves Florida State, and Jessica is a horseback rider.”

TIME TO TRAIN. (Top) Senior Jessica Thompson sets gardening supplies on a shelf at Ace Hardware. (Center) Seniors Joseph Marr and Brian Rubacha keep the floors of the store clean. (Bottom) JET job coach Elston Watson, JET students and store employees.

DESIGN BY CONNER QUINLAN

4 | NEWS | THE LION’S TALE | MARCH 15, 2017

More than pretty display, Epcot’s International Flower & Garden Festival teaches visitors about environmental sustainability

FLOWER POWER

PHOTOS BY OLIVIA BASTONE WRITTEN BY OLIVIA BASTONE Every year, Disney’s Epcot hosts the International Flower and Garden Festival, a special event that displays all aspects of the natural world, including greenery, insects and sustainable farming.

With over 500,000 plants, trees and shrubs utilized throughout the park, the event offers a wide diversity of vegetation. As guests stroll amongst the foliage, they have the ability to learn first-hand from nature experts about sustainable living, while also enjoying fresh-farmed food inspired by cultures around the world.

The whole festival promotes the importance of respecting the environment and understanding how to properly work in harmony with it, something AP Environmental Science students understand.

“I’m learning the reality of how badly our earth is treated,” said junior Hailey Andrews. “Humans are slowly killing the planet and so many people don’t even realize.”

The education of the masses is a possible solution to all the problems with the environment.

Epcot provides multiple exhibits, including greenhouse presentations and the heritage of Disney’s horticulture, where tourists can watch a presentation all about the environment.

“The Flower and Garden Festival is really opening tourists’ eyes to a different side of Disney,” said junior Owen McNamara.

“The 500,000 types of flowers, shrubs, and trees allow them see the beauty of nature inside the park instead of long lines and overpriced souvenirs.”

Tying Disney magic into the exhibits allows the whole family to connect to the information.

Andrews is thrilled to hear of the success.

“I think it’s showing people how beautiful this earth can be if we treat it right,” Andrews said. “I believe people will take what they see and learn from this experience and try to make changes in their lifestyle to better the planet.”

Not only can visitors listen to experts discuss horticulture, but they can also become experts themselves.

Hands-on presentations teach families to be “greenthumb superstars” with the hope that the next generation will develop a fascination for the environment as well.

“You don’t know the strength of the Nile until you’ve been in it,” said junior Joanna Miller. “This festival, while it’s not out in the wilderness, is a very close second to being out in nature and experiencing its magnificence.”

Not only does the festival educate visitors about how to contribute to the wellbeing of the environment, but it also teaches the importance of balance between urban and natural settings.

Epcot addresses the practicality of trying to farm while living in an urban setting with a mini-restaurant, Urban Farm Eats, while provides information for how to farm on a balcony to achieve that “farm to table” feel.

“I think it will make people more motivated to want to do things that are small but helpful,” Andrews said. “It makes the goal of going greener more obtainable.”

While at the park, guests can travel through greenhouses on a boat tour in Epcot’s signature attraction, The Land Pavilion. Guests can literally see what “living with the land” is like and be exposed innovations in gardening.

FLOWER FESTIVAL FLING. Topiaries, bushes and people decorate the flower festival of Epcot, which runs Mar. 1-May 29, adding to the mission of the theme park. Epcot stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.

DESIGN BY DANIELLE GRIFFITHS

MARCH 15, 2017 | THE LION’S TALE | NEWS | 5

CHILLING IN COLD. Senior John Kim, freshman Sophie Gill and senior Shane Taylor try to stay warm during the cold snap on Mar. 15.

PHOTO BY FERN SILVA

DESIGN BY FERN SILVA

6 | OPINION | THE LION’S TALE | MARCH 15, 2017

Everyone deserves respect

“Treat others how you wish to be treated” is one of the most common proverbs about respect. Parents and teachers express this saying to ensure that their children understand what respect is and why it is important.

Yet, some people today still don’t understand the concept of “respect.”

Respect is defined as “a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements” according to the dictionary.

Respect can be shown through actions, words and other various forms of relations.

As high school students, we all experience respect daily.

For example, in the classroom, students show respect by listening to the teacher, following the teacher’s rules and even showing respect to other peers’ opinions. By showing respect towards others, you earn their admiration, allowing for better relations with them.

However, although many students are respectful towards their associates, there are some classes consisting of students that don’t respect each other or their teachers.

These students are disrespectful by exerting various signs of degrading elements, which include, but are not limited to, using the middle finger, cursing, not following instructions, and enacting

IN YOUR FACE

Do you believe that respect should be given or earned?

Michael Mora, 11

forms of violence.

Everybody has the right to be respected; politicians, presidents, teachers, parents, friends or even strangers all deserve some type of respect.

For example, President Trump deserves respect for standing up on a stage and expressing his opinions. He is now our president and deserves respect based off his authority; those who are above us in rank deserve our respect becasue they’re there for a reason.

We, The Lion’s Tale, have a staff compiled of different students filled with staffers of who have different opinions and insights, yet everyone still respects each other.

When we brainstorm, everyone has an opportunity to throw out an idea and discuss the idea in a safe environment.

Although our staff has different opinions and beliefs, we still give each other respect.

Respect should be given to everybody, regardless of sexual orientation, gender, race or occupation. It is beyond wrong to disrespect somebody because they are different than you.

Though located in different areas of the world and pursuing different aspects of life, every person of every race, of every gender and of every sexual orientation deserves the upmost respect.

“I think respect should be earned because you must be nice to others to earn respect back.”

Jonathan Camacho, 11

“I think respect should be given because we should all have equal respect towards each other.”

Kelasia Thomas, 12

“I feel respect should be given until you lose it.”

OUR WORD

Spencer Smith, 10 “I believe respect should be earned because I’m a firm believer of do unto others as they do unto you.”

PHOTOS BY AARON NEDLAN

RESPECT: ”is a way of treat ing or t hinking about somet hing or someone.

If you respect your teacher, you admire her and treat her wel l.”

ILLUSTRATION BY GEOVANNA OLLIVIERRE-WILLIAMS Online Manager Doug Chiodini Business Manager Makaila Cowart Tech Manager Trey Hargis Editors-In-Chief Nathan Haddad Niyati Shah Print Managers Paige Simpson Faiz Uddin

Photographers Olivia Bastone Fern Silva Artists Geovanna OllivierreWilliams Alex Sayavong

Reporters Stacia Ahlers Pamela Chapman Connor Compton Nevada Cullen Bryn Garick Danielle Griffiths Gillian Landwehr Jesica Litton Aaron Nedlan Julian Rios John Speer Saadhana Sridharan Emily Vernikos Jessica White Abigail Wydra Christina York

Designers Declan McCoy Joyce Ng Conner Quinlan Faculty Adviser Elise T Carlson Admin Adviser Tanya Cameron Principal Joseph Trybus

Oviedo High School 601 King Street Oviedo, FL 32765 P: 407-320-4199 F: 407-320-4213 Population: 2530 students 29 staff members

Mission Statement The Lion’s Tale is the student newspaper of Oviedo High School, located in Oviedo, Florida.

Our mission is to provide news, feature stories, editorials and opinions relevant to our readers while upholding the highest professional and ethical standards. The Lion’s Tale follows copy standards outlined in the Associated Press Stylebook, 42nd Edition, published in 2007 by the Associated Press,

and is a member of the CSPA, NSPA and FSPA. Distribution 1800 copies of The Lion’s Tale are distributed free to all students and staff at Oviedo High School.

Subscriber information is available upon request.

Reader Contributions Letters to the Editor are accepted and may be sent by post, e-mail, or dropped off in Room 5-020.

OVIEDO HIGH SCHOOL • 601 KING STREET • OVIEDO, FL • MARCH 15, 2017 • VOLUME 57 • ISSUE 5

The Lion’s Tale does not accept guest columns, and reserves the right to edit letters to the Editor.

Full policy is available on request.

Advertising Policy The Lion’s Tale reserves the right to refuse advertisements. The full advertising policy of The Lion’s Tale is on file in Room 5-020 and is available upon request.

OVIEDOJOURNALISM.COM

DESIGN BY PAIGE SIMPSON

MARCH 15, 2017 | THE LION’S TALE | OPINION | 7

print manager

PAIGE SIMPSON

Legacy lives on today

ILLUSTRATION BY GEOVANNA OLLIVIERRE-WILLIAMS

Adult world difficult, childhood better

staff writer

GILLIAN LANDWEHR Sometimes, I wish my current life was as easy as childhood. My life would be free of stress, responsibilities and priorities.

As a teenager, I’m expected to make good grades, balance schoolwork with extracurriculars while still being able to spare time for family and friends.

At times, life becomes so busy and stressful that I wish I was five years old again, free of a schedule and responsibilities.

I recently turned 16, and I got my license. As much as I love having the freedom to drive, one of my biggest priorities now is to drive safely. It’s scary to think that I could get involved in an accident at any time.

As a child, I was never concerned or worried about having to drive. Now that I can drive without a parent, I get worried and subconscious that I shouldn’t be driving, that I’m not good enough.

Now that I am older, my parents have granted me with more freedom, especially now that I can drive myself. Usually, they

DESIGN BY PAIGE SIMPSON

are fine with the plans I make with friends.

My parents still ask me to run my plans by with them so they know where I am, what I’m doing and who I will be with at all times.

They don’t care if a parent is involved or not. When I was younger, a parent had to be involved if I wanted to do anything.

I’m not allowed to do everything I wish, though. In order to keep these freedoms, I have to have good grades and be finished with any schoolwork before I go out and do something.

My parents aren’t super-harsh when it comes to grades, however, because they know that I’m a good student and I do all my work. If one of my grades is slipping, they remind me to study more and make sure I bring it up.

Keeping up with that school work was much easier when I was younger. The work was easier and the assignments were smaller. I never had a problem staying up-to-date with assignments when I was younger. Although some of my current assignments are still small and easy, there are some assignments that I spend so much time on.

For example, in AP Seminar, we are beginning our research papers. For the most part, everything is broken up into smaller pieces, but they are still pretty big assignments. I’ve been shifting most of my time to work on this major project, which is both a good and bad thing. I’m proud of myself for spending so much time on this project, but I also have other assignments that need to be done.

I spend most my afternoon doing homework and studying. Although I would much rather be spending that time watching the Disney Channel and playing

with Barbies, I just have too much to do in a day, and even some things that simply don’t fit.

Over summer, I took up a job: I helped my father with any food prep that needed to be completed for the day. I would work for a few hours during the day. Once school started, I wasn’t able to work as much. Now, I only work every other Saturday. Although I don’t work as much, it still takes up some of my weekend.

I’m not complaining, though. I know that some teens have to work weeknights and still have homework and other things to do as well.

I’ve realized that as I get older, I am held accountable to be mature and responsible. I think that I’m mature and responsible, but I don’t understand why teachers and parents have such high standards of teenagers. We are expected to do hours of homework and study for countless hours to try our best and get a good grade.

Although teenagers are considered young adults, we are still young--and not the best when it comes to decision making. Not all teenagers are pictureperfect or have the perfect life. Many teenagers are miserable due to stress from school, while some simply don’t have the time because of work or other issues.

Despite the stress and work, being a teenager isn’t all that bad, to me. Now, I have way more freedom than when I was a child. Although the work and responsibilities can get so overwhelming, they are parts of life.

Work and responsibilities will never leave my side. I don’t literally wish that I was five years old again, I just miss the stress-free lifestyle.

I remember when I received my first set of golf clubs--granted, I was five and they were plastic--but I remember venturing out into our vast backyard with my dad by my side, laughing and swinging around my newly gifted driver, not realizing how those small, plastic, orange clubs would have such an impact on my life.

Now, 12 years later, with countless summer camps, long practices and tournaments under my belt, I look back at that moment and smile. I tell my younger self to never let that go, to hold onto it forever; eventually, it all will fade.

A little over five months ago, the world lost someone it can never get back; someone whose achievements through charities, children’s hospitals and allaround benevolence benefited not just him, but all of those who surrounded him. 2017 marks the first official year without the highly acclaimed golfer Arnold Palmer, and the first year since its original occurrence that the Arnold Palmer Invitational will exist without its benefactor.

Since its opening in 1966, the Professional Golfer’s Association (PGA) has hosted 51 years of tournaments at Bay Hill Country Club, featuring dozens of famous golfers such as Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson and its very own founder, Palmer, having competed in the tournament--winning it in 1971--until he could no longer play.

In the years following his departure from competition, Palmer made an appearance at each event--mainly driving around in a golf cart with Kathleen Palmer and the late Winnie Palmer--signing autographs and greeting everyone.

I had the pleasure of meeting him once. Unfortunately, I was young and have no memory of it, but my grandparents were close friends with him for a time in his life. I relived stories of the adventures of Arnie, John and Lois, of stealing golf carts and pulling all nighters at the bar.

In hearing those stories--hearing how he spoke and how he acted, and seeing how my grandparents’ wrinkled faces light up with sheer delight while relaying those stories--I feel as though I’ve known him my whole life.

It is in those moments that I feel as though, if just for a second, that he’s still here, that I could reach out and touch him, or tell a joke and hear his laugh.

It is in those moments that I realize the importance of death--that those who are nearest to us never truly leave us. It is in those moments that I realize that I don’t feel alone or numb to the harsh world we live in; for a moment, I can reside in memories and be part of a larger-than-life legacy--a legacy that lives on.

8 | OPINION | THE LION’S TALE | MARCH 15, 2017

staff writer

DANIELLE GRIFFITHS

Doing others’ work frustrating but thrilling

Some people get excited over group projects, while others know immediately that they are in for a long haul. I, for one, am usually the type of person who ends up doing the work for everyone else.

Recently, while doing a project for my AP Lang class, I came to the conclusion that true division of work can be achieved though. With my classmates by my side, the huge project became a simple, easily divided task that was actually decently enjoyable.

Although my group was able to work together, a friend of mine was not so fortunate: she ended up doing nearly the whole project, ranting to me along the way.

Her ranting reminded me of all the times I had been in her shoes. From a Prezi here, an English project in freshman year there, and quite a handful of times this year, I had to complete the work of others.

I’m even in this position right now, ironically. Me writing this column is doing someone else’s work. Honestly, though, I’m not complaining.

This may seem like one long column about how much I hate having to do others’ work, but it’s actually quite nice- after the frustration and tears. With a deadline to meet, it has to get done one way or another, and if someone isn’t going to do it, someone else has to.

Plus, the final product is worth all the stress, just like this newspaper. With all the hard work that has to go into each and every edition (and, frankly, having to do others’ work to be able to go to press on a specific day), it is all worth it in the end, just to be able to hold a copy of the newspaper in my hands.

Knowing that you’re completing something someone else wasn’t able to complete, due to procrastination, laziness or pure disinterest ,makes completing it seem like a daunting task.

But the feeling of accomplishment, of knowing that you are capable of pushing yourself to do more work--work that someone else wasn’t capable of doing--is really exhilarating.

Overall, yes, doing other people’s work is frustrating and causes me to complain greatly; yet, accomplishing it results in that rush of excitement.

It’s like knowing you were able to conquer a dragon that many previous people tried to defeat.

They didn’t prevail, but me? I did.

ILLUSTRATION BY ALEX SAYAVONG

Dating doesn’t dictate persona

staff reporter

BRYN GARICK I have a boyfriend.

I wear makeup every day. Most of the time, I wear jeans and a t-shirt (or perhaps shorts if the weather allows it). My hair is usually up in a ponytail of some sort, as I hate when it covers my face.

When I got a boyfriend, one of the first things my friend said to me was, “I guess now you have to look cute all the time.”

I ignored her comment.

I don’t need to dress up to date someone.

I am aware that some people like to dress up for others’ attention, and there is nothing wrong with that, but I don’t. I dress up so that, when I look in a mirror, I feel good.

I know that people assume my outfits are for boys; I know that every morning when I get changed and every night when I pick out my clothes, but it doesn’t stop me from dressing how I want to dress.

I can’t say that I don’t consider looking cute at school because of boys. I do wear skirts and dresses more than before, but I still wear sweatpants once a week and giant t-shirts paired with jeans.

Yet, somehow, I still have a boyfriend.

I’m not good at makeup. My eyeliner isn’t smooth and my eyebrows are terrible.

But I wear it because it makes me feel as though I look good.

Makeup makes me confident.

I wore makeup before I dated and I will continue to wear it. I wear it for myself.

And I still have a boyfriend.

The expectations that society places on wearing makeup are just surface level, however; so many other things I do aren’t considered “cute” or “perfect.”

Before I began to date my boyfriend, I watched two or three episodes of Gilmore Girls or One Tree Hill on nights when I didn’t have homework. I was up until midnight every weekend watching Netflix.

Now that I have a boyfriend, I can truly say that I continue to do that. I blow up my boyfriend’s phone with nonsense about whatever show I am binge watching at that moment.

And no matter how many times I do it, I continue to have a boyfriend.

I have always become entranced in stories. I become obsessed with characters and how they relate to my life. I read a different book every week (when I’m not swamped with homework).

I overthink plot lines and request books from the library once a month.

I’ve always bored my friends by providing a list of books for them to read

so that I can discuss the endings with them, and no matter how much I end up over-reading the book cover to cover, I reread the same book two or three times.

I have blown up my boyfriend’s phone with numerous texts about the upsetting ending of the book I was up late reading.

Despite all this, I still have a boyfriend.

I dance four days a week, as I have for the past three years. Prior to that, I danced at least one, if not two, nights every week. I don’t dance because I want to stay healthy, though it is a positive that it provides being fit.

I try to eat as healthily as I can, as well as drink a lot of water to stay hydrated.

And recently, with the stress of school, I know that continued workouts and eating healthy will help me to feel better.

While I never began to take care of my body because of weight loss, I still don’t bother with my weight when it comes to how my boyfriend feels about me. If he wasn’t going to date me due to my weight, I’m not sure he would be the person I want to date.

Even with that, I still have a boyfriend.

I have always believed in equality and been very liberal. I have a sign in my front yard proclaiming these beliefs. My boyfriend is aware of these views, and I will continue to hold onto them despite dating him.

I am not going to change myself due to having a boyfriend. I was who I was before dating, and I will continue to be who I am with a boyfriend.

And, maybe, that’s why I have a boyfriend.

DESIGN BY BRYN GARICK

HEAD to HEAD

MARCH 15, 2017 | THE LION’S TALE | OPINION | 9

Is prom really a big deal for high school?

Prom: time-honored, important senior rite Prom: over-hyped, overpriced single night WRITTEN BY NATHAN HADDAD Other than graduation, prom is normally one of--if not the--highlight of a student’s senior year, as prom is synonymous with the end of senior year and is a time-honored tradition that marks the culmination of a student’s high school experience.

Prom is the final high school dance for students, many of whom participated in dances from middle school all the way through their senior year.

In this, prom represents the finality of one’s pre-adult life, a universal experience all young Americans can share. In high school, students go through diverse experiences, and rarely share single moments together.

With prom, students tend to universally experience the same events: a “senior skip day,” groups of friends renting limousines together, groups of friends/couples posing for photos together, boys buying girls flowers, prom themes, selecting a prom king and queen and after-prom parties.

Most of all, prom represents shared memories, with which everyone across the nation can identify.

It is a “rite of passage” of sorts, as most of our parents’ generation participated in the event, making it a multi-generational event.

Parents tend to take pride in watching their child participate in the same event they did, and many parents hold prom as a highlight of their adolescence. Prom is important to our generation because it was important to the last generation, who “talked it up” to their kids.

Our parents’ generation had it “talked up” to them by the generation prior to

theirs. In this lies the importance of prom: it’s self-sustaining, and is a common experience multiple generations can share.

Beyond that, prom is a tradition rooted in American history.

Beginning in the 1930s, as prom was initially viewed as a way--through the formal dinner and dance--to teach teens proper social skills.

A 1935 article in Parents magazine described prom as an occasion for teens to hone/display their “gracious manners and good taste.”

Prom became a standard in American high schools by the 1940s, and prom’s importance reached a peak after World War II, accompanying the post-World War II economic boom, with increased spending on prom/increased social emphasis placed on the event.

Prom’s importance continued into the 1960s and 1970s, and has been a nationwide staple as the premier high school social activity ever since.

Sure, prom is expensive, but that’s part of the experience.

Prom is costly because it’s formal; for many students, it’s one of the only formal experiences they have through their preadult life.

Spending lots of money on suits/ tuxedos, prom gowns, flowers, limousines and dinner all make up the aura of prom as a singular, high class event, unique in its singularity.

For students who have large social circles in high school, prom is the final occasion, which they can enjoy a fun, formal event with their social group, a goodbye to the friends of the their youth, with the one final party of high school-prom.

WRITTEN BY FERN SILVA Prom is seen as one of the most significant traditions in the history of high school. But in reality, prom itself is not worth the hype it receives, mainly because it’s simply a dance--and just one more expense to add on to seniors’ price tag for their final year of high school.

The biggest underlying issue is the anticipation that is created in the minds of students. People often see prom as one of the high points of their high school career, which sets a high social bar for many students who do wish to attend the dance.

Movies such as Clueless, Mean Girls, High School Musical, Pretty In Pink, Prom, and even Napoleon Dynamite are a testament to the high school vibe.

These movies revolve around a central element--prom--that creates the climax of the plot. Not going to prom would be missing out on a climax of high school, and even of your life.

In reality, prom is more of a footnote.

It is a single night of dancing amidst four years of living.

Another issue with the exalted idea of prom is that the theme is set by the Student Government Association (SGA).

Without consulting the rest of the student body, a minority of students set a theme that they deem “cool” or “desirable” on behalf of the student body.

However, the chosen themes often are not something for which most students care. This makes students uninterested before they even consider the cost associated with the event.

The third issue revolving around this “tradition” is the immense price tag. Aside from this small dance, seniors have to pay

51% of prom attendees go with a

About 59% of Americans think proms are overrated 53% do not attend prom

romantic date 43% of prom attendees go with a friend 6% of prom attendees go alone

79% of proposals are made by men 19% are from women

On an average, the amount of money spent on prom ranges from

INFOCOURTESYBYYOUGOV.COM

DESIGN BY JOYCE NG

for a huge list of other expenses, ranging from parking passes, gas and senior lunch, to homecoming, sports games, grad bash, college admissions and more. This list of expenses can easily rise into the hundreds, if not within the $1000 range.

Stapling this $70-$80 prom price tag (without including the hidden prices of dresses and tuxedos, transportation, dinner and other possible expenses) to all of that is just not worth it.

A new survey from Visa found that on average, families will spend $1139 on prom this year. This is just the average.

The individual price can vary dramatically.

For females, the price is even more unfair, as dress prices versus tuxedo prices are heavily skewed.

Beyond that, girls’ preparation has a has a hefty price tag compared to guys’ preparation, what with hair and makeup needing to be done “just right.”

From this comes the fourth major problem, which is the social stigma that surrounds the prom experience.

Everyone wants to be the center point of attention, by any means, whether that means being the cutest couple, having the flashiest dress, or any other form of recognition. This can easily turn prom from what it’s supposed to be--a fun event--to a huge competition for attention.

Of course, prom royalty is one of the biggest popularity contests to date. The recognition relies solely on how a person has built up his or her school identity, rather than on how those people built up the community around them.

If certain aspects about prom were changed, it could become a great event to attend. But for now, the event remains as a top money hoax for seniors everywhere.

$175-$710

The Labeling Theory

MARCH 15, 2017 | THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | 11

Labels, stereotypes affect students’ identities WRITTEN BY JOYCE NG The Labeling Theory: the theory of how the self-identity and behavior of individuals may be determined or influenced by the terms used to classify them.

This theory was developed by sociologists, people who study the behaviors of a society, in the 1960s.

As labeling was introduced to modern society, many media creators took the idea and began to apply it to our society.

Popular movies that have made their way into the mainstream culture like The DUFF, Mean Girls, and Clueless have all built up certain high school stereotypes.

The jock, cheerleader, troublemaker, nerd, geek and the outcast, are some of the many stereotypes from those movies that any student, in reality, can get labeled as by others.

In one classroom, there is at least one of every “type” of kid.

Many people get labeled with a stereotype by others, not as the type of person they actually are.

Sophomore Jasmin Martinez sheds some light on the jock stereotype.

“If you play a big part on the team, people will know who you are, you get to start the game, you get announced, so in a way popularity is linked to the sport,” Martinez said.

Even though popularity may be something that comes with the sport, movies tend to show cliques that form within the school population.

The effects of these stereotypes seem to be influencing a student’s social life, from who they hang out with, to the number of parties they get invited with.

Although the stereotype that comes with joining a sport will lend you a high position on the high school hierarchy, Martinez doesn’t agree with the stereotype.

“For me personally, I’m just friends with anyone--it doesn’t really apply to me that way,” Martinez said.

In contrast to the Hollywood stereotypes, Martinez doesn’t pay attention to the labels of her fellow students but instead their true personalities.

From many well-known movies like Mean Girls, cheerleading can be perceived in a negative way, which taints the reputation of the sport.

Cheerleader sophomore Grace Thompson explains the comparison between the movie fantasy from reality.

“All cheerleaders in movies are airheaded and most of the time cheerleading isn’t considered a sport,” Thompson said.

“Instead they’re just girls that are pretty-and that’s it. Pretty and popular, and that’s not the case at all. Cheerleading is a sport and we work really hard and I don’t think that’s ever displayed. Even people are like, ‘Cheerleading isn’t a sport,’ but it is.”

As students who get labeled with a stereotype, students like Thompson work to be themselves by ignoring the sadistic comments.

“I think we all work extremely hard and we try not to let any of the stereotypes get to us. Thompson said. “I know the varsity cheerleading team is extremely nice and caring and some of the best group of girls I’ve ever been with.”

While labels are made and given to people, Sophomore Gillian Moll tries to take them down by being herself.

“To label myself is difficult,” Moll said.

She decides to eliminate the stereotype-and any haters--as a whole.

“My main goal is to try to be nice to everyone so I don’t have to be in any drama,” Moll said.

Without including herself in only one ‘type,’ Moll finds being friendly to everyone the best way to take down any of her labels.

“I try not to stick with a clique,” Moll said. “I do have my best friends, but I still try to immerse myself with everyone.”

With her experience, Moll discovered that by disposing herself of all negative interpretations, Suicide is she can put the power in her the own hands. of “It depends on who you are death in and how you put yourself out those aged there as, that’s 17-24 how others see you as,” Moll said.

“Someone could see me as a nice person and then another as a mean person-it’s the same with everyone else.”

In the end, 160,000 kids students like Moll stay home choose to be themselves--not from school what anyone else every day labels them to be. because of “To be yourself is the best version bullying of yourself you can be,” Moll said.

Stereotyping can lead to bullying and teen suicide

third cause

INFOCOURTESYHUFFINGTONPOST.COM

Break “stereotypes” at lunch--try a new spot!

Building 8

Unaffiliated Tree

Nerds

Emo Front of OHS DESIGN BY JOYCE NG

Building 12

Jocks

Band Students

Commons

Clock tower

12 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | MARCH 15, 2017

RESPECT THE SYSTEM

IMPACT “This world is becoming too cold and heinous, and the only way to turn it around is to dish out respect.”

-Senior Bailey Worstell

“RESPECT:

showing deference towards a teacher and fellow students by being on time and ready to participate in the learning process.”

WITHIN THE CLASS

-Principal Joe Trybus

“Respect also creates a pleasant atmosphere and limits stress.”

TEACHER’S

-Teacher Mike Lampkin

TAKE

“There is a sense of entitlement that is occurring more and more with this generation and there is the cry of disrespect.”

- Teacher Courtney Boucher

49% of

parents respect teachers

“I consider myself to be a respectful student because I am a diligent listener and I behave kindly to my teachers.

It’s only when I get unfairly chastised that I become disrespectful. Even then, I hate talking back, so I’ll just disregard the teacher and what they’re saying entirely.”

-Sophomore Tori Colasuono

STAND

VS AP

“It but wish hon just

ADMIN’S TAKE

“Traits of disrespectful students: Late to class, talking when teacher/peers are talking, doing anything to distract from the learning environment, not following directions, selfishness, insulting to others, mean-spirited, cursing, etc.”

-Assistant Principal Jason McDonald

“Students in A classes usually a better behave want to learn a show respect t their teachers.

- Teac Scott Waisa

MARCH 15, 2017 | THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | 13

T E M

Disprespect impacts classroom for both teachers, learners WRITTEN BY DANIELLE GRIFFITHS respect of students.

“Everyone thinks that they are owed something, From profanity to outright disobedience, disrespect is disrespect, whether it’s toward peers, teachers or whereas in a classroom, the teacher is the one who is owed that respect, and hopefully if they get respect; then administration.

Principal Joe Trybus defines disobedience as students they will give respect,” Maitland said. “We definitely want being harmful, degrading, antagonizing or humiliating to start out, as a student, giving that respect to a teacher.”

Boucher believes that when a student is starting out the towards their fellow students, which can be expressed in year she needs to give people the benefit of the doubt, many ways.

“Disrespect may include, but [is] not limited to, profanity, where as AP Chemistry teacher Scott Waisanen believes hand gestures, not following rules, not being on time, not respect is something that people have to earn. “[Respect] is earned, but being ready to learn, disrupting teachers and adults should initially campus, disrupting class, etc,” be showed respect unless they do Trybus said.

Teachers and adults should initially something to lose that,” Waisanen Within the classroom setting, be showed respect unless they do said. “I was taught to always respect these types of situations arise, something to lose that. I was taught your elders. That is not always the which cause teachers to take to always respect your elders. That case today.” action; how they are handled is not always the case today.

Waisanen and honors physics comes down to the teacher, like

Teacher Scott Waisanen teacher Mike Lampkin believe in the honors English 1 teacher Courtney age-old proverb ‘treat others how Boucher. you want to be treated.’

“I deal with them on an “I always treat people, whether I know them or not, individual basis,” Boucher said. “I tend to ignore most behavior if it is not infringing on the learning environment. A with respect,” Lampkin said. “To not do so is to prejudge lot of times students are lashing out and want the attention, them without knowing who they are, which in turn can lead regardless if it is negative or positive. I believe, if possible, someone to limit who they are with me.”

As a student, sophomore Tori Colasuono has similar passively addressing student and not skipping a beat views about respect, but holds authority higher than her works best for me.”

Though disrespect must be dealt with at times, dean peers.

“All teachers automatically earn my respect, I definitely Jason Maitland believes teachers immediately deserve the

DARD S. P

t is sad to say, many teachers h to teach the nors classes for this [respect].”

-Teacher Sue Brown

AP are ed, and to s.”

cher anen

Students’ respect for teachers dropped from 79% to 31%

“Try to respect others, because who wants to feel like their word doesn’t mean anything?

Being disrespected makes people feel like they don’t matter. Just try to respect others, it’s simple.”

-Junior Nicholas Smith

DEALING WITH DISRESPECT from the dean

Disrespectful

TEACHERS

Listen to teacher

Consider student’s trustworthiness Disrespectful and uncivil behaviors drain productivity

respect them more than other students,” Colasuono said.

“I’m not rude to other students, but I am more open and blunt.”

Although Colasuono believes her teachers hold superiority over her peers in terms of respect, she still believes that her peers also deserve respect.

“I’m generally respectful because I keep people’s feelings in mind when I act, and I’ve got a strong moral conscience,” Colasuono said. “People like to be listened to, so I listen to them. I behave the way that I would like people to behave around me.”

Senior Bailey Worstell says that everyone deserves respect, no matter what.

“Teachers, students or even janitors all deserve the same amount of respect because although all our paths are different, we are all human and we all have feelings,” Worstell said.

Many students identify themselves as respectful in the classroom setting.

“I consider myself to be a respectful student because I am a diligent listener and I behave kindly to my teachers,” Colasuono said. “It’s only when I get unfairly chastised that I become disrespectful. I hate talking back, so I’ll just disregard the teacher and what they’re saying entirely.”

Assistant principal Jason McDonald said he believes that, overall, the kids at Oviedo are pretty great.

“Of course, there are students who are disrespectful, but there are way more students who do the right thing every day,” McDonald said.

Check with other students in the class Determine if assistant principal needs to be involved

1 2 3 4

Disrespectful

STUDENTS Listen to student

Consider student’s trustworthiness

Determine the consequences Issue warning, detention, or suspension

INFOCOURTESUSATODAY.COM,LORMAN.COM

DESIGN BY OLIVIA BASTONE

14 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | MARCH 15, 2017

Girls

Boys

8:00 Awake and eating a light breakfeast

8:00 Still asleep

10:00 Hair appointment

Prom Time Conundrum

12:00 Haircut

12:00 Mani pedi time

2:00 Pick up corsage 2:00 Makeover 4:00 Getting dressed

4:00 Getting dressed

5:00 Ready for pictures

5:00 Ready for pictures

DESIGN BY GILLIAN LANDWEHR

MARCH 15, 2017 | THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | 15

CHEATING CAUSES CONCERN WRITTEN BY BRYN GARICK

Cheating is not taken lightly. Whether it be one offense or many, consequences are involved.

“Generally, you’re looking at some type of Wednesday school or Saturday school; you should automatically receive a zero on that assignment,” said assistant principal Matt Ackley.

However, after a single offense has been reported, punishments increase.

“On the second offense and offenses following that, the student is assigned In School Suspension, or its equivalent, and then that can start affecting their citizenship as far as athletics and clubs,” said Dean Jason Maitland.

According to a poll of 100 students conducted on Mar. 10, 82 percent of students admit to cheating on an assignment.

Teachers try to stop students from cheating by separating desks into rows during tests and making students submit essays to a plagiarism-checking website.

“Teachers and programs have become very sophisticated in catching students cheating,” Maitland said.

AP Human Geography teacher Kimberly McKernan reminds her students not to cheat.

“I make students keep their answers covered,” McKernan said. “I repeat this before and during the quiz. I have a few

DESIGN BY BRYN GARICK

students that I ask to put their answer sheet on the opposite side of their desk so the student next to them can’t copy. Chapter tests have two separate forms.”

Some students have figured out how to get around teachers’ methods, though.

“I use my phone,” said junior Barbara Sandberg.* “Sometimes, like on the exam, there was an exam review, and he uses the same review on most questions so I printed out a mini version, and I would put it in the pages and when he wasn’t there I’d just flip through and find the answers already there.”

The ways in which students cheat are as diverse as the reasons why they cheat.

Maitland believes students cheat due to poor time management.

“They have a project or assignment that they put off and they ran out of time, so they turn to the internet,” Maitland said. “They feel like that’s the quick fix.”

McKernan agrees that students see cheating as a way to avoid bad grades.

“When we get pushed into a corner cheating seems to be the only way out,” McKernan said.

But some students believe that cheating is partially the teacher’s fault.

“If a teacher is a good teacher and teaches the class things they need to know for a test, I won’t cheat, ” said senior Benjamin Samuels.* *NAMES WITHHELD UPON REQUEST

FORMS OF CHEATING

33% OF STUDENTS USE THEIR PHONE TO CHEAT ON AN ASSIGNMENT

58% OF STUDENTS HAVE PLAGIARIZED A PART OF AN ESSAY OR A FULL ESSAY

59% OF STUDENTS HAVE LOOKED OFF ANOTHER’S PAPER DURING A TEST

70% OF STUDENTS HAVE HEARD INFORMATION ON A TEST BEFOREHAND

7% OF STUDENTS HAVE USED OTHER METHODS TO CHEAT ON ASSIGNMENTS

INFOCOURTESYPLAGARISM.ORG

HAVE YOU CHEATED?

82% OF STUDENTS ADMIT TO CHEATING IN CLASS

HAVE YOU BEEN CAUGHT CHEATING?

18% OF STUDENTS HAVE BEEN CAUGHT CHEATING

POLLOF100STUDENTS,CONDUCTEDMAR.10

16 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | MARCH 15, 2017 CAMPUS HERO

CAMPUS HERO

CAMPUS HERO

CAMPUS HERO

CAMPUS HERO

Student balances multiple passions

PHOTO BY FERN SILVA

KEEPING UP TASKS. Sophomore Cierra West juggles academics, music, athletics and life.

WRITTEN BY JOHN SPEER Expertly balancing a soccer team leadership position, piano lessons, choir, school and a social life, sophomore Cierra West maintains them all in a careful manner.

In the first grade, West elected to join the cross-country team, which she ran with until middle school. When she was seven, she won first place in one of her meets.

“It was my favorite thing ever [to win

CLUB FEATURE

that meet],” West said.

Later, she decided that she needed to cut back on her number of activities and cross-country had to go. However, she recently got back into it and was able to break some of her personal records this past season.

Even without soccer, West wouldn’t rest; when she was in the third grade, she was invited onto a soccer team, which got her hooked on the sport. She now plays for a club team outside of school and

CLUB FEATURE

serves as the captain of the team.

West does everything she can to make the experience for those on her team the best it can possibly be.

“When players get down, I help them out to make sure they’re still in the game and going strong,” West said.

West is involved in other areas, as well.

Since she was little, she has also sung in one choir or another, eventually landing in Bel Cantos on campus.

She shares a love for music with her two sisters. She has sung on various occasions for her church, CrossLife, in front of some of the main services, and leads the student services frequently.

“Music is really is [my favorite thing]; anything involving it I enjoy,” West said.

“My whole life I’ve been into this kind of thing.”

Singing isn’t her only musical talent.

West has also been playing piano since the fourth grade. She’s played it so well, in fact, that she was able to coach some people over the years in her piano classes; helping them in places they needed assistance. “[I’ll help] when they’re trying to learn [or need] motivation, the people who aren’t exactly excited about something,” West said.

Keeping up with all her endeavors is not easy, according to West.

“It’s definitely a challenge, but it’s important to me that I’m not just a student,” West said. “I have other things in my life, so it’s not all school.”

Despite the number of things straining

CLUB FEATURE

her schedule, she says that the constant activity actually helps her stress levels by allowing her always to have something to do.

“Doing both [school and all other activities] helps the stress and relieves it,” West said.

Music has been especially imporant to her.

“It’s also just always been a passion of mine to play piano [and to sing], and of course school is important because to succeed in life you have to have a good education,” West said.

Sophomore KJ Hayes, West’s friend, said that West is a great natural leader who works for the betterment of others that surround her, rather than simply bettering herself.

“She always makes everyone feel comfortable when she’s around,” Hayes said. “She tries to include everyone in everything that she does, and she’s just a great person to be around.”

Hayes has also worked with West in leading worship, Refuge, and a bible study at their church where Hayes said West continues to lead with skill.

On top of all these extracurricular activities, West does also deal with AP and honors-level courses, a third year of Spanish and an academic elective, AP Seminar.

“I’ve chosen these to help me with my preparations for college [and to] get some college credit out of the way,” West said.

“I plan to [keep taking] honors and AP courses.”

CLUB FEATURE

CLUB FEATURE

Interact Club serves community with benefit events WRITTEN BY PAIGE SIMPSON & FAIZ UDDIN For years prior to the 2016-2017 school year, the club previously known as Interact Club was nonexistent.

“It was around before I was teaching here, but it died off until they revamped it up this year,” said adviser Kaitlin Darling.

Because the club was galvanized this current year, new leadership and structure was welcomed with open arms, according to club president senior Joshua Garzone.

“We try to practice basic leadership skills,” Garzone said. “We have a secretary position that takes minutes for the meetings, we have people for attendance, we have people that deal with shirts, we have people that correlate different volunteer opportunities, and no matter what, if you’re saying one thing or you’re saying many things, you’re always going to stand up and be in front of everyone.”

When it comes to the essence of the club, the driving goal is the same: benefiting the community.

“Interact Club is essentially a volunteer-based group to help the city of Oviedo,” Darling said. “They do different events helping to serve the community.”

Some of the events members of the group organize are luncheons for veterans, or 5Ks to raise awareness for illnesses in their community.

“The students pick and choose what fields they’re interested in and how they can benefit the community,” Darling said. “They talk about, ‘okay, we have a family member with an illness and they’re doing a 5K and we should all join in,’ or the Rotary Club will be doing something.”

Darling said the most important aspect of the club is that it revolves around the students.

“I just kind of help them get to it, [but] it’s more of [the] students serving what they’re interested in,” Darling said.

“They get to pick what they want to do it’s not me telling them, ‘okay, this is what we’re doing;’ they can be more involved and be more interested in what they want to do.”

Garzone said members brainstorm ideas, then present them to the other club associates, as well as to him.

“When picking out events, being president, [I have] a big influence, everyone has a chance to present an event but I have a final say,” Garzone said. “I want this event to put us out there in the best way possible and give us the best opportunity to help our community with the limited amount of time we have in the school year; we want to make sure our time is well spent.”

At events, Garzone acts as an authority figure to assist members and make sure everything goes smoothly.

“During events I [make] sure that all of my kids are doing what they need to be doing and mostly just look over everything,” Garzone said. “We work with Seminole County public water management to help clean up lakes and other bodies of water. Me and the Rotary Club have a good relationship: if I need them, we meet; if they need me, we meet and just stay in contact with each other.”

Although Darling will not be advising the club in future years, she urges anyone who has an interest to join.

“If you have a cause, it’s one that you can definitely bring to the group and everyone will get involved they really do help the community, especially [because] they love the city of Oviedo,” Darling said.

PHOTO BY FAIZ UDDIN

INTERACTING WITH STUDENTS. Junior Ashlyn Register asks club adviser Kaitlin Darling for assistance on an event-based function.

DESIGN BY PAIGE SIMPSON

////Reviewed

////

MARCH 15, 2017 | THE LION’S TALE | ENTERTAINMENT | 17

Quick Review

Volcano

Alternative Album

REVIEWED BY OLIVIA BASTONE Alternative band Temples slid into March with a fresh album, Volcano, practically sizzling with symphony.

The whole album has a psychedelic feel, like the Sgt. Pepper album by the Beatles, while also meshing with more modern bands like Young the Giant and alt-J. I was really impressed. Temples creates a great mix between the two genres without being all over the place.

The consistency in sound was also nice; it is a uniform package when you finish listening.

SUPERLATIVE

REVIEWED BY JULIAN RIOS

In 2015, Netflix unveiled a show called Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. It is a funny series that tells the story of a woman living in New York. Now, Netflix has dropped the teaser for Season 3.

It shows one of Kimmy’s friends, Titus (Titus Burgess), prancing around a street in New York, causing “havoc” while singing Beyonce. Netflix has officially announced that the new season of the show will be released on May 19. Even though there has not been much revealed, it will surely be a success.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend TV Show REVIEWED BY STACIA AHLERS Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is a spunky hit comedy series that satirically highlights unhealthy attitudes and actions of people, while subtly addressing political issues, and is brave enough to prominently discuss societally avoided topics.

The story follows Rebecca Bunch (Rachel Bloom), a young woman who begins the series as a brilliant, wealthy, outstanding lawyer in New York

DESIGN BY FERN SILVA

ADEQUATE

Kong: Skull Island

GRIM

ATROCIOUS

Movie

PHOTO BY NEVIEWPOINT.COM Kong: Skull island is a summer action film released in the middle of March, and to everyone’s surprise, it easily ranks up with the cinema heavy hitters coming out now, such as Logan and Get Out. Kong is a traditional monster movie, to say the very least. As seen in the newest Godzilla as well, the movie tries to paint King Kong as a monster with a purpose: to be a protector and fighter for his land. The film itself holds up; although having a decent plot at best, the stellar Computer Generated Images (CGI) and action scenes, alongside big-name actors such as Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, and John Goodman, really carry the movie into a must-see for action lovers.

The overall visuals of the movie are astonishing. The film combines CGI and real-life elements perfectly, enough so that Kong himself looks practically real in some scenes. Aside from the CGI, the film just looks fantastic, with huge establishing shots

that really set the stage for the viewer. Many of these shots are used just to highlight the immense size of Kong and all the other creatures on the island.

While it has a plot, the film’s main point is King Kong, and the film makes this evident.

The way the movie plays out just sets Kong center stage at almost all times. Barely any of the main plot doesn’t involve him some sort of way. However, this is just the way it should be.

The film’s plot revolves around the discovery of a never-before-seen island, whose mysterious treasures must be found by the Americans, before the “dastardly” Soviet Union can take them for themselves.

In walks government official Bill Randa (John Goodman) and geologist Houston Brooks (Corey Hawkins) who work to receive funding for an expedition to the recently discovered island, deemed Skull Island.

From there, the two gather those who are willing to travel to the uncharted island.

From this we meet our unlikely band of

City who, despite her seemingly incredible life, is depressed and unfulfilled. Five minutes into the pilot episode, Rebecca inadvertently runs into Josh Chan (Vincent Rodriguez), her summer camp boyfriend from when she was 16, and remembers how happy she used to be. In a kind of manic scramble, Rebecca quits her prosperous job in New York and moves to a town in the middle of nowhere, affectionately known by fans as “West Covina in California,” where Josh lives.

Though she moves there in hopes that they will fall in love again, her life in West Covina is utterly unpredictable, bringing audience on an insane journey that would not be tolerated by most other shows.

The show is refreshing and captivating because the content is extremely original and wacky, which makes it compelling. Not only does the show present pressing contemporary issues in unique and effective ways, but the characters are all also ridiculously bizarre

REVIEWED BY FERN SILVA

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt TV Show

ADMIRABLE

protagonists: the anti-war photographer Mason Weaver (Brie Larson), former British Special Air Service captain named James Conrad (Tom Hiddleston) and the boys from The Sky Devil’s squadron, who will take them to the island. From the moment they arrive on the island, they are almost instantly greeted by the main star of the show, Kong himself.

Past this initial meeting point, the big man makes a decent number of appearances, reminding the audience that the main focus of this movie is to be a monster film. The movie introduces us to many a new creature past this point as well, from water buffalo the size of trucks to gigantic squid and spiders from the deepest depths of your nightmares.

The film does a good job balancing the much-needed monster fight scenes, alongside keeping us interested in the human plot; in the end, it is just another monster movie. If you love action and fight scenes, Kong: Skull Island should be on your must watch list.

and well-defined. On top of this, the show has songs written into the scripts, which all hilariously spoof genres of music and provide unbelievably accurate portrayals of feelings people normally won’t admit.

The songs in the show are side-splitting, so much that I listen to the soundtrack by itself weekly!

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend plays on The CW network and, more conveniently, is on Netflix. The show is completely binge-worthy, and luckily for newcomers and future fans, the second season was just released on Netflix, marking thirty-one episodes of pure delight and amusement.

18 | ENTERTAINMENT | THE LION’S TALE | MARCH 15, 2017

World needs more heroes: Overwatch

WRITTEN BY EMILY VERNIKOS Placing number one on the top 10 video games of 2016, Overwatch, Blizzard’s first shooter, team-based game catches millions of eyes in this new year.

Overwatch is a first-person shooter (FPS) with a wide variety of characters, ranging from turret-placing supports to a cowboy with a revolver. Overwatch is a sixversus-six, player-versus-player game. The objective is either to capture the point and earn points as your team has the point, or defend the point.

There are many different maps. Maps tend to tie into the theme or lore of a character. Take Tracer, for example. Tracer is British. One of the maps, called “Kings Row,” takes place in London.

There are multiple characters with multiple roles: Support, Offense, Defense and Tank. A few characters I play as are Mercy (Support), D.Va (Tank) and Reaper (Offense).

Competitive in Overwatch is where you are ranked and either earn or lose points per win and loss. I enjoy Overwatch because it is really addicting, and some of the teams you get paired with are really supportive. Others, not so much…

Competitive play is also where you’ll likely find the most toxic players, meaning the disrespectful, sexist, racist , homophobic, etc. They tend to rage and get mad if people aren’t listening to them--and them only. You won’t always come across toxic people, but there’s a chance you will at least once. The best tip is to ignore them or mute their mic.

Overwatch is all about team management. It’s great to communicate with your team and helps a lot. Even if you don’t have a mic, you can still type in chat.

If you just like to go your own way and not group up, Competitive is definitely not for you. Overwatch may not be for you in general; yes, you can go “your own way,” but you’re most likely to get killed each time, lose and let your team down.

PHOTOS BY OVIEDO PHOTO CLUB

First Mardi Gras at Oviedo on the Park enjoyable WRITTEN BY CONNOR COMPTON

The sights and sounds of Bourbon Street took over Center Lake Lane as Oviedo on the Park hosted its first Mardi Gras event. The Feb. 25 festival provided a fun peek into the New Orleans celebration.

The music, although not Cajun, definitely delivered true New Orleans jazz. People danced and kids played-everyone enjoyed the entertainment--as stilt walkers moved up and down the park and mimes dressed to impress, with masks and face paint.

It was evident that Oviedo is a family-oriented city as this event drew all family members, including four-legged ones, there. Masks, t-shirts and beads were offered for a low price to those that wanted to join in the festivities, though there wasn’t a wide variety of beads.

The overall navigation of the event was good: it wasn’t confusing, since it just followed the path of Oviedo on the Park, and wasn’t difficult to traverse. Vendors dotted the park, selling homemade hot sauces and dips, whether to put in your dish right then or to buy in bottles.

I think that Oviedo demonstrated a great start to the tradition and that it is going in a good direction, although a few subtle changes could be made, such as

Up-And-Coming: Gaming

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Hit the road on April 28 with Mario Kart 8! Play anytime, anywhere! Race your friends on new or returning battle courses.

Available on the Wii U, as players race against each other they can use power-ups to help get in the lead.

adding more vendors that sold Cajun arts and crafts, and not just businesses. Also, they could recruit a Cajun band to really bring that Cajun sound.

As for the duration of the event, running from 4-8 p.m. was, in my opinion, way too long. Given the lack of stuff to do, I would much rather it be only two hours long.

The food was spot-on, with authentic flavors that pulled the eater into the crawfish, jambalaya and etoufee. But it just wasn’t as abundant as necessary--with only about three trucks of Cajun food-which caused them to run out.

As a teenager, I found the decorations aesthetically pleasing. However, there wasn’t much to do.

There could have been many different activities, such as some sort of station where visitors could try different Cajun foods or watch Disney’s The Princess and the Frog.

For children, entertainment bounce houses were supplied and the park was open, which was nice. I feel they could add a New Orleans craft, whether it be making a mask or making a string of beads.

Since it is Mardi Gras, they could’ve found some professional tarot readers to do some card reading to really bring in the New Orleans vibe.

Overall, it was a fun first event. In the future, the possibilities are limitless.

New Orleans Traditions Fleur de Lis symbol signifies perfection, light, and life

Between Jan. 6 and Fat Tuesday,

500,000 king cakes are sold in New Orleans each year

Social clubs called

krewes

Organize parades and give balls and parties

INFOCOURTESYNEWORLEANSCVB.COM

Up-And-Coming: Events

Ted Talk UCF April 21

March for Science Lake Eola

April 22 DESIGN BY EMILY VERNIKOS

MARCH 15, 2017 | THE LION’S TALE | ENTERTAINMENT | 19

One Page Low-down App Review: Plant Nanny REVIEWED BY FERN SILVA With spring break and summer vacation fast approaching, people will definitely be feeling the need to stay properly hydrated throughout the day.

The new app Plant Nanny has just the solution for this! Plant Nanny puts you in charge of taking care of your own little, leafy friend.

Whenever you drink any amount of water, the app logs the information and feeds your plant. The catch, however, is that if you don’t drink enough water throughout the day, your plant will become dehydrated, and eventually could die without proper care.

Plant Nanny relies on guilt-tripping to make the user take care of his or her body, though the use of a cute, little plant friend.

The app is highly accurate with how much water you must drink, allowing you to enter your

age, height, weight and even gender to determine how much your body needs.

The app even allows you to customize your plant friend, letting you choose from a selection of different, yet equally adorable, plants, plus provides a number of different pots--and even backgrounds-for the app.

With traditionally hot Florida weather already arriving, the importance of staying hydrated has never been more important. Download Plant Nanny today to keep yourself (and your new plant friend) happy and healthy.

Album Review: Kane Brown REVIEWED BY J. LITTON Kane Brown’s first album is self-titled and contains 11 country songs. This album reflects his hometown, his granddaddy and a few songs that talk about girls. His song “Better Place” gives you a feel-good smile because he states that he is going to love someone until they are both in a better place, meaning that he will love his significant other until they reach heaven.

He shows his true self in many of these songs, as well as completely capturing his soul and heart in his song “Granddaddy’s Chair.” The song goes over when he was a child and what he did with granddad; Brown also shows a part of him that wants to be just like his granddaddy.

He gets even deeper when he says that he can’t wait till

he’s man enough to sit in his granddaddy’s chair.

His two other albums don’t reflect his personal feelings as much as this one does, which is why it is my personal favorite.

It automatically brings a smile to my face, and an itch to my finger to keep pressing repeat.

It’s an album that really speaks to your soul, and makes you realize that no matter how famous or “up there” a person is, they are still human and still contain feelings.

I think the song that sends

the biggest message would be “Learning,” because he recounts a terrible childhood memory and how he has grown from it. He tells how he was beaten as a child and how his grandma saved him from a bad environment. He shares how, since he was young, he’s been made fun of because the color of his skin; but, no matter how bad his situation was, he tried to let it go.

Many teens in high school are guilty of holding grudges, but if they let it go they would be ten times happier.

This album gets you right in the heart and makes you realize that things do get better.

A smile could be a song away.

Many times I myself have caught my brain trying to take over, but then a good song comes on and it feels like all the negativity in this fast-paced life just melts away.

Local Review: Saigon Flavors REVIEWED BY AARON NEDLAN Saigon Flavors, located on Aloma, is the perfect restaurant for all your Vietnamese cravings.

Upon entering the restaurant you see a spectacular display of artwork. The atmosphere is very mellow and quiet, which makes it an excellent place to take a date.

The customer service is nothing short of superb; drinks are consistently refilled, and the staff is also very kind and accommodating with recommendations about food.

I ordered the golden tilapia, and it was to us within minutes. I’m at a loss of words for how incredibly good it was: it was flavorful and exceeded any past experiences with this same dish.

The only negative part about this restaurant

DESIGN BY FERN SILVA

is the pricing. It won’t drain your wallet; but, will make a dent, with prices ranging from $12-$35 for main dishes. I recommend Saigon to anyone looking for a new favorite, local Vietnamese place to eat.

PHOTO BY AARON NEDLAN

SOUL OF AN ARTIST Painter Senior Taylor Oakes INTERVIEWED BY FERN SILVA Q: When did you discover your love of art?

A: My freshman year; I realized art is the only thing that I can express my feelings through.

Q: What are your favorite subjects to paint?

A: My favorite topics to paint about are space, trippy, abstract, anything underwater, and women.

Q: How did you feel when they approached you for the senior portrait?

A: I was happy; I have been wanting to do it since freshman year [because] it was something that I wanted to leave my mark on Oviedo with.

Q: How often do you work on your artwork?

A: I stay up till 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. every night unless I’m tired or have homework; I always find time to do art.

Q: How long does it take you to finish a painting?

A: It depends on the size; if it’s a small painting, it usually takes about nine hours. If it’s a large painting, it can take up to days or weeks.

Q: Do you take classes to improve your skills?

A: I do work at a design company.

Q: Where did you come up with the idea of the senior pole?

A: I looked at my senior class and decided what fit them best.

Q: How do you imagine using your talents in the future?

A: I hope to put science and art together and create machines to help children to connect art with science.

MARCH 15, 2017 | THE LION’S TALE | SPORTS | 21

Special suits aid swimmers mentally, physically PHOTOS BY ABBIE WYDRA WRITTEN BY ABBIE WYDRA Freshman Guliana Zerpa opened the box to her tech suit at the biggest swim meet of the season. A sense of excitement set in and she realized that this was the big day.

Zerpa would finish 20th at the 2017 Florida Swimming Spring Senior Championships in the girls’ 14-and-over 1650-yard freestyle.

“It definitely helped my mental performance; I don’t know so much physical,” Zerpa said. “But it does help mentally.”

Tech suits are made of polyester, nylon and a material called LYCRA, which gives the suit a paper-thin and slippery feeling.

“Your confidence goes up because it gives you an edge, so you feel like you’re going to go faster,” Zerpa said.

For freshmen, like Zerpa, competing in their first major high school event, the thin suits are a necessity.

“They used to be called paper suits--they honestly feel a lot like a paper material,” said freshman Ryan Gibbons, who placed 5th overall at the 2017 Florida Short Course Age Group Championships (FLAGS) in the boys’ 13-and14-year-old 100-yard backstroke and 200-yard backstroke.

Though the suits help swimmers drop time in the water, putting them on takes longer than usual.

Zerpa remembers the first time she put on a tech suit.

“I broke down in tears because it was so tight,” Zerpa said.

According to Gibbons, a regular suit only requires 10-

15 seconds for him to put on; a tech suit demands 15-20 minutes, due to the paper-like material and tightness of the suit.

“A tech suit is extraordinarily tight, it can be painful until you get used to it,” Gibbons said. “But it would certainly be worth it--I wouldn’t put comfort before it, I would put price.”

Zerpa stated that the discomfort of the suit is worth it.

“It can be uncomfortable at first because you have to stretch it out,” Zerpa said. “But once you get to the higher level, I definitely think it is worth it.”

Once the swimmer has accomplished getting the suit on, he or she still has to worry about one more issue.

“You’re nervous because you don’t want to rip it,” Zerpa said.

At the time of the race, excitement and nervousness kick in on the starting blocks, especially with the pressure of the wearing a tech suit and getting used to it. When the buzzer goes off, all the force of the swimmer is launched off

Swimming in High Fashion Suit prices range from $470-$549 Tech suit is not a necessity for all swimmers, but it is very important for the swimmer’s mentality at high levels

Tech suits are made of polyester, nylon, elastane, LYCRA and spandex

READY TO COMPETE. Freshmen Abigail Gibbons and Ryan Gibbons wait to start their races at the FLAGS event on Mar. 11 in Stuart, Fla.

DESIGN BY ABBIE WYDRA

the block towards the water.

“It certainly is a lot more exciting stepping up on a block in a tech suit than it is in a different suit,” Gibbons said.

“You just feel a lot more ready to go.”

Many swimmers don’t purchase a tech suit until they reach a certain level of swimming because of how expensive the suit is. On top of the expense, the suit can only be worn a certain number of times before it becomes stretched out, loses its tightness or, eventually, rips.

Most swimmers purchase a tech suit when they qualify for a big meet or when their coach asks them to purchase one.

“Everyone has one, and once you get your first suit it makes you feel special,” Zerpa said. “I got my first suit when I was 12.”

Freshman Carter Anderson, who placed 4th at the 2017 FLAGS in the boys’ 13-and-14-year-old 1650 freestyle, stated that his suit makes him feel more confident.

“It makes me feel good in and out of the water,” Anderson said.

Although the suits can help the swimmer mentally, Gibbons said they aren’t the true factor of success.

“I don’t like the idea of putting the swimmer before the suit because, at the end of the day, you can win in a practice suit and lose in a tech suit,” Gibbons said. “A lot of people make it about the suit, and, in fact, that’s why there’s so much heavy limitation now on the types of suits.”

Anderson agreed with Gibbons.

“The suit impacts my performance some, but it’s just hard work that makes the difference,” Anderson said.

22 | SPORTS | THE LION’S TALE | MARCH 15, 2017

staff writer

NEVADA CULLEN

Death by bracket: low seeds plague favorites

Your bracket is set. Everything is in place. You’ve accounted for powerhouses, possible upsets, team mascots, every single fact and superstition to determine which teams will prevail. You’ve flipped coins, drawn straws and used any possible technique to choose the winners of the games that you just can’t make up your mind on.

This is your year to do what few have done: accurately predict the results of every game from the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. There is a reason the chances of pulling off such a feat seems so impossible: nothing will ever go how it’s supposed to. This is March Madness.

Your so-called “perfect bracket” is only waiting to be swept into oblivion; it won’t matter how many you make, because they’ll mean nothing after the crazy first round of play occurs. Of last year’s 14 double-digit seeds, 10 won their first round matchups against higherranked opponents.

Second-seed Michigan State’s unimaginable loss to fifteenth-seed Middle Tennessee was one of the biggest upsets of the first round, destroying almost all remaining brackets.

Even if your bracket were to miraculously make it past the first round, the chance of it remaining intact is slim to none. Seeding means next to nothing past round one. Victories come down to coaching, postseason experience, talent, momentum and a little bit of luck.

March Madness may not see quite as many surprises this year as it did last year, but it will be a fun ride. Atlantic Coast Conference rivals, Duke, North Carolina and Notre Dame will battle it out along with Kansas, Kentucky and Gonzaga as favorites to take down last year’s winner, Villanova.

THE BLITZ The upset waiting to happen is fourteenth-seed New Mexico State over third-seed Baylor. Baylor has a history of losing in the first round to lower teams, and are struggling coming into the tournament.

West Virginia is yet another team that will witness a similar upset to last year’s.

Thirteenth-seed Bucknell has the tools to beat four-seed West Virginia and make a run to the Sweet Sixteen.

There are more lower-seed teams that will knock out the higher seeds.

Some upsets that may be unfathomable will happen, and they will ruin your bracket. March Madness is ready for takeoff, and it’s going to be a wild ride.

STANDING STRONG. Sophomore Connor Haynes holds his ground against on Hagerty on Feb. 28 at John Courier Field.

POINT OF ATTACK. Junior Blake Johnson drives down the field in a game against Hagerty on Feb. 28 at John Courier Field.

EXCEPTIONAL EDGE Boys’ JV lacrosse team exceeds opponents with play PHOTOS BY OLIVIA BASTONE

WRITTEN BY NEVADA CULLEN The boys’ junior varsity team plans to run the table for the rest of their season by winning all remaining games. Like Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, they are determined to deliver. If they can do so, each of their chances of making varsity next year will be improved, and the memory of this year’s JV team will live on.

Many lacrosse athletes acknowledge the challenges and vast amounts of talent to compete at the varsity level. Just like any other high school sport, the boys’ varsity team commands respect, and the members of the junior varsity squad work hard to get ready for their turn on varsity.

“Varsity is what really matters,” said sophomore midfielder Pat O’Donnell. “We have accepted that, we get it. Varsity is more serious, but we get to have more fun with [lacrosse].”

The boys’ JV team is different from most others, according to the players. Varsity is still top dog, but JV players believe that their fellow students should be aware of what the JV team is doing.

“Everyone just pays attention to varsity,” said sophomore midfielder Michael Donahue. “No one really cares about JV players, even though they’re still playing for the high school.”

Their stats show why outsiders might begin to notice what the JV team can do.

They stand at 9-1 overall, riding a threegame win streak and a plus-50 goal differential.

Some members of the team, however, are modest when they compare themselves to the varsity team.

“I don’t think we’re so much overshadowed,” said junior goalkeeper

Austin Parham. “We’re just a little bit under “We like road games, because it’s fun to their level.” go on the road and play at other schools,” Parham believes that the bond between O’Donnell said. “We like the environment team members is a key element of what against other teams that have their own makes the JV team as good as it is. advantages over us.”

“We have really good chemistry and Home games are typically more we’re all really good friends,” Parham said. important for any sport, because the home “We know our fundamentals.” team is defending its own field or court.

They are powered by an offense that Some members of the team prefer to take has already scored 25 more goals than the bus to a rival school and face them in last year, a strong defense and coaches foreign territory. The team’s results convey Chris Martin and Jake Hansen. The players their love for road games. stated that their coaches have instilled the “[Road games are] more exciting,” said intangibles within the them, aiding team sophomore defender Nick Lopez. “You’re chemistry and cooperation. bringing it to them.”

“We definitely know how to play as a Their comfort when playing away from team,” Parham said. “We know how to home does not mean that the JV lacrosse win against teams at our level. A lot of us team struggles when they do find themselves will be going up playing at home. to varsity once If anything, It’s not like we’re going to play for a the JV season being at home state title, but we’re having success ends.” only improves this season. I think we deserve more Most players their level of recognition. are gearing up competition, Sophomore Pat O’Donnell for varsity, while obvious due to some of them their 4-1 home have already gotten a taste. Sophomore record. The team sees the advantages to attacker Zack Uttich was briefly moved up playing at home, opposed to being on the due to an injury on varsity, and most of the road. team members are ready to move up when “We don’t have much time to warm up their time comes. The near-varsity level for away games, because we’re always talent on the JV squad has attributed to its late,” said sophomore midfielder Connor success.

Haynes. “Home games give us more time “It’s not like we’re going to play for to prepare.” a state title, but we’re having success The team’s sole loss was a squeaker this season,” O’Donnell said. “I think we at home, but it only added fuel to the fire. deserve more recognition.”

Since the last couple of weeks in February, An uncommon aspect of the team’s the Lions JV boys’ lacrosse team has had success is their perfect record on the road. one common goal: to run the table.

They won all five of their road games, which “We lost our game last Tuesday against is difficult at any level. There are certain Merritt Island,” O’Donnell said. “We just challenges that away games pose, but the need to bounce back from that and win out. players seem to handle them well.

We don’t want to lose anymore.”

DESIGN BY NEVADA CULLEN

ROAR BOARD

MARCH 15, 2017 | THE LION’S TALE | SPORTS | 23

Check out scores and game reviews at

INSTAGRAM OF THE MONTH:

@sarah.ragland

TWEET OF THE MONTH: OHS Baseball @oviedo_baseball

Feb. 20

Big first regular season shutout win over Spruce Creek 7-0.

Great outing by @blake_loubier 5 inn pitched 0 ER @scottyreeves17 3-4 w 2 RBIs 15 RETWEETS 47 LIKES

PHOTO BY FERN SILVA

FOCUSED AND READY. Junior Rhianna Ventura prepares to strike a winner during practice on Mar. 14 at Oviedo High School.

121 likes

STAR ATHLETE: MADISON ALLEN

Tennis relies on both independence, bonding WRITTEN BY P. CHAPMAN

The pressure is on for the Oviedo tennis team as districts rapidly approaches.

Even though the team doesn’t have a lot of practice time together, they are still trying to improve their game and strategies. One of aspect of practice that players tend to focus on is the time they spend with their individual coaches.

“We actually have a lot less practices because our coach wants us to focus with our private coaches,” said junior Rhianna Ventura. “He knows that our private coaches know exactly what we need to work on, so the more time we have practicing with our individual coaches, the better we will be.”

The players also look up to professional players and compare the professionals’ strategies to their own game in order to improve.

“I look up to Novak Djokovic because he plays more like I do,” said senior Fernando De Aguiar.

“He has a two-handed backhand like I do.”

The team has a common mindset when it comes to handling

the pressure during the match, and that is to stay positive and to focus on the “now” of the game.

The teammates agree that handling the pressure mentally is the most difficult part of tennis and districts. Each player has developed his or her own pregame routine.

“I usually stretch and eat a snack and drink lots of fluids, but I mainly stretch,” Ventura said.

Weather is another big component when it comes to how the team performs; whether it be the sunlight or the wind, it makes the game more difficult. If the sun is in players’ eyes, it makes it difficult for them to see the ball, while wind creates surprises.

“When you’re serving and you toss the ball up, the wind can just make the ball go crazy and throw off your entire serve,” De Aguiar said.

The team bonding helps with overcoming the all the pressures.

“We are bonding a lot better than we did in previous years,” Ventura said. “We are talking more and we are supporting each other better, for both sides (the girls and the guys) and I think we are doing better.”

PHOTO BY OLIVIA BASTONE

Q: What was your reaction on winning the award for state girls’ soccer player of the year?

A: My coach called me while I was driving home from school and I was kind of surprised. We had talked about it at the beginning of the year, and we were just looking back on that, and so that was exciting.

Q: What does the award mean to you?

A: It’s an honor, but I couldn’t have done it without my team.

Q: How is the state final different from other playoff games?

A: It’s always high-energy. We always work hard, and the other team is always going to come hard even if they’re not as good, but [Boca Raton] was a really challenging team.

Q: What does winning back-to-back state titles mean to you?

A: At the beginning of the year we write what we want to accomplish on a notecard. Last year we knew that we wanted to win, so we wrote that. This year, going back-to-back was one of our goals.

Q: Why did you commit to Vanderbilt?

A: Vanderbilt is a great school. They have a great program, great coaches and are academically elite.

Q: What aspects of soccer give it a unique difficulty?

A: You have to know in a situation what you need to do. You also have to be very fit.

PHOTO BY FERN SILVA

PHOTO BY OLIVIA BASTONE

PHOTO BY OLIVIA BASTONE

SOUTHPAW TAKES STRIDE. Junior Josh Gipson rears back to deliver a pitch against Nease on Mar. 14 at Mikler Field.

RETURN AND RICOCHET. Junior Matt Loiars gets a dig in a game against Winter Springs on Mar. 14 in the RWL gym.

WEIGHT ROOM WARRIORS. Junior Andrew Salcedo spots juinior A.J. Pelfrey at a meet against Seminole on Feb. 22 at the Oviedo High School weight room.

BASEBALL

BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL

BOYS’ WEIGHTLIFITING

DESIGN BY NEVADA CULLEN

24 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | MARCH 15, 2017

Models enjoy first prom fashion show

PHOTOS BY FERN SILVA WRITTEN BY CONNOR COMPTON Guys in tuxedos and girls in colorful gowns strolled arm in arm, showing off their elegant attire. Spectators admired from the sidelines--as they ate lunch at the Commons tables.

Student Government Association (SGA) put on the school’s first prom fashion show during both lunches on Mar. 3.

“It was intended to get the juniors and seniors excited for prom, as well broadcast prom gowns and tuxedos for ideas,” said junior Giana Walsh, the lead organizer of the show.

Junior Aleena Voorhees said that she was invited to participate and initially felt nervous.

“I figured that not many people would do it and it seemed kind of weird; then I kind of decided it was privilege to be asked,” Voorhees said.

Senior Alejandra Leger was also nervous, initially.

“I was going to be in front of everyone and had a lot of self doubt, but something told me to do it,” Leger said. “The crowd was cheering everyone and it was a positive environment.”

Walsh said that girls had to be over 5’6” and guys had to be over 5’10” to be invited.

For the clothes, girls went to a fitting at David’s Bridal, while guys had a measuring during school.

“We got to choose our colors and if we wanted a vest, ties or bow tie,” said senior Andrew Bernabe. “I chose a bow tie.”

“It was interesting being the first person,” Voorhees said. “But it turned out fine.”

Walsh said it is possible that the show will return next year.

“Considering the fashion show was a huge success and everyone had a blast I definitely think this will be an annual thing,” Walsh said.

FANCY FORMAL WEAR. (Clockwise from top left) Juniors Caroline Folsom and Blake Johnson, seniors Katelyn Newman and Brandon Terrell, seniors Faiz Khan and Rose Torres, seniors Katelyn Jones and Wade Hart and Alexiyah Craft, junior Sarah Doney and senior Ethan Johnson and Stephanie Carrasquillo and seniors Andrew Bernabe and Melissa Rodriguez model prom clothes on Mar. 3. during lunch.

DESIGN BY CONNOR COMPTON